CHAMPION/DATA/ISSUE 3 Hi and welcome to the third edition of the Fantasy Freako’s pre-season rave. With only one more week of NAB Cup games to come, there are still plenty of unknowns as we look at finalising our squads, with the biggest of those the rookies. Injuries hit hard last week, with both James Magner and Lachie Neale going down, while there were several others that didn’t even get a game, such as Sam Darley and Steven Morris. With squad sizes reduced back to the conventional 22 this week, it’s vital that you monitor the final teams, as this gives us the clearest indication of who will be in the mix for a Round 1 start. Enjoy this week’s read and don’t forget to follow me on twitter. Get exclusive AFL Dream Team information from the NAB Cup/Challenge games live and post match. MID-PRICED GEMS As was outlined in the ‘2012 AFL Prospectus’, the mid-priced strategy was on the way out, and the guns-rookies approach was now the way to go. In saying that though, there will always be room for a mid-pricer, especially if you pick the right player. This year there is a decent group to choose from, with the likes of Hamish McIntosh, Chris Masten and Hayden Ballantyne all players that have been spoken about glowingly this pre-season. Of that trio, Chris Masten looks to be the one to jump on early after his scintillating early season form. A perennial underachiever, this looks to be his year. He ranks second in the competition for DT points scored across the pre-season behind Jack Redden, scoring 89 and 96 in his two full outings. He finished with 19 disposals against the Saints in his most recent match, but he scored almost half of his points from tackles alone, applying 10. Below I have identified a group of mid-pricers that should be considered for your starting squad, with the likes of John McCarthy and Ivan Maric presenting great value at their second AFL club. MID-PRICED OPTIONS PLAYER MANAGEMENT DT Pts. Per % Game Player Club Position Price 100 min Time The term ‘player management’ was one fantasy coaches heard far too often last season. Chris Scott and Geelong led that charge, with the Cats the only Patrick Dangerfield ADEL Fwd/Mid $349,800 110 76 side in the AFL not to have anyone play in all 22 H&A matches. Sadly from a Ryan Hargrave WB Def $232,700 109 93 fantasy perspective this was seen as a masterstroke by the rookie coach, and several other coaches have since signalled their intentions to do likewise. Chris Masten WCE Mid $278,500 108 81 Brett Ratten has already got on the front foot and declared that Carlton was John McCarthy PORT Mid $251,000 103 60 likely to rest its stars also, with Chris Judd and Marc Murphy two prime Hayden Ballantyne FREM Fwd $356,700 95 81 candidates to miss games. Several other big names, headed by Dean Cox and Nick Riewoldt are also expected to be rested during the year. Below I Hamish McIntosh NM Ruck $273,500 88 68 have identified which players with fantasy relevance could be rested this season based on comments already made by key figures. Mitchell Golby BRIS Def $265,200 88 81 POSSIBLY RESTED? Taylor Hunt GEE Def $270,100 84 65 Club Players Ivan Maric RICH Ruck $262,700 83 81 Carlton C. Judd, M. Murphy, B. Gibbs Brian Lake WB Def $255,200 75 61 Fremantle A. Sandilands Matthew Bate MELB Fwd $248,000 73 67 Geelong Cats J. Bartel, C. Enright, P. Chapman, J. Selwood Ashton Hams WCE Fwd $227,500 67 89 Greater Western Sydney D. Brogan, L. Power, J. McDonald Colin Garland MELB Def $288,000 66 88 Hawthorn L. Franklin, L. Hodge, C. Rioli, S. Mitchell Ben Jacobs PORT Def $297,200 66 68 St Kilda N. Riewoldt, S. Fisher, L. Montagna, L. Hayes Reece Conca RICH Def $274,100 65 66 West Coast Eagles D. Cox ADELAIDE JASON PORPLYZIA NATHAN VAN BERLO Porplyzia is making it very difficult not to pick him. I put a line through van Berlo finished last season off in blazing fashion, and he looks to him a few weeks ago, but he’s doing his best to force his way back have taken that form into 2012. From Round 19 onwards last year only into my side. He starred last week against the Magpies with four goals Dane Swan scored more DT points in the league, averaging 122 points straight and 84 DT points, finishing with 13 disposals, six marks and per game. He’s definitely a unique option for your midfield if you are three tackles. If he has another solid hitout against West Coast, I’ll have looking to be a little different. no choice but to reinstate him. Adelaide AFL Dream Team Points NAB CUP Player Pos Price DT Pts Per 100 min NAB 1 NAB 2 NAB 3 $ Per Pt (Comp Rank) Patrick Dangerfield Fwd/Mid $349,800 110 26 127 86 $3,191 (195) Sam Kerridge Fwd/Mid $98,700 105 22 58 44 $939 (7) Rory Sloane