NEWS
The AFL Draft is here and in less than 24 hours fantasy coaches will know where the premium Rookies will land for 2019, here is the current 1st Round Draft order:
1. Carlton
2. Gold Coast
3. Gold Coast
4. St Kilda
5. Port Adelaide
6. Gold Coast
7. Western Bulldogs
8. Adelaide
9. GWS Giants
10. Port Adelaide
11. GWS Giants
12. Geelong
13. Adelaide
14. Fremantle
15. Port Adelaide
16. Adelaide
17. Richmond
18. Brisbane
19. GWS Giants
20. West Coast
Ben Silvagni has been nominated by the Blues as a Father/Son selection.
Mav Weller will join the Tigers under the Pre-Season Supplemental Selection Period from December 1.
Weller averaged 66.4pts in AFL Fantasy & 61.6pts in SuperCoach in 2017.
Michael Apeness retired today, he played 12 career games at Fremanlte averaging 7.9 Disposals & 2.7 Marks, this now opens up another spot on the Freo list in the AFL Draft.
The fitness of Jarrod Pickett is in question, he won’t be training with the Blues in the short term due to a weight issue.
AFL Fantasy Analysis: Jack Steven
COLLINGWOOD
Brodie Grundy provided fantasy coaches with a high level of comfort last season, with Mason Cox spending the majority of time Forward it allowed Grundy to thrive at the Ruck position.
The extra time spent in the Ruck equalled a higher Disposal & Hit Out rate for Grundy compared to 2017, in 2018 he averaged 20.2 Disposals (2017: 18.4) & 39.9 Hit Outs (2017: 35.7).
Fantasy coaches will be faced with a huge decision whether or not to spend a significant part of a salary cap on Grundy who may have peaked in average, finding a similar scoring Ruck will be difficult but waiting for a price drop before trading him in could be another option.
“I think we all appreciate how well Brodie Grundy played this year but to expect him to go out & play the minutes he played each & every week again next year is a huge ask” Collingwood List Manager, Ned Guy on Monday
Ned Guy talked about Jordan Roughead playing in defence and being the Ruck support for Grundy in 2019, Mason Cox would play a similar type Forward role again in 2019.
The extra Ruck support for Grundy is an interesting piece of information, but is it interesting enough to change what will be a popular pick at Round 1 next season?
Catch Up – Fantasy News Today: 20 November, 2018
INJURY NEWS
Around 12 months ago news filtered through that Sam Docherty had ruptured his ACL & would miss the entire 2018 season, that was a devastating day not only for Carlton fans but for fantasy coaches as well.
Docherty held a press conference today updating on his current fitness levels & his role for next season.
“I’ve basically done a pre pre-season & I’ve been punching out full sessions for the last 2 weeks.. I was probably in a position to play at the end of the 2018 season”
“I think expanding on that 2017 midfield role will be part of it, but most of the time will be spent down back” Sam Docherty on his 2019 role.
Docherty averaged 116.8pts in AFL Fantasy & 114.7pts in SuperCoach in 2017.
AFL FANTASY ANALYSIS
Jack Macrae elevated his game to a new level in 2018 averaging 122.6pts, this also included 44pts in Round 13 when he injured his hamstring and subsequently missed 3 games.
Macrae scored 100pts or more in 84.2% of games & 120pts or more from 52.6% of games in 2018, this was a significant increase compared to 2017.
Macrae was on level terms with Tom Mitchell recording ceiling games in 2018, fitting them both in at Round 1 next season will be a difficult task and would require a slightly heavier Premium/Rookie structure.
Through Rounds 1-11 Macrae was an absolute beast averaging 127.4pts per game, when he returned from injury in Round 14 he averaged 126.4pts which included 190pts in Round 23.
The Bulldogs averaged 387.5 Disposals in the 2018 H&A season (Rank 4), they averaged 397.3pts from their final 7 games (Rank 1).
If the Bulldogs can maintain a heavy type Disposal game next season then Macare could put up similar numbers.
