So I'm still not at all convinced I'll play this year but this is the best time of the season so figured I'd throw a draft together...
Disclaimer: I've not watched a second of footy, I haven't followed basically anything but the injuries thread and a quick fanfooty glance at scores so consider it as "group think" free as possible but also take it for what it is! AKA: I need all the help I can get. Also is it sad that I miss writing the reviews far, far more than the sport...
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Backs
Daicos - **** bye, underpriced with injury/tags (he should improve against). I think he's still got plenty of upside, I'll die with the masses here if he goes ass up but would be shocked if he's not at least D6 level at season end...
Sicily - Sinclair injury took away the one I wanted of this group. Feels like there's questions on all of them but I had the cash so why not... This is the one who goes to a mid if the rookies were to play out that way (and I actually enter a side!).
Sheezel - He was better than Daicos as a 1st year player, I don't see any good reason he shouldn't do similar as a 2nd year player, especially as being on a bad team makes tags far less likely. Locked for me.
Young - I'm not sold here but the bye, issues with seemingly everyone above and I've gone with the "pick the player you like" mantra a lot on this team given it might not even end up in existence
Gibcus - Can afford Williams, will wait and see there. I like Gibcus a lot. Think there's plenty of viable options here to choose from but definitely looks like the strategy might be to have more rookies in the mids and forwards this year, especially on-field.
Coffield - Strong pick if makes the team. Fieldable type, imo.
Reid - Strong bench rookie.
Hore - Really just a holding position right now, rookies pick themselves but don't see any issues with finding a warm body here.
Mids
Bont - Not enamoured with this pick as I always hate paying top dollar because I almost always pick the wrong option and end up hating it. Ultimately though I don't trust Petracca or Oliver right now, throw in their bye and Bont is such a beast anyway.
Merrett - Very much in the players I like group. Bye is good and he's a jet. Averaged a lazy 123 over the last 14 last year, which to be fair is a constant theme with him 1st/2nd half of seasons but **** it, one year he starts well and he's a god pick because no one else starts him on that theory, right?
Dawson - Players I like with good byes should be my team name at this point. 2nd year in midfield, I honestly don't see a good reason he can't push another 10 points higher this year, he probably wont but I can live with 110+ here.
Serong - Again, players I like with good byes. Rozee and Gulden are the next two on my list, Gulden would be 1st of all these guys if not for his bye (he's players I love with terrible bye), Rozee right up there also but Serong the one I picked first. I don't hate Parish either.
McKercher - Feels like a must start (field) rookie.
Sanders - Another strong looking rookie.
Hustwaite - Less sold on this pick purely on JS questions but I really liked him at the end of last year and especially in the preseason last year.
Clark - Similar to Hustwaite, I like him but JS is definitely a question, fwiw if I went this strategy he'd be on bench for Roberts.
Windsor - No idea here but DPP link is definitely needed with my forward setup so will have it somehow, may as well be the rookie I expect is a very slow burner.
Roberts - Get to see him round 0, he's either a must start (field) or non-option, I don't see an in between here.
Faulkhead - Honestly, I picked a placeholder and then I saw his name and it was fated that he shall be it until the warm body is selected. I hope he plays 400 games, I might watch his debut just for the commentary glory and I don't plan on watching a game this season!
Rucks
Gawn - Whatever on the bye, he's value and he's Gawn. Gulden camp of players I love with terrible byes.
Grundy - Too much value here. Even if it's just to his bye, honestly he's too cheap to not start for mine. Especially given English and Marshall are the "safe" alternatives and I'm still not sure how the world didn't spontaneously combust when those two didn't miss a game between them last year but the odds firmly say that is very unlikely this year.
Sweet - See what happens with him and Naismith but if both of them were picked I'd definitely strongly consider a rookie R2. Not sure who I ditch of Gawn and Grundy or where I spend the cash but a rookie ruck is a must start if you have cover.
Forwards
Flanders - Averaged 106 over his last 10, Touk played 7 of those (admittedly in a terrible role) but if he can average 95+, he pays off his extra bye and is a strong starting pick. I think he's a sound bet for that. Plus, everyone else is either injured, has the bye without being underpriced or has serious questions with Daniel (role/scoring) and Jackson, who averaged 87 when Darcy played which is spiked by both his injury and return games where Jackson was the #1 ruck (drops to 82 with those two also removed), compared to the 118.5 when he's the #1 ruck. Basically he's 10-15 points overpriced compared to expected role LY, so needs to improve that much if Darcy stays healthy. If Darcy were out, he's as locked as they could be.
Lynch* - I removed him but obviously didn't save but he's one of about 5 names I like from his price down (I have enough to go 400k down to be fair). Names include Phillipou, Lynch, Fisher (pricier), Powell, Jordon (who I moved him too without saving), Mackenzie, Harmes, Tsatas and Hayes, along with the guys I've selected. I also like Jeremy Cameron if I were to restructure things a fair bit.
Fyfe - I will regret this but he's at a good price this year and got a good role I believe.
Billings - Not expecting too much here but the price is right basically and have always rated him. Goodwin is a much better coach than he had (while fit) at Saints, I don't expect him to get the role he should have always had with them unfortunately but he's a solid 80+ guy in his worst role in a bad team, so should be better in a decent team.
Reid - He's an easy lock for mine. Elite talent floating between two elite roles. Should be somewhere in the Ashcroft to Sheezel range if he stays fit, which given the Eagles is almost certainly his biggest issue. Not beyond the realms that he puts up keeper numbers if there's not a serious influx of rucks/mids into the forward group given how weak it is.
Watson - Honestly, expensive placeholder but I do really like him as a prospect (not so much fantasy this year though). Sexton 100% starts here if I picked this exact team.
Sexton - If he's playing HB, he's an absolute lock. Very Jayden Short in his skillset, expect him to be used similarly, aka no defense which he is too bad at to play forward (yeah the modern game makes sense like that) but elite kicking. Genuinely would say he can be the top averaging forward this year, absolute must start in that role who can push 100 mark. Bye irrelevant given that.
Biggie - See Faulkhead, insert the Notorious B.I.G, let's get Juicy. Seriously, on issue filling this spot I don't think.
Actually found it very easy to pick a team this year, once you throw away 95% of the round 0 guys (I've got it at roughly 7.5ppg underpriced to break even with a fairly priced non round 0 guy), take the lock rookies and filter out all the injured guys, you only have like 10 mids, 6 backs and 0 forwards to choose from. Ironically the rucks might have the most legitimate premium options
