Defenders
Lock and Load: This section was solely reserved for Connor Blakely ($461,800) but there are reports coming out of the weekend that he has suffered a serious hamstring injury and will miss the next 12-14 weeks. Blakely has been given stints in the midfield over the years and can quite consistently hit triple figures in a game playing this role but the inevitable switch back to defence always stunted his scoring. As a fan, this is a real shame as with the departure of Neale, we would have truly seen what he was capable of but over the last 3 years, he has missed significant development.
Feeling Lucky: Whilst some teams play on from a behind nearly 40% of the time, Fremantle came in dead last over the 2018 home and away season playing on just 8% of the time (21 of 261 kick ins). Luke Ryan ($489,900) was Fremantles number 1 kick in taker last season taking 107 but only played on 4 separate occasions. This means, his entire 90 season average came exclusively from around the ground. With the new kick in rules making it easier for defenders to play on and champion data confirming it will count as a disposal, Ryan could be the one who benefits from the new rules the most and get a significant increase in disposals numbers and score. This is all speculation of course, however I will be paying close attention during the JLT series.
Money Maker: Slim picking for the rookie defenders who will get decent game time to make money and Griffin Logue ($164,300) is about the only one we have to offer. Even then, he averaged 43.2 in his debut season (2017) before missing 2018 through injury which will be nowhere near enough at his current price. Pass for me.
Midfielders
Lock and Load: Every year, the same conundrum comes around whether you should start Nat Fyfe ($618,100) or not. The guy has never played 22 games in a season and has a career season average of 16 games. That said, if you don’t have him, he hurts. Fyfe comes in priced at 113 points but is one of few in the competition who can average 125 and was in fact averaging that much up until his injury last season in round 14 and had 4 x 150+ scores under his belt up until then. So my advice, lock him in your starting team, collect multiple 130+ captain scores and save a trade for the inevitable injury or late suspension.
Feeling Lucky: There are very few players who become premiums in their second year and Nat Fyfe, Clayton Oliver and to a lesser extent, Patrick Cripps (who was a successful stepping stone) come to mind. Everything about Andrew Brayshaws ($328,600) game says he could join this group and if you started him, you’d have bigger kahunas than me! Maybe if he got a full season of experience last year…..
Harley Bennell ($167,700). Potential? Yes. Good price? Yes. Risky? Heck yes. Feeling Lucky?
Money Maker: Over my time reviewing rookies, my number one take away is mature aged recruits are SuperCoach Gold. These guys are generally physically and mentally ready for AFL and offer fantastic value for money. Fremantle picked up a mature ager for themselves in the 2018 draft and by all reports, Brett Bewley ($117,300), aged 23, has really impressed and given the Blakely news, plays like him will have to stand up even more. While the U18 captain Sam Walsh was all the rage for pick 1, his vice captain (and SA’s captain) Luke Valente ($117,300) flew under the radar and was picked up much later at pick 32. A natural leader, he will no doubt feature in 2019.
Rucks
Fremantle offers very little in the ruck division for 2019 and will do so as long as Sandilands ($529,000) is still floating around. If fit, he his still set to take the number 1 ruck spot over his successor Sean Darcy ($361,500) but I wouldn’t pick Sandilands as I wouldn’t be confident in getting more then 5 games in a row from him.
Rory Lobb ($411,600) has FWD DPP, but would need to average 95+ to be worth the punt as either back up or a substitute R2 for those who don’t want to fork out $1.4M on Grundy/Gawn at the start but has never average more then 75 in a season playing for a much more attacking side in GWS.
Forwards
Lock and Load: David Mundy ($520,900) surprised many last year and none more so than myself and if we ever needed his experience in the midfield, it is now. He is getting old though, turning 34 this year and offers very little at his starting price but a gut feel says he can be a premium for one last time.
Feeling Lucky: If I was starting with any Fremantle forward premium, it would be Michael Walters ($476,800). He fits the bill of a more ‘lucky’ pick as he has never played a full 22 games or average 90+. That said, he is a proven scorer when played through the middle and will get his fair share of minutes like he has over the last few years. The only thing that slightly holds Walters back is how damaging his is as a small forward which means he throws up a fair share of sub 70 scores.
