AFL Fantasy 2026: Pre-Season Club Intel, Role Changes, Injuries & State of Origin Review (for Keeper Leagues)

[Music] You know, listeners and welcome back to another episode of The Kaperleague Podcast. With the AFL Fantasy Podcast that doesn't talk about the surf stars, when they talk about the lesser-known and the players who bring value to your draft and Kaperleague teams. My next F and this week joining me on the show is Louis from The Pod Pod. How are you mate? Good night. Good to be here. Haven't been on in a minute. I feel like we've been trying to catch up for like a beer. I was set on the podcast that I received a text message from you at 7.30 in the morning. I think just saying beer, question mark. I wasn't sure if you meant at that very moment or just sometimes soon. Yeah, it sounds like me. I already think about it before we were able to go on a Friday. Or you've just started work, I don't know. Yeah, I like to shoot about early. So I can now drum up. But yeah, we will have to catch up for that beer I think. So we're over to you. We're over to you. Everyone's sort of just after the Australian day weekend, I think everybody sort of finally wakes up a bit. They're out of holiday mode and now. Yeah, it definitely. Yeah, it just causes a lot of busyness in the schedule. Yeah. Although this time of the year I've been in Adelaide with the French Fest for all that sort of stuff, I feel like I've got something on every weekend up until I basically gather around. Yes. And then I feel like gather around is when Adelaide kind of dies and you can go back to your life type of thing. Yeah, it's all coming together and I think that's where the peak's going to be. And then yeah, drop off. I think you're like, actually, I'm actually looking forward to it. Yeah, same actually. Yeah, but same actually. But yeah, anyways, we'll get stuck into the show. This week we're going to be talking, we'll do a little bit of a recap on the state of our age. And nothing too much major to talk about there. It was a bit of an exhibition game, wasn't it? Yeah, it was all right. It was unfortunate that some of the injuries sort of happened. I knew that was going to be inevitable, but they happen in pre-season games and practice matches and all that sort of stuff too. Yeah, they're pretty hard to get by, but yeah, we'll get stuck in that more detail second. The other thing we're just going to go through is club by club and just look at all the kind of news, the intel, the position changes, the injuries, the opportunities, all that sort of stuff. It's almost like an incase you've missed it type episode with all the kind of keypleague relevant stuff. I think the traders and DT talk boys do a good job at doing other classic relevant players, but I don't think there's much of the keypleague relevant one. So we'll go through that and talk about that as well. Before we begin, we'll give the keeper fantasy plug. As you all know by now, keeper fantasy is back for 2026 and it's packed with more great features for the serious draft leagues out there. People already drafting. I think there's been over 100 keypleague drafts done already. So the ADP start looked pretty nice, but there's new features, priority picks, pick trading, live chat in your in your draft room. Let's see if stuck in your mates when they slip up or pick someone bad. I think the most exciting thing I'm most exciting for is their new position based scoring mode. You can now kind of award different points per lineup position, meaning you can set forwards to only score points by goals or midfields can only score by getting disposal and rucks can only score by getting hit outs. When you think of it that way, like, you know, if you think about midfields, 30 disposal, a ruck generally gets around 30 or so hit outs, you know what I mean. And like you could do six point for goals and stuff like that. So if a forward kicks down five goals, they'll get 30 points or whatever. It kind of adds up pretty nicely to our way for scoring. Have you looked into the system? I haven't. No, I haven't yet. I've sort of just followed the classic fantasy sort of scoring so far. But I do like the flexibility. I think really rewards people that are open to wanting to get more value or less value out of certain types of players. Yeah, I am actually came up this week tried to find a way to make kind of every type of player as valuable as one another. So for example, the best small forward to be as best as good as score as the best key forward and league as a good score as the key best midfielder in the league that kind of thing and so on. And I've got pretty close. All right. And to becoming like, you know, see you could like, you know, bond obviously the best midfielder that kind of thing. But then you could pick someone like Jamie Elliott is probably the best small forward type thing and who score pretty similarly just based on the different stats that they score on. That would make for a really interesting draft. Yeah. I'm thinking of actually trying to get it up and running. But I'm still trying to perfect the scoring system. Maybe I'm obsessing over a bit too much. Maybe we should just start it and tweak it as we go. But anyway, the key platform is back. Go check out that new scoring format. It's awesome fun. Just a quick update on our website. All the premium resources are now available. So now it's kind of getting into tweaking the ranks and that sort of stuff, which I'll do after the match seems this week. I think Saturday they finish up and then so Sunday Monday next week I'll do some tweaking for the ranks. And then the following week after the community series is that the Amy Community Series, the JLT, the master. I can't remember what is this is. Pretty sure it's Amy these days. But after the community series, I do a bit of an update there. We've got a keyplig draft next weekend. My first one. Anyway, how are your leagues going? You started. Good. I'm in a draft right now actually the ward laws and sin bags. So I'd pick one this year. I took Zeke Ulland. Yep. Ulland. And then I was also I was in the first round again at five and I took Jacob Farrow. So I was pretty happy to see that. Yeah, you and Farrow. That's two of the best players in the draft I reckon for fans. I'm hoping so, but a bit of a dry spot now. I'm sort of waiting for my pick at 31. Yeah, we'll see what's left on the draft board. Hopefully I can pick up another. Hopefully. Anyways, let's get stuck into the show state of origin. So probably the key takeaways. I was looking at this more stuff, trying to not really pick our individual players, trying to look at more how the game is looking with the rule changes and stuff like that. What did you make of it? I kind of noticed there was less stoppages. Both teams played dual rucks. So I got really hard to gauge what the goal was there. What was your takeaway? It was very fast pace to mean obviously the best players in the game. They were hitting targets every time. It wasn't a game that I was able to read too much into. I think once we sort of see the actual way of it's going to be a little bit different. So yeah, I don't want to put too much waiting on it. There were less stoppages, but you know, there was better skills sort of on display. So I think that's sort of, you know, a bit of a. Also, how much were they like going in there for those hard tackles, you know, causing those ball ups, that sort of stuff? I don't know if there was that many players like going that hard. I know that weedering did get injured and that was unfortunate and a few other players did hamstrings and fingers and stuff like that. But like, I don't know how much players were actually going at it. So we might see less stoppages. I did like notice like it did feel like when you're watching it, it's like, oh geez, we haven't had a ball up in a while. We haven't had a throw in in a while and that does make me a little bit concerned about the rucks, but I'm more concerned for the rucks that have shared responsibility more so than the rucks that are on their own. Because like I still saw situations where Cherry was like able to like kind of do his natural game from the boundary throwings when they did occur. And like I think players like gone and stuff are probably going to be unaffected when they play by themselves. So the rucks growing was low. I think Darcy Cameron was the highest with like a 79. But I'm not too concerned about it just yet. But like the thing, I'm sorry, I probably am concerned, but I'm not really, I'm not, it's not panic stations yet. You know what I mean? You got to see it in the real world. The time on ground was pretty much in the toilet for all of them. I think definitely a bit of a flag with the dual rucks, but also you've got a couple of the best key forwards in the game on either team. So the second ruck isn't exactly resting forward. He's just going to the bench for the rest. So I think that'll adjust a little bit in season, but it's definitely worth flagging for sure. Just a few scores at highlight, like Tom Stewart, like had a 79. There's a lot of people, I don't have the classic space. I really focus on classic at all this season. But like he's not really valued anymore. And I still think he's probably got something left to give for one last season. And he's a type of player that might get dropped back to a draft pool or something like that. If you're in a shallower keeper league, but I still think he's got something left to give, don't you think? Yeah, absolutely. If he goes on, you know, like a six to eight week stretch of going at 100, that wouldn't surprise me. It always, he's an absolute superstar. I think he's got like five, six time all Australian. So he's got the tickets. And he's in a team that, you know, doesn't mind just rewarding good form and not too phased about age at Jolong. So I think he'll still get that opportunity and he'll be able to continue scoring. I think it's more like he just needs to say fit than anything that's the issue with him. Is how do few unlucky injuries? Yeah, it's nothing that's and subbed out like it repeatable. All times. Yeah, exactly. For the W.A. side of things, it's probably more fantasy relevant or keep league relevant players for W.A. like Jesse Hogan. A lot of people were riding off to kick five goals against, you know, the best of the best and come out with a hundred points. And I'm wondering did go down so there were a key defender down. But a lot of people I think were thinking of dropping him that after seeing last night, they might, you know, think twice. Yeah, I love Jesse Hogan. I think he's got one of the best ceilings in the game to be honest when he's on. Yeah, great