Article by @aflratingsPete
The AFL Fantasy pre-season is warming up as coaches start to work heavily on Round 1 teams, avoiding players that are in a bust/fail situation compared to starting salary or situational roles can set your team off in the right direction.
Top 5 Potential Busts
1. MAX GAWN
Melbourne | RUCK | $808K | 2018 Ave: 108.9pts (Incl. Finals)
The Ruck situation at the Demons will be a critical piece of the puzzle for fantasy coaches to work out this pre-season, the addition of Braydon Preuss has the possibility of a dual Ruck set-up.
AFL Fantasy Analysis: Max Gawn
If Preuss is at Melbourne for a (majority) back-up role, then it’s possible Gawn is appropriately priced.
Bet Lab: 2019 AFL Premiership
2. JUSTIN WESTHOFF
Port Adelaide | RUCK/FWD | $740K | 2018 Ave: 101.9pts
The role for Westhoff last season was conducive to good scoring, Ryder was injured for a significant part of the season & Scott Lycett is incoming at Port Adelaide in 2019.
AFL Fantasy Analysis: Justin Westhoff
Many will love the DPP status for Westhoff, expectations on average will likely need to be lowered.
3. SEB ROSS
St Kilda | MID | $779K | 2018 Ave: 107.3pts
The finish to the 2018 H&A season was exceptional for Ross, the concern is that the Saints have a virtually new assistant coaching panel that will likely impact game style in 2019.
AFL Fantasy Analysis: Seb Ross
The Saints were a slow moving team last season which lead to increased & unnecessary Disposals, expect that to change in 2019.
4. TOBY MCLEAN
Western Bulldogs | MID/FWD | $686K | 2018 Ave: 94.5pts
The numbers changed late last season for McLean, the Bulldogs averaged 394.6 Disposals from their final 9 games (Rank 1) & 417.3 Disposals from their final 4 games (Rank 1).
Over the same period, the Disposals decreased for McLean from 25.0 Disposals (Rounds 1-14) to 22.0 Disposals (Rounds 15-23).
The Bulldogs added midfield depth in the Draft, that will also likely complicate matters for McLean in 2019.
Power Rankings: January, 2019
5. CALLUM SINCLAIR
Sydney | RUCK | $673K | 2018 Ave: 91.3pts (Incl. Finals)
The ACL injury to Sam Naismith put Sinclair in a great situation last season, he increased his averaged from 72.2pts in 2017 to 91.3pts in 2018 (Incl. Finals).
Naismith will return in 2019,Sinclair will likely regress as a result.
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