As the Gold Coast SUNS approach the bye round and near the half way mark of the 2017 AFL season, it’s time to look back at how the players have faired in the AFL Fantasy ranks.
There are no prizes for guessing who has the highest average at the SUNS so far in 2017.
The Little Master, Gary Ablett has turned back the clock in the first half of this year and has shown – yet again – that he is one of the greatest AFL Fantasy players of all time.
With an average of 117.5 (including a high score of 162), Ablett has consistently achieved big scores for his coaches, impressive given the large amount of footy he has missed prior to this year.
Ablett has been the perfect Captain choice for Fantasy coaches thus far and with a big price increase of $61,000, those who picked him at the start of the year will now be reaping the rewards.
Following Gold Coast’s round seven win over Geelong, coach Rodney Eade claimed running half back Jarrod Harbrow was in career best form.
That same argument can be made for his Fantasy career.
With an average of 95 and having risen in value of $66,000, Harbrow has been a terrific inclusion and the 1.25% of Fantasy coaches who were smart enough to pick him in the early parts of the season should be lauded.
Prior to this year, Harbrow’s highest points average per game was 87, back in 2010, and he is therefore on track to top that should his strong form continue into the back half of the year.
Aaron Hall (105.8), Jarryd Lyons (94.4) and Michael Barlow (92.5) are the other experienced SUNS midfielders who have started the year in strong fashion and will be looking to take that forward into the second half of the year, bringing the young, up and coming midfielders along with them.
However, AFL Fantasy isn’t all about the big scores, but also about selecting players at the beginning of the year who are going to make you money on the back of big performances.
Arguably the best recruit of the season in the whole competition is big man, http://www.goldcoastfc.com.au/player-profile/jarrod-wittsJarrod Witts.
Witts has worked extremely hard over the beginning of the year and appears to have cemented himself as the number one ruckman at the club.
Along with a very serviceable average of 87.9 points a game, Witts has had his value increase by a whopping $128,000, bringing his total price up to $456,000.
He is now the seventh most expensive ruckman in the league and has been mostly consistent in his scoring over the first half of the year.
Kudos to those who grabbed him when he was at his most affordable price of $328,000 before the first game.
Defender Jesse Joyce has also had his price tag increase by $69,000 and now sits at $324,000 if you were considering bringing him into your side.
One to watch for the second half of the season is draftee Ben Ainsworth who showed some extremely exciting signs in his first two games before injuring his quad.
Still very cheap at $288,000, look for him to try to force his way back into the AFL side and improve on that price tag.
An ideal downgrade option over the back end of the year.
TOP 5 AVERAGES THIS YEAR
• 117.5 - Gary Ablett (MID, $672,000)
• 105.8 – Aaron Hall (MID, $591,000)
• 95 – Jarrod Harbrow (DEF, $493,000)
• 94.4 – Jarryd Lyons (MID, $543,000)
• 92.5 – Michael Barlow (MID/FWD, $530,000)
TOP 5 PRICE INCREASES THIS YEAR
• +$128,000 – Jarrod Witts (RUCK, $456,000)
• +69,000 – Jesse Joyce (DEF, $324,000)
• +66,000 – Jarrod Harbrow (DEF, $493,000)
• +64,000 – David Swallow (MID, $419,000)
• +61,000 – Gary Ablett (MID, $672,000)
