It’s that time of year again when everyone has their favourite players and their top picks for the season ahead. With all of the Pre-Season talk over and with the help of this very useful website I have assembled my Top 22 players that will average the highest and take your teams to the top this season.
Backs
1. Brendan Goddard (Average 110-115) – This year will be the year where Goddards stamps himself as a former No.1 pick. Rumoured to be spending more time in the middle this season which should definitely boost his SuperCoach scores. His average of 103 last season will surely be beaten.
2. Luke Hodge (105-110) – The Norm Smith Medallist continues to pick up cheap possessions like he did towards the end of last season. Always scores well in SuperCoach (topped 100 in last four seasons) but can he return to his best of 2005 where he averaged a whopping 135? Teams will be more wary of him and tag him like they did last year (McLeod, Kennelly, Gilbee). The tag may deflate his scoring.
3. Chris Newman (100-105) – Given the Richmond captaincy will he relish or plummet with the new role? All signs point towards to the positive for the Tiger’s star, as he is the general on their half-back line, especially as Bowden moves to the end of his career.
4. Lindsay Gilbee (100- 105) – Gilbee is a fantastic user of the ball and looks in control in the Doggies defensive half. He is a Fantasy user and has been for several years, so there is no reason to discount him again this season as the Doggies look to push for the top 4.
5. Sam Fisher (95 – 105) – For sides coming up against St. Kilda who do they tag off the half-back line? This man or Brendan Goddard, both are lethal and rack up plenty of touches. Fisher takes plenty of marks (finishing second to Riewoldt at the Saints in ’08) meaning extra points everytime he wraps his dukes around the pill. His kick to handball ratio isn’t bad either averaging 13.7 kicks to 8.7 handballs per game in 2008.
6. Chad Cornes (95 – 100) – Struggled last season with injury but he looks fit and raring to go this season. He is a prolific Fantasy scorer especially if he gets going, picking up touches all over the ground. If he can repeat the feats of 2007 look out!
7. Corey Enright (90-95) – With Josh Hunt’s season ending knee injury marring Geelong’s defence this year, Enright may have to play more of a defensive role to what he did last year, when he was a free running half-back/On-baller. He just sneaks into the top 7.
Midfielders
1. Gary Ablett (135-140) – How can you go past him. Highest Average in SuperCoach last season (132.5) by a long way, I can’t see him dropping below that this year. Geelong look for him all the time and his ball use is great. If the pre-season is anything to go by, he looks in great stead to top 135.
2. Jimmy Bartel (120-125) – Another integral member of the awesome Geelong midfield. Dropped in SC by his standards last year, but should return and looked good in the pre-season. Still a very classy player and a fantasy star.
3. Chris Judd (115-120) – Although injury has troubled him in the past and may haunt him this season, he will still be able to produce a fairly high average this season. A full pre-season for his troublesome body isn’t a bad thing for his fantasy coaches either.
4. Joel Corey (110-115) – Geelong’s Best and Fairest winner last year he is also vital to Geelong’s midfield. Averaging 109 last season, I believe he can eclipse that this season, as Bartel and Ablett are followed around with the tag and he is allowed to roam free.
5. Scott Thompson (110) – Not often spoken about in Fantasy terms he is Adelaide’s most significant midfielder. He can push forward and kick goals as shown last year against the Tigers when he kicked six goals from 147 SuperCoach points. Unsure whether he is able to break a strong tag but is a class player and will continue to score highly.
6. Dane Swan (105-110) – The man with the new tattoo has probably stepped into the position as the Pies No.1 midfielder. Although many will dispute it is Pendlebury, Swan is the Pies go to man and he will more than likely break last years average of 102.
Rucks
1. Dean Cox – (105-115) – May be a little overpriced this season (up $75,00) but he is still miles in front of the other ruckmen in the comp. His ability to get around the ground and become another link up player in West Coast’s struggling midfield is unrivaled by any other player.
2. David Hille – (90-95) – Has shown in the past he is able to push forward and kick vital goals for the Bomber’s. Hille is always improving and with a full pre-season under his belt he will be fitter and fresher for the 22 games that lie ahead.
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Forwards
1. Matthew Pavlich (115-120) – His predicted average this season may be a little high than some may expect but Pavlich is all class. Can take the contested grab, kick goals and get plenty of disposals – making him a standout fantasy pick. Â
2. Brent Harvey (110-115) – He also has been handed the captaincy for this season. The dynamic half-forward/on-baller looks ready to follow on from his tremendous season last year where he averaged 112 points. He kicks plenty of goals, another great side to his play.
3. Brett Deledio (110-115) – The Tigers 2008 Best and Fairest has become a popular fantasy pick. He also collects plenty of touches and kicks goals. He also has the ability to take a contested grab – worth six points in SuperCoach.
4. Nick Riewoldt (110-115) – Another who goes into Round 1 underdone in preparation. St. Kilda posted ‘that’ video but I’m still not sure, heading into week 1. Despite the talk of his injury, Riewoldt is due for another big average this year. He marks storng, gets plenty of kicks – if only he could turn more of them into goals.
5. Jonathan Brown (105-110) – Another new captain, Brown is a powerhouse capable of scoring big scores. With seven scores of 130+ last year Brown can score very big. He is prone to lack in some games – maybe due to the fact he gets double or triple tagged.
6. Lance Franklin (100-105) – Many of you will have thought Buddy would be higher up the tree. Six is about right, if he could give away less free kicks and convert more goals he would be sitting at number 1. Will the Hawks look more for Roughead this season also?
7. Brendan Fevola (95-105) – If his pre-season form is anything to go by $459,800 looks a steal. With Fevola you need consistency and for his fantasy coaches, they will be dying for it this season. He is a chance of getting to 100 goals.
Do you agree with my prediction for this years top 22? Who is missing? Who should be higher and who shouldn’t be there? What is your top 22 for the season of 2009? I would love to hear your feedback as we embark on another bumper year of Fantasy footy!