hands and a really accurate kick at goals. So as a forward, I think he's, you know, an absolute premium as a bit of a cheapy. Yeah, well, yeah, because like they're so hard to come by and you know, someone that can kick bags, he's a common med list, all that sort of stuff. And then we saw a good sign last year. And I think again, probably more of an injury interrupted year. A few different bits and pieces going on as well. Like I think he's probably got something left to give for the coaches that are brave enough to keep him or to picking up earlier on in a draft. Lawson, I'm free as just a player that kind of continues to impress me as well scored the 85 points on Saturday night. But yeah, just to be included, I think in this team is a very good sign for a player like him. But the half back role is quite nice for his fantasy build. But did you see like later on the game where you like just burnt off daikos and that sort of stuff like he's got a bit of, yeah, to our bad in like he could be a genuine line breaker, get the bull in his hands. Oh no, his apply has got a bit of faith in. Yeah, no, he's just got so much potential. Yeah, and he's going I think he's going like around the hundred marking most keyplates as well, which I think is about right. Yeah. Brad here had 99 points, but I'm not touching any keyplates. That's apart from that though, like I can't really take much out of it. Can you? No, I'm not reading too much into it. It was a nice spectacool to watch. But apart from that, you know, it was just good to have a little bit of a good start. beautiful ball back I think. - Yeah, absolutely. Good night on the couch with the sun just watching it and getting around some footier again. Can't wait for the actual proper stuff to start in a few weeks. Hey legend, sorry to interrupt the show. Just chiming in here to thank some of our goal members. Thank you to Shane Coleman, Daniel Cavartus, Brett Wood, Ron Deacono, Jack Berryman, Chris Burridge, Thomas Paul, Cal McVeane, Himmesh Sampath, Chris Bryan and Chris Klelland. Without member support, I wouldn't be able to put out all the resources through the show each week and keep all the content going week after week. If you find value in this podcast, whether it helps you out with your Kepaleg team or you just enjoy listening each week, please consider signing up as a member. There's a link in the description below or you can just head to Kepalegpod.com.au and click the membership button at the top. Thanks for listening to this spiel. Let's get back to the show. Anyways, let's get into this kind of, in case you missed it, club news and we'll start off with the Adelaide Crow. So if you case you missed this one, Dan Curtin, he's injured, what's he done to himself? He's done a PCL or knee? Knee, I think everyone was expecting it to be ACL, but thankfully it's not, but he's still going to miss a few months of football, isn't he? Yeah, I don't think we'll see him until the mid season by really. So lucky he's escaped that ACL, but it's been unfortunate he had a really good preseason by all reports and I think he was going to take that step up into the midfield. So yeah, that was what that was like. I was thinking as well, but there's probably, drops him back in the ranks a little bit now. Sid Draper is the other one. He has done his groin again, is that right? Yeah, this is concerning. I don't like groins at that young age, to be honest. He's sort of been repeating that since like sort of 17-18, he's always been quite injury prone. Yeah. It's highly rated. But yeah, I just start to, to just to worry a little bit, I think. I always have this thing with Crow's and their first round draft fix. They seem to be cursed a little bit. I know Curtin was all right, there's been a right sofa, but again, injured this year, but you know, Fischer Maxi, it wasn't Chase Jones, the first rounder. They did that delist one as well. I think Gary was the first rounder. I think that delisted another one a couple of years ago that was the first rounder. That was quite good as well. Like, something about it that just makes me worry a little bit, that's all. But you know, that's probably more coincidence than it is to do with anything, to do with fact anyway. Like, I guess the big thing on the back of these two injuries of Dan Kurper and Sid Draper is the Josh Rochelle more midfield minutes. First round pick. That's definitely a second round. Come on, doesn't he? Yeah, but it started to look a bit more real. I think there's more midfield time. Do you think it's a time share, like a four mid forward kind of split with maybe a ranking that don't play in the midfield at the same time? Well, I think it's like a-- I think it's like a-- Right, because they're just so effective in both positions of the game and having them in tandem is such an advantage for the Crow's. I'd be surprised if those two aren't going to be rotating on ball and up forward and doing some real damage. Yeah, the only saving grace, I guess, maybe is bringing Archie into the side, which means they can play both of them in the midfield a bit more. But I still think they're taking too much away from your attacking flare, because Crow's going to be a little bit overly tall, I think, at times. And I don't know what the go text is. I got slammed on Facebook by all the boomers that I didn't have text in my best 23. That would do it. And then the next week he comes out saying, I'm probably going to play a fair bit of S. Anifilm this year. So I don't really know what the go is there. But yeah, I think you will see scoring bump for Josh Rochelle. I wouldn't be surprised if he gets to the high 70s low 80s marks this year and finally has a breakout in a sense of fantasy world, I think. Another interesting thing is, Locklin McCandry has been a lot of chat about him over the preseason. Seems to be telling Rob in all the entry club and internal trials and all that sort of stuff, practice stuff. Purely because he suits the rules a little bit more, Rob can't really jump and he can't really-- the means he can't really engage before that jump and all that sort of stuff. Actually, you know what I didn't realize? I thought the no-engaging was for every rut contest, but it's only the center bounce ones. Yeah. So it might not actually affect too many as much, but whatever the case is, Locklin McCandry was actually the number one ruck. He was in the A team for that entry club where Rob was kind of demoted to the B team. So I don't know, you concerned for the Rob owners out there? Probably would be a little bit. I didn't realize Locklin McCandry was as young as what he is. 25 years old. So you know, you can-- That's like just break out. Yeah, that's right. I want to carry on the cam on around there. So yeah, I would be concerned if I was a Rob owner. You know, the rules do suit this man, Drowfellow, is really tall. Yeah. I know that's obvious, but I think he's pushing about 205, 206. And he can jump a little bit on top of Rob. Yeah, he can jump. Yeah. All over him in the internal trial too. So yeah, there may be a little bit of competition there for spots, so that's going to improve them both. As it most often does, I would be surprised if Rob's playing a full season in the sandfall, but-- Yeah, I don't know if that's going to happen, but yeah. Is a nice little stash option that Andrew, I think you could get him pretty cheap. I think if you have a Rob probably have him on the list as the handcuffed, any way, see him, I just want to keep him, or if he can, or he's probably-- we play a rookie role where you can keep under 15. He probably slides into that kind of zone as well. There's a few players for the Crow as well that have been training in half-back roles. Now, the first one's Luke Nankervis. A lot of Crow supporters out there are telling me that Nank will overtake lead this season at some stage, maybe not initially, but he reckon he's the one who's kind of the next one that could be that half-back kind of guy. I look at his distribution and maybe thinking of his kicking skills and efficiency, probably maybe not, but I don't know, what are your thoughts on someone like Luke Nankervis? Yeah, I could say it, fresh legs in there. I don't think lead shoots the lights out either in terms of his disposal and the stress for that team. So if they want to take a little bit more of a youthful approach, I can really see him coming up over the top of lead. The other one is our Braden Cook. He's also been training in defense as well. So a few new roles out there, a few new guys to kind of look at. Maybe these guys are picked up later in your drafts, but worth a bit of a stash or worth a bit of a late fly because the roles are looking good for fancy if they can actually get into the senior team. Let's move on to the Brisbane Lions. Now, I think everyone knows about the Lockheed Neal Drama. My thoughts are just that in my, in case you missed it, I guess there's been a lot of drama with Lockheed Neal. Well, I think it just might open up some midfield opportunity that we probably once thought. You look at Brisbane's midfield and you go, that thing is stacked, but I could see things like Lockheed Neal maybe needing a bit of a break or to go visit the kids back in Perth. I think that's where they are now in the mid season, which might open like an honorable spot or maybe gives Leo a ask craft or someone a bit more extra time in the midfield. So that's probably just one thing to monitor or one thing to think about down the track. In terms of the Ruck situation, Sam Draper has the foot injury. Do you know the extent to that? I think I read it was like, he'll be expected back round one or two, is that correct? - Yes, yep. - Yeah. So, I don't know, would you be concerned if you were planning on going into the season? So you got Sam Draper on your list and you're going to keep him? Would you be concerned going into the season with that him as your number one Ruck? - Oh, look, I think you got to back him in at this point, don't you? They've gone and recruited him to be their number one Ruckies. Still quite young as well. And he's joining a premiership team which really conducive of fantasy points. So, yeah, I would understand the nervousness but I think at this point you'd back him in and he'll be back, you know, he plays Mrs. Round Zero, Mrs. Round One, they've got the buy round two. So he's in the scheme of things. He's not missing a lot of football. - There's a lot of eyes on Darcy Fort. He's really highly rated internally as well. So like I think Fort maybe just be a good, I don't think he's going to go very early on draft. That's for sure. Like he's definitely when you're kind of getting to your