NEWS
The first selections of the 2018 AFL Draft were revealed on Thursday night, as expected Sam Walsh was taken at Pick 1 for Carlton. Fantasy coaches will no doubt be sifting through the opening 22 selections of the Draft, the remainder of the Draft will conclude on Friday.
2018 AFL Draft Top 10
1. Carlton – Sam Walsh
2. Gold Coast – Jack Lukosius
3. Gold Coast – Izak Rankine
4. St Kilda – Max King
5. Port Adelaide – Connor Rozee
6. Gold Coast – Ben King
7. Western Bulldogs – Bailey Smith
8. Nth Melbourne – Tarryn Thomas
9. Adelaide – Chayce Jones
10. Sydney – Nicholas Blakey
Carlton made quite a splash trading up to get Pick 19 & selecting Liam Stocker, the Blues gave up their 1st Round selection in 2019 in a swap to receive an Adelaide 1st Round selection also in 2019.
Regardless of how successful this trade is in the long term fantasy coaches are sure to take notice of Stocker in the pre-season for the Blues, there are opportunities available in the Midfield.
“We rated him very highly, we think he’s highly competitive.. he can play in a number of roles” Carlton List Manager, Stephen Silvagni on Liam Stocker.
AFL Fantasy Analysis: Jake Lloyd
WESTERN BULLDOGS
One Draft pick to take note of is Bailey Smith now at the Western Bulldogs, he averaged 25 disposals in the 2018 Under 18 Championships.
“He is competitive and always wants to impact the contest” Bulldogs’ National Recruiting Manager, Nick Austin on Bailey Smith.
Smith was a highly rated midfielder during 2018 and was selected at Pick 7, he suffered a season ending Achilles injury which will delay his start to pre-season at the Bulldogs.
Catch Up – Fantasy News Today: 21 November, 2018
We're excited by our new pup, but what do the experts think?@superfooty's @SamLandsberger gives us the lowdown on Bailey Smith.#AFLDraft pic.twitter.com/rdvjMAjFz5
— Western Bulldogs (@westernbulldogs) November 22, 2018
INJURY NEWS
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
Rory Sloane like many other Adelaide players suffered a slide in 2018, he missed 9 games due to a foot injury & averaged 89.9pts for the year.
Sloane scored 100pts or more in 33.3% of games & 120pts or more in 0.0% of games in 2018, this was a significant regression compared to 2017.
A fit Sloane is one to consider for a bounce back season in 2019, he will be well supported by the return of Brad Crouch in the midfield.
Sloane has been the key shutdown target by opposition clubs since the departure of Patrick Dangerfield at the end of 2015, his ability to hit high ceiling games previously compensated for his low scores but in 2018 he was unable to find the right balance for fantasy coaches.
If you are forecasting Adelaide to return as a top rated team in 2019 then it is likely Sloane will play a big role, he averaged 110.8pts from winning games in 2017.
Adelaide averaged 383.0 Disposals in the 2018 H&A season (Rank 5). they averaged 397.3 Disposals in the 2017 H&A season (Rank 5).
