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.
A big win over Geelong meant some North Melbourne boasted some big fantasy scores.
Todd Goldstein was the standout, recording 45 hit-outs, but it was his around the ground work that proved the difference.
The big man finished with 19 disposals, eight clearances, five marks, five tackles and a goal for the night.
Goldstein's fantasy score of 139 for the evening has seen his season average rise yet again, and he’s now topping 110 points per game, comfortably the most of any ruckman. It’s also the eighth highest average of any player across the competition.
Andrew Swallow also managed massive score on the weekend, finishing with 130 points.
The skipper had 24 touches, as well as eight clearances, and kicked two goals, but it was his 12 tackles that turned a typical night at the office into a massive score.
It was his best fantasy performance for the year and he has now cracked the triple figure mark three times in his last five matches, averaging 101 points per game in that time.
North’s third player to crack triple figures on Saturday night was Shaun Higgins, who finished the night with 19 touches, eight marks and three goals.
Higgins has now kicked multiple goals in his last five games running, having kicked 13 goals in that time.
He’s also averaging 84 fantasy points per game, making this close to the best year of his career, fantasy speaking.
Unlike his 2009 season, when he averaged 88, he’s yet to miss a game this year.
Jarrad Waite had a productive night with 19 disposals and eight marks – four of them inside 50 – but could’ve made more of his opportunities, missing two fairly gettable goals. As it was he finished with 2.2 for the evening and a fantasy score of 99.
Ryan Bastinac was good too in his return from the VFL, with 27 disposals – the most of any North player – and seven tackles on his way to a score of 97 points for the evening.
Aaron Mullett and Taylor Garner both played their first games of the year and impressed.
Mullett had 17 touches for the night and looked solid, finishing with 65 points, while Garner snapped two memorable goals and finished with 52 points.
Around the Grounds
It was a week characterised by massive scores and big name suspensions. Andrew Gaff top-scored for the round with a massive 152, but Liam Picken wasn’t far behind on 151.
One name every AFL Fantasy Classic coach should be focused on is Brisbane’s Tom Rockliff.
Arguably the best fantasy player in the game, Rockliff returned from broken ribs on Sunday and put together a big score of 128.
He should only improve as he gains match fitness and at $510,000 is a no-brainer to trade in if you don’t already have him.
Gary Ablett is proving himself much the same with back to back scores of 119 and is available for a little bit more at $566,000.
The round also saw another massive score from young Melbourne ruckman Max Gawn, who finished with 146 points against Essendon.
Suspension wise, Joel Selwood, Taylor Adams, Tyrone Vickery and our own Drew Petrie were all handed bans by the MRP.
