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.
North Melbourne has named a strong team for Round 1. With only a few injuries to speak of this pre-season, North has been able to field virtually its best side.
Perhaps most excitingly, the Kangaroos are debuting their two free agency acquisitions from last October, Jarrad Waite and Shaun Higgins.
Jarrad Waite ($455,000) has something to be excited about. The Crows have fielded a relatively inexperienced backline. Aside from All-Australian Daniel Talia, 10-gamer Kyle Hartigan is the Crows only other confirmed starting defender taller than 190cm.
If North is able to perform through the midfield, Waite, Petrie and Brown could be able to reap the rewards closer to goal.
Shaun Higgins ($430,000) also offers a bit of excitement. He has been named on the wing, and while Brad Scott will no doubt seek to make use of his versatility throughout the game, the more midfield time he plays the better.
With the number of quality fantasy defenders low this year, Higgins makes for a good value pick in AFL Fantasy Classic or AFL Fantasy Elite, especially if he is playing through the middle of the ground.
Key defenders Nathan Grima and Lachie Hansen are the most notable players to be missing from the squad.
Aaron Black has also been left out of the squad, he appears to have lost the battle for the third tall spot to Ben Brown – for now, at least.
Last but certainly not least, a special mention to last year’s Syd Barker Medallist, Ben Cunnington, who is playing his 100th AFL game this week. This is around the time in a career when players often see an uptick in fantasy production, so keep an eye on Cunnington this year.
Around the Grounds
Round 1 is as exciting as ever with no less than 39 players named to make either their AFL or club debut this week.
Angus Brayshaw, Jesse Hogan, Isaac Heeney, Jordan de Goey, Nakia Cockatoo Jarrod Garlett, Touk Miller and Tom Lamb are just a handful of the exciting youngsters who will play their first AFL games this weekend.
Meanwhile the likes of Nick Malceski, Heritier Lumumba, Adam Cooney, Dayne Beams, Allen Christensen, Tom Boyd, Ryan Griffen, James Frawley and Mitch Clark, among others, will all make their debut for new clubs after moving in the off-season.
If you’re still looking to fill out your AFL Fantasy Classic side ahead of the final lockout on Saturday, we recommend a look at Ben Newton ($192,000), Aaron vandenBerg ($120,000) and Touk Miller ($211,000) to fill those last few spots.
