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 big fantasy news this week is that Nick Dal Santo ($443,000) is finally back. He hasn’t played a senior game since Round 2, thanks to a severe hamstring injury.
North Melbourne has brought Dal Santo straight back into the senior side, so fantasy owners will hope he can hit the ground running with a good score.
Dal Santo’s form against the Giants in recent years hasn’t been that flash, but after spending nine rounds on the sidelines you’d expect the midfielder to fire from the first bounce. He’ll be a welcome addition to both the Kangaroos’ outfit and fantasy teams. However, his price will fall in coming weeks so hold off on bringing him in straight away.
Also returning from a break is Shaun Atley ($282,000), who for the past two rounds has been plying his trade for North Ballarat. He responded well to his omission, with 24 and 18 touches in his two VFL games.
Atley’s fantasy scoring has been well off his best this year, but he has done well against the Giants in the past. Has plenty of potential, but based on his recent form you would have to hold off bringing him in until he strings together a series of good fantasy performances and locks himself into the senior side.
Greater Western Sydney suffered a huge blow when Shane Mumford was ruled out for the season, and Todd Goldstein ($526,000) will certainly benefit. The North ruckman has been on fire in recent weeks, with three large fantasy tons in a row. Although he hasn’t scored more than 100 points against the Giants yet, his matchup against newcomer Andrew Phillips gives him every opportunity to do so.
North will also be looking for strong performances from the likes of Lindsay Thomas ($332,000), Drew Petrie ($454,000) and Sam Gibson ($405,000). All were below their best against Sydney last week and a win with plenty of fantasy points will set the side up well heading into the Round 13 bye.
Around the Grounds
Richmond has made no changes to its side and will trouble West Coast. While the Tigers have had the luxury of a bye week, West Coast is playing their third game in 12 days.
Given Richmond’s series of strong wins, it’s no wonder the current team has been given another run. Captain Trent Cotchin ($507,000) is leading from the front and is showing some of the form that made him a fantasy icon back in 2012. Dustin Martin ($554,000) is rocketing along and hasn’t had a poor score since his Round 1 score of 53. His 143 points against Fremantle in Round 10 demonstrated exactly what he’s capable of.
The return of Brett Deledio ($517,000) from Achilles problems had a huge impact on the team. Deledio is a solidifying influence for the Tigers and his scores since his return have been sublime.
Throw in the emergent consistency of Brandon Ellis ($568,000), the rejuvenation of Shaun Grigg ($481,000) as an inside midfielder who regularly kicks goals, the never-say-die attitude of the eccentric Jack Reiwoldt ($467,000) and the contribution of a host of new Tiger draftees, and it’s no wonder the Tigers are winning and notching up plenty of fantasy points.
