Footy Prophet will be NMFC.com.au's AFL Fantasy gurus for 2014. You can follow the team on Twitter and Facebook.

It was a disappointing night on Friday for North Melbourne, going down to Geelong by 20 points.

Lindsay Thomas got the team off to a flying start with the first goal, but then the Cats piled on five unanswered. North outscored Geelong after quarter-time, but the damage was done.

Levi Greenwood was outstanding again for the visitors, taking on the unenviable challenge of quelling Joel Selwood. He came out on top in that battle, keeping the Cats’ skipper quiet for much of the night.

Greenwood’s efforts were even more impressive considering he gathered 31 disposals and a team-high 146 fantasy points himself. Now priced at $453,571, he’s been steadily increasing in value, and looks to have taken his game to another level this year.

In his second game back from injury Andrew Swallow improved again. He managed 72 points in a dour affair, but showed signs that he was regaining his touch. His 7 tackles were an equal team-high and showed that he was willing to get involved even when he wasn’t winning his own footy.

An early injury to Joel Tippett meant Swallow ran out the whole game, which will be another step in him returning to full fitness. Don’t grab him yet – he’s dropped $64,000 already and will decrease in price further.

After a lean few weeks and again starting as the substitute, Ryan Bastinac (67 points) did everything he could to give him a chance at a starting spot next week. He was cool in front of goal, booting 2.2 and accumulated 15 disposals in just two quarters.

Geelong tagger Cameron Guthrie seemed to go to Brent Harvey (102) early, but settled on Sam Gibson (67). While it wasn’t a hard tag, he did snap Gibson’s impressive run of fantasy form.

Around the grounds

It was defender heaven for fantasy teams this week, as Jimmy Bartel (155), Kade Simpson (143) and Jarrod Harbrow (119) top-scored for their respective teams.

Bartel and Simpson confirmed their elite fantasy status, and after nine rounds are the only two defenders averaging more than 100 points.

The Collingwood midfield ran over the top of West Coast, with Beams, Swan and Pendlebury all scoring 100+ fantasy points. They were all topped by Matt Priddis, however, who managed 137 points. Priced at $521,094, the Eagles’ midfielder is a super consistent and reliable option, who gets the job done every week. Strongly consider trading him in.

Gary Ablett had his second quiet game for the year, well held by Liam Picken, despite the Suns romping to a fifth straight win. Dion Prestia continued his excellent season with a score of 113 in the same game, while Ryan Griffen is well and truly back. The Bulldogs’ skipper managed 115 points and looked dangerous throughout. Priced at just $437,275 in AFL Fantasy, he’s someone that all coaches should consider bringing in.

For the second game in a row, the Giants’ defence allowed an 11-goal haul to their opposition’s full forward. After Josh Kennedy torched them in Round 8, this time it was Jack Riewoldt’s turn.

Riewoldt had 11 by three quarter-time, and despite not adding to his tally in the final quarter, finished with a round-high 156 fantasy points. He’s not really a viable option in AFL Fantasy Classic due to his lack of scoring consistency, but those that own him in the draft format, Elite, would have been very pleased.