bench and reserve type of options but like I reckon he could score a bit better than that this season, especially if someone like Drape is hampered by injury. Like he usually is. Like that's a bet I'd be willing to take, wouldn't you? - Yeah. - Yeah. - Oscar O'Vibes. - Yeah, definitely. The other one is Kitty Coleman is fit. But my question is like, well my initial question was how does that affect the kind of backline squeeze? If you've got Coleman, Zorco, Fletcher, Wilmot, all those guys buying for positions. But news out of the last week's entry club that Coleman was playing like a Wing Half Forward role, which is very similar to the role Archie was playing before he left Brisbane as well. So what are your thoughts there? - Yeah, that's interesting. When you compare that to Archie missing. I did see a quote really early in the preseason that Kitty Coleman would spend a bit of time forward. And I sort of just brushed it off as one of those throwaway comments. But when you do look at that lineup of Zorco Fletcher and Wilmot, it's been super effective for two years. Obviously the one, the last two flags. Why change a good thing? I don't think Zorco is going to shift. I think he's set in that role until he sort of hangs up the boot so his form drops off. So yeah, Kitty Coleman coming in as a half forward. I think that makes a lot of sense. And I think that's how he was drafted as well. I think he might have been a forward time. - Yeah, I'm starting to fade him just a little bit on the back of that. A lot of people were pretty high on him. But I reckon out of the role, certainly like you said, those guys winning Grand Finals already playing those roles, you're probably better off trying to fit him in somewhere else, he's not affecting the structure too much. I think so maybe Coleman is the one that suffers out of those. Yeah, the other thing with Daniel Arnaball, he had a shoulder injury scare a few weeks ago. But he's okay by all reports. Looks likely to day boo early. He's getting a few midfield minutes in the preseason. So that might time with the locking-yield stuff he said earlier and provides some opportunities for them. With Carlton, Jagger Smith looks like he's ready to go. Looks like he's going to play through the midfield this season. A lot of people have, I don't know, have you had any whispers about other roles? Some people say half-backing things like that, but he looks like he's going to play the midfield, right? I wouldn't complain about half-backing either. Yeah, but he was drafted as the best pure mid last year. Unfortunately, he didn't ACL right before round one. He's going to go straight into that Colton midfield. I think they're probably lacking a little bit of depth there anyway. Maybe we see him rotate a bit with Sam Walsh on the outside. If there's going to be a bit of a dual role. Yeah, I think. and that's probably a good way to look at it, but like, 'cause he's a player I could see playing on the outside as well, but I don't think he's gonna get like a cushy halfback or all that or anything like that, like some people were suggesting. Mark Pitnet had that larynx injury just to kinda highlight the injury. I think he's gonna be right for round one, but you'd expect him to rock in tandem with Riti, which is gonna be pretty poor for their fantasy scoring, all to thought. Elijah Hollins is the other one. He still hasn't actually been signed as an SSP, and they've extended the deadline, so we're not gonna know. So I feel for like a lot of coaches out there that are drafting now that could have kept him, you know, have already had to drop him out of their keepers. I don't know, like, maybe you wanna talk with your commission or maybe make a rule about if you own him, you can drop one of your keepers and pick him back up or something like that. Keep the fantasy app thankfully allows you to edit your teams like that, so maybe that's something you wanna think about. - Was he on a list this year though? - He was on a list last year. - Oh yeah, yeah. - Yeah, and he was still listed, but now he's training on as an SSP. - Right, yep. - Yeah, a few people are a bit up in arms about what to do with him, whether they can keep him or not, because he's actually not in the game at the moment, so he's not on anyone's list. But, you know, if you had him and he's back, you know, does that, yeah, it's a bit of an LTI sort of thing you could figure out for that. - Yeah, so you don't want people getting extra keepers on the back of it as well, so, yeah, that's the other thing. I've done a lot for Collinwood, not a lot of news coming out of Collinwood this process and so, yeah, I'm just trying to think of the, a top of my head, but-- - A lot of injuries. - Yeah, there's been a few. - A few hours popped a calf, more of a calf. But not a lot of them are really fantasy relevant, you know? Like, it's nothing, there's not a lot of news coming out of Collinwood moments, we might just kind of-- - Dake or CFC. - Yeah, pretty much, yeah, and that's the way it kind of goes. I'm just trying to think of what else comes out of there, but yeah, like I said-- - Harrymin, potentially. - And Midfield, yeah, well, that's probably the one that they're talking about, but yeah, like I said, there's not a lot coming out, so we might just kind of skip past Collinwood for this one. - Keep forward, Jack Boller. - Yeah, I don't know if you're going to be keep early relevant though, you know? So, and like I said, that hasn't really been that much news, it looks like you play, but-- - Yeah, you play that. - Yeah, onto Essendon. So they're talking up, a lot of the senior players are talking about Jacob Farrow at the moment. Out of all the drafts, he was probably like, I was like, when I was starting to fall on the draft closely, like Dyson Sharp, Sullivan, Roby were the kind of big names, but Farrow was kind of like, he looked at his like numbers and yeah, he looked like he played the best fantasy game, but sometimes that doesn't always translate to being a good AFL player from the junior level. But watching some of his highlights, the kid looks absolute class. I think out of the three, I think he could be the best fantasy player out of those three that they drafted at the top end. - Yeah, I think so. I really liked his highlights, obviously drafting in myself. I was watching him pretty closely. Definitely see the comparisons to Hayden Young, a Jordan Dawson as well, if he can make that jump up into the midfield, I think, you know, he was sort of cut his teeth in that half backline for a little bit, which is good at Essendon. They're really quite high fantasy scoring side back there. So yeah, definitely wanted to track, but I'm really liking the look of the kid. - Yeah, absolutely. Dyson Sharp is getting drafted out of the first out of the draft he's in a lot of key per leg draft, but saw recently he was training with the beads midfield. So mine will be a lock in that midfield. When you think about it, the midfield's deeper Essendon, you know? - Yeah, yeah, it is. I liked Dyson Sharp. I do question a little bit if he was a bit of a man-child. He was massive in his draft. - We were talking about that last week. And then it's my new theory that we were chatting about in the discord. It doesn't always come up, but quite often the man-child doesn't translate to being the best AFL fantasy player. Like you get this, like, I know Kais used to harp on it back in the days, like, got real man experience, which means he's already ready to go to AFL. This is gonna be easy for him to make the transition, but sometimes they lean on that, I think, a bit too much as a junior. And when all the other juniors get to the same size, you're like, oh, holy fuck, I'm slower than that guy. I can't kick as well as that guy. And you start to lose it a little bit. - Yeah, you see it a lot with key forwards and key defenders especially where, you know, if you're 200 centimeters at 16, 17 years old, your teammates haven't really caught up to that. So you can take advantage and dominate a bit. And sometimes, yeah, just excel a bit more than what you would, but when you come back to the pack a bit, maybe you get exposed a little bit. - Yeah, that's my only concern with him. And like, I base it on nothing, but like, I pass trends, you know what I mean? - Yeah, it's nothing on the individual. - I mean, he looks like a star, but. - Yeah, sometimes I just question those sorts of things. He's going very, very high in keepers. - The thing is, like, you know, when you do look at these trends, like a lot of people always say the thing like, you know, oh, he could go, you know, key forward, but he's tall. So he goes in the rut and could get an extra point, a few points like that. I'm always like name one guy that's ever worked for, you know what I mean? Like, and then the same same deal with this, it's like, well, you know, look at all the manchards that kind of come through. If you look at like, you will go, that we talk about last week and all that sort of stuff, even like, I know. - Cool. - Yeah, like he was the manch, he was like playing with seniors. I remember that 2013 Grand Final, he was like an absolute star. - Yeah, sure. - For the club, and then like, just did nothing at AFL level. But he was a similar type thing. And there's been a few over the years that, the other one, Dylan Stevens was playing with the seniors. You know, everyone's like, well, he's already playing with the seniors. He's going to be a gun at AFL level and he's done nothing. Like, there's quite a few. But then you get people like Connor Rosie. He was playing seniors, Jacks North Francis, - Matt Roberts. - Matt Roberts. - Yeah, so there are a few that buck the trends. So yeah, it can't really take too much into it. Sullivan Roby has had a few back complaints through the pre-sales. So I'm not sure if he starts round one. - It doesn't sound like he knows. - Yeah, so he's still jogging. - Yeah. - So he might be a wise way. But it doesn't really matter for K-Play. It's just that I think he's probably a quality of a quantity type anyway. - In fact, play, yeah. - Actually, Roberts was apparently getting some CBAs in a match, there. I'm not, that, that made it feels too deep. So I'm not really reading into that. - Yeah, and Merritt wasn't there. He was over in Perth for the state of origin game. - Yeah, so that makes sense. - So he might just be plugging that. Oh, we know Merritt also spent a bit of time at half-back last season. So maybe there's a bit of a rotation. But I'm expecting Roberts to be in that half-backline. He was a star there last year. - How many of you may as well keep tapping into that. Best you can. - I agree. Few concerns