Everyone wants value in their starting AFL Fantasy team. Choosing the right 'upside' players can get your season off to a great start and propel you up the rankings, although it can be difficult to identify which studs you can trust. We have a strong cohort of draftees that will serve a role as cash cows at our disposal and a handful of underpriced premiums will attract attention too. That doesn't mean that the players priced in the middle ($400K-$700K) should be cast to the side though and I've identified 24 players who are shaping up as potential game-changing picks for fantasy coaches in 2024.
If you like what you read be sure to check out more SportsbyFry articles by hitting this link. Make sure you keep up to date with the latest AFL and AFL Fantasy articles and follow my fan pages on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to never miss a minute of the action!
https://open.spotify.com/show/5NnKl8ZeVhg93JcqCsVFGP?si=c05b74424f7a47c7
Click here to subscribe on iTunes
(Feel free to leave a rating and review to help me move up the charts ๐)
DEFENCE
Zac Williams, $442K, BE 49, Blues
We all know that Zac Williams is better than the 49 points he is priced at. Of course, he comes at a discount this year because the Blues backman can't stay on the park - featuring in just 32% of all possible games since he joined Carlton back in 2020. Initially recruited to feature in the midfield, Williams will likely take up residence on the half-back line and if he can avoid the injury bug for the rest of the preseason his ownership will spike - even with a Round 2 bye looming.
Keidean Coleman, $628K, BE 70, Lions
Another DEF pick with an early bye, Kiedean Coleman is a popular target with plenty of coaches keen on his fantasy potential in 2024. A stellar showing in the finals (including 127 in the losing GF side) and the retirement of Daniel Rich has paved the way for Kiddy to feature heavily for Brisbane in the backline. Coleman finished last season averaging north of 85 once Rich went out of the team and he's emerging as a popular D3-D4 selection for fantasy managers.
Heath Chapman, $494K, BE 55, Dockers
It's tricky to identify how Heath Chapman will slot into Fremantle's best-22 in the upcoming season. Having featured as a backman in most of his 26 career games, there's a possibility that Chappy will push further up the ground in the upcoming campaign and thrive as a wingman. Traditionally, those outside types don't score too well, but Chapman has shown a decent ability to produce strong fantasy scores (career AVG of 64.6) when he's fit and firing. There's still a lot to play out regarding Chapman, although it's wise to, at worst, add him to your watchlist.
Brady Hough, $555K, BE 61, Eagles
Someone has to benefit from Shannon Hurn's retirement right? A few candidates in the West Coast backline are expected to increase their scoring output, and yet, I've narrowed my sights on Brady Hough. During his two years in the AFL system, Hough has shown flashes of fantasy brilliance as an Eagle and if given the opportunity he may build on his consistency to become a serviceable DEF selection. Keep a close eye on him as Hough fits the mould of a traditional "third-year breakout" candidate.
Harry Himmelberg, $653K, BE 72, Giants
So much of Harry Himmelberg's fantasy potential hinges on where he's playing. The versatile swingman is known for taking huge, contested pack marks at either end of the ground, but it's in the backline where he does his best work from a fantasy standpoint. Playing as a full forward through Round 1-10 last year, the Berg averaged just 55.9 points compared to the 86 points he averaged as a defender over the rest of the season. I'm not sold on Himmelberg as an option however the value on offer will tempt some coaches.
Marcus Windhager, $570K, BE 63, Saints
Another budding youngster entering his 3rd AFL season, Marcus Windhager certainly intrigues me this preseason. A lot of the coaches reading this would have benefitted from his performance in the back half of 2023, with Windy emerging as a convenient stepping stone averaging 77.6 points following St Kilda's bye. He split his time between the midfield and halfback line for Ross the Boss and managed to produce decent point totals regardless of his role. Windhager's ownership only continues to grow and I expect the trend to continue throughout February.
Josh Weddle, $582K, BE 64, Hawks
I was one of the fantasy managers who missed the boat on Josh Weddle last year, but the first-year rebounding defender became a convenient cash cow for a lot of teams. Rising $283K in price over his 17 games, Weddle possesses the tools to add another 10-15 points to his fantasy output in year two and multiple reporters were salivating about Weddle's performance in the Hawks' match sim last week. I prefer others around the same price range, although he could become a nice defensive POD for those thinking outside the box.
