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Community Series Review Ft DT Lemon #PODPOD
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Live footy with stats was back, Fantasy coaches were glued to the screen gathering the last information on offer before the AFL Season kicks off. Some sides felt like full dress rehearsals whilst others have one eye open towards Opening Round this week. How do we decipher what is real and what is not? We recruit special guest DT Lemon, 3 x hat winner and top 400 finisher 5 years running to help set you up for the AFL Fantasy Season!
In this episode, Holmesy, Lewy and Lemon discuss all 9 practice matches in-depth, talking stocks up and stocks down. This episode is always one of our biggest for the year and it is super crucial to ensure coaches have all of the information necessary to make informed decisions around their starting squads. The 2026 AFL Fantasy season is just days away!
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The PODPOD is brought to you by Moreira’s Magic in 2026. All Holmes Files episodes will be available exclusively as a part of the 2026 Season Guide. As well as the podcasts, the Season Guide will also include:
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- Draft rankings
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Holmesy: @Holmesysheroes
Lewy: @AFLewy
Harmey: @jonharmey
Sam: @grillis03
Jordy: @jordandsena
Dossy: @HKdos
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Transcript
Introduction and Host Credentials
00:00:18
Holmesy
G'day and welcome to the Pod Pod brought to you by Morera's Magic. I'm your host Holmesy, three-time top 10 finisher and twice runner-up in AFL Fantasy Classic.
2026 AFL Fantasy Season Kickoff
00:00:28
Holmesy
We have just had a live round of semi-real football. We're on the eve of opening round and the AFL Fantasy season for 2026 is just about to kickstart you off.
00:00:40
Holmesy
And yeah, we're here to chat about it all with a little bit of a different panel
Guest Introduction: Louis and Lemon
00:00:44
Holmesy
today. We do have the stalwart of the PodPod, our perennial top 1K finisher, Louis, fresh off a nap as we've just had ah a bit of a different recording time today. So, Louis, I appreciate you waking up and and giving us your time, mate.
00:00:59
Lew
No worries, I wouldn't miss this one for the world. This is one of the more relevant podcasts that we'll be recording this preseason, obviously.
Impact of Semi-Real Games on Fantasy Teams
00:01:06
Lew
Finally seeing some some games that kind of matter. We've got some stats to actually look at and I think anybody who's into fantasy is certainly reading into these games and starting to to build their teams based off the back of it.
00:01:21
Holmesy
Yeah, no, you're dead right. We did say that those you know those unofficial practice matches, there was it was good to have them back, but there wasn't a whole lot we could take out of them. And and these ones this week, although you know some of them, some of the opening round teams in particular, didn't exactly put best 23 sides out. It is still good to see proper matches, proper rules, proper timings, and and close to 23-man squad. So really looking forward to going over it and Because it is such a big occasion, we have ah we we don't have Harmy. I actually don't know where he is. He he typically disappears this time of year, Lou, just so we don't get too much out of him. And as we know, Jordy's off gallivanting in Europe still. But we have recruited.
00:01:59
Holmesy
We have a triple hat winner. Yep, you heard that right. And I think the tagline is top 500 the last five years. Lemon, you're always so smooth in the intros on the Lemon League. But thanks for joining us.
00:02:12
Lemon
Yeah, thanks for having me guys. It's a top 400 homesy, but that's okay. um Yeah, it's good to be here. And I think, you know, you summed it up at the start. It's semi-real football we're talking about. It's it's pretty transition heavy and some of the teams were pretty strong. Some of the teams are pretty weak, but ah it's great to have it back. And there's a lot that I took away from these games and and there's a lot to talk about today.
00:02:34
Holmesy
Yeah, we are we are going to get stuck right into it as it is going to be a a monster
Pod Challenge 2026 Details
00:02:38
Holmesy
episode. But just a reminder, Pod Pod Challenge is live again for 2026. So the lead code will be in the show description below. So make sure you get involved in that community. And as always, the the winner of the Pod Pod Challenge will receive a custom AFL fantasy ring from our friends at supercoachchampion.com. But Let's get stuck straight into these practice match
Analyzing Key Matches and Player Performances
00:03:01
Holmesy
reviews. And our first game that we had was Carlton versus Geelong.
00:03:05
Holmesy
If we look at the the Geelong midfield, was it was pretty much what you'd expect with Atkins and Warpool being the two main guys in there. And then you saw a little bit of Holmes, a little bit of Bruin, little bit of Stevens, as no doubt they were just sort of experimenting a bit with Baz Smith being out. And then...
00:03:21
Holmesy
Carlton, Cripps, Hewitt, Smith and Walsh as the main four. And then we saw Cooper Lord there as well, Lou. So let's go through. We're going to a bit of stocks up, stocks down throughout each of these games.
00:03:34
Holmesy
We're not going to go too much into Jagger Smith as he's a bigger lock as wicked we as we could have in our fantasy squads being that basement price midfielder. But what did you like from this particular game?
00:03:46
Lew
Oh, well, first of all, this was just great to be be able to finally get a little bit of a football injection. This was one that I was lining up on the KO immediately on the on the Wednesday night, I think it was.
00:03:54
Holmesy
Thank you.
00:03:58
Lew
ah How could I not start with my man Tanner Broon? I've been pumping him up all preseason. It was really nice to see that roll across halfback, certainly in that first half. And then in the second half, snuck into the into the midfield. But...
00:04:14
Lew
What a start there. i was I was quite impressed. So that was really good to see. um Obviously, Geelong as a team, they didn't really have the strongest side. They were missing a couple of their they're big dogs in there. But it looked like Carlton were pretty much unrolling what they're going to to go in with round zero, didn't you think?
00:04:34
Holmesy
Yeah, at least from a midfielded midfield perspective, that's what it looked like. I'm not sure they're going to go with the dual rucks um come come the real stuff, but but maybe they do considering their forward lines a bit weaker with no Charlie Curnow-Lemon. I did chuckle in the group chat when you came in and you said you love it when your your pods go well in the preseason, a la Bruin, just so everyone everyone you know jumps on board and whatnot. But Personally, I love the game from same Sam Walsh. He had that midfield role as we we were hoping he would. And I know Adam Chera, that pretty much cements it, I think. Now, scored the 99 from just 68% time on ground. Did go off in that first quarter with a bit of an injury. So that kind of explains that too and sit the last 10 minutes. But did you like the the Sam Walsh game?
00:05:20
Lemon
Yeah, it was, he looked really good. It was, I must say, you know, what, three minutes in, he he goes off with a a little back concern. And I was just thinking, oh, here we go again. you know, Sam Welsh has a full preseason. And then just before round one, he's he's going to get injured. But i I think he copped a knee in the backs ah just before that. So it might've just been a bit of bruising. He gets it checked and he's fine. Looks great. Low time on ground, you know, tick, tick. The big concern for the Carlton players for me was just how many points they scored as a team. They had over 1,900 points.
00:05:48
Lemon
They looked great. They looked like they were ready for real football, but you know they're not going to score 1,900 points every week. and Even if they have a good year, they might average, I don't know, 1,550, 1,600 max. So yeah, you know where do those points go in the season? I can still see Walsh getting a big chunk of that of that market share, but...
00:06:06
Lemon
you know Guys like a Cooper Lord, you know Jagger won't won't do that every week. um you know Maybe Elijah Holland, some of these other guys, you know they're not going to be putting up scores like that every week.
00:06:17
Lemon
But yeah, Walsh looks really great. And um he's definitely um a guy that I've bumped up the list a little bit now.
00:06:24
Holmesy
Yeah, na I did have to chuck Elijah Hollands on the run sheet just for my boy Lou, who's been wanting him to be back on the list since October, the preseason specialist himself. But, I mean, playing on a wing and half back with forward status, that 63-something maybe to look at, that price tag, but he probably is a little bit awkwardly priced with some of the options we have have around him.
Player Evaluations: Dirksen, Reedy, and More
00:06:45
Holmesy
Lemon, the one I wanted to get your opinion on is is actually Dirksen. So, basement price, defender, mature age.
00:06:51
Holmesy
You know, Wiedering didn't play. So you'd think if Wiedering plays and Dirksen also plays, Wiedering is going to take more of the key. And then hopefully that frees up Dirksen to play as, you know, maybe that third tall. I really liked his game, although 40 odd points in that first quarter. And then we saw he can go out of the game as as these defenders can do. But is he someone that you might look to target come round zero if he has a good good opening round?
00:07:18
Lemon
Yeah, definitely. I thought he looked really good. and I mean, he only got on the list, what, 10 days ago or something, but um he looks like he's he's ready to play AFL. Yeah, the big question mark is Wiedering. He probably takes Harry Dean's spot, but then I think you've got Nick Haynes, who I'm not really sure when he's coming back as well. So you'd think he'd be a best 23 player when he's fit. um you know Does that mean Dirksen plays a couple of games and gets dropped? I think the scoring will be there.
00:07:44
Lemon
Just the question for me is how many games he gets at the start of the year.
