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.

Redemption is the goal for North Melbourne, with up to four changes available for their Round 2 clash against the Brisbane Lions.

The only omission so far is Ben Jacobs, with Mason Wood, newly elevated rookie Robin Nahas, Robbie Tarrant and Ben Brown all included on the extended interchange bench.

It will also be a case of fantasy redemption for key Kangaroos this week. Several stars failed to fly in Round 1 and coaches will be keen for a strong performance this round.

Popular pick Shaun Higgins ($428,000) kicked four goals in Round 1, but didn’t reach the fantasy heights we all know he’s capable of.

Round 2 is a perfect chance for Higgins to wow fantasy coaches. Leaving aside 2014, Higgins has scored strongly against Brisbane in the past.

With the Lions suffering under the weight of injuries, it’s likely Higgins will continue his good form against them.

Higgins actually came down marginally in price this week. He would be a good pickup for coaches looking for a replacement for injured forward Dale Thomas.

Also out to atone for an average fantasy week will be Nick Dal Santo ($470,000) and Jack Ziebell ($477,000).

Both stars have it in them to churn out fantasy points and this week’s training sessions will be sure to bring out the best in these two. They’ll be looking to capitalise on the Lion’s form worries and depleted line-up.

Dal Santo in particular has an exquisite history against the Lions. He has scored over 100 AFL Fantasy Points against them in his last three games.

Of those Roos who excelled in Round 1, Shaun Atley ($386,000) looks an interesting prospect.

A highly regarded talent, Atley stood up to the Crows with a strong game that included 17 possessions and eight tackles.

He would be a very interesting trade target, if he’s found his fantasy mojo. His record against Brisbane is a little patchy, so perhaps watch his form with interest this week and bring him in if it continues in the rounds to come.

Around the Grounds
With all of Tom Rockliff ($737,000), Steele Sidebottom ($602,000), Dale Thomas ($395,000), Liam Shiels ($508,000), Steven Motlop ($482,000), Leigh Montagna ($523,000), Brett Deledio ($527,000) and Scott Selwood ($468,000) out for Round 2, fantasy coaches could be excused for feeling a little nervous this week.

Fortunately, there are a host of likely replacements for these stars, if coaches decide it’s in their interest to make a trade this early in the season.

The clear favourite as a replacement is Port Adelaide workhorse Brett Ebert ($590,000), who went ballistic against Fremantle last week, notching up 163 AFL Fantasy Points, the highest score of the opening round.

Ebert had 34 touches, a whopping 14 marks, seven tackles and a goal. That’s a pretty commanding day out for any midfielder.

Despite his price going up substantially, Ebert is still under-priced for what he can produce, and is coming off the back of an excellent pre-season.

Often underrated thanks to being in a team comprising Robbie Gray ($558,000), Kane Cornes ($540,000), Ollie Wines ($535,000) and Travis Boak ($549,000), Ebert hasn’t scored lower than 83 points against Geelong since 2011.
Coaches could do far worse than to bring Ebert into their side, before his price goes up any further.