for Giacoldwell. He hasn't been training recently. He's been jogging last thing. There's a knee issue or something like that. Do you worry he'll just never get the body right? - Yeah. - Yeah, it's been so. - There's plenty of examples of players that just have heaps of talent, but the body just lets them down consistently. - Yeah. I hope he ends up being like, you know, LDU took ages before he started getting the consistency. Maybe just needs to build up the body mass and the size and the muscles and that sort of stuff. - He's been trying to keep going. - He's looking pretty good. - Yeah, hopefully that's the case. Another thing at S&N, Locky Blackiston, he's likely to be the number one rock. A lot of classic heart because it means you've got a defender that you can chuck and you've met you. You could screw a K, but for your K-Poligs, you just body time until Brian returns, right? - Yeah, I wouldn't be that keen in a Keeper league. He's classic relevant because he's gonna plight a hole at a cheap price for three, four weeks, but he's warming Brian's spot. And as soon as Brian's ready to go, he might play a VFL game, but he'll come straight into that scene you're side. - Yeah. - And then it will be sort of a combination of him and probably a Peter right. - Yeah, I can see Blackiston doing some rock duties, but like I said, if you're playing key position and rock, it's a terrible combo for fantasy scoring. He never really turns out that well. The other one is McGraws, been playing as a defender all preseason. I think a lot of people were expecting the, everyone sees the last five average and they go, "Oh holy shit, he's gonna be back next season, but people often forget that, that's cause all their midfielders were injured and he was playing in the midfield. If they're not injured, then he's not gonna be playing in the midfield, so he goes back to being probably a 75 to 80 half back flanker. - I think he's gonna be a bit of a Mr. Fixit. - Yeah, maybe. I think it was Farrah coming back there. That scares me the most for him, 'cause like it looks like they wanted to develop him to be there and he had Roberts as well. They want those guys to be the half back of the future. He could just be like a dirty back pocket and just shut down players and things like that as well. - I bet he'd play that role really well as well. - Yeah, 100% because he's got a bit of munger about him. And he's like a bit well built, can play the midfield, so he could play as like that. Yes, stock for in defense as well for the small forwards. And then Darcy Parrish apparently hasn't Mr. Beat. I'd be pretty optimistically if I was a parry shiner, wouldn't you? - Yeah, so I actually traded him in my keep. - Ritve, it got rid of him. - Yes. - Yeah, right, fair. - Yep, I traded him in for some youth. - Get a good brush. - I can't save you Lindsay as much. - Yeah, I'll take that. - I'll take that. - I was pretty happy with that in my list spot. But yeah, I think Darcy Parrish, you know, went overseas, he got his body right. He's had a flawless preseason, which is probably something that's been human far between for him. So if he can keep that consistency up, we know what he's capable of. You know, he's 100 plus scoring midfielder. - Yeah, absolutely. - When he's informed, certainly. So, yeah, I'd be quite bullish on Darcy Parrish. - I've seen him going like, pretty late, like, you know, in the 100 mark in Keep League drafts and things like that, which I think he's probably closer to that than that. - He's closer to the 75 to 80. - He's pretty effective as a half forward too. So if he picks up forward status, I'm certainly not thinking that he will, but that's a chance he's not able to be a baller. - He's not able to be a baller. - He's a prize if he picks it back up. And, you know, he's someone that I'd be really bullish on. - Let's move on to the free man to docus. There was an injury scaffit Jordan, cliopathy played in origin. So anything we're worrying about that at all. John McVey said in an interview that he claims he'll play a rebounding role in defense at free man to all. The thing is, I'm pretty sure he said that before at Melbourne too. - Yeah. - So, he's kind of just saying it into existence. - Yeah. - He's a really good stopper. - Yeah. - And look, yeah, they might have been some promises that you can play a bit more transition football, but I think there's going to be a mix of the two. And when they need to play a role, he's gonna have to do that just as any other footballer will. When I look at free man tools makeup of their list in their defense, they were missing a good small stopper. The guy who plays in the small defenders and actually stops them in the playing Carl Warner and I think Walker was another one that they were playing to try to play in that role. And he is so much better at that than they are. So that's the concern I have. So even though he's saying I'm playing a rebounding role and I will milk it for likes and contents online by putting up content about the quote that he said, I still do. think that he is going to play a, like you said, a mixture of a little bit of rebounding, but when you've got Clark on your side, you've got Luke Ryan on your side that can kind of play Tall Land Small at the same time, or distribute it at the same time, I feel like he will probably still lock down a bit. Good small defenders are so hard to come by as well. So when you've got one, you may as well utilize them. Correct. Luke Jackson has been training, was training as a midfielder, but Darcy's injured again. I feel like they're just like, I'm kind of thinking maybe they're just building his tank like to kind of run out games as the number one Ruck a bit more. I think that's probably more my thinking with it. I just can't see a world where, like if you're going to play Darcy in the side, why would you play Luke Jackson as a midfielder? Like, just played Luke Jackson as the number one Ruck and letting players in the midfielder while he's in the Ruck, you know what I mean? I agree, but what I would say as well is if they're going to be throwing the ball up a lot faster and Darcy's not exactly known as the quickest footballer, they've got Luke Jackson in there as a midfielder. He can chop out and take that Ruck contest when Darcy can't make it to the contest. He's trying to go back to my point, though what's the point of playing Darcy in? Just playing taxes. Yeah, I think it's just, it's kind of a sunk cost at this point. They really needed to trade him. They put their foot in the ground until now we're not getting rid of him. Now they're in this really awkward spot. Yeah, I agree. I don't know what they do with them. I feel like he's getting a, he's on a pretty good wicket as well. So, I just kind of don't know if the value is there anymore. I agree. I'm yeah, go mirror has been training in halfback and inside midfielder rolls throughout the preseason. I think for the WASide, which I thought was pretty crazy. He looked right. That's what I mean. Like he's actually looking a bit fitter. So, one of the, any of these, either of those two rolls, halfback or inside mid is going to be good for him. I just don't know if he's actually like, I know he's training in those rolls, but I think he's still probably a breakglass in case of emergency. Someone gets injured or something like that. And then he goes in. What do you think? Most likely. But a career of resurgence would be nice for him. I know, free mantle, I definitely thinking that they're in the window to compete. So, if he's in form, I think playing Omiro's. Is probably a good idea. I guess the other thing is as well, like the next room. There's an extra man on the bench these days as well. So, like, maybe he can be the extra guy that plays and they've got an extra midfield or a guy can go halfback and give a bit of a chop out as well. So, it might be free for, but I just don't know if he gets enough volume to actually be fantasy relevant. I don't know if he reads getting some CBA action. I got blasted on Instagram by saying he was still stashed for the future because he probably wouldn't break into the midfield. But apparently he's getting a bit of midfield time. So, I wonder what's that move. Yeah, yeah. All part of his development. Yeah. Let's move on to the cats. Oli Dempsey has been playing inside in match. He's reading into that or is he too much of a good outside player? I would have thought so, right? He was an absolute gun on that wing the last couple of seasons. I think it's just a match-sim thing once again, something to add to the bow. Or you want to try something different in there. If you're doing match-sim, you've got to have six midfielders. You don't have a main, so, and then two rucks obviously as well. So, like, you've got to play guys like him in the midfield. I think if you haven't, there's those kinds of sims. So Chris Scott hasn't been coaching Jolong to try. Is that right? Yeah, no, he's taken leaves. So, he knows coaching last night instead of origin. He hasn't been around the club. Yeah, I wasn't even sure if that was Brad. That's the thing. Yeah. Yeah, so, yeah. That's just something like a bad like I said. It's such a luxury to play someone like Oli Dempsey out in the ring and I think they're a wing and I think they can afford to do it, especially because they brought Warp Align as well. Like, and I think they need to be throwing him in the midfields. No. I'm not reading into that. Just a few injury concerns Toby Conway is injured again. So it looks like they're going to roll with them, restanly and blitz halves again as they rock maybe down to Coney as well. He just can't get fit, can he? Like, he would solve so many of their issues if he could get fit, but Toby Conway is out again and Jeremy Cameron didn't play in the origin because that broken arm is still giving him issues. But I know what you got feel there. Do you think he's right for round one? Yeah, I think so. They just don't want to risk it. Yeah. Give him another month to get ready and don't play in the process. All binds. Yeah, that's it. Let's move onto the suns. We'll pair out in the midfield. So we did actually see this last night in origin as well. I've got to put that at the top of the show, but I'm not buying it. How does he get into that goal course midfield? Yeah, he's not getting into that midfield. It's going to be a very small rotation if it is. I honestly think like it's more, he's not on the best 23 anymore. So they're just trying to find something that fails for him to do. And maybe kind of develop his game in some other area to kind of either package him up or maybe trade him or something like that. Yeah, well, it's