00:07:48
Holmesy
Yeah, and you've also got Nick Newman who will come back in once his two-game suspension is done as well. So another ball user back there. But did like that Dirksen game. I suppose Stocks down, SDK had ruck contests, but they play that sort of zone ruck and he still couldn't really score in that role.
00:08:06
Holmesy
Mitch Edwards is a basement ruck for us. He did have the 37% ruck contest, but 54% time on ground. I wouldn't think he's going to be there in the real stuff. But once again, opening round, try not to say that too many times on the podcast. But Lou, Liam Reedy did score the 60-odd points and had 44% ruck contest, which in theory is close to 50-50. I did say that I don't think he's going to be there round zero. But let's say round zero he does play and he has that same role and puts up 60-odd.
00:08:35
Holmesy
You know does he come back into contention for you?
00:08:38
Lew
all Look, potentially, I think really got to keep in mind, as Lemon mentioned, there's 1,900 points scored in this game. So um not sure that 60 is necessarily reflective of what he'll actually score in the real stuff, especially as that second Ruckman.
00:08:54
Lew
I think I'm probably distancing myself away from that just a little bit. Obviously, round zero could throw up a bit of ah a left field option potentially, but you know we sort of touched on it last week. That that second ruck roll, especially if he's going to be coming off the bench, just isn't very conducive of fantasy points. And I think unless Pitnett sort of goes down with an injury or something, that we're probably just going to let that one go through to the keeper now.
00:09:22
Holmesy
perfect. I think that's all from that game. So let's move on to the Sydney versus GWS game in the torrential weather.
Sydney vs GWS Review and Player Roles
00:09:30
Holmesy
If we look at the GWS midfield, it was spoken about, but Toby Green was the big winner here with Tom Green and Finn Callaghan not there. So The midfield was Cornelio, Oliver, Green, and then Roston as the big four, Roston, Roustan.
00:09:47
Holmesy
Clearly, Finn Callaghan is going to come back into this midfield, which means that we're either going to see a reduction from all of them or maybe someone else comes out. Sydney, I'm not sure there's too much we can take out of this. They did go pretty hard for that first half.
00:10:02
Holmesy
um And then they did kind of manage their players in the second half. I mean, Isaac Heaney, 32% centre bounces. That's going to increase when the the main stuff starts. And then also Goulden being taken out of the game just after quarter time. So...
00:10:15
Holmesy
Not going to look too much at the midfield, but Lemon, while I've got you on here, Jordy, he hasn't got in my DMs, but I'm sure he's just waiting for this to come out. He wants to hear. Grundy, 88 from 58% time on ground, looked unreal, already finding ways to find loopholes with the Ruck rule in terms of his pump fake to be to watch Madden just run completely over the line.
00:10:38
Holmesy
Can you start Grundy with his buy?
00:10:41
Lemon
ah Yeah, I think you definitely can start a couple of premiums with a buy, ideally spread out across the the couple of bright buy rounds. But even if you've got another premium on that round, I think you can. I mean, the big flag here for Grundy, you know, it was it was super wet. It was a really, really wet game, which obviously means more stoppages.
00:11:01
Lemon
And also he was rucking against, you know, Nick Madden and Riccardi. So, yeah. Yeah, you know, I think that's a tick for him, but I wouldn't be expecting like massive, massive upside for him because he's not going to play against a second string Ruckman every week.
00:11:16
Holmesy
Yep, no, agree with that. Definitely one to watch though. Lou, I'll throw you two of our mid-priced options. One we've been looking at and one we just have to put on here for John Harmy. But Angus Sheldrick, priced at 62, scored the 117 from 58% center bounces. And then Roustan scored 73 from his 71% tog.
00:11:38
Holmesy
Fourth in line for the center bounces. Did we see enough for either of these guys?
00:11:43
Lew
Yeah, I'm still not too sure on Sheldrick. I think he's going to be one that we probably weight pretty heavily on round zero and just how he looks.
00:11:46
Holmesy
Thank you.
00:11:51
Lew
um You know, he's he's one that we've sort of had circled as coaches for a couple of years now. he's He's clearly got a fantasy pedigree. He's kind of been waiting for that opportunity. and Quite often he sort of has made his bread in these preseason games and some of these games that, you know, don't necessarily matter. Never really been able to go on with it outside of a couple of patches during the season. So Sheldrick is one I'm probably...
00:12:17
Lew
A little bit cold on, but definitely open to the fact. Roustan, he's a really interesting one. He's one that did get a little bit of opportunity last year. He's highly rated, had those nice junior numbers, which we've touched on in in previous podcasts.
00:12:34
Lew
The role was certainly there. um My concern would be where that sits come the real stuff. So, and you know, they've been pretty consistent in saying that Toby Green's going to be entering that midfield. Callaghan is presumably going to play around zero. At least that's what he's told us um And of course, you've got Clayton Oliver, who who's certainly going to be playing in the midfield. So straight away, he's probably looking at that M4 position.
00:13:03
Lew
Where does Cornelio sit? I'm not too sure. ah So, you know, if he's at that M4, M5 range, depending on how many, you know, centre bouncers he's going to be attending.
00:13:15
Lew
There's probably a few question marks for me there still. I know he's a very inside type player. and you know He's been compared to Tom Green. That's probably adjacent to Oliver as well. So I'm not sure if he can do enough of what we'd want in terms of filling out all the stats to to really sort of skyrocket himself from that, what, 55 sort of price range into... into really the 80 we'd like, but massive round zero watch. I think if he puts up something that's half respectable in a really nice role, you know, I'm talking hopefully M3, but, you know, a nice performance at M4, then he's certainly going to be one that we're all considering.
Speculation on Player Full-Season Potential
00:13:58
Holmesy
Lemon, Toby Green. So we've been saying all pre-season that we've been crying out for a forward premium that presents value. We've spoken about the Petrarchas and these types that might have a little bit of value without having heaps.
00:14:13
Holmesy
Toby Green going into the midfield, scored 98 from about 68% time on ground. He's always been a scorer when he's had the midfield role. He's 31 or 32 years old now.
00:14:25
Holmesy
Is he someone of interest? And if he is, what would you need to see in opening round to really shoot him into contention in your side?
00:14:33
Lemon
Yeah, he's a really tricky one because um we're going to get to see it in opening round. But mike my question with him is really, can he keep it up for a full season? At that price point, I'm not really looking to to hold him for a short period of time and then flip him. So...
00:14:49
Lemon
um you know do you think he can sustain 50 60 cbas all year ah his body's never been really able to do that um and he's now you know a year older so it's a really tricky one i'm i'm not exactly sure he's the answer for that midfield and maybe he's the guy that comes out when callahan comes in maybe him and caniglio take ah a bit of a hit he plays a bit more forward forward mid split like he normally does but Yeah, what the club's saying is different to that.
00:15:17
Lemon
ah It's going to be hard not to pick him if he's M1 for them, M2 for them. It's going to be hard not to pick.
00:15:24
Holmesy
Yeah, the the the interesting thing was that they mentioned him going into the midfield before they lost Tom Green, before they lost Finn Callaghan, which is just crazy to think about. He's just a scorer. He's a scorer. it's If he's there, opening round has the 70% plus centre bounces and scores well, Lou.
00:15:43
Holmesy
I'm with Lemon. He's going to be hard to pass up, even though he has the same buy as a Flanders and a Philippou, which we'll get to.
00:15:50
Lew
Yeah, I think um it'll be interesting what the fallout to ah Brent Daniels getting injured today will be. You know, he did his hamstring. He was expected to play.
00:16:00
Lew
and There's injuries all over the ground for the Giants. So not that that's anything new, but whether or not that's a slight role adjustment too. But um we know Cornelio can play a little bit forward as well. So it's it's going to be super interesting. But yeah, the big 2026 and where we're looking at Toby Green and our fantasy sides again, it's it's pretty wild.
00:16:21
Holmesy
I think the Toby Green midfield role has a lot to do with how healthy Jake Stringer stays personally. So if you've got Aaron Cadman and Jesse Hogan as the two talls and then Jake Stringer can play as that sort of smaller forward but plays a bit taller like a Toby Green, that could just free him up to go loose in the midfield, which would be incredible for his fantasy scoring. Let's move on to the next game, which was the Lions versus the Suns.
Brisbane vs Suns: Impact of Roles and Injuries
00:16:47
Holmesy
If there was any issues about what Petrarca's role was going to be, at least while Matt Rowe's out, I think he's going to be right up there with Anderson as the M1 and M2, which showed on the weekend.
00:16:58
Holmesy
As I said, you had Anderson and then Powell and Davies as as the four midfielders. And then Brisbane, I'm not sure you can take too much into. Hugh McCluggage, I think it was a corked calf, so he played minimal game time.
00:17:09
Holmesy
I think Will Ashcroft got rested pretty much after halftime as well. So... Neil, I think he's going to be there at the top. we'll We're projecting maybe he takes a bit of a backward step, but that's not looking to be the case.
