Today’s feature looks at a trio of proven performers - players who have demonstrated their fantasy credentials over a period of time. They are pricey but reliable – don’t underestimate the value of knowing exactly what you’re going to get when you pick a player.
Brent Harvey
FWD/MID, $503,400
It’s no news to anyone who loves their footy that Brent Harvey is a champion. Even at 35 years of age he’s still one of the most damaging players in the AFL, capable of turning a game on its head in the space of minutes. Harvey, however, is more than just an on-field hero – he’s also a gun fantasy player.
Here’s a stat that no one else in the AFL can match: Harvey has averaged 80 fantasy points per game or better, every year since 2001, and averaged above 90 in five of those years, most recently in 2013.
He has also been one of the AFL’s most durable players. With the exceptions of the carryover suspension that delayed his start to 2013 and the elbow injury that saw him miss seven games in 2009, Harvey has played every game since 2005.
Harvey isn’t cheap in AFL Fantasy Classic this year, so despite being a proven performer, he’s more ideal as an upgrade target later in the year.
AFL Fantasy Elite is where Harvey really shines. He always gets drafted later than he should due to his age, but his consistency and durability over the last decade simply can’t be matched.
Todd Goldstein
RUC, $487,100
Goldy is the third most expensive ruck in AFL Fantasy Classic this year and with good reason. After struggling to find the right balance working in tandem with Hamish McIntosh in 2012, Goldstein became the sole ruck for North in 2013 and flourished.
In 2013 he played every game for the first time in his career, and finished with an average of just under 90 points per game.
The most exciting thing about Goldy is that he has the genuine capacity to improve. His career best form is still his 2011 year in which he averaged an incredible 99 points per game, and after a solid pre-season it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him push back towards these heights in 2014.
Goldstein is a great “set and forget” ruckman to buy in AFL Fantasy Classic this year. You can simply lock him into your team from Round 1 then sit back and watch the points roll in. He’ll also be one of the first rucks drafted in AFL Fantasy Elite.
Drew Petrie
FWD, $464,600
North’s acting captain has played a variety of roles in his thirteen year career, but over the last few years has become one of the league’s most reliable and dangerous key forwards.
Discounting his 2010 season which was marred by a foot injury, Petrie has averaged more than 80 fantasy points every year since 2008, and we should expect more of the same this year.
His durability, too, has been incredible. Petrie has missed only one game in the last three years, and missed only two games in the 2003-09 period before his 2010 injury.
While Petrie is a proven performer, his scoring isn’t quite high enough to make him a good buy in AFL Fantasy Classic. However, he is a great get in an AFL Fantasy Elite draft, being a player you can rely on to play every week and put in another year of high scores.
