Hi,
Welcome back to my on going Fantasy Blog, previewing some of the best buys heading into the 2018 season.
Today we move into the real business end where we preview the best Fantasy Talent money can buy with the over $700k Keepers.
These are the group of guys you build your team around and select your weekly Captain from, so be prepared to pay the big bucks.
Nothing more needs saying about this group, so lets go find the best of the best for AFL Fantasy this year.
First of all this was an extremely hard group to split when taking into account average score, age, position and what I think they will do this year, so I could only narrow it down to 13.
So an honourable mention and 13th man goes to:
S Menegola $719k Midfielder/Forward - Geelong
I had to squeeze him into this list given what he achieved in 2017, plus he has a valuable Forward position and will be expected to improve even further this year.
With a 102 average already, Menegola will be a popular choice in many AFL Fantasy front ends this year.
My Top 12 Keepers are:
12: R Laird $707k Defender - Adelaide
A grade Defenders with 100 point average's don't grow on trees so Laird had to make this list.
He is also very durable and never seems to play a bad game. Will be the 1st picked in many Fantasy Defence's this year.
11: M Duncan $793k Midfielder - Geelong
Perennially underrated given the star power at Geelong but this will only help him, as others at the Cats will occupy the taggers attention.
Duncan had a remarkable 2017 season as he racked up 17 tons (including finals matches) and a 112 average.
Duncan never dropped under 90 once and had a top score of 160.
So many to pick from when it comes to the elite Fantasy Midfielders but you can not go wrong with Duncan and he is worth every cent of that $793k.
10: B Gibbs $790k Midfielder - Adelaide
Ex Carlton superstar joins the Crows and really completes a scary good midfield for them.
Gibbs had a high of 194 last year which is a jaw dropping score and he only dropped under 90 points once.
He is extremely durable and consistent with a very high ceiling.
Gibbs had 16 games over 100 points last year in a struggling side which meant he had to deal with a lot of attention from taggers. Imagine what he is going to do at the Crows with the Midfield support he will receive?
Hefty price tag but leave him out at your peril.
9: D Zorko $805k Midfielder - Brisbane
Became dream team elite last year with a huge season. The little magician had a 114 point a game season average and went over 100 in 15 of his 21 matches.
Had some monster scores of 181, 157 (twice), 139 and 131 in there as well.
Only negative is the taggers did get a hold of him twice last year for scores of 45 & 48.
The Lions improving Midfield depth will make it harder for opposition taggers to focus just on Zorko this year, so if anything he should score even more in 2018.
I think it is too big a risk not to take him but a few players may hold off hoping for a slight price drop before snapping him up.
8: T Adams $808k Midfielder - Collingwood
Adams was everyone's favourite last year when he was handed dual status of Defender/Midfielder but no such luck this year as he is back to being only a Midfielder.
His ridiculous 114 points per game average and consistency means he is a must have regardless of position.
Adams also had 15 games over 100 which puts him in elite company and two of those were over 150, so his ceiling is high.
Adams is still only young and entering his prime this year so further improvement is also possible.
You can’t go wrong picking him up for your Midfield.
7: B Grundy $748k Ruck - Collingwood
Grundy would be in a close battle with Jacobs & Kreuzer for the most picked Ruck this year and he is my number 1 choice.
He had 106 point average in 2017 which by Ruck standards is very elite.
He is still young, so further improvement is still to be expected and he showed late in 2017 that he can push forward for a goal or two.
Grundy has the most upside of all the Rucks for mine
6: T Rockliff $725k Midfielder - Port Adelaide
The Fantasy Pig as he is affectionately known given he has always been an extremely high Dream Team scorer and at one stage was the number 1 Fantasy scorer in the game.
Last season at the Lions he was carrying a dodgy shoulder which meant more time rested forward for less points and thus the nice discounted price we all get on him this year.
He has now taken up a Free Agency offer to join Port Adelaide and is reportedly enjoying a good pre season.