00:17:21
Holmesy
Dunkley, and then you're going to see Will Ashcroft and McCluggage with your splatterings of Bailey and whatnot. But... Stocks up. Petrarca, we've spoken about already. His game on the weekend, scoring 88 from just 73% centre bounces. I think if you were keen on him before, we get the opening round watch, but that game would have done no harm. But lemon Leo Lombard, another, sorry, not another, but three goals to go with, I think is two or three in the practice match the week prior.
00:17:50
Holmesy
Seems to play that high half forward role, getting up the ground quite a bit as well. Basement price forward. We are screaming out for them. Did you like Leo Lombard's game?
00:18:00
Lemon
I mean, yeah, he looks he looks like a player. And, you know, he was one that was on my watch this last year before he got injured. um He's had a full year in the gym. He he hasn't played that much football. I think only played, ah you know, maybe five or 10 games last year in the VFL. But, yeah, he looked great.
00:18:15
Lemon
I wouldn't i wouldn't probably wouldn't call it high half forward. I think Tuke Miller sort of has that role up, that role. and And he was probably playing that more kind of one of the deep players three or four forwards for Gold Coast. But if you're going to kick three goals, you're going to get a good, nice score of it.
00:18:28
Lemon
You know, can he do that each and every week? I think, yeah, kicked three goals straight. You know, normally these guys are taking tough shots. He might kick one goal to one week. He might, you know, have ah a game where he doesn't even get the shots on goal. So I'm still expecting um that to be more of a ceiling score for him. I think he's probably going to be more a bench option for us, but you know, he looks like he's cemented a role in that team and, and in the forward line that might be good enough for us to pick him.
00:18:53
Holmesy
Yeah, I think we are we're still starved for options, but being basement price, which is ah a 22 price tag, if he can average 50, that's still a win. And then anything above that's just going to be some nice cash for us on the bench.
00:19:02
Lemon
Yeah.
00:19:04
Holmesy
So yeah, Leo Lombard definitely firming Lou. I've gone stocks up, although he didn't score. Kitty Coleman back in defense. Now there was no Zorko and ah I wasn't watching it terribly closely, but Jasper Fletcher,
00:19:19
Holmesy
Was he more on a wing slash a little bit of halfback as well? But he didn't really get out of second gear, Kitty. and And we do know that, you know, for him, he's probably just trying to get through to opening round so he can unleash in the team next week. If he's there in opening round, back in defense, is he does he become an option for us again?
00:19:36
Lew
Yeah, look I've been pretty high on Coleman the whole preseason. I think the one consistent thing that we've heard out of the Lions is that they've been really excited to have this guy back because they rate his ball use so much, which tells me that they're going to want give him the ball as much as possible. He's one of the best users by foot in the competition. So while I would like to see him in defense, I know it's a pretty stacked defense. I think wherever he plays, whether that be a wing or a high half forward role, they're going to be funneling the football through him for him to be able to you know hit his targets and and play some really effective football.
00:20:13
Lew
know Being part of one of the best fantasy scoring units we've seen over the last couple of years, I think it really bodes quite well for him. and what he's priced at, I think, 54 or something like that, Holmesy, maybe be a touch over. If he can do, you know, 75, I'd probably give that a pass mark. And, um you know, even if we look at opening round, if he does 70 off of that halfback roll, I think that would be enough for me to sort of lock him into my side.
00:20:41
Holmesy
Lemon, do you see Jasper Fletcher, any chance of moving up onto the wing to fit Coleman in? Because when I look at it, I go, you can't fit all of Zorko, Fletcher, Wilmot and Coleman all in that back line. It gets a bit tricky.
00:20:55
Holmesy
So we kind of we're kind of relying on one of them to move at least out partially, right?
00:21:01
Lemon
ah That's my big issue with with these Brisbane options at the moment. they are They're so deep. you know They've got, even the guys who weren't playing this week, they have, I don't know, five or 10 best 23 players that were missing. So, um you know, Annable can't get a game. They said that he would have played in the grand final team last year. He couldn't even get a game. hed he He wasn't anywhere near it. So,
00:21:21
Lemon
I think, yes, they want them as a defender, but they've probably got eight, nine, 10 AFL ready defenders. um And they're not looking to win minor premiership games. They're looking to win flags at the moment. So I think they're going to manage this team throughout the year. If he gets a niggle, he'll get rested.
00:21:37
Lemon
um If they lose a few forwards, he'll play forward. He looked good in that role. So they know they can do that. um I think it's going to be, yeah, Brisbane will just be coasting through trying to keep these guys fit and and firing.
Player Development and Preseason Analysis
00:21:49
Lemon
And then closer to finals time, that's when they're going to really start to, okay, I'm going to put Coleman in this role that I think he's going to play finals in. So ah yeah, I'm a little bit worried. I never liked picking guys who have multiple roles in a team and Zorko coming back into the side. I just can't see how Coleman doesn't play minutes elsewhere.
00:22:07
Holmesy
Yep. No, very, very fair point. In terms of stocks down, Lou, Jamara, Ugal Hagen, our boy, rest in peace, still not looking up to it at the moment. It's going to take some time to, we we got excited, but we got to remember he's missed year of footy playing a new system. It's just going to take time, but Lemon, I'll go to you for this one. So I've got Zeke Ulanders stocks down. Now that's two games in a row where he hasn't necessarily looked up to the level. He was cramping at three quarter time the week before and,
00:22:35
Holmesy
And this week, he he wasn't really finding much of the footy. But I'm torn on him. And we are going to get the opening round look if he is playing, um to be fair. But he does have West Coast and Richmond in the first two games. And if we're going to get a rookie that gets a few spike games with some easy outside ball, it's going to be in those those matchups. so what will you look for for Zeke this week in opening round to really put him into contention for our starting sides in the following week?
00:23:05
Lemon
Yeah, I i think a little bit harsh here in the notes saying look lost. I thought he looked okay. just They didn't get a much easy ball, Gold Coast, in this game. you know Brisbane were were hogging the ball. They only had 1,350 points or so, Gold Coast. So that'll increase in in the year and that'll definitely increase in those first few rounds.
00:23:22
Lemon
I liked his ball use, but yeah, does he have that thirst to get on the outside? at At his price tag, he's going to have to do probably 60, 65 plus to be a really good pick. So I'm nervous picking him. um We get another look and then we get those two juicy games.
00:23:40
Lemon
It's, yeah, it's a tricky one. i I think he's a guy that you could easily fade. You could easily pick and hope for a pop score. I think he'll surprise some coaches this year though. I think he he does have a big 80 plus score in him.
00:23:52
Holmesy
Yeah, no, i agree with that. I just wanted to to keep him on the radar. I know he's found his way out of a lot of sides and and I agree with the coaches that have taken him out. He's an elevated rookie price. So if you think someone at 34 price tag, he needs to go 12 points better than our basement guys just to provide the same value. So it is tricky, but...
00:24:10
Holmesy
Just those those first few fixtures to start and even in Melbourne after that after the bye, it's just really, really hard to ignore. But let's move on to Melbourne and Richmond now. And we can't really take too much out of this game. We're going talk about it a bit, but obviously getting called off just after halftime with the Lightning means that you know we're only really looking at a half of data. And Lou, I'm going to leave this one to you.
00:24:31
Holmesy
Caleb Windsor, just go.
00:24:34
Lew
Yeah, well, look, this is one where you know you look at the role, it's kind of what you want. He was he was pretty much M1 for Melbourne. I don't think that's going to be what it is in the real stuff, but it's a clear directive by King in the way that he wants to play all preseason. He wants to move the ball quickly, and whether that's by foot or by...
00:24:54
Lew
um you know, carrying it as far as possible. Windsor is that guy. And that's what we sort of saw in this game here. ah terms of an eye test, I thought he looked great. and He was really electric in there and gave them something um a little bit different. You know, i think that Pickett's a really effective forward. I think Windsor's, even though Pickett's not going to be out of that midfield mix, I think Windsor's speed and evasiveness in there is really valuable for them. And um For me, you know as a defender priced at what he is, he's skyrocketed into contention for me. I think he's going to play ah pretty large role in the direction that Melbourne wants ahead. I know there's question marks over sort of the quantity. Maybe he's a little bit more quality, but um you know sometimes you sink or swim and just the ah eye test for me was saying that Windsor's a guy that they really want to get the the ball in the hands of and and hopefully he can take a big step up this year and and be part of that.
00:25:52
Holmesy
Yeah, I'm not sure we've had ah an accurate read on what Melbourne are going to be like this year so far. They've played two practice matches against North and against Richmond. um I think they're going to find it much harder when the real stuff begins, when it's full AFL intensity against proper midfields. But you are right. I mean that first quarter, the 40-odd points, that goal that he kicked, he looked great.
00:26:13
Holmesy
But then that second quarter, once again, like 15 points is great, but I think it just shows that he could probably have ah have a quarter or two where he has five or six touches, but it might be five or six handballs where he's just breaking the lines, which isn't going to equate to us from a
Increasing Midfield Roles and Fantasy Impact
00:26:27
Holmesy
scoring perspective. But definitely someone that has shot more into contention. Lemon, Jack Steel didn't get out of second gear.