MIDFIELD
Josh Ward, $676K, BE 75, Hawks
Weddle isn't the only Josh from Hawthorn who is currently generating buzz in the fantasy community. Following two strong seasons at Waverly, early signs indicate that Ward will be asked to shoulder a greater workload in the midfield. Obviously, that can only mean good things for his scoring potential in 2024 and with Will Day expected to miss the first month of the season, we could see Ward burst out of the blocks and produce some impressive numbers.
Image from zerohanger.com
George Wardlaw, $552K, BE 61, Kangaroos
A lock for my team and a second-year talent who is garnering plenty of attention this preseason. George Wardlaw had a fine debut season for North once he overcame early injury worries - averaging 14.6 disposals, 5.8 tackles and 65 points in 8 games. His per-game stats are slightly hampered by his sub-affected score in Round 18 against Hawthorn and there's a realistic chance that Wardlaw averages around the 75-point mark while generating a handy amount of cash for his owners.
Jy Simpkin, $684K, BE 76, Kangaroos
Jy Simpkin is another underpriced Roo that could interest coaches after a down 2023 season by his standards. Elected co-captain a year ago, Simpkin struggled to find his mojo after previously averaging 95+ points in 2021 and 2022. With an evolving nucleus full of young draftees, it's tough to find consistent minutes for Simpkin in North Melbourne's midfield rotation - but that doesn't mean he's someone you should ignore. If he does continue to fire as a stoppage specialist, then you can expect plenty of scores north of 90 and a bounceback campaign from the Kangaroos leader.
Paddy Dow, $512K, BE 57, Saints
Matthew Johnson, $512K, BE 57, Dockers
This spot was reserved for Paddy Dow, but now that he will miss a month with bone bruising in his knee I've been forced to pivot. So, enter Matthew Johnson - Fremantle's favourite sub candidate from a year ago. Entering his 3rd season, there's a blueprint for fantasy success should Jonno find a way to shake the vest and feature consistently in the engine room. Last season, Johnson was subbed on or off in seven of his 18 games, producing a 75.3 AVG in the 11 full games he played. There are a lot of mouths to feed in the Dockers' midfield so monitor their injury list as Round 1 nears to determine whether Johnson is worth the punt.
Reuben Ginbey, $523K, BE 58, Eagles
While Reuben Ginbey has had a few small interruptions this preseason, I'm still extremely high on his fantasy potential in 2024. We saw just how imposing the new Eagle was in his debut season, emerging as a tackling beast with 12 hugs on debut and a near club record 16 tackles in a run-with role against Matt Rowell and the Suns in Round 16. If West Coast ramps up his midfield usage, then there's no reason why Ginbey can't keep ascending as a fantasy prospect in his second season.
Max Holmes, $685K, BE 76, Cats
I've kept a close eye on Max Holmes recently, waiting for him to truly 'pop' from a fantasy standpoint. It's no secret that Geelong is going through a transition phase with their list and the 21-year-old Holmes is expected to be a crucial piece of their future. Excelling as a line-breaking MID, Holmes doesn't fit the mould of someone fantasy enthusiasts would usually target when constructing their starting team. However, there's no reason to suggest Holmes will slow down in his fourth AFL season - making him an intriguing POD for brave coaches
Jason Horne-Francis, $614K, BE 68, Power
JHF has had a unique start to his AFL career after spending two seasons at the pro level playing for two different clubs. There was doubt around his fantasy output heading into 2023 after offseason surgery to decompress the arteries behind his knees, however, Horne-Francis went on to produce five scores over 90 while shouldering his fair share of Port Adelaide's midfield workload. If he gets through a full preseason, then we can expect Horne-Francis to continue his upward trajectory and nudge an 80-point average.
RUCK
Tristan Xerri, $580K, BE 64, Kangaroos
Before the latest injury setback, Tristan Xerri was finding his way into a plethora of fantasy sides. With Todd Goldstein now out of the picture, the stars were aligning for Xerri to hold down the R1 role for North Melbourne, only for a facial injury to derail his preparation for the new campaign. The Roos big man shouldn't miss any significant time and scores of 110 and 74 in the two games he played last year without Goldy in the team are a sign of what Xerri may produce in 2024. Watch this space...
Brodie Grundy, $677K, BE 75, Swans
Brodie Grundy is a surefire lock for the majority of AFL Fantasy teams this season. I don't have to spend long telling you about his track record of fantasy excellence (career AVG of 98.4 points from 194 games) and with Tom Hickey retiring, Grundy will slot right into the starting RUC role at Sydney. There's no reason to suggest the ruck colossus will average anything less than 90 in the new season, with the possibility he works his way back to triple figures.