I expect to see him back in the Midfield full time and replicating his 2016 season numbers which were:
117 point average, 13 tons from 17 games with a 184 high.
Still only 27 and in his prime, Rocky is an absolute steal at $725k.
5: Z Merrett $825k Midfielder - Essendon
Hard to believe he is only 22 years old given the level he has risen to already.
Merrett is one of the star Midfielders of the comp and he is only going to be better this year which is a scary thought.
15 tons last year with a high of 150 and 7 over 130. He is just a brutal scorer and you do not want to be coming up against him in your league matches.
$825k is a steep price to pay I know, but you almost just have to pay it and get him in.
4: J Kelly $795k Midfielder - GWS
Kelly is ahead of guys on this list with a higher average given he is so young, still improving, and is already a super star.
I was 50/50 on him or Merrett for this spot but I think Kelly has even more upside, especially given he is part of an ultra strong GWS Midfield. I think Kelly's Fantasy scoring this year will be on par with the Dustin Martins or Dangerfields of the comp.
The Giants would be breathing a huge sigh of relief that Kelly rejected the million dollar contract offers in Victoria and stayed with them.
The 22 year old All Australian played 24 games last season including finals for a 113 point average.
Kelly went over 100 an incredible 18 times with a high round of 162 to demonstrate his ceiling.
That he is not over $800k is a miracle and he is a must have for your Midfield this year.
3: D Martin $800k Midfielder - Richmond
Dusty gets the nod ahead of Kelly & Merrett given the strong chance of a Dual Position Forward upgrade to go with the comparable average.
Dusty is the reigning Brownlow medalist and possibly the best player in the competition.
Dusty had one of the best individual seasons in 2017 that I have ever seen from a player and I grew up watching Lockett, Ablett Snr and Dunstall.
His "don't argue" move will be stuff of legend and whilst it is a team sport, there is no doubt in my mind he carried the Tigers to that first Premiership since 1980.
As for his Fantasy score, well that was impressive as well.
A 114 point average, 16 tons, a high of 166 and only went under 90 three times.
I advise getting the great man into your team, as you don't want to come up against Dusty in your league matches.
2: P Dangerfield $825k Midfielder - Geelong
When it comes to the number one Fantasy player to get into your side for 2018, I narrowed it down to a close race between Danger and Tom Mitchell.
Mitchell has the greater average, but when you consider the bags of goals Danger kicks when rested at full forward, he is a strong chance of a Dual Position Forward upgrade.
That would be the icing on the cake considering Danger has an average of 121, had 5 games of 140 or more last season and he had 20 games of 100+ scores.
Danger is just a ridiculous scorer and worth every cent of his $849k price tag given you can safely put the C on him each week.
1: T Mitchell $896k Midfielder - Hawthorn
Mitchell is the most expensive AFL Fantasy player of 2018 and my number 1 choice for good reason.
Like his Dad Barry, Tom's ball winning ability is uncanny and no one in the league gets it as much.
Mitchell's disposal winning ability is extraordinary as he only had 2 games in 2017 that were under 30 disposals.
He also, only had 2 games where his Fantasy score was under 100 (94 & 99)
His high of the year was his 50 Disposal game against Collingwood in Round 9 which resulted in a 177 score.
$896k is a high price to pay, but if you bring Mitchell and Danger into your team you have your weekly Captain choices settled for the whole year, plus you then never have to fear coming up against them in your league!
I hope you enjoyed my list and got a couple of ideas for where to spend the big bucks.
That concludes my preview series for the top players in each price bracket.
I will be back soon with a look at some of the standouts from the JLT series and also a look at the best mature age recruits running around this year.
Also, if you haven't seen my other posts you can now sign up to new AFL Fantasy leagues through Steemit.
If you would like to find out more and come play with us just go to: https://steemit.com/@aflfantasy
Thanks for reading
- Dahmsy