00:26:34
Holmesy
looked great. I think if you were keen on him before in terms of his role, he's done nothing wrong there. But can you talk to me a little bit about Trent Rivers? Because his midfield usage was up. We've been kind of waiting for this to happen and we weren't really sure whether it's going to be this year or not.
00:26:50
Holmesy
the The data has always suggested that whether he's in halfback or midfield, it it doesn't really change his scoring. But he hasn't had a midfield before where he doesn't have Oliver Petrarca Viney taking the points off him. So Price at 82, has he come into contention for you?
00:27:06
Lemon
Yeah, I mean, he's he's been one that um' I've been a big fan of and always sort of watching for that CBA role. I think, um you know, with the Melbourne midfielders ahead of him in the last few years, he's never really got a look at it or, you know, here and there he gets 40, 50%. But ah it looks like he is ah he's at one of the big bananas in there now.
00:27:24
Lemon
Depending on how much Cozzy plays in there, I think he you know he'll probably be a starting mid for them. So, Yeah, um he he looks like he's got the role. ah It's interesting because still him and Steele are sort of fairly similar players. I think they they do like to get that chip plus six out of defense, and I think he'll need that to boost his score.
00:27:42
Lemon
um You know, Melbourne were playing pretty quick as well. They didn't really chip the ball around that much. They actually scored less points than Richmond, which is just baffling to me. i think that game style change and then, you know, having seen him against two crap sides...
00:27:59
Lemon
And it's, yeah, I'm not sure I'm quite there to pick him just yet, but he is one of those guys that could just pop in a beautiful role. He's a fantasy player. He could have massive upside in that role.
00:28:10
Holmesy
Louis, Sam Grylls, he didn't do his round one chances any harm, like scored 38, didn't look close to it in that first quarter, but got stuck into it in that second quarter, scoring that sort of 38 points from roughly half a game. We're all going to pick him round one if he's there. My question for you is, is he an on-field starter for you at this point? Have you got that confidence or are you trying to find a way to get him onto the bench until we can see it a bit more come round one, two, three?
00:28:37
Lew
Yeah, I probably don't have that confidence just yet to have him on field. I can certainly see why coaches are leaning that way. But for me, ah don't know.
00:28:48
Holmesy
you
00:28:49
Lew
I'm not sure he's going to be one of those main ball users behind like a Sam Banks, a Jadon Short. that are already back there. he certainly looks like he's going to be fantasy relevant for us and I'm sure he'll pop a score, but there is a certain level of nervousness there for me. And if he's sort of our best option, what I would worry about is who's the next best guy if Greal isn't that one that's going to be scoring on field for us. So structurally, I'm sort of probably moving away from that a bit.
00:29:20
Holmesy
Bit of stocks down in this game before we move on. So as Lemon mentioned, Cozzy looks unreal from what we've seen in the preseason, but I still think he's going to have that forward time this year rather than being that full-time midfielder that we'd hoped for, which means he's going to be up and down. So I'm not sure there's going to be that huge bump on the 87 price tag that we need to be value, at least in our starting squads.
00:29:42
Holmesy
The trail cricket still raw. So we saw what that scoring is going to be like for a small forward. So if we have other options there, I think there's probably better. Although I do like the mid forward status, Sam coming left the game injured on 12 and has been reported that he's out for a month with that shoulder injury. So firming as hopefully a downgrade option for us some point in the season. And Josh Gibkes,
00:30:05
Holmesy
Will play. He's not going to be a scorer. And it does seem we have options down back now. But just keep that in mind as we move closer to the season. All right. Our next game is the Dogs versus the Hawks.
00:30:19
Holmesy
For Hawthorne, once again, we're going to see this opening round. Newcombe was the main midfielder, but he has been suspended for one game. They are challenging that, so keep that in mind. But then we did see a big rotation between Connor Nash, McDonald, Weddle, and Ward and McKenzie. Now, I expect Ward to be up a lot higher when the real stuff starts. And...
00:30:41
Holmesy
And Mackenzie out with concussion as well. We're not really going to get a a proper midfield look in opening round, which does make it a bit trickier for a Connor Mack lemon. But did you like his game on the weekend?
00:30:53
Lemon
I mean, yeah, he's he's around the ball and that's that's the main thing. you know Even if he's not in the CBAs, but he's up as a high half forward, I'd be happy to you know pick some upside there.
00:31:04
Lemon
um it's yeah It's really disappointing with the guys who are going to miss round zero. We're not going to get to see it, but you know you're not picking him for an 80% inside mid role. um inside midro These guys who played pure forward last year, they can just add 30, 40% midfield time and and all of a sudden that might be 10, 15, 20 points of upside.
00:31:19
Holmesy
Thank you.
00:31:22
Lemon
So yeah, I'm not expecting him to be a full-time mid. I think everything they're saying from the club is he's not a full-time mid. He just needs a ah smattering of of CBAs and and I think he'll still provide some value.
00:31:35
Holmesy
Does it not concern you? And I know Louis has been big on this, so ill I'll keep it with you, Lemon. So you've had a Newcomb who's been the main guy in there for the better part of two years who topped out at 86 last year, but admittedly did go in the low 90s the year before.
00:31:50
Holmesy
ah You've had um Will Day in there who's been that 90 guy as well. So even full-time midfielders in that system, we don't really see go well above 85, which we would need from a Connor Mack at a 68 price tag.
00:32:04
Holmesy
you know Can you see maybe a small midfield bump, but him topping out at maybe an 80 if all goes well? And if that's the case, 12 points is probably not enough upside.
00:32:14
Lemon
it's It's definitely possible, but i mean we were saying that about Geelong before Bailey Smith came there, and then he averaged, what, 116 last year. So sometimes it's the structure, ah the like the system. Sometimes it's just the players. Newcomb, he's only a few years into the system. We haven't really seen him go massive before.
00:32:31
Lemon
Will Day's never really got his body right to do it before. I'm not sure Connor Nash as a guy is going to go 100 plus. you know You could argue they just don't have the cattle. previously to to put up a big fantasy relevant year in there. So yeah, I think he's he's probably got the fantasy game to do it. Dylan Moore is the other one. When he plays in the midfield, he he can go 100 plus, but he's not a pure midfielder. So um I think it's more player than system, to be honest.
00:32:55
Holmesy
Fair enough. Love that take. Lou, in terms of the Bulldogs, we saw Bont, Richards as the two big dogs, and then Kennedy and Libba just below that, and and Joel Frazier with only the 20% centre bounces. So you would have thought um if he was going to be the big breakout guy in the centre bounce rotation that we probably would have seen that a bit more in this round. But Tim English, 131, did as he pleased. I think he had a 60-odd point third quarter and then put his feet up in the last...
00:33:24
Holmesy
He's firming his R1. He looked unreal. And it's not like he was a Grundy doing against that against Madden. That was him doing that against Meek, who is a a genuine AFL ruckman. Has Tim English found his way into your side or are you considering him more than maybe you were a few weeks ago?
00:33:42
Lew
Yeah, not as yet, but certainly looking at him pretty closely, ah you know, this is a guy that we predicted was going to suit the ruck rules pretty much perfectly and couldn't have done himself any harm. He he looked a million bucks out there and and pretty much did it all and was a man playing with a lot of confidence.
Fantasy Relevance of Key Performances
00:33:59
Lew
He sort of knew that, you know, he was that guy and... um Yeah, I was super impressed. I certainly started throwing ah around a couple of different structures as that game was sort of coming to a close, realising that English has probably skyrocketed up my board of relevance. So I knew he was going to be, you know, probably probably that R1 type, but gee sometimes you need a reminder just to let you know how good a player can be.
00:34:26
Lew
um And yeah, he couldn't have done himself any harm there.
00:34:30
Holmesy
Come on, Lou. Let's be honest, Lemon. After that game, I received a ah screenshot from Lou in my DMs and all the screenshot was Tim English at R1 and Brodie Grundy at R2.
00:34:42
Lemon
ah
00:34:43
Lew
Yeah, it would.
00:34:43
Lemon
Oh, yeah. it's that's That sounds like Louie.
00:34:47
Lew
it's it's ah It's a big investment. I've currently got the R2 there, but if I find some extra cash, I'll be happy to go up to a Timmy English, that's for sure.
00:34:57
Holmesy
Mate, he looked good. And if we think that the AFL is trying to bring stoppages back down to that sort of 2023 level with the same kind of rules, that's the year that English went 119 and was clearly the best ruckman in the comp. So he's a very, very interesting player.
00:35:12
Holmesy
Lemon, our two rookies. So Lockie Jarks had the 63 firming for round zero, but... It's always nervous with Bevo and and how he flings his player players around. And you mentioned that you didn't mind a bit of Cooper Hines either. So a 267K forward, scored 53.
