With the 2022 AFL H&A season set to begin on March 16, @aflratingsPete provides a fantasy outlook for West Coast.
Coach/Game Style
Injuries impacted heavily on West Coast late in 2021 which resulted in an early finish to their year, a change in assistant coaches in the off-season and a reset on game strategy should see change this season.Â
The ball movement was regarded as very slow under senior coach Adam Simpson, he’s confirmed the change in style this year with efficient ball movement a priority at the right times, this includes a sharp inside 45 kick into the corridor whereas previously the middle of the ground may have been avoided.
Injuries have impacted heavily over the pre-season with availability becoming a real issue, to say the Eagles are really thin at Round 1 is an understatement.Â
However from a fantasy perspective that creates multiple opportunities, selection will be extremely interesting and is absolutely worth monitoring.Â
West Coast averaged 353.5 disposals in the 2021 H&A season (Rank 16).Â
Andrew Gaff (27.5) and Dom Sheed (26.2) averaged 25 or more disposals in 2021.
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Premium
Tim Kelly ($707K MID) has the ability to be the main ball winner at West Coast in 2022, he will be played at a high rate through the middle of the ground which includes centre bounces.Â
He averaged 84.3pts from 19 games in an injury interrupted 2021 season, he recorded a season high 141pts against Fremantle in Round 7.Â
There is value in the salary for Kelly, the risk of injury is at an elevated level which should compress ownership.Â
He’s completed a pretty solid pre-season, there is upside scoring potential.Â
(Update: Tim Kelly in Health & Safety protocols prior to Round 1).
Value
Injuries have impacted Elliot Yeo ($696K MID) over the last couple of years, he’s also impacted by injury late in the pre-season.Â
His scoring ability when at full health is strong, his inside midfield usage this year should be quite high which should provide high ceiling opportunities.
Taking fitness concerns into consideration, Yeo might be a target for a small period only which could be early to take advantage of his relatively low salary or the back end of the season where high ceiling games are highly sort after. Â
Ownership will likely be low initially.Â
Ruck
Nic Naitanui ($713K RUCK) starts the 2022 season as the clear No.1 ruck for West Coast, his ability to ball control at stoppages is at an elite level.Â
He played a full season in 2021 averaging 85.0pts per game, he scored 100pts or more in only 13.6% of games.Â
Other options could provide a better return. Â
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2021 AFL Draft
14. Campbell Chesser (West Coast) Fantasy
31. Brady Hough (West Coast) Fantasy
37. Rhett Bazzo (West Coast) Fantasy
57. Jack Williams (West Coast) Fantasy
62. Greg Clark (West Coast) Fantasy
Don’t Forget About
Alex Witherden ($791K DEF) should get a fair look at it off half-back in 2022, a Round 1 suspension will likely result in very low ownership even at the end of Round 2.Â
He’s shown an ability to win plenty of ball over his career, this year should be no different in a premium scoring area of the ground.Â
Keep a close watch on Witherden, he may be one to jump across to early in the year.Â
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Article by: @aflratingsPete
Player Salaries: AFL Fantasy
2022 FANTASY RESOURCES
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