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.
While it took a while for North Melbourne as a team to get into first gear, Todd Goldstein ($569,000) fired from the first bounce. He won the ruck battle against Mark Blicavs and Rhys Stanley, and was pivotal in the last quarter when the Kangaroos finally clinched the win.
Goldstein’s 131 AFL Fantasy points, the most of any player by a large margin, was made up of 42 hit-outs, 21 possessions, six tackles, and a goal late in the fourth quarter thanks to an assist from Ryan Bastinac.
Goldstein is the clear favourite to claim the mantle of the number one ruck in the competition this year. His average of 118 points after four rounds is almost 15 points clear of his nearest rival.
Right up there for influence in the win was Sam Wright ($372,000), who had a blinder off half-back. Using his excellent delivery, Wright helped set up North’s run and carry out of defence. He took nine marks for the day, three of them from Geelong kicks.
While Wright’s defensive efforts and spoils weren’t rewarded with fantasy points, his final tally of 115 from 32 disposals was very impressive. He occasionally finds himself facing stiff competition for the limited spots in North’s backline, but his performance against the Cats caused his price to rise and should secure his spot for the foreseeable future.
In the battle of the middle, captain Andrew Swallow ($487,000) and Jack Ziebell ($452,000) had their hands full against opponents like Joel Selwood and Mitch Duncan. Both players worked hard, the captain finishing on 99 points and Ziebell on 98.
Finally, Trent Dumont ($120,000) was thrown into the deep end when he was subbed onto the game in the fourth quarter. A late replacement for Jamie Macmillan, Dumont’s 20 points do not indicate just how involved he was. Not only did the debutant link in with an attacking play and delivered the ball to Ben Brown for a goal, but he scored a major himself with a nice checkside midway through the final term.
It’s going to be hard for Dumont to break into North’s best side, but having been a contributor to an important win will certainly help.
Around the Grounds
Hawthorn’s effort was commendable on Saturday night, but it just couldn’t bridge the gap against Port Adelaide. Central to its momentum was Isaac Smith ($538,000), who went on a 151-point rampage.
Pushing hard throughout the match, Smith finished on 29 disposals (including 22 kicks), eight marks, eight tackles and two fine goals. While it wasn’t enough to drag the Hawks over the line, there was a lot to like about Smith’s effort.
While Smith has been building up his form over a number of rounds, Jordan Lewis ($694,000) has been nothing short of electric since Round 1. His 130 points on the weekend, including 36 disposals and eight marks, comes off the back of three tons in a row and two scores over 150. His value has already risen by $73,000 this year and is likely to climb higher.
At this rate, Lewis is gunning for Tom Rockliff’s title of top fantasy player. If you can stomach the price tag grab him now.