00:35:30
Holmesy
um I'm going to say high half forward because when I was watching it, it seemed to my eye that he was getting up around that sort of D50 as well and and getting some ball up there before running back. Didn't score that well, but we do know in a dog system that the points will be there.
00:35:45
Holmesy
Talk me through those two players.
00:35:47
Lemon
Yeah, I think, um yeah, Jax looks really good. Again, ah you know, no Bailey Dale would be the the query there. So who does he come in for? When does he play? Is he is he right? that's That's my only concern probably around job security for him. I think he'll score in that role.
00:36:03
Lemon
Yeah, Cooper Hines looks really good. You know, he's one of these guys who isn't isn't a first-year rookie. He's been in the system for, I think, two or three years. Yeah. Played, yeah, not probably not the high half forward role. I think there were higher half forwards, but he was just pushing way up the ground.
00:36:19
Lemon
Bulldogs were going you know full zone mode sometimes in defense. And then he was just had the license to just kind of run, push up, try and get the ball in D50 or wherever. So I like the look of him as well. um Yeah, what can he score?
00:36:33
Lemon
Really tricky to tell because he he won't you know he won't be in the CBAs or in that midfield role. And if they play tough teams, I think he he might struggle. But um look, he looks a player. He looks like he's AFL ready. And that's always a good sign. You know, the eye test, he he definitely passes.
00:36:49
Holmesy
Lemon, I'll stay with you. And you're you're pretty much talking directly to Geordie here over in London, but he loves Connor Buterick. And we've seen another another week now of, you know, an 80-odd score priced at 48.
00:37:01
Holmesy
Personally, I'm a bit concerned because, you know, these games are notoriously a little bit more outside with a few more cheap cheap marks around the ground. With Bailey Dale coming back in at some point, I still think Connor is going to play a bit of lockdown at times, which means that the scoring might be limited and they have a bit of a tough run to start. But talk to me about Connor Buterin.
00:37:23
Lemon
Yeah. I mean, you summed it up, you know, he was, he was almost the guy back there. He was the distributor back there and he puts up what a 80 score. So when Dale comes in, um that's going to be, he's definitely gonna have less usage there.
00:37:35
Lemon
I think he's, he's worked his way into that team though. He looks really good. His ball use, I was really impressed with. I didn't think he was that good a ball user, but he, um he made some really nice, really nice plays. um And yeah, it is a friendly system. So,
00:37:49
Lemon
What can he score? Again, that's the question. you know Does he have quite enough upside to be a good pick? He's also got that horrible buy around in R3. So that's probably the the two things that are, um yeah, a bit of a trap for me. But the but the other ones, um yeah, he looks good. Change of club, change of role, tick, tick. So yeah, it looks fit.
00:38:11
Holmesy
All right, moving on to the next game, Lou, and um'm I'm going to give you the floor a little bit here because you were getting very excited with some of the Saints boys. But before we get there, just a little bit about how their their
Role vs Scoring in Player Evaluation
00:38:22
Holmesy
midfield lined up. So we saw that ruck split between De Koning and Marshall pretty much play out as we thought it would be as that sort of seventy thirty split.
00:38:30
Holmesy
And then in terms of the midfield, we had Nassai, Wanganin, Milera, Philippot, and then Flanders as the main sort of three, and then McRae as that fourth midfield. Garcia was there as well, but I'm not sure they're going play both of them in the real stuff.
00:38:44
Holmesy
What I want from you, Lou, talk to me about this Saints back line because you were getting very excited about a Jack Sinclair and then obviously a Marcus Windhager as well, who found himself in defense in that game.
00:38:56
Holmesy
Wilkie did go out early, so it's something just to kind of talk about as well. But yeah, the floor is yours.
00:39:02
Lew
Yeah, well, Jack Sinclair is the one that I was sort of keen on going into this, just wondering what's going to to happen with all those kick-ins and and really the ball that Wanganin Miller was commanding back there last season. And, you know, to be honest, when I heard that Jack Carroll was training off the other halfback flank, of ah suddenly i was sort of thinking, gee, there might ah there might be something here.
00:39:25
Lew
ah know it's an outside game, so 149 points is is obviously way over as anything you would expect, but has been named as the the co-captain. He looked good in origin as well. i thought he was ah you know really presenting and doing that thirsty stuff we like, and then in that Saints side was was just constantly presenting as an option and and really playing that sort of general role as they'd work the ball up the ground. ah ah This is the sort of player I think can really benefit from being in a little bit more of a competitive side and just having ah a bigger slice of the pie. So that round four buy makes things a little bit tricky, but I can see a world where there's enough upside to sort of mitigate that, especially if he's going to be the main man. So...
00:40:11
Lew
Yeah, for me, Jack Sinclair certainly gave his chances no harm. Winhager, less keen. You know, yeah yeah he had a great game. or I think that's one that is just a bit too much murkiness surrounding that. But did notice that he was rotating with Sam Flanders as well um off that halfback flank. so you know, I think it's going to be a fantasy relevant position, the Saints halfback line for us again this season.
00:40:37
Holmesy
Yeah, and they're one of only a few teams in the comp that ah have actually allowed multiple players in defence to average over 100 with the way that they play. um So it'll be very interesting to see whether that's the way Ross Lyon wants to play when the real stuff starts or whether they want to speed things up. Lemon, I'm going to throw you two players and I want you to just talk through a little bit about pre-season philosophy here. So the two players are Darcy Parrish and Matthias Philippot.
00:41:02
Holmesy
Both had the role that we were hoping they would have leading into the game, but both didn't score terribly well. Just talk the listeners through a little bit about how, you know, looking for role is really important and sometimes the scoring in these games aren't necessarily what we're looking for and and whether you are still interested in a Darcy Parrish and a Matthias Philippot.
00:41:24
Lemon
Yeah, it's it's a great question, mate. I think, you know, we first and foremost, we're looking for role. um And as you said, big tick from both of those guys. The second thing I normally look at isn't the score. It's it's just how they look. You know, yeah do they look fit? Have they played the games that they've been able to play? Have they had a full preseason with no injury hiccups? And, you know, those guys both played last week.
00:41:46
Lemon
um The role was very much the same last week. They've been pretty much in the whole preseason. So, Yeah, you know the the scores aren't great, but you've got to remember that you know the St Kilda players, they're playing in a week's time. So for them, they're probably they've got you know one and a half eyes towards round one round zero.
00:42:04
Lemon
The Essendon guys, Parrish has probably already done enough the week before. So they're saying, hey, mate, just roll the legs over. Make sure you're you're right and ready for for round one. So... Not too concerned. they're um you know The difference between 70 and a 90 isn't that much. It's about 50 seconds of football or or less. So I wouldn't worry too much about yeah a sort of average score from these guys.
00:42:28
Holmesy
Beautiful. In terms of the Bombers midfield, so Blackiston, basically 90% centre bounces, very high ruck contest. He looked amazing in that role.
00:42:39
Holmesy
Priced at 38 with defender status, he's as big a lock at the moment. The only concern is how long is Nick Bryan away for? But if he's going to play like that, I can definitely see them giving Bryan some time in the VFL to make sure he is cherry ripe to come back into the AFL. You had Darcy Parrish and Durham and Caldwell even as the main three. And then Archie Roberts.
00:43:01
Holmesy
And then Zach Merritt down at 34%. Now, I'm not sure Zach Merritt's going to be at 34% for the year. But at the same time, that is kind of lining up with what we saw last year of him playing some different roles to give the younger guys some opportunities.
00:43:15
Holmesy
um So i think Zach Merritt, we mark him off the list. But... Lemon, there's been a lot of hype for Archie Roberts, and I can definitely see it. Averages 85, albeit in four games, in his first year in the comp. He wasn't an 18-year-old, but his first year that he got games in the seniors and then backed it up in a second year, averaging 85 as well. Now, we typically see when a second-year player can average 85, it generally means that's the sort of metrics that we're looking out for some serious fantasy options.
00:43:47
Holmesy
We'd need him to go, you know, probably 95 to be an okay pick and then north of that to be that sort of pick we're after and and push the top six defenders. Can you see that from Archie Roberts?
00:43:59
Lemon
Yeah, a really a really tricky name. um i think the the problem for me is you know we always talk about role changes and we're always looking for for role changes. But for me, the the best role in the game right now is off half back. And and you know the Essendon back line is one of the best places to do
Essendon Role Changes and Scoring Impact
00:44:16
Lemon
it. They love chipping the ball around.
00:44:18
Lemon
They were rubbish last year and they and they you know they were just moving the ball sideways a lot of times. I'm not sure that the midfield role in Essendon is actually better than that. So yes, it it might be a role change if he starts getting 40, 50% plus CBAs, but that role, like we see lots of players, you know, Connor Rose plays better off halfback.
00:44:36
Lemon
um You know, Jack Sinclair plays better off halfback. A lot of these guys actually are just better off halfback. you know Is he tackling? that That's probably what I'd be looking at. Is he tackling? Is he winning contested possessions? If not, he's not really the guy that I want around the ball. So ah really interesting name and and he's young. you know He's probably going to be a top 100 plus guy at some point.
