NEWS
Tomorrow is fixture release day, the 2019 preparation for fantasy coaches officially begins.
Fantasy coaches can consume all the relevant data necessary on aflratings.com.au once all the numbers have been crunched.
Bet Lab: The 2018 Season That Was
Taking a quick look back at the AFL Fantasy numbers from 2018 provides some insight in to how important a positive fixture can impact team fantasy scores.
Melbourne averaged the most Fantasy Team Points (1704.6pts) from winning games in 2018, Collingwood finished narrowly behind the Demons averaging 1702.8pts per winning games.
Despite the 2018 poor season from the Crows they still ranked 3rd averaging 1694.8pts from winning games, if the Crows can bounce back in 2019 then they will be very relevant.
Collingwood were clearly the best performed fantasy team in losing games last season, the Magpies averaged 1603.9pts from all losses.
The Magpies averaged more Fantasy Team Points in losing games than 3 clubs did from winning games in 2018, Nth Melbourne, Sydney & Richmond all averaged fewer than 1600.0pts from winning games.
Fantasy Impact: 2019 Rule Changes
Gold Coast
Jarryd Lyons was delisted from the Suns today, multiple reports suggest he will join Brisbane as a Delisted Free Agent on a multi year deal.
Lyons averaged 24.5 Disposals & 5.5 Tackles in 2018, he scored 100pts or more in 15.8% of games & 120pts or more in 26.3% of games (AFL Fantasy). Lyons averaged 95.2pts in AFL Fantasy last season.
Moving to Brisbane is mutually beneficial for Lachie Neale & Dayne Zorko, with the loss of Dayne Beams it was a status quo scenario for Zorko but Lyons will likely now provide plenty of midfield support.
Brisbane were ranked 11th in the AFL for Team Disposals in 2018, they averaged 373.5 Disposals per game recording just two 400+ Disposal games (Rank: Eq. 15th).
The short term fantasy outlook for Gold Coast doesn’t look great, the Suns averaged 339.8 Disposals in 2018 (Rank 18).
Catch Up:Â Fantasy News Today: 30 October, 2018
INJURY NEWS
Rory Lobb looks set to complete a full pre-season at his new club Fremantle, his positive health comments were made at his press conference today 2 weeks after being traded from the Giants during the 2018 Trade Period.
“I finished off the season really well with no injuries.. I feel really good.. This is probably the best I’ve felt coming out of a season” Rory Lobb.
Lobb now is part of a dual Key Forward set-up at Fremantle along with Jesse Hogan, the former Giant kicked 11 Goals & averaged 3.2 Marks last season after spending the majority of his playing time in the Ruck.
“I feel like if you can have a key target going forward, it makes it harder for the opposition defenders to defend your forward line.. I see myself as that sort of target, going down the line and also Jesse (Hogan) as well” Rory Lobb.
Stay up to date on injury news throughout the pre-season on Twitter via @aflratings
Key injury news can also be located on our website at Injury News
AFL FANTASY ANALYSIS
Scott Pendlebury averaged 112.2pts from his opening 6 games of the 2018 season, he averaged 97.5pts from his final 15 games of the H&A season. Pendlebury averaged 78.5pts from 4 Finals.
Pendlebury scored 100pts or more in 60.0% of games & 120pts or more in 12.0% of games in 2018 (Incl. Finals).
With the addition of Dayne Beams the Magpies are completely stacked in the midfield, this may open up the opportunity for Pendlebury to move to a Half-Back role controlling ball movement out of defence.
Fantasy coaches will be watching with interest during the 2019 season for any DPP DEF potential.
