With the 2022 AFL H&A season set to begin on March 16, @aflratingsPete provides a fantasy outlook for Adelaide.
2022 Fantasy Resources
Coach/Game Style
Adelaide showed considerable growth in 2021 under second year senior coach Matthew Nicks, finishing the H&A season with 7 wins provides optimism for another encouraging season in 2022.
Adelaide have invested heavily in youth over the last few years, many of those will be a feature in fantasy this season.
Opportunities will again be available for further development in this area of the Crows list.
Adelaide were not a high disposal team in 2021, the Crows were ranked 17th in the 2020 H&A season and moved up to 15th in 2021 averaging 353.7 disposals (AFL average: 365.7).
Rory Laird (32.0) was the only Adelaide player to average over 30 disposals per game in 2021, additionally Ben Keays (28.1) & Paul Seedsman (26.1) averaged more than 25 disposals.
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Premium
Rory Laird ($937K MID) was outstanding in 2021 averaging 111.7pts per game, he scored 100pts or more in a very healthy 81.8% of games.
He averaged 119.5pts from his final 11 games of the season.
With Matt Crouch due to return from injury in 2022 there may be a case to argue that may limit the ceiling for Laird this season, notably he only scored 120pts or more in 27.8% of games without Crouch in 2021 which is kind of mid-range/low for a premium type player.
Laird (79.8%) was ranked No.1 for centre bounce usage at Adelaide in 2021, it is expected his usage will remain quite strong in 2022.
The loss of DEF status is important to note for Laird in 2022, with his high salary & MID only status it will limit ownership at Round 1 compared to 2021.
While there is the potential for scoring upside in 2022 it is likely Laird is appropriately priced to begin the season, he will add a high level of consistency to your starting squad.
2021 Fantasy: Adelaide Centre Bounces
Value
Matt Crouch ($649K MID) is set to return from injury in 2022, he missed all of 2021 with groin issues.
Adelaide have been conservative in their approach with Crouch since they shut his 2021 season down, it is worth monitoring all his news on @aflratings over the pre-season if you intend to start with him at Round 1.
The starting salary for Crouch provides high value, he is conservatively 20pts under priced to begin the season.
If he clears a full uninterrupted pre-season expect high ownership for Crouch at Round 1, there is risk coming off a long term groin injury but the pay-off could easily outweigh risk in this scenario.
The centre bounce usage should be strong for Crouch in 2022.
Wayne Milera ($378K DEF) is another coming off a long term injury, like Crouch the Crows have been extremely conservative with his rehab.
We only have a very small sample size with Milera under senior coach Matthew Nicks, with the Crows stacked for medium half-forward options a role across half-back would be preferred from a fantasy perspective.
The salary for Milera provides high value, he is conservatively 20-25pts under priced at Round 1.
Ownership will likely be strong at Round 1 if Milera can provide an uninterrupted pre-season.
On The Rise
Harry Schoenberg ($582K MID) is certainly a player to consider at Round 1, he averaged 69.4pts from 22 games in 2021 which included an average of 87.9pts from his final 7 games.
Schoenberg was part of the centre bounce mix in 2021 (34.5%), with Matt Crouch set to return in 2022 he will be in a battle to secure high centre bounce volume.
Coming off his late season surge of 2021 there is upside scoring potential available in 2022, with a view to the future senior coach Matthew Nicks may continue to provide Schoenberg with opportunities through the middle of the ground in 2022.
Expect light ownership at Round 1.
Ruck
The 2021 season was a struggle for Reilly O’Brien ($723K RUCK), hopefully a freshen up and a full pre-season for the Adelaide No.1 ruck will provide a very solid fantasy season in 2022.
O’Brien was ranked 8th for hit out average in 2021 with 29.4 per game, he was ranked 6th in 2020 in the same category.
Kieran Strachan emerged late last year when O’Brien failed to complete the season, any type of ruck combination in 2022 likely impacts the ceiling for O’Brien.
Ownership likely won’t be heavy for O’Brien at Round 1, there is upside scoring potential if he is a clear solo ruck all year.
AFL Fantasy News on Twitter @aflratings_FS
2021 AFL Draft
6. Josh Rachele (Adelaide) Fantasy
36. Jake Soligo (Adelaide) Fantasy
44. Zac Taylor (Adelaide) Fantasy
Newly Acquired
Jordan Dawson ($745K DEF) joined Adelaide in the off-season from Sydney, he averaged 88.9pts in 2021 which included a season high 158pts in Round 23 against Gold Coast.
He will predominantly be used as an outside midfielder in his first year at Adelaide, he may be moved inside at times but his ability to hit targets at a high rate will be an asset for the Crows.
There is upside scoring potential for Dawson in 2022, he should be a highly utilised link player from defence to inside forward 50 entries across the season.
There is likely a moderate amount of ownership for Dawson at Round 1.
2022 Fantasy: Jordan Dawson Role
Don’t Forget About
Expect Lachie Sholl ($564K MID) to increase his fantasy output in 2022, he averaged 67.3pts from 18 games in 2021 which included scoring 100pts or more in 3 of 5 games to open the season.
Ownership will be low, there is upside scoring potential available in 2022.
Luke Pedlar ($210 MID/FWD) struggled with injury through his first year at AFL level, he can play as a burst midfielder with speed through the middle of the ground.
His salary is low enough to warrant consideration when he is selected, he provides salary relief and flexibility in a roster with his DPP status.
The key with Pedlar will be his level of development & fitness over pre-season, an ability to breakthrough for a high number of games should provide value.
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Article by: @aflratingsPete
Player Salaries: AFL Fantasy