00:44:56
Lemon
Is this the year? um I'm not convinced just yet.
00:45:00
Holmesy
Yeah, that's just the tricky thing. It's his price point. You know, 85 is not cheap. And then when you're comparing him against a Tom McCarthy that we'll get to, a Trent Rivers, just anyone around that sort of price, that mid-80s price tag, you really need them going close to being a top six defender to be a a worthy pick. So at this stage, I've ah bumped him up in draft a bit, but he's not someone that I'll be looking at in classic. But at the same time, if he comes out and goes 95-plus, Wouldn't shock me either. So wouldn't talk anyone out of starting him. In terms of stocks down, Jacob Farrow scored the 29. Didn't play a lot in the second half, but did struggle to impact being a bit more of an elevated rookie price. Yes, the the dual status is appealing, but I didn't really like his game.
00:45:44
Holmesy
Dyson Sharp scored 50 and looked okay from the half forward, but the job security, I think, is going to be a concern for him. And then Jack Carroll scored 59, but as we said, that was a mark fest across halfback.
00:45:57
Holmesy
You probably would have wanted to see more from him, so I'm not sure we're going to have him to start the year. Lou, let's go into now freeo versus Adelaide and The big one, I mean, we'll we'll touch on it a little bit, but in terms of players missing for Adelaide, there was no Saligo, no Berry and no Peatling, which was three midfield cogs last year.
Adelaide's Midfield Search and Player Impact
00:46:17
Holmesy
There was no Rankin and then you throw in Cumming, Archie and Thriller. It's really tricky to take much out of what Adelaide did, but the 72% centre bounces that Rochelle got and that 95 score and the way he looked, it's hard not to take notice with what we've heard from the club and now what we've seen in pre-season.
00:46:35
Lew
Yeah, absolutely. And look, throw in one more because they played 24 on Saturday night. So there's going to be potentially seven changes in that side. But Rochelle, what we've been hearing all preseason is going to play a midfield. We've been hearing a lot of hype that he looks great as a midfielder.
00:46:52
Lew
Where that percentage in terms of centre bounces actually lies, I'm not too sure. I think um I'm hopeful that it goes somewhere between 40% and 50%, which would be more than enough. I think there's definitely going to be a position for him in that midfield, though. I think Crows have been sort of crying out for some for some extra heads in that midfield. It's it's kind of been the the Jordan Dawson show, and obviously Rankin has popped his head in there. recently but they're still looking for that and that extra depth in there so Rochelle really ah based off those numbers couldn't have done much more to impress me I think he he sort of hit every stat line and he's going to be one that's ah you know strengthening his spot in my side in terms of fantasy for sure
00:47:38
Holmesy
In terms of the other young midfielder, so Charlie Edwards had the 60% centre bounces, scored well and actually looked pretty good in that, at least in the first half. Can't imagine the job security is very good with those names returning, but as a basement defender, I think he has mid status as well, definitely one to monitor, but I think If he's named round one and some of those guys are still not back, which clearly Rankin won't be, would make that a nervous starter and and probably your stereotypical red dot after a few rounds. But Lemon McAndrew, so the the big debate at the moment is R2 versus R3. We're pretty confident now that he's going to be there for round one with everything we've seen in the preseason.
00:48:20
Holmesy
Scored the 81, 77% ruck contest, so he was definitely the main guy. had Had low time on ground. I think it was about 69%. Don't quote me exactly on that. But they lost the clearances by 10 and they lost the centre clearances by 5. And the comment the commentators were talking about just how dominant that free man or midfield was. Admittedly, the Adelaide didn't have their cattle.
00:48:43
Holmesy
Does that make you a bit nervous to start him at R2 when we've seen this from Adelaide before and they're not afraid to just swim swing Riley O'Brien bra back in when when things get tough?
00:48:53
Lemon
Yeah, I was watching him really closely and and to be honest, to be honest i just I can't see what all the Adelaide coaching staff are seeing. i don't think... you know he played He played last week against Vicentini and he he beat Vicentini from Port, but again, not a top-level Ruckman. you know I think he got pretty kind comprehensively beaten by Mason Cox and then a little bit of Jackson in the Ruck. So...
00:49:17
Lemon
I don't really see what the Crows coaching staff are seeing. um You know, if he's number one ruck, he's going to score well. ah My question is still how many weeks will he be number one ruck for? I can't see Riley O'Brien playing twos all year. I just can't, I can't see that happening.
00:49:31
Lemon
um He will come into that side at some point. He's done it before. He plays one or two games of sand full. He scores 150, has 50 hit outs, kicks four goals, and he comes back in. So,
00:49:41
Lemon
So I'm happy to start them at R2, but you need to have ah a backup option and you need to have maybe a few backup options and and some ideas there. What are your what are your thoughts, Louis?
00:49:50
Lew
um Just knowing how rabid the Adelaide media can be as well, that's going to be a kind that's going to be a question at every single Adelaide press conference, whether it be a player, coach, what have you.
00:49:59
Lemon
Yeah.
00:50:02
Lew
And if the Crows lose a couple of games early, it's it's just going to skyrocket into a talking point. so i've got ah I've got a real nervousness around that. And I just know, i mean, we've seen it for a fact that Rob, when he gets sort of kicked down or he gets kicked out of that side, he goes back and works a whole lot harder to get back in. And, you know, I mirror your thoughts exactly, to be honest, Lem. And I'm not sure that, you know, he's the complete package just yet, really.
00:50:29
Holmesy
Yeah, part of the leadership group as well. So, you know, what does a leader do? a bit of resilience when they when they find themselves down a bit. So I'd be a bit nervous, but also knowing that maybe he will come back in throughout stages throughout the year if if Rob doesn't work out. And if he is at R3, then that can be some handy cash, um you know, for the R2 guys that might need to trade him out to...
00:50:50
Holmesy
to fix their side, but I can definitely see why people are trying to do it, right? with the With the questions around the ruck line, Lemon and I were talking pre-pod that we're still unsure about where we go with the rucks. So absolutely can see why people are doing it.
00:51:02
Holmesy
In terms of Frio, i think, you know, we saw what we're going to see from the midfield. There was no one that really had huge center bounces. You had obviously Young, Sorong, Brayshaw as the main three, um and then Jackson playing as that ruck, but also as a midfielder.
00:51:19
Holmesy
I think we're going see a little bit more from those guys throughout the season, but we are seeing that they're going rotate it around. And I think that's what they need to be successful as a, as a football club, which makes me a little bit nervous about starting yeah a young Brayshaw or Sorong, but Lemon Luke Jackson,
00:51:35
Holmesy
It's the role that we saw him have last year where he starts as the main ruck to start the quarter. He rucks and then he and goes on ball while the second ruckman comes on. Mason Cox actually had more ruck contests than Jackson, but it it comes out as about a 70% center bounce attendance for Jackson in the end.
00:51:52
Holmesy
He looked unreal on the weekend, but once again against McAndrew, who is the second string ruck and they they had a lot of players out. Does Luke Jackson come more into contention for you in this particular role or do you still think he's going to be capped out at that 95 with all of the free-o gun midfielders around that mark?
Fremantle and North Melbourne Player Potential
00:52:10
Lemon
Yeah, it's a really interesting one because you know when Darcy went down with that that calf injury, I thought, oh, here we go. Luke Jackson's going to have ah a clear run at the number one ruck roll again. But yeah, as I said, Cox looks great. it's I think that's what they're going to do to start the year and they'll probably do it until Darcy's fit.
00:52:26
Lemon
um Jackson looks incredible. like He looks really, really good. Pushed forward a little bit and was just dominant, getting his hands to a lot of footy. ah you know Took ah a few marks and and maybe kicked a a goal or two as well.
00:52:39
Lemon
i just I really want to pick him as a ruckman. I don't really want to be picking him as a midfielder. I don't really want to be picking him as a forward. so depending on where you think that split's going to be, he could either be five, 10 points of value or he could be exactly what he's priced at. So yeah, it's really disappointing from a fantasy point of view, but from a footy point of view, I think it makes a lot of sense for Freo. I think they're going to keep doing it.
00:53:03
Holmesy
Yep, no, I agree with that. and And Mason Cox actually looked pretty good, to be fair. I think he adds ah a bit of a different element around the ruck contest being so tall. He's always been good with the hit out. So I think Cox is going to be there round one. I think he's done enough and and I think that's what we want.
00:53:19
Holmesy
if If Jackson isn't going to be the the main ruck, I think we're going to want Cox in there so that he can ruck still to start the turn, but then play on ball. We just need to limit that forward time as he can get lost down there. Lemon, I'll stay with you because Murphy Reid is getting a lot of love in the fantasy community. And how can he not? 30 disposals from that half forward line.
