Fantasy Focus: NAB Challenge Game 1 WASN’T it great to have footy back again this week?
Whilst the players are using it to blow out some cobwebs and get some match fitness, it is a key time of year for NAB AFL Fantasy coaches. We use this time of year to see who is looking like they will break out and who has changed roles within the team. Obviously something that we need to keep an eye on though is not just who is playing and who is not playing.
There were a number of Power players that everyone was keen to see have a run. One of the key guys we all wanted to see was Robbie Gray and he certainly didn’t disappoint.
He picked up right where he left off! 28 touches for 111 AFL Fantasy points which is the highest number of points so far this pre-season. Whilst he played mostly in the midfield he also kicked three goals. I am still a little concerned at his price, but he should be one of the top scoring forwards of the season.
As with all Fantasy coaches, it is the rookies we are all interested in. Karl Amon is high on our watch list. He came on as a sub early when Hamish Hartlett went off with his groin injury. He had 15 touches and 62 points which is exactly what we wanted to see. I thought he looked great and didn’t look out of place at all.
The other player we all wanted to see was Nathan Krakouer. As a Mid/Fwd he presents a lot of flexibility to your team. After coming on in the third quarter as a sub he was silky and looked fantastic. Seven possessions at 100% efficiency and 22 AFL Fantasy points was a good outing for the seasoned “rookie”.
Last week in my Fantasy Focus article I had a look at Ollie Wines. One thing I noted was that he had an even kick to handball ratio which is good for Fantasy. However, on Sunday he had six kicks and 18 handballs for his 54 points. I think with all of the team he will be better for the run. Look for him to return to his previous season ratios and numbers once we have a full team back on the ground.
This season the rucks are a difficult proposition. Matthew Lobbe is not making our decisions any easier. His 11 touches and 26 hitouts for his 103 points was great. However, he was our solo ruck and we still don’t know how he will go once Patrick Ryder comes into the side. As yet we don’t know how much of Lobbe’s ruck work he will take on. So perhaps at this stage just take a watching brief on Lobbe’s numbers.
Just in closing I wanted to mention a few things about the NAB Challenge and what Fantasy coaches look for and what you should be taking out of these games.
• Don’t just focus on who is playing and how they go. Focus also on who is not playing as that will also influence performances and scores.
• One game doesn’t make or break a player. During the season players can have a monster game or a shocker. Don’t discount or include someone on just one game.
• Coaches play players in different structures and positions at this time of year so just be wary of this if you see someone doing something different.
• Players won’t play full games, so make sure you check the Time on Ground statistics. This will give you an idea of how many points per minute your player could obtain.
Best of luck picking your squad. I will be back soon with more help in how to pick your starting squad as well as a few more Power player reviews. You can find me on twitter @pkd73 and also at www.dreamteamtalk.com
Port Adelaide AFL Fantasy scores - NAB Challenge 1
Robbie Gray - 111
Matt Lobbe - 103
Brad Ebert - 89
Kane Cornes - 79
Travis Boak - 74
Andrew Moore - 69
Kane Mitchell - 68
Sam Gray - 65
Paul Stewart - 62
Karl Amon - 62
Aaron Young - 61
Ollie Wines - 54
Tom Jonas - 50
Alipate Carlile - 48
Justine Westhoff - 47
Jasper Pittard - 43
Jay Schulz - 42
Cam O'Shea - 42
Jarman Impey - 41
Tom Clurey - 36
John Butcher - 34
Jake Neade - 28
Matt White - 23
Nathan Krakouer - 22
Brendon Ah Chee - 22
Hamish Hartlett - 13
