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 has a number of fantasy prospects in this week’s test in the West, that are worth a look in your Fantasy Match Day side.
Jack Ziebell has performed strongly in this finals campaign with two healthy fantasy tallies of 94 and 109 points. Ziebell’s inside game means he is more immune to enemy shut-down players, while his prolific tackling and marking ability means he can amass strong fantasy scores without heavy disposal numbers.
Throw in an ability to kick goals and the fact he scored 106 points against West Coast earlier this year, and Ziebell shapes as an enticing selection. He will not only be important North’s prospects of a Grand Final berth, but also important to fantasy coaches who look for a forward who can avoid a tag.
Star Brent Harvey will be looking to bounce back from a sluggish semi-final where he only managed 16 possessions and 56 points thanks to a Ben McGlynn tag.
Harvey's last fantasy ton against the Eagles was back in 2013, but the occasion will bring out the best in Boomer. The fact West Coast have also left their resident tagger Scott Selwood at home means Harvey can be selected with more confidence.
North will also be after a big game from Andrew Swallow, who has been solid so far in the finals. He had a blinder against the Eagles earlier this year, grabbing 20 disposals and 13 tackles, on his way to 110 points. Swallow's defensive pressure will play a key part in North's efforts to control the contested ball.
Jarrad Waite has kicked seven goals in the last two weeks and will prove a handful for the Eagles' defense. With fantasy scores of 132 and 90 in the finals, Waite is a unique Match Day pick that could pay dividends, especially as Drew Petrie and Ben Brown have also been selected. Waite is sure to atone for his injury-impacted 37 fantasy points against West Coast in Round 10.
At the other end of the ground, it's hard not to select Shaun Higgins for a defensive spot. Higgins has versatility, which allows him to get involved wherever he is needed. This was demonstrated clearly against the Eagles in Round 10, when he kicked four goals and had 22 possessions + six tackles, all for 119 points. He shapes as a player who will strongly influence the result this Saturday.
Around the Grounds
There’s only one other game on this weekend, a 2013 grand final rematch between Hawthorn and Fremantle.
Sam Mitchell and Luke Hodge are both in blistering form, and with no Ryan Crowley to cramp their style, fantasy buyers would do well to pick them up. Both cleared the 140-point mark against Fremantle in Round 15, and while this was in Launceston, neither of these experienced players will be intimidated by playing at the Dockers' home ground. Mitchell in particular loves travelling to the west - the last time he scored under 100 points at Domain Stadium was back in 2008.
For Fremantle, the question will be whether Nat Fyfe is fully fit to play. He scored 99 points in the Dockers' qualifying final win over Sydney, however he's still under an injury cloud. With so few players to select in the Match Day format, selecting Fyfe could be a make-or-break decision.