awkward because nobles come in, royales come in that they've probably taken his spot down back as well. So he's in this no man's land where he's not going to get onto a wing because you've got Zeke there. Yeah. And they're talking about Ethan Reed on the other wing. But then they've already got Closie and they got Wella who plays in the wing as well. They got their stacked. He might need to look like what we said on Andrew McGraw where maybe he can turn himself into a really effective small defender. Yeah, maybe. Yeah. That's not going to be good for fantasy though. But really Humphrey has been used more forward in the match teams. Everyone wanted him to kind of move in the midfield this year, but I think Petrach had killed that. No, you think Petrach has been using the first midfield rotation there as well. So I think Bailey Humphrey's probably I think he can improve his scoring. But yeah, I think it's more that he might get to that 75 80 mark. More so than breaking out as a full on full time midfielder. Yeah, I think it'll be 50 50 with track and Humphrey. So track, track probably more effective as a forward, I think. Yeah, I'd like to see Bailey Humphrey more in that midfield and really sort of vast track is development there because when he's gone through with burst he looks phenomenal. The other thing is took me as well as been training the half forward as well as there might be a three way rotation thing going on there. Well, it looks like he's the one that's been kind of rotating the track forward. So I'm not sure what the whole dynamic of that midfield is going to be, but we'll probably get a better idea when we see it in action in a practice match this week. You mentioned before Ethan Reed being used on wing and rock rolls. He does look like the kind of guy who could play both of those rolls. TPP. Yeah, that triple pivot position player for it. Yeah, that's fine. So yeah, keep in watch on Ethan Reed. I think I just be good to see him out of the key forward position and see what else he can do. Kind of like Lakoshas a few years ago, like you can stick him behind the ball a bit more or something like that. I think he could play one of those rolls, whether they do it or not, it's another story. And Daniel Reo all he's been playing on the wing throughout the preseason because again, he's another one I was just talked about wings just before. He's another one and a bit of no man's land as well. I know they brought him in last season, but no one was the guy who kind of stepped up in that roll a bit more than he did. It looks like they're finding somewhere else for him to play. Yeah, I'd like to see him forward of the footy anyway. I think he's really effective on that hard forward line. Yeah, really good in front of goal as well. It's just again, the fantasy scoring will suffer as a result. That's the issue. Onto the Giants, the Tom Green injury. Who do you think it helps most? I think Clayton Oliver now goes, "Ham, Harry Rousen, do you think Cannealio can get back in to a good form? What do you think?" Yeah, Oliver was the initial thought. I think Oliver's still got more to give. He was written off a little bit last season and look, I kind of agree a little bit with that. He was probably a little bit underdone. I think this year he can really go bang. And as that main man in there, he's looking likely for me, but it's going to be spread amongst a couple of different players there, Roaston, they really highly rate. I think he's got some dogs back in there, I would love to see. I still like dogs, I think. He didn't look terrible last night. I didn't get a heap of it, but he still looked like better than he has the last kind of couple of seasons, but it's early days. Yeah, I think it's flawless preseason for him is something I was reading. So I've heard similar whispers as well. I'm hoping he kind of slides late for a contending team for me and I can pick him up. He's got four of his dead. I don't think that's me. I don't think so. But there's a lot of young guns at the Giants who have been starved for a little bit of opportunities. Yeah. I'm expecting them to all sneak in there for a few rotations. Yeah, we mentioned Clay and Oliver before. He did do a hammy a few weeks ago, but he's going to be right by the time he's at Carf, was it? He's back now already. The other interesting one is Toby Green has been training as a midfielder and they put out an article the other day saying he'll play midfield this season. So what do you think that's a bit of preseason smoke in mirrors or do you think there's merit to it? I think it's just going to be the same of what we sort of see when there has been injuries at the Giants. Toby Green has liked that hole in years gone by. He's pretty good as a midfielder. I feel, but he's so much more valuable as a forward. He's only getting older. He probably still goes around that 80 mark though with that kind of split. I imagine so. I imagine. Yeah. Yeah. On to Hawthorne in case you missed it, Will Day is injured again. He got traded. How's his trade? So Kay's owned him in our keyplague. He obviously got sick of waiting for Will Day to not be injured. So he traded him for Tim Toronto. I thought that was a good get. Will Day for Toronto. Yeah. I like that. I think the guy who owns Toronto is very much rebuilding. I wanted to go a younger player and B was more than happy to slide down the ladder order by having so many injured players on his team. Will Day is going to be in an interesting spot over the next couple of seasons. He's sort of looking like maybe his body's not going to hold up to that midfield role. So does he slide back into a defensive role? Which probably would be better for his fans. Yeah. Exactly. It might be one that you can sort of buy low because people are a little bit down on him and his fitness. But potentially I'm still a believer. I think he can really give something back in terms of fantasy scoring. Yeah. Conor McDonnell, there's been a lot of mixed messaging going on with Sam Mitchell. Now I think he said he'd be playing midfield. Then he came out saying he'll be playing forward this season and he's come out again this week saying he's playing midfield. Do you, would you be willing to take a punt on him or do you think this is just like too much of a risk? He's relevant in classic and it's driving me nuts those quotes. I don't know what to read into them. I think he's going to be a forward and they're just playing him as a midfielder in training because he is effective at it. But I don't know. I think they're still going to roll out with Nash, Newcomme and Ward McKenzie. What's your gut feel? Who's your gut feel the player that benefits the most from Will Day? getting injured, do you think it's McKenzie, McDonald? Like what do you think, who do you think goes into that midfield? How do you think it's Ward? - I think Newcomme does a lot more. - Yeah, okay. - Personally. - Yeah. - Ward spent a lot of time in that midfield more than what I thought. Think CMACS time is now, I think, you know, they really highly rate him and-- - Is that McKenzie or McDonald's CMACS? - Sorry. - I never know. - Yeah, Cam McKenzie. - Yeah. - Always grateful for me up on that. That's quite good. - No, I always get those two confused as well 'cause they're very similar names. But Conor McDonald's a super effective half forward and we've seen it with Dylan Moore where he's gotten cracks into the midfield but because you can play that high half forward connecting or also well, they just prefer to put him in that role. So I'm expecting a little bit more CBA action for Conor McDonald but-- - Thanks for clarifying. (laughing) - It won't be as much as what we're sort of hoping for. - The Josh Weddle hype of early, late last year, sorry early pre-season of him training as a midfield, that hype started down a bit hasn't it? - Yeah. - Too much of a Mr. Fix it for him. - Yeah, I don't know where he sits in terms of Keeper rankings. He's on one of my lists and some weeks I wanna-- - He's around the hundred mark I think at the moment which is kind of the way to go. I reckon with him. I'm taking the right part but don't expect to-- - I can see him getting better but I don't think a huge break out. - If he falls into the right role, I think he's gonna be a really nice option but-- - I think he's just around the way that's going to be. - He'll be like Justin West off where like, if you're having a shit week, they chuck him down back if they can play him forward. And he might be around the 80 mark most seasons but may not have that huge ceiling, you know what I mean? - Yeah. - Let's move on to Melvin. Jack Vaughn, he's been added to the long term Mindy-Ry list I think. He's got two issues or something. I can't remember what the goal is with him but-- - Yeah. - We're gonna back. - Yeah and then I think there's something else as well. There's two things on my side. That's a bit of a blow for Ones out there. You have to really decide what to do with him coming into your Keeper selection period. Caleb Windsor's been playing a lot of inside mid in the pre-season. He actually got opportunities inside mid last year and didn't really do a lot but I think they kind of forced into giving guys like him opportunity with the departures. - Yeah, no one's left in that midfield at the moment. It's definitely going to be Jack Steele and you know, the rest of the gang I guess. - Yeah, yeah, a few of their younger kids as well. I'm Langford probably the big one. - Yeah, yeah. - On the beneficiary of that as well. Xavier Lindsey looks like he's gonna move back to his half bag roll which he played as a junior which is where he put up his good numbers. So that's pretty encouraging for Ones there. Christian Salem has had a hamstring complaint but apparently no issues regarding fitness. He's just kind of taking it easy. What's your take on it? Christian Salem's play is always injured. - Yeah, he is always injured. I like Christian Salem though. I think if he can stay fit, he's gonna be one that's gonna really benefit in that Melbourne team. I think he's a leader back there. - Especially with Bowie out for the first time. - Yeah, exactly. There's so many holes to play. I can see him just getting about as a bit of a C goal but yeah, the one caveat with that is they've sort of come out and they've said they want to play really quick, fast transition for the Christian Salem is sort of the antipthesis of that. I think he's quite slow and sideways. - Yeah. - Yeah, that's a little bit of a flag. - Yeah, maybe. Trent Rivers looks like he's gonna be full time midfield this season as well. I didn't really notice him as much last night. I think he was okay but yeah, that's