With footy finally returning this week in the form of AFLX, that can only mean one thing; AFL Fantasy owners are hanging out to see who to pick in 2018.
North Media is here to help you with any selection headaches you may have been deliberating over, as we review the best options for your team.
We start with the most important, and often the hardest positions to fill, the midfield.
If you haven't already, make your AFL Fantasy team HERE.
Paul Ahern - $170,000 - Current Ownership: 32.08%
Selected by over 30% of total teams, Ahern is set to be a genuine cash cow with his basement price of $170,000.
The former number 7 draft pick has yet to play an AFL game after two knee reconstructions over two years, but has impressed since his return to pre-season training with his silky skills and movement.
Ahern’s value increases again when his dual-position status is taken into account, with his forward/midfield eligibility making him a precious commodity.
All going to plan, Ahern could be in the mix for a Round 1 debut, and with his low price and enormous potential for growth looks a terrific option.
STATUS: LOCK HIM IN
Jack Ziebell - $662,000 - Current Ownership: 0.2%
Currently selected in only 0.2% of teams, North’s fierce skipper averaged an impressive 94 points-per-game in 2017, only .38 of a point less than the much more fancied Shaun Higgins.
If Ziebell stays fit, he should be a reliable if not spectacular scorer, and with his low ownership he could be just the differential your team needs.
STATUS: ONE TO CONSIDER
Ben Cunnington - $620,000 - Current Ownership: 0.12%
The hard-nosed midfielder had the third-highest average AFL Fantasy score in 2017 among North players, and will once again be in the midfield discussion.
Another reliable accumulator of the ball, Cunnington has also spent time forward in pre-season with success, further adding to his fantasy threat.
Cunnington’s hard at the ball style has sometimes got him into hot water with the MRP, so this may be of concern to owners.
STATUS: ONE TO CONSIDER
Trent Dumont - $546,000 - Current Ownership: 0.08%
Coming off a career-high 19 games in 2017, Dumont will be looking to be involved even more in his fourth season of AFL football.
Dumont averaged a respectable 77 fantasy points last season, and certainly has the potential to match some more of the more highly-selected midfielders, while saving you $100,000.
STATUS - ONE TO CONSIDER
Declan Mountford - $439,000 - Current Ownership 0.51%
Impressive in first season of AFL footy, Mountford averaged 62 points across his 12 games in 2017.
An energetic midfielder who covers plenty of ground, he averaged a very handy 3.8 tackles last season, a key AFL Fantasy stat.
Mountford is worth keeping an eye on, but with his current price and plenty of competition in midfield, he may be a risky pick for round 1.
STATUS: ON THE RADAR
Shaun Higgins - $665,000 - Current Ownership: 0.23%
Shaun Higgins is listed as the highest-priced North midfielder in this year’s game, coming in at a whopping $655,000.
The reigning Syd Barker Medal winner is yet to put a foot wrong this pre-season, and looks primed to be a staple in North’s young and emerging midfield this year.
Higgins finished 2017 in red-hot form, averaging 109 points in the last three games of the season, highlighted by a 114 in Round 23.
The 29-year-old’s durability was also proven, missing just one game in Round 5.
STATUS: ONE TO CONSIDER
Luke Davies-Uniacke - $264,000 - Current Ownership: 31.51%
The number four pick in last year’s NAB AFL Draft is the eighth most-owned midfielder this year, and understandably so.
At $264,00, Luke Davies-Uniacke has looked comfortable in his first AFL pre-season, catching the eye of onlookers during recent practice matches.
Davies-Uniacke averaged 109 points per 120 minutes in last year’s NAB AFL Under-18 Championships, and looks poised for a Round 1 debut.
There is no doubt fantasy coaches will be rewarded if they are willing to pay the premium price for LDU.
STATUS: LOCK HIM IN
Kyron Hayden - $170,000 - Current Ownership: 0.56%
With a basement price tag of $170,000, first-year player Kyron Hayden is certainly worth putting on your watch list this season.
Currently side-lined after undergoing shoulder surgery in December, Hayden is expected to be back training with the main group within a month.
Hayden’s size and strength make him potentially AFL-ready, but the 18-year-old has plenty of boxes to tick before he debuts.
Keep a close eye on his progress.
STATUS: ON THE RADAR
Ben Jacobs - $243,000 - Current Ownership: 0.95%
After overcoming a troublesome footy injury which he battled for much of the past two years, Ben Jacobs is back on his feet, literally, and ready to return in 2018.
Having not played since Round 8 in 2016 means Jacobs’ price is quite low, and the $243,000 valuation makes him a tempting proposition.
Known as a tagger, only time will tell whether Brad Scott envisages a similar role for him in 2018.
If Jacobs features in the JLT Community Series keep an eye on what role he plays, as it may determine his fantasy worth.
STATUS: ON THE RADAR
Billy Hartung - $563,000 - Current Ownership: 0.41%
Playing 18 games for Hawthorn last season, Hartung averaged 80 AFL Fantasy points, making him a genuine option for selection in the midfield.
Hartung has never had an issue finding the ball, which is evident in the fact that he averaged 22 disposals in 2017 for.
His pace and outside run could be what North have been lacking, so he should be expected to see plenty of game time, and hopefully plenty of points for his owners.
His reasonably lofty price-tag is likely to deter many however.
STATUS: ON THE RADAR
