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RORY LAIRD
MID, $1,066,000
I’ve said it all pre-season…. “you get what you pay for,” and you don’t only get one Laird, you get two when you make him captain. Not only did he average 129 in his last ten games last season he came out in the practice game and went BANG with 138pts, and didn’t get out of second gear. He does have a tricky draw early but shouldn’t meet a tag until round six when he comes against the Hawks. It won’t matter, Laird is a tackling machine and will average 120-plus once again. Mark my words!
– Calvin
Click here to read the Deck of DT.
JOSH DUNKLEY
MID/FWD, $963,000
The superstar recruit’s days of being under-rated are all but over as he embarks on what will be a head turning season at the Lions. As a midfielder, he has all the tools to be the number one player in the game, so his forward status in just a bonus. He scored a game high 120 while attending more centre bounces than any other player in his practice match in a typically stat stuffing performance which included 31 touches. The Lion’s are going full tilt at a flag and Dunks will be leading the way.
– Roy
Click here for the Deck of DT.
SAM DOCHERTY
DEF, $977,000
The inspirational Blue is in a position where career best numbers are on the cards, and that’s saying something for a bloke that has averaged 118 in the past. Not only did he finish the season averaging 118 in the last five games of 2022 while playing between midfield and half back, that role looks set to continue after spending the pre season training with the midfield group while working closely with Patrick Cripps. In the Practice match, he split time between the two positions, collecting 34 possessions and taking 11 marks for 143. He is clearly the best defender in the game, if you don’t start with him, you will forever be chasing him.
– Roy
Click here for the Deck of DT.
TOM MITCHELL
MID, $853,000
It’s hard to find a lock for the Pies, but I’ll still back in the Pig. Yep, we’ve talked up his previous season averages in the high-120s, the lack of opportunity he had a the Hawks where he was only getting 53% of their CBAs last year … and the fact he’s at the Pies to fill a need as an inside midfielder. Mitchell is priced at 96 and despite the worries about the game plan not suiting him, he can put on 10+ points as the role is there. 61% of CBAs in the praccy game wasn’t epic and the number of bodies running through Collingwood’s midfield is a concern. Geez. Aren’t I supposed to sell him as a lock? Becoming a POD even though he scored 91 in 76% TOG. Maybe he could be an x-factor for your team when everyone else has jumped off?
– Warnie
Click here to read the Deck of DT.
ANDREW MCGRATH
DEF/MID, $719,000
Popularity has increased off the back of his 110 in the praccy game which included 10 marks. Maybe don’t expect that week-to-week, but it looks like that could be part of the Bombers’ game plan for those behind the ball. Remember it was a windy game though and the Dons had to try to control the ball the best they could. That said, the backline stinks this year and McGrath looks like one of the sub-premium players you could start with that most likely won’t let you down when the output of Daicos and Young, for a few dollar more, wasn’t was anyone would have wanted. Priced at 81, it can’t go too wrong. Ownership has increased off the back of the praccy game and probably how bullish we were to whack him in The Traders team.
– Warnie
Click here for the match sim around the grounds podcast.
ANDREW BRAYSHAW
MID, $995,000
I was worried initially due to the round one match up which is likely to see Windhager go to Brayshaw, but I’m less concerned now. Brayshaw is a gun. He scored the most points last season and nothing is really changing for him. He had 76% of Freo’s CBAs in the praccy game, matching last year’s usage, for his score of 107 (from 78% TOG). Has the ability to go big and with just 21% ownership, he could be the M1 (or M2 for the big top end spenders) that gets you an early leg up… especially as a skipper.
– Warnie
Click here for the Deck of DT.
TANNER BRUHN
MID/FWD, $471,000
The Cats aren’t inundated with lockable players this season and although Tom Stewart (DEF, $836,000) would be a safe play down back, the former Giant is the biggest player of interest. After playing 17 games last year prior to his move, he showed the potential to score on a number of occasions and if the time spent in the middle during the pre season game is anything to go by, a break out is on the cards. He looked right at home colleting 19 touches and laying seven tackles while attending 11 CBAs in his Cats pre season debut.
– Roy
Click here for the Fantasy stats from the practice matches.
CHARLIE CONSTABLE
DEF/MID, $332,000
We need some cut-priced defenders to help manage the budget and Constable is ticking a lot of boxes. He should have a month in the team at a minimum – and this would be enough to make some cash as a low-end, mid-priced stepping stone. Constable had 76 in the praccy game from 89% TOG hitting various statlines with 16 kicks, 3 handball, 3 marks and 3 tackles. He took two kick-ins and played on both times. Last year Constable averaged 106.2 from his 16 games in the VFL. 11 of those were 100+, 5 were 120+. Know that he’s there for a short time and if he can last a few weeks, he chould get his price over $500k. Fingers crossed we can see 70s…
– Warnie
Click here for the pre-season Fantasy wrap podcast.
TOM GREEN
MID, $752,000
It looks as though the keys to the midfield have been handed over following the departure of Jacob Hopper and Tim Taranto and judging by the eye test, Green is looking fit enough to take them and embark on a season long campaign. Last year, he dropped off significantly following a dynamic start where he averaged 116 in his first three games but he hasn’t missed a beat this pre season, collecting a reported 50 possessions in the intra club before backing it up with 34 possessions and four tackles for 95. Looks capable of averaging 105 despite his lack of marks.
– Roy
Click here for the Deck of DT.