Adam Cerra ($329,600) comes in listed as a pure forward for fantasy football, but played his best game last year across half back with stints in the midfield racking up 30 touches and 6 marks. The common theme of this write up is we need midfielders, and Cerra will have to step up. Is he worth a punt though at his current price? Another potential suitor, is Travis Coyler ($282,900) who’s game experience will come in handy.
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Great write up Hutta, unfortunately the news on Blakely is correct. Out Blakely in Andrews for me. Brett Bewley is getting good wraps from the coach so he’s a starter in my side.Fyfe….hmmmmm.
Do we have any stats/reasoning as to why Luke Ryan’s scores fell off a cliff in the second half of last season?
If I was starting luke ryan id be concerned about Nathan Wilson taking more kick-ins – i think he already took the second most. The new rules seem to suit Wilson and hes one I’ll be watching in jlt too – could be a breakout year.
So no Neale, no blakley when fyfe(whom I’m startin) gets injured who gets all those points? Mundy, Walters a rookie, Hogan?
Who’s a sneaky starter bassed on this scenario?
Ed langdon
The opposition
Ha ha
You could be right!
Thanks Hutta.
Great Team Review. I always look forward to this one 😉
It’s a real shame about Blakey. I really thought this was the year he would really get to show his worth.
I guess as you mentioned it does open up a spot for one of the younger guys.
Do you have any news on S Hills role this year. I know he has been racked by injuries the last few years, In his prime he averaged 95+ playing mainly wing. I know its a long shot but I think Freo will be looking at some of the few experienced guys to lead the way.
Could Hill step up?
I can also see Mundy getting plenty of midfield time this year.
With Neale leaving and now Blakey going down. Mundy’s experience will be needed in the middle more than ever.
I owned him all last year and felt he was a success. This year I doubt I will start him.But I do think he has one more good year in him and I will look to pick him up at some stage.
If, or more likely when, Sandi looks like he is gone for the year. Lobb may become an option if given enough time in the ruck. I would really like some ruck cover, so may look at getting him in when if starts getting enough ruck time.
Once again a great review. Thanks Hutta.
Sorry Hutta, I couldn’t take you seriously after the 2019 premiers line so no Docker premos for Thommo’s Tribe in 2019.
Thanks Hutta. Still umming and arrghing about starting Fyfe. His bye may just get him a spot. Was v happy with him last year, for a while anyway!
Bewley has to be a yes now surely. Might pick Valente as a loophole (albeit an expensive one) too, in the hope he eventually gets a game. Am sure I’ll have a few donuts on the benches by then.
Too many questions to worry about rookies and set-up just yet.
Thanks again and here’s to Blakely back fit and firing before the byes.
Start Fyfe.
Averaged 117.88 from 8 at Optus Stadium last season which included an injury affected 43 (then increases to 128.57 from 7 if 43 is excluded) as well as 139.25 from 4 in Optus Stadium wins. 3 of their first 4 and 5 of their first 8 at OS in 2019 with only 2 against 2018 top 8 teams.
Averages less than 110 against 5 teams and only plays 1 of them in their first 9 matches with their first 2 games against NM and GC. Fyfe averages 137.11 from 9 (low of 108 and a high of 164, 8/9 120+) against NM and 140.33 from 6 (low of 116 and a high of 160, 4/6 120+) against GC.
Explained perfectly why I’m going to start him, even if he is injured by the byes it’s worth a corrective trade because he’s probably going to score an extra 10-15 ppg over whatever premo I was going to start instead.
Thanks Adam. I seem to recall you posting impressive numbers for Mundy re:OS last year when I was tempted to sideways trade him and it turned out to be a stroke of genius. Fyfe LOCKED thank you and with Blakely out for a while Mundy is back in the frame at F3 for me despite him being a year closer to his pension.
Thanks again!
Nah, he burns me every year. Never plays 22 games and with no other star at Freo he’s going to cop a lot of attention.
You’ve talked me into Ryan.
Don’t do it he was hell last year!
If you look at it, Ryan’s figures fall off with Blakely out of the backline/side from R14 onwards. Not sure what this means but it puts a little scare through me for this year?
Be keen to hear anyone else’s thoughts but