Matt Flynn, $646K, BE 72, Eagles
More of a Draft option for coaches over Classic, you'd think Matt Flynn will start the year atop the Eagles' ruck depth chart. Arriving in WA via trade this summer, Flynn will likely share the ruck duties with Bailey Williams in the upcoming season and if he can hold onto the lion's share of the work then Flynn may produce an average in the 80-85 range. Should he get an opportunity to rule the ruck without Williams in the side, then the sky's the limit for Flynn's fantasy ceiling.
FORWARD
Taylor Adams, $691K, BE 77, Swans
A quarter of all fantasy managers have opted to slot Taylor Adams in their FWD line in the hopes that a new beginning at Sydney will help him unlock his scoring ability. I did a comprehensive write-up on Adams earlier this week, but in a nutshell, his fantasy potential solely depends on his role with the Swans. Buried on the half-forward line for Collingwood last year, all signs point to a heavier dose of midfield minutes for Adams in 2024 - which in turn should see him become a 90-point scorer once again.
Josh Rachele, $649K, BE 72, Crows
Improving his scoring average by nearly 20 points from year one to year two, coaches are left wondering how much better Josh Rachele can be in his 3rd season. The possibility for more midfield time has led some coaches to already select the talented Crow, although Rachele has shown that he can score all over the ground. Even with Adelaide eager to give their young players more opportunity in the guts, you'd expect mainstays like Rory Laird and Jordan Dawson to feature predominately in the midfield and leave Rachele to feature as a potent goal threat instead. He remains one to monitor in the preseason matches for sure.
Image from 3aw.com.au
Zac Fisher, $623K, BE 69, Kangaroos
Liam Baker, $630K, BE 70, Tigers
A fresh hamstring strain for Zac Fisher last week has led a lot of the coaches to think of a Plan B. Therefore, I've identified Liam Baker as a possible option who boasts convenient DEF/FWD status and enters the fantasy season relatively cheaply. With Adem Yze taking the reins as Richmond's head coach, we could see a shake-up in their midfield unit and Baker is a prime candidate to feature more prominently at stoppages. Should Baker earn a prominent midfield role for the Tigers, he'll become a viable starting pick.
Elijah Tsatas, $476K, BE 53, Bombers
I've chopped and changed my stance on Elijah Tsatas this offseason, with the budding Bomber already residing in over 11% of teams. Similar to draft peer George Wardlaw, Tsatas didn't have the smoothest start to his AFL career as he battled a meniscus injury in the first half of the year. Once he was healthy, he responded by averaging 25 disposals and 92.3 points in seven VFL hitouts, before breaking into the AFL side where he produced 16.2 disposals and 64.3 points across eight matches. If you ask me, as long as Tsatas is in Essendon's starting team this year, the value is almost too good to pass up.
Connor Macdonald, $638K, BE 71, Hawks
I've already highlighted a few Hawthorn youngsters in this piece, but I think I have the most faith in Connor Macdonald ahead of the 2024 campaign. Initially playing as a half-forward in his debut season, Macdonald has been training predominantly with the midfield this summer - and all reports indicate he looks right at home. Priced at 71, it's hard to envision just how much growth Macdonald is capable of this season, although an average of 86.6 points from his final five games fills me with optimism.
Nat Fyfe, $491K, BE 54, Dockers
A 32-year-old Nat Fyfe who has been riddled with injuries in recent times probably shouldn't be on your preseason watchlist - but boy oh boy is he cheap. Managing just 16 of a possible 45 games across the past two seasons, Fyfe is flying this preseason and reminding coaches why he has two Brownlow Medals in his trophy cabinet. It was obvious that the Dockers missed his presence in the midfield last year and should he continue his purple patch this summer and stay injury-free, he'll attract a lot of attention.
James Jordon, $454K, BE 50, Swans
The writing was on the wall last year for James Jordon to seek opportunities elsewhere. Displaying a promising fantasy game across his first two seasons with the Demons, Jordon was demoted to the repetitive role of substitute in 2023 and as a result, his scoring output suffered. He has turned heads at Sydney this preseason and even if he is behind a few stellar names on the depth chart, Jordon's versatility means that he'll likely squeeze his way into the Swans' best-22. If that's the case then we'll have another bargain on our hands in the forward line.
Banner from keeperleaguepod.com.au
No comments:
Post a Comment