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CAMERON MACKENZIE
MID, $288,000
The former Sandringham Dragon has made his way to the rebuilding Hawks, with a developing midfield and wasted no time putting his hand up and making it clear he is the future. He averaged 87 at junior level while displaying the elite decision making and clean hands that have him sitting high in the pecking order. He put it all on display vs the Pies in his pre season match up where he was the Hawks best player for a number of stretches of the game, eventually finishing with 24 possessions and five marks for 92 after attending an impressive 19 CBA.
– Roy
Click here for the Cash Cows Coaches’ Corner podcast.
CLAYTON OLIVER
MID, $994,000
OK… I’ll admit, a little boring but Melbourne offer nothing other than premium options and they don’t come much better than Oliver. He ticks so many boxes it’s not funny. It’s good to see that 16% of Fantasy coaches see this and have locked him in from the word GO. This is a guy who has averaged 110 over the last five years and in that time, he has only missed one game. Durable, reliable and captainable (yep, that’s a word).
– Calvin
Click here for the Deck of DT.
HARRY SHEEZEL
FWD, $296,000
Put simply, we need the Sheez. If he’s not F5, he’s F6. Personally, I have him at five as I think it is a better use of funds – and cash cows – to have two forward rookies. Job security is the No.1 factor for cash cows. If he’s playing forward, the scoring may not be huge, but he’s playing each week. Sheezel was thrown back in the praccy game (and in some intraclubs). His score against the Dogs was a very solid 75 which came through 21 touches, 5 marks and a goal in an impressive 87% TOG. If he’s on the park for those minutes, he has every chance to score. The scoring clip did increase when he was thrown behind the ball. One of the easy rookie picks this year.
– Warnie
Read Fry’s Cash Cows pre-season watchlist.
CONNOR ROZEE
MID/FWD, $780,000
Rozee has not put a foot wrong this pre-season. His role is there as a midfielder and in his practice game he played a whooping 92% game time for his 105. We get him cheap this year after a slow start in 2022, but let’s not forget he averaged 102 after his bye. This is his number, and his average for the year. Even though he improved his average from 68 to 88 last season, he will be better and you must be on board… especially after his mazing pre-season.
– Calvin
Click here for the Deck of DT.
TIM TARANTO
MID/FWD, $846,000
Taranto is a midfielder and when he plays there, amazing things happen. He has averaged 96 and 108 over the last two seasons. In 2022 at the Giants, he started on fire averaging 107 in his first seven games before things started to change. Taranto’s lost midfield minutes but at the Tigers, there are plenty to go around. Even though the Tigers lost in their practice game by 50pts, Taranto still score an equal game-high 121, found the ball 33 times alongside 8 marks.
– Calvin
Click here for the Deck of DT.
ROWAN MARSHALL
RUC, $808,000
I’ve seen a few coaches snoozing on how good Marshall will be… Don’t be that person. We saw last year after round 15 what he is going to do as solo ruck where he scored seven hundreds in the next nine rounds including 163. In the pre season hit-out with the Bombers, he reaffirmed the domination incoming with a whopping first half before easing off for a final score of 119 from 24 touches, seven marks, four touches, 18 hit outs and a goal. Get used to it, he is the number one big man in the game.
– Roy
Click here for the Deck of DT.
ERROL GULDEN
MID/FWD, $735,000
We’ve all heard about his 177 (45 touches, 3 goals) in his practice game, but are you on board? After that effort, Gulden’s ownership rocketed from 5% to 35% and rightfully so. We all love a ‘third-year break-out player’ and after averaging 83 and 73 in his first two seasons, this is his year. Many are saying he will struggle when Mills returns (didn’t play in the practice game), Gulden doesn’t need CBAs to get the job done. He averaged 95 in his last seven last year attending just 29% of the CBAs. Interesting fact: Roy and Warnie are on the Gulden train, Calvin… is yet to climb on board.
– Calvin
Click here for the pre-season Fantasy stats.
ELLIOT YEO
DEF, $625,000
Yeo played 5 games last year and it those he was injured three times and subbed out twice. Talk about bad luck. This pre-season he hasn’t put a foot wrong, playing match-sim and practice games and producing the goods. He scored 89 in managed minutes in the praccy game rotating through the middle and off half-back. Priced at 71, it’s an easy pick and 39% of coaches are on board. Dom Sheed (MID, $591,000) is even cheaper and also needs a mention. He has ticked all the boxes this pre-season and although he is turning into a whipping boy for some, he should be in your team, like he was for many when Fantasy opened. Don’t over think this one, he’s priced at 67. Finally, you also need Campbell Chesser (DEF/MID, $200,000) who has rose from the ashes and is a round one potential starter. He didn’t look likely few weeks ago but has been running off a wing in their most recent games and should be placed on you bench.
– Calvin
Click here for the Deck of DT.
TIM ENGLISH
RUC, $901,000
Just set and forget. We all have Marshall, we might as well put English next to him. Let’s face it, we’ll at least get what we’re paying for with Speakano without the stress of the others. Well, I say that a little bit tongue-in-cheek as those of us who owned English last year suffered a but through injuries – including flu and Covid. He looked great in the praccy game despite his hitout count being well below the combo of Xerri/Goldstein. English averaged 115 pre-bye and hopefully we can see that sort of hot start again to make him a fantastic starting pick. Let’s hope those couple of soft tissue niggles are behind him (he played in the praccy game, so they have to be… right?!).
– Warnie
Click here for the Deck of DT.
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