This week’s battle of the birds at Adelaide Oval is set to spill into the world of AFL Fantasy, as Adelaide’s fan-selected Fantasy team takes on West Coast in Round 19.
It is the third time this season that the Fantasy Crows will confront Adelaide’s real-life AFL opponent, after clashes with Port Adelaide and North Melbourne earlier in the year.
We must rebound quickly this week, following a disappointing result against the Kangaroos in Round 18. North Melbourne posted a monster score of 2,415 to Adelaide’s 2,113, with the Roos’ selection of Tom Rockliff (190) as skipper setting up a comfortable victory.
The Fantasy Crows were well positioned midway through the split round to make a charge at the top-of-the-table Kangaroos, with seven Crows players still to play on Sunday evening at the MCG.
But an even team performance meant all failed to reach the Fantasy ton, and our Fantasy side suffered despite the Club’s stirring victory over the Magpies.
Cats pair Steve Johnson (145) and Joel Selwood (140) were by far our best performers in the midfield, while Dayne Beams (113) notched just his second triple-figure score in six games and Hawk Jarryd Roughead (108) cracked the ton for the first time since Round 12.
It was a timely decision by The 19th Man to trade in Pearce Hanley. The skilful Lion exploded with 182 points and was the highest-scoring defender in the competition for the round.
Dustin Martin (101) and Stefan Martin (122) proved that there must be something in a name. ‘Dusty’ raised the bat for the tenth time this year, while Stefan added another $30k to our coffers with his fifth Fantasy ton from seven starts.
Our attention now turns to the Eagles, who look to be in trouble with their team after a crippling loss to Port Adelaide last round. West Coast has now lost four of its past five matches, so the Fantasy Crows will be hot favourites to return to the winners list this weekend.
It could be time to trade Chad Wingard (68), who hasn’t notched a triple-figure total since Round 12.
We’ve been patient with the opportunist forward, but a series of underwhelming scores could see him on the outer. There are a few decent forward options available at the moment with low break evens if we make our move now.
Our second trade might be best used on our bench ruckman. Tom Derickx last played in Round 14, while dual-position player Ben Brown has played four games in the past five rounds for the Kangaroos.
With a break even of just 1 and the added RUC/FWD flexibility, do we make the switch to Brown?
The vice captain ‘loophole’ will be used on Michael Barlow for Thursday night footy, but add your vote below on who we should back for captaincy duties should the Docker midfielder underperform.
Check our team below and cast your votes now as we prepare to take down the Eagles on the Fantasy field this weekend.
