AFL DFS Top Plays offers an informed analysis of each game to highlight notable players.
Game: Melbourne v Port Adelaide (Gabba), Thursday 30th July 7:50pm AEST
Betting: Melbourne $2.25 Port Adelaide $1.67 -6.5
Weather:
🌦 2020 AFL Weather Forecast: Round 9
Main GPP’s: DK US$10K, DS A$75K
Article by @aflratingsPete
Melbourne
Max Gawn (DK $9,600, DS $18,540)Â has been in outstanding form averaging 112.8pts since Round 2, he has averaged 18.3 Disposals, 5.2 Marks & 33.0 Hit Outs over the same period.
The match-up for Gawn against Peter Ladhams on Thursday night is more than just favourable, Gawn will also provide defensive assistance when required to block the lead up running pattern of Charlie Dixon which could create further intercept marking opportunities.
The salary for Gawn is extremely high almost at the point of being prohibitive taking into consideration other player selections, as a result expect ownership to be lower than expected even with the ideal match-up.
Port Adelaide
After averaging 98.0pts from his opening 2 games the production fell away for Tom Rockliff (DK $6,200, DS $12,750) averaging 64.0pts between Rounds 3-5, coincidentally his usage in the midfield dropped significantly.
Rockliff subsequently missed team selection for Rounds 6-8.
In Rounds 1-2 Rockliff was used at 81.8% of team CBA’s, between Rounds 3-5 he was used at 47.6%.
The production for Rockliff should return on Thursday night against the Demons, but a return to a high usage through that midfield is definitely required.
Port Adelaide were -11 in Contest Possession against the Saints last week & the Demons are Ranked No.2 in Contested Possession Differential this season (Ave: +10.7), Rockliff provides assistance as a inside contested midfielder.
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Value
Tom Sparrow (DK $2,900, DS $5,630) gets his opportunity for the Demons after playing just 2 games last season averaging 52.0pts* (he missed most of 2019 with a knee injury), he was solid in the 2020 pre-season and was used at a decent rate through the demons midfield.
Sparrow is a contested inside ball winning type player, if he is used through the midfield against Port Adelaide then he should easily exceed salary expectations on both platforms.
Don’t expect ownership to be low for Sparrow on Thursday night, he will be highly owned.
*AFL Games at 20min plus time on per Qtr.
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