2021 Team Preview – Fremantle

DEFENDERS

Lock and Load: Luke Ryan ($576,500) plays his best football as a third tall rebounding defender but injuries to Fremantle first choice tall defenders forced Ryan into a hybrid lockdown/rebound roll in which he excelled. Earning himself his first All-Australian jacket, Ryan averaged 18.6 disposals at 84% efficiency, 6.6 rebound 50s, 4.7 1%ers, 406m gained and a SuperCoach average of 107.3. His game style is perfect for SuperCoach and he only dropped below 100 once after Rd4 for last season and averaged 115 over this time.

Feeling Lucky: If you need to see what the young rebounding defender Hayden Young ($279,400) can do, you only need to look at his third AFL game. In his third game, Young finished the game on 15 disposals (12 kicks), 6 marks, 4 tackles and 7 rebound 50s for 109 SuperCoach points. Unfortunelty his season was cut short in Rd6 due to an ankle injury but if he can stay on the park in 2021, expect 22 games and some big scores.

Money Maker: Not much here unfortunately. Heath Chapman ($148,800) would be most likely to get game time in 2020 but he is in a long like of tall defenders.

MIDFIELDERS

Lock and Load: If you like SuperCoach points, you need not look any further than dual Brownlow medalist Nat Fyfe ($608,300). If he has no hiccups between now and the start of the season, it will be his first uninterrupted pre-season in a very lock time. Lock and put the key in a safe space in case you need an injury trade, but enjoy the ride while he is fully fit.

Feeling Lucky: Andrew Brayshaw ($544,200) really hit his stride last season elevating his 2019 average of 70 to 101 in 2020 (108 from round 5 onwards). Whilst only managing 75% TOG in 2020, he finished the season averaging 20 disposals (76% effectiveness) and 3 marks. Unfortunelty for us SuperCoachers, he lost his forward eligibility and is only available as a midfielder this season – but he has all the tools at his disposal to hit 110+ this season as all it will take is slight increase in natural progression and time of ground. He also ticks the durability box, only missing a handful of games in his debut season to a broken jaw.

Money Maker: Luke Valente ($123,900) was touted to be one of the next midfield stars for Fremantle but has struggled to break into the seniors in his first two seasons. This hasn’t been helped by the heavy midfield recruiting from in the drafts the last few seasons and the lack of opportunities in a COVID affected season  but he needs to make season 2021 count.

RUCKS

Treacy ($102,400) is about the only SuperCoach relevant ruck at Fremantle to start the season and that is purely due to his basement price tag, dual position status (RUC/FWD) and the likelihood Fremantle getting given a lot of Sunday afternoon games – making him one of the better permanent captain loophole players. If there looks to be a starting rookie ruck, I will forgo the captain loophole come Rd1 otherwise Treacy isn’t a bad option.

FORWARDS

Lock and Load: No Fremantle forward is a lock for me.

Feeling Lucky: Michael Walters ($531,100) started 2020 on fire, averaging 112 points over the first 8 rounds before succumbing to a hamstring injury. Coming back in Rd12 he only averaged 82 for the remaining 6 games (before injuring himself, again) which was enough to drop his season average to 98. His tale of two half seasons did coincide with the emergence of the younger midfielders at Fremantle, however one to watch this pre-season if there is some midfield carnage at Fremantle. If he is set on the half-forward role, there is much better value to be had elsewhere.

Money Maker: Again, don’t look for a Fremantle rookie to make you money in the Forwards as you will be pretty disappointed.

 

---

Leave a comment / Scroll to bottom