Mid $429,500 100 51 78 93 $4,276 (336) Brad Symes Mid $341,300 99 11 79 $3,451 (222) Sam Jacobs Ruck $434,200 97 48 76 $4,482 (361) Richard Douglas Mid $378,300 96 41 54 $3,942 (277) Jason Porplyzia Fwd $202,500 94 53 84 $2,143 (112) Tom T. Lynch Fwd $243,400 94 34 70 70 $2,588 (150) Nathan van Berlo Mid $462,700 92 60 95 $5,045 (435) Bernie Vince Mid $400,100 92 46 79 58 $4,373 (346) Brodie Martin Def $174,100 91 0 39 $1,920 (90) Brodie Smith Def $261,800 86 33 42 64 $3,032 (181) Ian Callinan Fwd $217,000 85 25 71 51 $2,539 (144) Shaun McKernan Def/Fwd $229,400 82 6 85 56 $2,793 (160) Chris Knights Fwd/Mid $375,300 81 44 30 $4,615 (384) Tim McIntyre Fwd/Mid $85,800 76 31 22 $1,133 (20) Scott Thompson Mid $538,500 74 55 47 $7,233 (587) David Mackay Mid $307,300 69 24 48 $4,481 (360) Brent Reilly Mid $385,600 67 29 84 $5,767 (507) Kurt Tippett Fwd $350,400 66 41 73 $5,348 (468) Matthew Wright Fwd/Mid $324,400 65 13 34 $4,970 (428) Matthew Jaensch Def $338,300 65 50 47 42 $5,184 (454) Josh Jenkins Ruck $104,200 61 15 50 $1,699 (61) Jared Petrenko Mid $341,300 60 39 37 43 $5,650 (496) Richard Tambling Def $285,400 59 5 28 $4,843 (412) Ricky Henderson Fwd $266,600 57 14 62 27 $4,659 (389) Luke Thompson Def $268,000 54 11 25 23 $4,951 (424) Lewis Johnston Fwd $158,300 53 0 33 $2,974 (173) Jarryd Lyons Fwd $104,200 53 14 31 $1,968 (95) Graham Johncock Def $346,000 47 17 47 39 $7,290 (589) Sam Shaw Def $104,200 47 24 17 36 $2,206 (115) Andy Otten Def $348,600 43 5 48 27 $8,061 (609) Taylor Walker Fwd $296,400 42 25 37 35 $7,059 (576) Michael Doughty Def $360,300 42 21 14 $8,647 (621) Aidan Riley Mid $153,300 33 11 15 $4,717 (396) Daniel Talia Def $261,100 17 14 15 6 $15,368 (645) Freako Radar player - potential pick FantasyFreako @FantasyFreako - The Crows will play the Suns, Giants and the Power in the first five rounds. Plenty of points up for grabs there! BRISBANE LIONS PEARCE HANLEY MITCHELL GOLBY Hanley had a breakout season last year as a defender, ranking fifth at Golby has been a surprise packet for Brisbane, ranking third at the club the Lions for DT points scored, averaging 80 per match. He reached that for DT points scored behind Jack Redden and Tom Rockliff during the mark in 10 of his 22 games, which included four huge scores over 100 – NAB Cup. With a lot of coaches opting for Brian Lake or Ryan Hargrave as with a season-high 129 coming against Geelong in Round 17. He should mid-pricers in defence, he could be worth a punt if you’re after someone maintain these numbers from last season, if not exceed them. unique. Brisbane Lions AFL Dream Team Points NAB CUP Player Pos Price DT Pts Per 100 min NAB 1 NAB 2 NAB 3 $ Per Pt (Comp Rank) Simon Black Mid $449,400 140 44 126 $3,199 (198) Jack Redden Mid $540,100 129 75 92 132 $4,191 (317) Tom Rockliff Mid $554,200 120 33 97 113 $4,607 (379) James Hawksley Def $268,600 117 56 34 31 $2,286 (126) Ryan Harwood Mid $246,100 110 55 60 $2,247 (123) Jed Adcock Def $417,700 107 41 100 $3,910 (273) Elliot Yeo Mid $98,700 103 47 42 $954 (8) Jesse O'Brien Mid $257,600 100 41 5 74 $2,576 (147) Claye Beams Mid $214,700 90 47 52 80 $2,387 (137) Mitchell Golby Def $265,200 88 37 100 73 $3,031 (179) James Polkinghorne Mid $335,500 88 65 84 33 $3,834 (265) Daniel Rich Mid $400,000 87 54 $4,593 (375) Pearce Hanley Def $396,600 82 51 87 $4,828 (407) Rohan Bewick Mid $234,100 81 51 28 $2,874 (167) Ashley McGrath Fwd $325,000 81 90 54 26 $3,996 (284) Richard Newell Def/Mid $85,800 80 35 $1,079 (14) Matt Maguire Def $225,900 78 66 96 26 $2,884 (168) Aaron Cornelius Fwd $221,400 71 36 $3,137 (191) Cheynee Stiller Def $321,500 70 44 80 54 $4,624 (385) Amon Buchanan Fwd $226,300 67 32 25 $3,375 (213) Jared Polec Mid $215,800 65 35 34 44 $3,323 (210) Matthew Leuenberger Ruck $459,100 65 36 14 70 $7,078 (577) Patrick Karnezis Fwd $235,200 64 15 47 $3,680 (245) Ryan Lester Fwd $234,100 61 67 53 47 $3,813 (260) Jack Crisp Mid $85,800 60 21 26 $1,424 (44) Bradley Harvey Def/Mid $104,200 60 32 29 $1,742 (69) Billy Longer Ruck $148,200 57 10 39 63 $2,607 (153) Patrick Wearden Fwd/Mid $98,700 57 21 $1,739 (66) Daniel Merrett Def $291,800 54 48 $5,410 (473) Jonathan Brown Fwd $331,400 52 38 $6,366 (547) Todd Banfield Fwd $293,700 52 33 21 41 $5,689 (501) Jordan Lisle Fwd $219,200 49 35 40 $4,501 (365) Joshua Green Mid $226,500 46 20 17 $4,959 (426) Sam Sheldon Mid $263,700 42 8 30 35 $6,285 (543) Bryce Retzlaff Fwd $172,700 41 22 $4,239 (327) Joel Patfull Def $185,800 38 44 28 $4,903 (418) Niall McKeever Def $200,800 31 24 43 $6,414 (551) Ben Hudson Ruck $366,300 19 8 $19,231 (648) Freako Radar player - potential pick FantasyFreako @FantasyFreako - Simon Black just gets better with age.