[RELATED: Fantasy - North's prices | Fantasy: Defenders preview]
AFL Fantasy is back for another season, and the team at Footy Prophet will again be supplying NMFC.com.au with premium fantasy analysis and tips for the 2015 season.
The ruck stocks in AFL Fantasy for 2015 can ultimately make or break a coach’s season. With the retirement of fantasy ruck king Dean Cox, the next crop of AFL’s big men will aim to launch themselves to supremacy.
2014 surprise packet Stefan Martin ($635,000) enters the season as the third most expensive player in the competition after a career reviving 112-point average, which saw the Lion claw his way atop the ruck reserves.
However, after losing his forward eligibility, as well as the return of teammate Matthew Leuenberger, Martin’s costly price comes with substantial risk in 2015.
Fellow big men in Adelaide’s Sam Jacobs ($550,000), Greater Western Sydney’s Shane Mumford ($524,000) and North Melbourne’s own Todd Goldstein ($496 000) all boasted notable AFL Fantasy averages in 2014 and should be considered for your starting line-up. As the sole ruckmen in their respective teams in the majority of their matchups, each have the ability to greatly influences games, correlating with healthy fantasy numbers.
Cash cow options such as Brisbane’s Matthew Leuenberger, Carlton’s Matthew Kreuzer and Essendon’s Tom Bellchambers are all priced under $300,000, providing substantial value for coaches looking for established stars at discounted prices. The trio are poised to follow the likes of Aaron Sandilands ($490,000) after injury riddled years, seeing significant game time in their return season.
Tackling machine Matthew Lobbe ($505,000), will now be accompanied by Power recruit Paddy Ryder ($502,000) at Alberton, creating a formidable duo in black and teal. The pair displayed impressive numbers in 2014, however in 2015 they will be playing alongside one another, initiating a likely decrease in output and points.
Value picks in Fremantle’s Jonathan Griffin ($142,000) who is in line for game time if Sandilands goes down, young Swan Tom Nankervis ($120,000) who averaged 21 disposals as a ruckmen in the 2013 U/18 Championships along with Kangaroos' American import Eric Wallace ($120,000) and Dee Max King ($120,000) can bolster ruck benches.
Footy Prophet’s top ruck picks for AFL Fantasy:
1. Shane Mumford ($524, 000)
2. Sam Jacobs ($550, 000)
3. Todd Goldstein ($496, 000)
4. Matthew Leuenberger ($277, 000)
5. Matthew Kreuzer ($244, 000)
Join the official North Melbourne AFL Fantasy league to compete against like-minded fans.
Click here to register (league code: YL9C72HH)