00:53:39
Holmesy
Scored 100. Only had the 28% centre bounces, which is more than he got last year. But as I mentioned, I can see more from Young, Sorong, Brayshaw and Jackson. You know, for me, it screams a preseason game where it's more open and and there's more footy available without having to defend as much.
00:53:55
Holmesy
He's a bit of an awkward price tag with some guys around that that sort of price in the mid-50s. But, you know, talk me about Murphy Reid.
00:54:03
Lemon
Yeah, isn't I mean, what second-year player, we we do occasionally see a second-year pop in a player like this. And I think the the promising thing is he looks unreal. He looks like one of their best ball users immediately. And he's getting way up the ground. He's getting much, much higher up the ground. I think last year, probably fitness was the issue. i think he was playing maybe more deep forward just so he could stay on the park.
00:54:25
Lemon
Another preseason under the belt and a full preseason. I wouldn't be surprised if he rolls up to a lot more contests. He gets that sort of shiesel roll where he can sort of start forward, but then push into the back line or wherever he sees fit.
00:54:37
Lemon
um Yeah. How much upside is the question? We've got a heap of these kind of forwards who have a little bit of upside. um you know how much can he do plus 25 to be a really good pick or does he just have 10 points of upside and he's not fantasy relevant? I think that's the big question for me um because yeah, he looks great, ticks out all the boxes, just he's not going to be a CBA midfield with this packed Frio midfield.
00:55:02
Holmesy
Lou, we'll move on to the North versus Collingwood game now. And we're not going to spend too much time on Collingwood just because once again, how many best 23 players they had out and and the roles. But the one thing I will say is probably stocks down on a Josh Dacos. were We were hoping that he'd be ah a bit more of a centre-bounce midfielder to be around the ball ah a lot more, but, you know, only had the 7% centre-bounces. He did have more in the first quarter, but I think I can't really see what's going to be different from last year to really elevate himself into being a top-six defender. But,
00:55:33
Holmesy
Let's go to North Melbourne because you had obviously Tristan Cherry as the main ruck, but then we saw LDU as the main midfielder, ah O'Sullivan and Shizu as the three, and then Urquhart's not going to be there, but then you had Tom Powell as well.
00:55:48
Holmesy
The one guy I want to talk about is, once again, we've we've seen it before with Nick Martin coming from the clouds as an SSP, but Tom Blamiris, I want to say, played in defense. I think he had the 24 touches, scored 92, looked excellent, but we do know that he's he's playing for his career right now, obviously after just getting drafted and and really wanting to to be there for round one.
00:56:10
Holmesy
There was no Colby, there was no McDonald and there was no Hardeman in that back line. But if he's there round one, defender for North as as a basement mid who will get defender status come round six, he's he's our hitting zone, right?
00:56:23
Holmesy
fur For rookies.
00:56:25
Lew
I think so, yeah. Certainly if he's named, he's going you know he's skyrocketing up all our charts. He's got a really good pedigree in terms of VFL. He's also the Fothergill Round Mitchell medalist, which you know has been getting a bit of hype this year. This last couple of weeks is 19 players have been drafted who have won this medal um over the last 20 years. so and Including a couple of the fantasy relevant guys, which we've loved to pick. I can ah can think of a few right off the top of my head, you know being a Bailey Fritch, for example, or Michael Barlow. There's some really nice picks in there.
00:57:02
Lew
um That's kind of what we want to see. i think he's, in terms of entering a fantasy-relevant team, the half-back line of North Melbourne is probably right up there where you want to be. And yeah if he's given that opportunity as a two hundred and thirty k midfielder, I think he's the one that kind of replaces like a Patrick Rechko, which was featuring in a lot of teams for for coaches early on.
00:57:26
Holmesy
Lemon Doverston scored the 81 from three goals. What I really liked for him was his six tackles. He wasn't afraid to get in and under and and put the pressure on there. Now we know a small forward role for North. There's going to be ups and downs and he is a little bit elevated in terms of rookie price. But did you like the game from Doverston and is he someone you're considering now?
00:57:47
Lemon
Yeah, I think, you know, as you said, couple of tackles, a couple of goals is is we love to see. The problem is he's not going to do that every week. And, you know, North Melbourne aren't going to be beating a team like Collingwood every week. So if you think North Melbourne can improve and you think they can win games of football, keep the ball in their forward half.
00:58:05
Lemon
um I think he's definitely going to be a ah nice option with some nice pop scores. But um yeah, it's, you know, again, Collingwood were pretty depleted and North Melbourne were sort of full strength apart from maybe that back line. So I think he's going to be a bit of a roller coaster this year. And depending on when you get those good scores, he might make a lot of cash for you. He might not make it much at all.
00:58:29
Holmesy
Yeah, I kind of see him as that sort of Isaac Kako pick from last year where, you know, a lot of coaches picked him because he was best 22. He had the job security, but he just didn't score enough to make any significant cash. And a lot of a lot of coaches still had him in round 24 without able to to cash in on him. So it's it's tricky, but at the same time, we are kind of starved of rookie options down there. So um he's definitely someone I'm looking at. That's for sure. He's he' a bit of a gun. But, yeah, LDU looked amazing.
00:59:00
Holmesy
He had, what, five marks, six tackles or something like that. he's not gonna He doesn't normally do that in the real stuff with all the attention that he's getting. i'm not I'm not ruling LDU out at this stage with the run that they have, and he has been a 97 guy you know basically the last three years, um and we've always thought he's had potential to break out over 100, but yeah, just definitely one to monitor. But, Lemon, I'll stay with you.
00:59:22
Holmesy
Tristan Cherry, 66 from 71% ruck cod tests. Normally, we wouldn't really be worrying about a game like this, but with the new rule changes and and now what we've seen in Origin and and these practice games, he's a big flag. We wanted to go there because of the run. Like in terms of ruck runs, there's none better for Tristan Cherry to start the year.
00:59:43
Holmesy
But he's he's getting bullied at the center bounce attendances. and And that's not what we're used to seeing for Tristan Cherry. He's usually the guy that's on the other end of it. But the big thing I've noticed, and and maybe it changes in the real stuff, but with the center bouncers, it's so much cleaner now. And they're getting the ball far deeper in terms of the hit outs. And the ball's just off and gone rather than these secondary stoppages happening over and over again. So yeah, just talk to me about Tristan Cherry.
01:00:10
Lemon
Yeah, he's been a tough watch the last couple of weeks. And it's, you know, we all we we kind of, the writing was on the wall there. He was one of those, he's one of those ruckmen that's never really jumped. he He's pretty much made a name for himself just, you know, doing the don't argue and standing there wrestling, tapping it down and then tackling the guy who he tapped it to. So um yeah, big red flags there.
01:00:31
Lemon
i think probably the the big flag I would say in his favor is he's played, He's played, what, a couple of games now. And again, you know he's pretty much ready for the season. So ah the i suspect they only played him because they just didn't really have anyone else to play in that ruck role.
01:00:45
Lemon
um you know He probably thought he was ready to for round one a week or two ago. So yeah, I don't i don't love what I'm seeing from him. The juicy run might protect you a little bit, but even then you you're probably going to have to get off before the run gets harder or that's going to disappear very quickly.
01:01:05
Holmesy
Yep, fair enough. Lou, our last game was your boys, Port, taking on the West Coast Eagles. I'll throw you three rookies from the Eagles first just to get the conversation started. So Dev Rob, Finn McRae and Willem Dersmer all played different roles, all scored okay. um But clearly they've got some best 23 guys to come back in in terms of, you know, well I don't even need to rattle them off. I think they about seven missing. But out of those three, did did any of them pique your interest?
01:01:33
Lew
Yeah, look, they all pique my interest because I think there's a certain level of job security there, certainly with the Dersmer in there. And Lindsay's, I think he put his name up in lights a little bit in terms of what he was able to do.
01:01:46
Lew
um and and Dev Rob certainly had the role, which is what you look for. i think my main concern, and we talk about this with West Coast all the time, is even their best players, they They really struggle to score and I think rookies are going to feel that more than most. So in terms of what they're going to be doing week to week, it does concern me. You're really hoping for a pop score there. So I don't want to over-index myself too much on West Coast rookies, and just knowing that it could be a little bit of a roller coaster. But... you know It's hard to look past Devin Robertson, I think, you know pretty much a basement priced forward who's attended every single CBA. it was the highest CBA attender anyway. that That's just about a lock.
01:02:31
Lew
Dersmer, I'm a little bit indifferent on. I think that's going to be a little bit of a struggle depending on the role that he plays. But what I saw was that they were certainly throwing him around a little bit so that he could get more involved.
Challenges for West Coast Rookies and Port Adelaide
01:02:44
Lew
What that looks like come the real stuff, I'm a little bit sure. Ball use was a little bit shaky as well, I thought. Not that that matters for AFL Fantasy. And then Josh Lindsay, you know he's a great ball user. They're going to want to get the ball in his hands with that leg. Definitely scored a little bit better than what I thought he would.
01:03:05
Lew
um But, you know, the ball should spend plenty of time in that defensive zone. So I ah don't mind Josh Lindsay as well as a cheap option off the bench.
