Team Reveal – Abs

To say the upcoming season is unlike any other would be an understatement. The last three previous seasons I have finished between 1000-1500 overall, and hopefully following the trend of 2024 being a wildcard season, a push into the top 500 is hopefully on the cards.

I’d also like to apologise in advance, there’s a player in this team I had completely written off all pre-season, and upon re-watching the practice game and having an awkward amount of cash left, that burn-man player has ended up in my team, but we’ll get to that shortly.

Defenders

Firstly with Nick Daicos, there’s just no way you can anti-POD him. My initial team selector had James Sicily in his place, and maybe controversially, I still think Sicily is a good pick, and I personally have him finishing above Tom Stewart, who I’ve happily faded in place of Dan Houston. The Port Adelaide Half Back averaged 114.2 SC points at Adelaide Oval in 2023.  And in 2024, Houston has 7/10 first games at AO, along with opening fixtures against the Eagles & Tigers, lock. Harry Sheezel was one that was always on the radar, and with the role having ticked the boxes I was wanting to see, he’s kept his place at D3, likewise with Hayden Young. Zac Williams has been in the side since the team selector opened up, Blake Howes was someone I was hoping to see named, and even prior to the game against Sydney found himself at D6. Howes had averaged 93 SC points in the VFL last season (which is the most out of all the rookie priced defenders). Josh Gibcus & Zach Reid are fine on the bench to make some slow-burn cash.

Midfielders

Marcus Bontempelli wasn’t a consideration until I realised Gawn over English was just too hard to resist. Ultra-consistent, and bringing him in later-on is a headache I’d rather avoid. Zak Butters, LDU, Green, the three have practically been a main-stay of my teams since the selector, surprised at which of the three has kept their spot? From all the information provided, Butters will be ready to go in around 1, and similar to Houston, that fixture run is just impossible to ignore. Touk Miller is another I’ve been bullish on, but the bye had been forcing my hand to leave him out. The early fixtures aren’t great for the Suns, but even still, he’s one I’d rather have and lock away for sub-550k, supreme value. Nick Martin has been in the team since the whispers of him moving to halfback were being floated around. I actually attended the practice game against the Cats to watch the man, and he definitely passed the eye-test in person. Ollie Wines has also found himself as a pseudo premium at M5. Again, the fixture run is immense, Hinkley has slated his return into the midfield, and the former Brownlow Medalist has got a nice pre-season under his belt (which couldn’t be said for last season). McKercher, Sanders, Hustwaite on-field are all strong IMO, nothing to add to those three that hasn’t been said. Matt Roberts at M9 will be quite handy for the bye-rounds, and then Jeremy Sharp and Jhye Clark round out the last two slots. Close watch on Sharp, could slot Wilson into the Midfield and play around with the likes of Chris Burgess who should have strong JS for the first half of the season.

Rucks

Max Gawn & Brodie Grundy, to the surprise of none, I have personally flirted with going up to Tim English or down to Tristan Xerri, but English is just not feasible with Bont already in the team, and Xerri won’t be a keeper like Gawn has the potential to be. Sam Naismith is one I’ll easily fade for a loophole if Nank is back this week.

Forwards

Isaac Heeney did the most Heeney thing of all time scoring 144 points in Round 0 and sucking us all in. The loose plan for myself is to start Heeney, capitalise on the big score, soft fixtures, role and then potentially flick to Sam Flanders come Sydney’s bye, but saying that, everyone’s got a plan til they get punched in the face… Zac Fisher was actually in my team selector squad, and then that was re-affirmed by his role in the pre-season, he has had two hamstring issues this pre-season, but at that price you couldn’t fade, could you? Nat Fyfe… There’s a lot of texts and posts that I need to delete about this man. Hasn’t been in my team at all this pre-season, however to maintain structure after Jack Billings laid an egg as a sub, Nat Fyfe is the one that’s found a spot. Obviously, James Harmes, Charlie Lazzaro, Caleb Windsor are all options, but not for my team. James Jordon is another that has been in the team since the Team Selector days, the only cause for concern was Jordon cosplaying as a ghost in the Swans forward line during the first quarter, before being shifted up the ground. There’s nothing to add regarding Harley Reid and Alex Sexton, both are locks and should be on-field. Darcy Wilson being shifted to the mid bench is a play that could work, but until team sheets, he’s in my forward line. Aaron Cadman has great JS and should make some nice slow burn cash.

There you have it, Round 1 isn’t far away, and I don’t expect to change any of the premiums or mid-pricers barring significant news. Have any thoughts (on anything besides Fyfe now being in)? Let me know in the comments! Best of luck for Round 1 everyone.

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