just one other thing to look at as well. Let's move on to North Melbourne. The George Ward law hamstring injury if you heard about that. Apparently it's not as bad as first feared. So he looks like he'll still be right for round one. There'd be a few coaches sweating on that. So hopefully that's okay. Colby McCurcher looks set to just continue that half back role that he ended up in last season. I think they moved him around a bit last year but he's apparently dominating preseason training and all the ball movements going through him. So yeah, that's the one. There's a few other ones like Cooper Harvie's been training at half back. He started in one of the entry clubs apparently but they still looks like they're persisting with Daniel at the moment but there's a lot of noise but Daniel might not even be in the best 23. What are your takes on the whole half back situation? - I was hearing that last season too. I think they wanted to say face a little bit so they kept playing him in that role. I wouldn't be surprised if he's moved somewhere else. I don't think it'll be outside of the best 23 other than he can be effective still but that half back role, I just don't think he adds enough and you do see opposition teams. They like to play through Caleb Daniel because when it comes to him playing defensively it's just so poor. - Yeah, another one was Riley Hardeman as well has had some good entry club performances as well kind of move around the park. Just harping up the ground and doing some nice things as well and he had one big performance last season that got a lot of people talking as well. So Riley Hardeman's another one I'd be adding to my heart. - Yeah, same actually. And I think internally that big fan of him as well a lot of players talking about. Let's move on to Port Adelaide. Will Brody is going to play according to Josh Carr. - Love it. What do you thoughts there? - I think he will. Yeah, I think he's gonna surprise a few. I understand the wine's suspension and not playing until I think round three is when he's back. I can see how there's a little bit of smoke in the water there but with that early fixture he might just sort of lock down a spot in those first two rounds and yeah, I think at someone that we're screaming out for a big bodied mid that can get in there and distribute out to a Zack Barters and a Connor Rosie. - I can do time. - I don't know. I feel like Oli Wands should be that guy. I feel like Willem Drew can be that guy. - A lot of Wands as a forward. I think he's really effective as a forward. - The only thing with his forward craft is he's a terrible shot of go. (laughing) It's anything. But yeah, I think Josh Carr rates him and I think he's got him over for a reason. I did hear Whisper's early on that he was only there for depth but I think he's kind of impressed a bit more since he's actually come across. So yeah, I think he's gonna be one that will slide in drafts and then you might get a decent midfielder for some parts of the season. Joe Berry has had a lot of highlights but I'm not sure of his fantasy game, don't you think? - Yeah, I don't know where to put him. - I'm getting a deal in terms of-- - I'm getting into a Dylan Mall. - That's what I mean. I'm getting Dylan Mall comparisons from people, so. - Yeah. Well, I need to see this leap that they're sort of hyping him up for 'cause last season he was pretty unimpressive and found himself back in the twos. So yeah, I think I'll make a call based on how he performs this year. - I'll take him late but I reckon some of the hype is gonna drive him up draft boards, that's all. - For sure. - Yeah, yeah. A friend of mine who works with an ex-port Adelaide player who played alongside Josh Carr, called Josh Carr. Sorry, that friend called Josh Carr and specifically asked him who is the number one ruck at Port Adelaide and he gave him the word that Dante Vistantini is currently ahead of Jordan's suite. - I believe it. - Yeah, so look and you look at the intro clubs that sort of stuff Vistantini seems to be on the A team. A lot of that sort of stuff. - Did you watch the entry club? - No, it did not. - No, it did not. - No, it's really good. - I coached my son's soccer team Friday, 530, it's the worst time. - Yeah, that's a terrible time. - Yeah, so I miss everything that, yeah. (laughing) Yeah, so I've got that on, so I didn't say it, but yeah, for more reports, Vistantini is, it is more that he's the more athletic ruck and he's the ones coping with the rules a bit better and Vistantini wasn't terrible last year. I think there's still a chance they playing tandem, though as well. - Yeah, I think less so just because who's gonna rock in the Magpires? We don't, maybe it's a Harrison Ram, but I don't think we make decisions there. - We don't make decisions ahead of who's gonna play for the Magpires, I don't think. But I do think there is a world where we don't really need to, it just depends what you do with that 23rd list spot. Do you play another rock? - Or do you have a tall? - Yeah, that's a thing. So do we even need it? Even all the ones was coming out, 'cause I remember all the ones used to do rock work like Vandana, and he was saying he's been practicing a bit of that as well, just in preparation. So I think there is a chance we do drop sweep back to the, the twos. Kinda Rosie's gonna play, he took it for the podcast, but he's gonna play that half back role. I think Kyle said we're gonna play him half back, but we've got the luxury of moving him into the midfield when we need to. - By tightening with buttons. - Yeah, so all buttons to half back, that'd be nice. We'll see how we go with that one. But yeah, I think he's gonna be fine. Miles Burham looks like a lock for the midfield. I know there's been a quote where he said he'd play forward, and that's what he's been training forward and stuff like that, but I think he is the perfect support to your butters and those guys with, I think, Jason Hornfrancis looks like he's gonna miss a bit of time as well, so I think he starts. - He'll play a lot of forward, yeah. - Yeah, yeah. Yeah, and we've got Jason Hornfrancis next on the list. No certainty for round one. And like you said, I can see, the luxury of playing Hornfrancis close to goal is something that Port have, and I think they should use it more, especially if you can play someone like Bergman, who plays a similar role to Hornfrancis in the middle, really, so I think they should use that a little bit more. Todd Marshall was moving to defense, even taking some kick-ins, I think people saw it. Were you training and saw that? - Yeah, that was a good idea. - No, that was a good idea. It sent me plenty of videos though, so yeah, it's definitely rude. I think it's, I'm not sure he's gonna play round one in that role, I think he would be better served to just developing a little bit in the sandfall. - How we go at it? - Yeah, well, we've got the tolls that can sort of like that role. - Like that role. - Like, we got Jack Whitlock, I can't remember which we've got. But it's, I think it's good. - Yeah, but he's apparently starring pre-season as well, so we do have the luxury of playing him. He would probably play ahead of Lord, and then Todd Marshall could go back if we need to put him there as well. I don't, yeah, if Marshall does go back though, I don't think it's gonna be fantasy relevant, that's all. Jackson Mead's been trained, speaking of not fantasy relevant, Jackson Mead. He's been training as a defender, actually played there at the end of last season, and was no good as a fantasy score there, so not getting excited about that one. (upbeat music) Sorry again, people, just chiming in to thank some more gold members here. Thank you to Marcus O'Brien, Michael Farrakhan, Jamie Radford, Oliver Kitchingman, Ken McGregor, John Smith, Stephen Mann, Harry Burrows, Luke Money, and Andrew Stoodley. You haven't been keeping up. All of my resources are now available for the members. you. can. Use my draft ranking tools to sort out your own ranks, then compare them to my top 400 contending, rebuilding or balanced ranks, and then you can now use the mock draft simulator to input your keepers, set up your draft order, and practice drafting your team. Members get access to these tools, so if you want to sign up, there's a link in the description below. Go check it out. Moving on to Richmond, Dianne Prestier. He's someone that you could have got late in drafts, but he's suffered another hamstring, but we'll miss the preseason, but we'll write one. He's still somebody who's good for an 80, like as your last midfielder, so probably worth picking up for those contending teams. I didn't know this, but Sam Banks, apparently, has been dealing with foot stress fracture. That's new to me. Yeah. So I don't know. I don't know if I've actually got that right, but I just read that the other day. So yeah, that's just something to think about there. Those are the ones that linger as well. Yeah, so that's a bit of a concern if that's correct. Sam Cumming is the draftee that's been talked up a lot by senior players this preseason. Luckily, to start on the midfielder, do you know much about Sam Cumming? No, but I like Cumming. Yeah. Maddie DeCenter has been raving about him. He wouldn't even be on my radar if Maddie knows his stuff with rookies as well. So he's kind of starting to climb up the boards for me. I did see a highlight of him last night. I think I was sent it and he just gets around four players through the midfielder weaves from cars from buttert, I think. So hot knife. And I see a one to think about. And then Lawler, have you seen the Lawler footage? No. Oh, I just seem just absolutely carving up from the Santa Bounces at Richmond. Thing is, Richmond light is probably easy to carve up there, but you get the shades of dusty mart and they've given him the number four. So I think he's one that could be, I think he could be in for a bit of an increase in his fans numbers. That's all. Yeah, well, they've likened him to dusty. They've given him the number. He's going to play some forward time as well because he's super effective there, but yeah, definitely going to be fantasy relevant for us. Yeah, I think so too. And the grill, Sam Grill, the sizzler, I think they call him, he's impressed off halfbacks. He's pushing for around one day boost. So another one to look at. I think Smiley is nearing a full return to training. He's one that a lot of people had a lot of hype on last preseason for the draft and that sort of stuff, but yeah, injury concerns have kept him out. But I think for some of that Smiley, it's probably just a year that he will just debut and kind of earn his spot and then probably the year after we probably look at him as a fantasy option maybe the year after that. Big boy. Yeah, 196 centimeters. Looks like he's going to be a bit of a gun as well, but we just might be patient with him. Onto the Saints. Tom DeCone has been tearing up preseason and looks to have the number one man to what I think, but we'll share rock jute. What do you think like the split's going to be between Marshall and DeCone? 