[RELATED: Fantasy - North's prices | Fantasy: Defenders preview | Fantasy: Rucks preview | Fantasy: Midfielders 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.
Perhaps the biggest change for AFL Fantasy in 2015 is the forward group.
There has been more change at this position than any other, compared to 2014, with several big-name players gaining dual-position status.
Fantasy superstar Dane Swan, Bomber jet Brendon Goddard and Tiger gun Brett Deledio are all available as midfielder/forwards in 2015. This means that AFL Fantasy coaches can pick this trio without using up valuable midfield spots in their team. They’ll all set you back more than $530,000, but it will be cap well spent.
They are joined by none other than explosive Roo, Jack Ziebell and the silky Harley Bennell as dual-position players who can be selected in either the midfield or as forwards.
Ziebell and Bennell are extremely attractive in fantasy, as they’ll cost coaches less than $485,000 at the beginning of the year. Both have significant upside, and could score much higher in 2015 than their initial price tags indicate.
The addition of these new forwards comes at a cost, however, with Luke Parker, Patrick Dangerfield and Ben McGlynn no longer available as dual-position players. This trio can now only be selected as midfielders.
North’s Brent Harvey is the most expensive forward at $565,000, thanks to his career-best fantasy season in 2014.
Amazingly that came at 36 years of age, and Harvey is showing no signs of slowing down.
There’s some value to be found, too, with Taylor Walker ($415,000), Taylor Adams ($404,000) and new Cat Mitch Clark ($156,000) priced much lower than what they are capable of producing.
Some of the top rookies are also available as forwards, including 2013’s mini-draft selection Jesse Hogan (Melbourne, $194,000), number 1 overall draft selection from 2013, Tom Boyd (Western Bulldogs, $192,000) and the exciting Jayden Laverde (Essendon, $240,000).
Footy Prophet's advice when picking your forwards in AFL Fantasy this year: load up on mid/forwards. There are plenty of great options to choose from, and these players are traditionally more reliable than the key forward types.
Midfield time also means bigger scores in fantasy for these guys, so fill your team with them and sit back and watch the points roll in.
Footy Prophet’s top forward picks for AFL Fantasy
1. Dane Swan (Collingwood) - $531,000
2. Dustin Martin (Richmond) - $553,000
3. Brendon Goddard (Essendon) - $550,000
4. Jack Ziebell (North Melbourne) - $480,000
5. Mitch Clark (Geelong) - $156,000
Join the official North Melbourne AFL Fantasy league to compete against like-minded fans.
Click here to register (league code: YL9C72HH)
Fantasy: Forwards preview
North's Jack Ziebell looks like an AFL Fantasy bargain, with a price tag of only $480,000.