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 and experienced side for their NAB Cup opener against Adelaide in Port Lincoln on Sunday afternoon.
With the exception of Andrew Swallow and Todd Goldstein, the majority of North’s powerhouse midfield will get a run against the Crows.
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The Roos have also named a good selection of veterans, new acquisitions and younger players.
Ben Cunnington ($503,000 in AFL Fantasy Classic) and Ryan Bastinac ($433,000) will lead things in the middle.
Both are solid picks this year, the cheaper Bastinac potentially providing better fantasy value if he can improve his output.
Hold off bringing in the more expensive Sam Gibson ($549,000) though, until his role becomes more certain. There has been talk about him taking a tagging role and that would sour his scoring in AFL Fantasy.
Brent Harvey ($565,000), the most expensive Kangaroo, will get a run on Sunday, but don’t read too much into his performance.
Veterans like Harvey use pre-season games to blow out the cobwebs. He’ll pace himself in preparation for the all-important Round 1.
You should watch Shaun Higgins ($430,000) however. The former Bulldog will get his first chance to play for his new club and he is looking like a very attractive Fantasy pickup.
It remains to be seen where Higgins will be used and whether he can play a full season. If he impresses early, jump on.
Also debuting for North will be former Blue Jarrad Waite ($455,000), who’s had his own injury and suspension troubles over the years.
The question with Waite is how he’ll share forward line duties with Drew Petrie ($396,000) and Ben Brown ($304,000). If he dominates, he might be a good selection, but if the ball gets shared around then his value is lessened.
The naming of young draftee Sam Durdin ($252,000) will excite North fans.
Taken at pick 16, Durdin is just shy of two meters tall and is agile for his size.
It will be tough for him to break into the team when all of North’s tall timber is up and about. But the NAB games will give Durdin a chance to show everyone what he can do.
What his output closely before thinking about bringing him into your side. Talls generally take a while to develop, although Durdin does look a good chance at nabbing some early game time.
Another draftee getting a shot is Will Fordham ($120,000), a tall midfielder who was taken at pick 33 by North and averaged 20 possessions in the TAC Cup.
Fordham is rated as a running midfielder with an excellent kick and the ability to play all around the ground. His starting price is very attractive, but it’s hard to say how many games he might get.
Watch Fordham’s pre-season closely. His flexibility may give him early opportunities and if he looks like slotting into a role then pick him up as a cash earner.