70, 30. Yeah, I don't think Tom DeCone is that effective as a forward. Marshall, when he goes forward, seemed to get on the end of a couple. So, yeah, they're definitely going to be playing dual rucks, but Marshall might find himself as the guy that gets moved around the most just to ploke some holes. Actually, sorry, I just, because I'm about to Richmond, I did just Google the Sandbags interview. Apparently he's had the stress factor because he's returned of training. So that's a good news for owners there, but I've kept that one pretty quiet. Onto Mateusz Philippu, I think he, well, all the reports he's going to have that forward midfield role. He's one that you think will be a fans play if you can stay fit, right? Yeah, yeah, absolutely. I'm really bullish on him. As long as he can stay fit, I think he's someone that can really push North of 90 pretty consistently for his career. The other one they're talking about Max Hall has been in a bit of a rotation, I think, with him as well. He had a couple good games, I think one, especially in the midfield last year, which he played right. So he's another one I would see you expect to see him use a bit more in there. A lot of people have seen Mason Wood as a forward and think of him as an option, but apparently he's been injured all of preseason and looks pretty unlikely to be playing too much early. He might straddle to get back into that side even there've added a lot of depth there and recruited over the off season. So yeah, it might be Mason Wood father time. And then Jack Carroll, like I keep bringing up each year because he was a good junior fantasy score and a good VFL score at one point. He's been lining up a half back all preseason. There probably is a spot if they're going to play in a desire in the midfield all season, but I just don't know if Jack Carroll's that guy to take it. Doesn't it harm at all? No, neither. Out of the swans, Kalem Mills is going to continue that half back row. He's added like some of his preseason footage looked awesome. He looks really nice. Yeah. Well, I think it's the first one in a while. He hasn't been injured right. So hasn't done any trampoline shoulder issues. Is that the case? I think it was the foot. Maybe that was really giving him some problems for a couple of years there. I'm really liking Kalem Mills. I think he'll still be quite an accountable player. I don't expect him to be floating across half back, getting cheap easy. He's going to be a lot more impactful than that. But yeah, I'm hoping you can stay fit because he is an absolute gun of the player. Just looking at it, he actually averaged 90 last season. I did not. That came out of nowhere for me. Yeah. Yeah. Because he even played from around 11 onwards. But put up some bloody good scores. A lot of people want him to go on the midfield and be a gun. But I think even as a half backer, he's going to be fine. I think it probably just killed someone like Maddie Roberts or those kind of players. Especially because there's a few younger players that would talk about because like Ned Bowman, like I've never heard of him. But apparently he's really impressing it like across half back at the moment. So he's one. And Harry Kyle was a draft he was like with a rugby background. And he's got that kind of like just evasiveness about him. Like he break lines off half back. And like a lot of people are saying like they could seem in the midfield one day because he's just just thick rugby kind of dude. But he's very fast and like he loves the link up play because you know, the rugby how they kind of like pass sideways. And he's kind of like got that brings that into the footy as well. So you could get a few extra possessions kind of that way. So Harry Kyle is another one that a lot of people are raven out as a draft. Yeah. A lot of news coming out lately about this Jesse Tatoli. I've heard him mention multiple times. I was having beer with Aaron Bryan yesterday and he even brought him up as one to watch through the pre-season as well. But he's kind of that medium forward which I don't love for fantasy. That's the only thing. Yeah, it's a super tough position to play. So I'm not expecting it to be too conducive of fantasy points there. It might be, yeah, as we've said a couple of times on this podcast more impact over. Yeah. I think it did have good junior numbers though. There was always there's always someone last year in the mock draft simulator that kept taking him super early and it was so annoying to get stuff in up the 80p. So I had to get like manually adjusting it. But anyway, they've gone away thankfully. On the West Coast Eagles, Tom McCarthy, he looks set to play midfield. This season he haven't heard anything otherwise, right? No, apparently he's just tearing it up. Yeah, so he's one. I'm really sorry. And he probably, he's actually might be in a lot of drafts. If you don't do mid-season drafts, he might be like, would you take him ahead of like a Willem Dersmar or maybe even a Dyson Sharp? I probably would. Yeah, I think I would. Yeah, same. Maybe Arneville, maybe Jolanda might take ahead of him, but from there, it's probably Tom McCarthy, top three odds. Yeah, old is he. 24, I think he did. 24. So he's still, yeah, he's still quite tall. Yeah. A larger Hewitt was starring apparently, but he got injured. I can't remember what it was, but I just saw a footage of him punching a wall because he was so upset. And he didn't play the match to him last week as well. So I don't think that's encouraging, but I think he's going to be a star of the future, a larger Hewitt. So he's someone I'd still be investing in, especially if I was rebuilding. Yeah. And I could dofftyle, I think, kick three goals in a match to him last week. So he looks likely to be five was up. No, sorry. It was three at the time. I wrote that. He mostly got a few extra later. Yeah. It's four before half time. Yeah. Nice. And then Jacob Newton is another name that I'd never heard of, but apparently he started playing the mid in one of the early match teams. So he's listed as a forward. So maybe just want to take a late flyer on Will and Dersmar. I think he's been playing on the wing a little bit in the match. So that scares me a little bit. Yeah. He's more of a utility type. He's very skinny. Yeah. I'm not sure where he's going to land in as an AFL player. Yeah. They sort of saying he's going to be a midfielder. You know, I believe it, but I'm just not sure. The juxtaposition of sort of the hype Harley Reid got as a pick one compared to Will Dersmar so far apart. Yeah. I like to see a little bit more Dersmar. To be honest, but I think the draft overall is it's probably just a good gauge of like, and this is the other thing I've been saying a few people lately, like, I've seen so many people rank their top draftees for fantasy right and everyone has a different number one. Like it's a but the funny part is everyone has Yuland too. Yeah. That's a lot of saying this to me. Yeah. So it's like, I think Yuland is probably the best one out of all of them really. Yeah. What did I say? I think I said you said first the worst second the best. Yeah. That's right. So I don't know. Maybe Yuland's the one to go, but you're right. There does seem to be some people are really hot on Dersmar or some people are just really off him and I'm probably somewhere in between. There's too much merciness for me to really want to go there. I'm happy for somebody else to take that pick. But if you're at pick four or five and he's on the ball and he's probably a tough one to pass up. Yeah. I think four or five is probably a good indicator. If you're just drafting draftees, I guess. Elliot, yo, sorry, Josh Lindsay as well. Like apparently he's leaky kicking was on show in the match. He was pretty impressive. So he's not the one. I'm high. I think he just gets to the half like it's just because he's kicked so good. I think he's the halfback distributed guy that everything just goes through. You know, I've kind of think I have touted him as maybe the Harry Sheeze of this year's draft, but but probably like less equality because the draft isn't as good. Yeah. So like, but I think he does come in more so just comes in plays halfback and plays a good fantasy role straight up more so than anything. I don't know if the score is going to be huge, but like I could see him putting up a few nice ones here and there. Is it just he came you later? That's the thing is not really like he not in juniors, but like I don't know if that's it's hard to tell because the system to play and if you watch his highlights, so he looks pretty special. So and that kick and you just know he would take kick in. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. A lot of a lot of like until um, I Clark, Jordan Clark a lot. So I reckon it'd be a similar type player, maybe like a 95 kind of guy eventually, but I'm very keen on him. And then Elliott Yo has been basically back full training, although he only joined the match. Sims are in late January. So I think they've just been keeping them on ice a little bit, but apparently he's done all the workload. So that's encouraging playing as I mean to fill the Erie. I think so. I think you played. Yes, I didn't watch the match. Sims. So I'm not sure, but I have to check out warning's right up that he put out yesterday. And then Boa Allen has been training on a wing, but I have no interest in Boa Allen. Do you? No, I don't know what to put him as really. Yeah, I think it has some good underage numbers, but I don't know. I haven't seen enough yet. Yeah, I'd like to make a call based on this year. The fact that he didn't feature a lot last year in his first season, that worries me a little bit because given how bad West Coast were. And I think you need to play the one game. And then onto the last team, Western ball dogs, Adam Trelaw has done the hamstring. Jody was mad at me because I'd never in my top 100. Keep league ranks. It's just really high on Trelaw, but this is the exact reason why I didn't have him in there because yeah, he's just too injury prone. And I think him and probably Tom Libertore as well, like he's got a quad injury at the moment. I feel like they'll move past these guys at some stage this season. Like, I've been I was scarred last year because like I brought in the I brought in doc late in the season for the, um, the retirement game. Yes. And it happened in like round 18. So like I didn't, I was hoping it'd be grand final week. And I'm just worried like something like this would happen with either Trelaw or Libertore as well that they might not make the full season get injured. Something like that. I think you're right. They'll start there and then yeah, well, I don't know if they'll start injuries, but yeah. And actually Libertore stood down as a voice captain as well. So like could be the end for players like this. And then they trolled him at half back as well. That's exactly like that's the thing. So I feel like they want to move past him and they're giving him one last shot to do something else, but I don't think it's going to work. He's not very versatile. Um, apparently, Riley Sanders is struggling with a hamstring injury. So another injury interrupted preseason for him. I'm starting to write this guy off. Yeah. Yeah. I think so. I think he just needs to move clubs. Like that's probably that's what I'm thinking as well. But I think he's a really good by low candidate. Yeah. I think a lot of owners are probably getting a little bit tired of him. So maybe you can float off of their way and get him on the cheap and yeah, we'll go off the Tasmania. I presume the crows are also for him. Yeah. They're screaming out for a midfielder. Yeah. Um, yeah. So that's another one that's so what you want to think about there. Lucky Carmichael has he's a draftee, but he was looking likely to start early on on a half back kind of role, but they're even given him CB A time in some of the entry club matches. But yeah, it has a sin as most of season in Moon Boot. I think the last time I saw him say probably won't feature for a while, which is unfortunate. It's probably good for someone like Connor butterrick though looks likely to step into that. Half back row at the dogs and he's listed as a forward as well, because I can't really see a lot of other people, you know, playing that role. What do you think but it's got some upside. Yeah. Yeah. Kind of just because he's listed as a forward. Right. Yeah. Yeah. Pretty much, but he's a really good small defender as well. And I think he's better suited to that role. There's a few ball users back there that I think you'd rather have the ball in their hands. I know he's a good not well. It is like that's a thing. Bucky Bramble and stuff. Yeah. I just find that like I said earlier, you know, having that small defender who's effective is is so valuable. I look at the dogs. I'd rather because I think Bramble is quite a good small defender like better. I think butter is got a better butter is got a better disposal than some like Bramble. And so you probably better off using him as that outlet, but you're right. He is effective in those roles as well. But like again, like they moved him forward last year. That's why he's got four status. So they can't value in that much. Even at Gold Coast 2. So I don't really know. The other one, Lucky Jake. So I think he signed a two year deal today as well. But or Jax or Jax or how have you said? I'll struggle with this. Yeah. Yeah. But yeah, I just keep hearing whispers that he's looking good this pre-season. Don't know if he plays round one, but I reckon you'll get a debut this year and maybe one to stash for the future. Yeah. I think as well. All right. Pretty jam packed episode there with club news. We'll quickly get through some listen to questions. I only got three this week, which is kind of handy because the episode is called forever. Scott Warwick. I was in a now that Tom Green is injured. Where do you play seem in the top 100 for a new key colleague and does this affect any other of the GWS players rankings on your list? I did. I did some rankings. And yeah, I will update my rankings by the start next week. I think it will be all the end of this week. I have moved him down. He was about the 20 round the 20 mark. I moved him down about the 3032 mark there. But Clayton Oliver probably comes up a little bit for mine at the moment. And I just want to see them in action to see what it looks like. Like, Rouse, then if you're a rebuilding team, I think comes up the ranks a little bit. But yeah, what do your thoughts anyone else there? You should be keeping an eye on can you? Yeah. Yeah. I'm not too sure at this point. I'd like to see them the lineup in the practice game just to see who's around the mark because even someone like a Halloween could go into the midfield. Yeah, the opportunities there. Even the Brent Daniels. That's a good one. Actually, I probably should have mentioned that one on the top. So he did kind of players. I think he's too effective. Like he's better in a forward mid role to go in their full time. But like he's someone who's kind of he was someone I was riding off and now I'm thinking maybe he they will be using there a lot more to kind of cover. So that's not a bad shout that one. Can any argument be for value be made for the following players as late round flies. They're buried deep in 80 p's and unlikely to be on coaches, radars. Sam Butler. May any of you the flag is there he takes. Conomic Donald's midfield time if he goes into the midfield. Yeah, potentially. I think it's a bit of last chance saloon for Sam Butler. So if he takes it with both hands. Yeah, I can see a little bit of upside there. But I would still be worried that he's not going to be in that best 23. He's not my radar at all. Sam Butler truth be told. Ryan anguins the next one list. He's kind of a radar. I think he will play wing. I think this season. I don't know whether he's going to be a huge ceiling type player. But could be a handy 70. He's listed as a mid only. That's the thing. It'll be around the mark. Yeah, look nanker. What do you think? I'm not overly enthused about him. Yeah. I reckon we'll see him feature a lot more this season though. Yeah. And they're opportunity to be given to him to score. So we'll have to wait and see if that can happen. He has been like a 70. He's put up like 70s and stuff like that. I think that was a game in tazzy against North a couple years ago that he played a ride in on a half back flank. So let's see what happens there if you can overtake someone. Harvey Thomas played a little bit in the wing last season late in the season. I like that one. Yeah. I think that's a good shot. You see this is a forward as well. I can never remember. I'm not too sure. There's like three of these like GWS players are all the same guy to me like Joe Fonte. Yeah. Yeah. And go they're all the same to me. So yeah. That's why I'm interested in this mid mix because I wouldn't be surprised if one of those comes into that mid mix all of a sudden starts to get some minutes show something and then you've got a little bit of a bargain pick there. Yeah. And Jacob where not a lot's been spoken about him. Do you think he's got a wing roll at Port Adler? I think he does. Yeah. It feels like we didn't really have a wing. The other one is like Logan Evans. Like there's been training a lot more on the wing and looks like Cam Bergoin's been sent back again, which is probably going to be good for Bergoin. Yes. But it's a bit of competition. It could be on the wing. It's going to start. Yeah. And like he rolls into a midfield inside roll from the wing as well. So. But I think Jacob where's probably worth to select pick. I just wouldn't be expecting huge. But you'd rather have a player, especially if you're containing the player that actually plays most weeks or gets a game every now and then then someone who doesn't say it's probably a good way to look at it. And then Jordy wants to bounce back or free fall for the police players. Can you lay a bounce back or free fall bounce back. Okay. Somewhere between or reckon. Ridley bounce back or free fall. Bounce back. Yeah, I reckon bounce back Josh Kelly bounce back or free fall. Think he's in free fall. I think it's bounce back once he comes back from injury. Yeah. Because he'd be like he's so lowly rated at the moment. Yeah. He's sitting there in my draft. He's only 30. Yeah. I'm not too sure on the age he'd be around that mark. Yeah. I mean, he is a star. So when he's fit, he's going to score. But do you think his body's cooked? I think his body's starting to look like it might be cooked. Tim Kelly bounce back or free fall. Oh, this one's tough read. I'm free fall. Yeah. I've probably lean more towards free fall. I don't think he's the attitudes right. I don't think he's. He's got his head in it. They gain nothing by like they should have held kids more than go for something like him. Yeah. Jesse Hogan bounce back or free fall. Bounce back. Agree. Bounce back. Especially after last night. Brent Daniels bounce back. Yeah. I think because the opportunity is there, there's a bounce back for him. I was very interrupted by injury last year. I agree. Anyways, we will wrap it up there. Louis, where can people find you? Get around us on pod pod, AFL. We're on all the socials and obviously the podcast. So give that a listen. We're really ramping up with the preseason now. And we've got Maruah's magic on board this year as our sponsor. So shout out to them. Shelby puts out and homesy and all the guys involved there. Put out some elite statistics and all that sort of stuff. So yeah, exciting times ahead. It is a good resource. I do use it for a lot of my work and research as well. So definitely get around that. Also get around our stuff on all the socials that @Keeperleaf pod on Facebook, Instagram, X YouTube, TikTok. Pretty much everywhere you find us there. Make sure if you want to support the podcast and we with the day-to-day operations of all this sort of stuff. Make sure you sign up as a member. There is a link in the description below. Get around our sponsors @Keeper. They make an excellent fantasy draft platform that Kade is to the Kipligs. And most of the leagues I know actually use it. So it's a decent app. And then we've also got a Discord group. We do have a Facebook group for Gold members but I'm more active on the Discord. I hate Facebook. I hate the. Yeah, yeah, so I get it's there and sometimes I am in there doing things but if you want to interact more with me and the other kind of diehard listeners of the show get on the discord because there's just always some conversation going on in there when the Facebook group kind of falls on Defi is a little bit I think as well. So anyways that's it from me. Thanks for joining us this week. Louis. Thanks for having me. No, anytime. And yeah, we'll talk to the rest of you next week. See ya. [BLANK_AUDIO]