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.
It was North’s best win for the year so far, and a great day for fantasy coaches. The Kangaroos and Dockers went head to head, with the boys in royal blue and white coming away with an 11-point win.
Todd Goldstein faced his biggest challenge yet – literally and figuratively – in Aaron Sandilands, and while he was getting battered early he rallied to put on a strong display.
Sandilands beat him in the hit-outs and had two goals to quarter time, but Goldstein had the last laugh, popping up in important places around the ground and kicking two last-quarter goals including a sealer on the siren.
All in all Goldstein finished with 15 disposals, 28 hit-outs, six marks, five tackles and two goals for 111 fantasy points, allowing him to maintain his position as the highest scoring player in the competition.
There’s tough competition with the likes of Dane Swan and Stefan Martin not far behind, but we’ll back Goldstein in to see the year out as the fantasy world’s MVP.
Andrew Swallow was arguably North’s best player, both in his on-field contributions and his scoring.
His fantasy game has always been built around tackling; he might not rack up possessions like some midfielders do but his appetite for the contest is unmatched.
Against the Dockers he laid 12 tackles – that’s 48 points from tackles alone – along with 21 disposals, 15 contested possessions and nine clearances. A marvellous effort from the skipper and it saw him finish with a fantasy score of 111, equal with Goldstein as North’s highest.
Jarrad Waite was a force on the day kicking important goals and having a hand in others. He collected seven marks and three goals to finish with 93 points in one of his best games for the club.
No surprise that Brent Harvey had a big one to celebrate his new contract. He had seventeen touches and kicked four goals – three in the first half to keep North afloat when struggling – on his way to a solid score of 87.
The game will also be remembered as a great one for Shaun Atley who came alive late in the match to provide great drive from defence. He finished with 16 disposals, six marks, six tackles, and two great fend-offs.
Nick Dal Santo (90), Robin Nahas (85), Ben Brown (83) and Ben Cunnington (83) all also produced handy fantasy scores, while Ryan Bastinac (34) had an impact in the last quarter as the sub.
Around the Grounds
Top score honours went to Eagles forward Josh Kennedy who booted seven goals on his way to 157 points against the Bulldogs. However he was only six points ahead of Brisbane’s Stefan Martin who saw plenty of the ball despite a heavy loss to Adelaide.
Tom Rockliff continued his great late-season revival with a second consecutive score of 140+, Brandon Ellis joined him on 140 while Steven Motlop, Tyrone Vickery, Kurt Tippett, Steele Sidebottom and Shaun McKernan all topped the 130 mark.
Fantasy guns Luke Hodge and Nat Fyfe are both expected to come under Match Review Panel scrutiny this week, and could be major losses for their coaches if they cop suspensions.