01:03:16
Holmesy
Yeah, no, he did look good. um As I said, though, I do worry there was no ah Ruben Ginby. There was no Brady Hoff. There was no, who's the other one? Stasevich. So that's three of their their best defenders coming back in.
01:03:29
Holmesy
But Lindsay did himself no harm and and did look composed out there. Well, as composed as you can be playing in an Eagle side that is getting... Pressured and yeah, Dev Rob, 80% center bounces. Didn't use the ball the best that he could at times, but was getting the contested possessions in an eagle side that was getting belted. So at basement price in the forward line, definitely someone we lock away.
01:03:50
Holmesy
Finn McRae I just put on here because I thought he was dead, but apparently he's still he's still running around. And if he's going to be there round one as with forward status, probably someone we look at, but we'll wait for that. Lemon, I want to go to you for this one.
01:04:04
Holmesy
Normally, I try to get some port non-biased, but your port as well. But Todd Marshall, so played a full game, scored the 80-odd. 10 marks is not going to happen each week, clearly. But I personally thought that he was not really a chance to be best 23 after only coming on after halftime in the previous game. But looked all right as the third lockdown tall.
01:04:23
Holmesy
So, yeah, he's an option.
01:04:26
Lemon
Yeah, I was as surprised as you. know i I really thought Asava Radagalia was going to get that role and and Todd Marshall was going to be playing in the sample to start the year. So he can score, he he can kick, he can mark, he can spread. He looked really hungry for the ball, which is good. He looked like he wanted it.
01:04:43
Lemon
um my my issue with him is his defensive work i you know a few times he got exposed i think there was one play in the first or second quarter or i think with his man he he let him run forward he almost took a mark and then he still didn't pick him up and then he did take a mark like next play so you know he he looks a bit like a forward sometimes the ball goes in the defensive 50 and he's nowhere um uh Yeah, the job security is the problem. He's going to score when he plays. It's a really friendly role. And with Ports run, it's going nice. But, you know, Asaba is just ready to go. I think I don't think there's an injury issue there. He was ah traveling with the team. So that could go. ahead That could be really bad really quickly.
01:05:27
Lew
I feel like it it's going to be Ram that gets replaced by Osama. Maybe there was an injury concern, but Ram looked a little bit raw there. um But yeah, I've got to agree, the defensive efforts were a little bit shaky, but if he's going to be playing that third defender, it takes a bit of time to sort of you know find your feet at AFL level in that role. He's a guy who, you know even despite playing as a key forward his whole career, um coming in at the price that he's coming in at, he's he's actually 10 points unders based on any average he's ever put up in the AFL so far. So there's certainly some upside there and it's it's going to be the most fantasy friendly role that he's had so far. So I'm...
01:06:10
Lew
you know I was bullish at the start of the preseason. I dropped off a little bit when when I was sort of thinking maybe he's not going to make it to to round one, but jae it it was super impressive on the weekend, I thought.
01:06:23
Holmesy
In terms of Zach Butters and Connor Rosey, we'll go more into depth with them next week in terms of strategy and structure lining up for round one. But far out, they looked very impressive, Lou. But stocks down, Tom McCarthy.
01:06:36
Holmesy
Now, he was unreal in that first quarter. 35 points, 10 touches. But I think we saw a little bit of what we're going to see with this West Coast midfield that when they're getting pumped... it's going to be really, really tricky to score. And similar to how we were talking about with Anarchi Roberts, if you're picking Tom McCarthy at an 84 price tag, you need him going 95 plus and being a top six defender basically.
01:06:59
Holmesy
And i just I think that's going to be very, very tough in this Eagles side. But you know the role was there. So did you like McCarthy?
01:07:06
Lew
I loved him. I thought the role was great. I thought he looked great. We keep banging the same drum, though, that this Eagles system in terms of fantasy just doesn't work for for these players as yet. Eventually, it will click, and you know as better players are around them, it'll it'll start to you know the cogs will start to turn, but...
01:07:25
Lew
Yeah, this is one that you know um I'm probably happy to maybe trade into potentially off the back of some really nice data. But as a starting pick, I can just see this being a little bit dangerous at that price point.
01:07:39
Holmesy
In terms of just some other players that were underwhelming, so Elliot Yeo had the 63% centre bounces, didn't score, definitely will be better for the run.
Player Challenges and Selection Strategy
01:07:48
Holmesy
But I think at his age in that side, we just let him go through to the keeper. Jacob Newton had the ankle injury and showed what it's going to be like to be a small forward playing for the Eagles. So although his basement price and mature age, I'm not sure we go there.
01:08:02
Holmesy
well boat Will Brodie, sorry, rest in peace, not in the best 23, went with Jack Watkins over him despite no Ollie Wines or Myles Bergman. So I don't think he's going to be an option. And Myles Bergman, personally for myself, I'm going to find it quite hard to start him sight unseen.
01:08:20
Holmesy
Sorry. especially with the talk out of Port Adelaide and himself where he doesn't exactly know what his role is going to be. But, Lemmon, the last player I'll throw you is Cooper Duff-Titler, who had the second ruck role in that game initially, at least in the first half, scored the 35. I suppose my question for you is, for the McAndre R2 owners, would you start a CDT so that you are still getting some cash or would you prefer to go that red dot?
01:08:48
Lemon
Yeah, I mean, I'm a big believer in 30 green dots, particularly to start the year. You're going to have to pick a captain round one. You're going to get three rounds of early buy rounds. So going to get your VC score if you need it.
01:09:00
Lemon
And then it's round five where we we might need a red dot. um you know Chances are you've probably got someone dropped or injured then anyway. So I still don't mind it. I think he will make cash. It might not be...
01:09:13
Lemon
a lot and again going to need probably an injury or a bag of goals something to happen for him to get a big score but um mccandrew at i wouldn't i'm not sure i feel confident having a red dot sitting there at r3 it just it just scares me a little bit so i'd i'd prefer to have 100k made on the bench than than nothing
01:09:36
Holmesy
Yep, no, agree with that. So we don't have time for questions
Listener Engagement and Upcoming Season Excitement
01:09:41
Holmesy
today. We'll be definitely getting back into the questions next week ahead of round one and then obviously all throughout the season. But if you would like to ask a question to myself or one of the boys, we have partnered again with Q Platforms in 2026.
01:09:55
Holmesy
So if you want to head over to askmeonq.com forward slash podpodafl, that is QU. The link is in the show description below. um you have the ability for a full team review. So if you screenshot your team and put that in there, um ask any questions you want on individual players, strategy, trade questions, all that kind of stuff.
01:10:15
Holmesy
help the pod pod out by doing that. That would be greatly appreciated. Lemon, before we wrap up, we don't get you very often on this podcast. So just give our listeners a little bit of ah a closing off in terms of what you're excited for, for opening round and and moving into round one as the season kicks off.
01:10:33
Lemon
uh yeah i mean 10 teams playing an opening round this year so we we only had four last year we're going to get a lot of free looks at players a lot of guaranteed price gen um i'm yeah i think it's going to be a bit of a cheat code but getting the balance right going really important so um yeah there's going to be a lot that changes in the next week make sure you uh yeah you've done the math on how much money people are actually going to make and And are they going to stay in the team until they're by?
01:11:00
Lemon
And don't overload on any one buy round because it it could be painful. But yeah, exciting time.
01:11:07
Holmesy
Beautiful, mate. Thanks for jumping on as always. I really appreciate it. And if you aren't a Patreon member of the Lemon League yet, highly recommend going and checking that out. Lemon is very big on the education side of things. And yeah, i'm I'm kind of scared of how many more competitive coaches there are going to be this year with them all learning off him.
01:11:26
Holmesy
Louis, just before you sign off, have we got an update on your team name yet or are you still keeping that under wraps?
01:11:32
Lew
Oh, yeah, I don't know. I might i might change it, but ah did ah did make I did make a change about a week ago. I probably shouldn't put my name to this, but at the moment, it's Hock Tua's Pitonat Thang. So that that probably needs some workshopping.
01:11:53
Lew
But I love changing my team name every single every single year.
01:11:54
Holmesy
on knew I knew was going to stitch you up with that one.
01:11:58
Lew
So we'll see if that remains the right one.
01:12:03
Holmesy
Beautiful. Love that. In terms of the Marera's Magic season guide on Wednesday, i will be sitting down with Selby and doing an in-depth full team reveal for all of the Marera's Magic subscribers. So if you haven't done that yet, head over to marerasmagic.com.au to get your season guide where we're super excited for what we're going to be bringing to the season. And as I said, that starts with a full team reveal on Wednesday.
01:12:28
Holmesy
Make sure you are following us on X at PodPod AFL. I'm at Holmes is Heroes. Make sure you subscribe to us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your content.
01:12:39
Holmesy
We will be back in a week's time from now. We would have seen five games in opening round. We would have had some real football and we'll be deep diving and giving you all the advice we can in the lead up to round one. Bye.