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Lewy’s TEAM REVEAL! #PODPOD
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Live footy is back, unofficial practice matches are here and Opening Round is just around the corner! For months we have been researching players, looking at structures and building our AFL Fantasy squads. Today we get a look behind the curtains and get an official team reveal from Lewy who consistently finds himself at the top of the rankings!
In this episode, the panel starts with all of the hot topics that have emerged since the last podcast recording. They then go through line by line for Lewy’s team reveal, with Lewy giving in-depth knowledge on every player he has selected whilst Holmesy and Harmey quiz him on players who have missed out and the key structural questions. Lastly, the listener questions are back in 2026 so the boys dust them off and answer a bunch that weren’t answered throughout the podcast!
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:
- Player profiles and comments for all players in the AFL
- Best 22’s from the MM team
- Draft rankings
- DVP
- Strength of schedule
- Market Share
- Podcasts with Selby and Xavier Ellis
- Holmes Files episodes exclusive to the guide
- Much much more!
The guide is now live! A must have for any serious Fantasy coach head over to moreirasmagic.com.au/ to order now! The guide will be updated right up until the start of round 1 and the in-season content begins
PODPOD Challenge
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Jordy: @jordandsena
Dossy: @HKdos
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Transcript
Introduction and Podcast Overview
00:00:18
Holmesy
G'day welcome to the Pod Pod brought to you by Marrera's Magic. I'm your host Holmesy, three-time top 10 finisher and twice runner-up in AFL Fantasy Classic. The unofficial practice matches are back in full swing.
Excitement for Live Footy and Pre-season
00:00:32
Holmesy
We've had some live footy for the State of Origin and ah yeah, we're really looking forward to the pre-season getting to the pointy end with round zero just around the corner.
00:00:41
Holmesy
As always, we have two-time top 10 finisher and twice runner-up in 2019.
Guest Introduction: John Harmy
00:00:47
Holmesy
Apologies there. John Harmy with us. Mate, how are you?
00:00:50
Jon Harmey
Going well, thanks, Host Holmesy. And it does feel like we're sort of creeping closer to the start line, seeing a bit of actual football popping up on the news feed. So that's been really good.
00:01:03
Holmesy
Yep, shout out to Jordy, who's actually not with us today.
Geordie's Practice Game Insights
00:01:07
Holmesy
He'll be away for the next few weeks as he gallivants around Europe. But in his last sort of little goodbye before he went, decided to take over the Twitter pod pod today and and put ah put out all those stats from the Hawthorne-Geelong game today. So if you haven't gone and checked those out on the Twitter account, go and do that. But we do have Louis with us as usual, the perennial top 1K finisher and future hat winner.
00:01:30
Holmesy
How mate?
00:01:31
Lew
I'm well, mate. Yep. It was good to see the practice game today. Geordie did a magnificent job, didn't he? It was a full champion data mode. He had a nice little coded up piece of technology there where he was writing down all the handballs, the kicks, the tackles. It was all quite professional. It was ah was very impressive.
00:01:52
Holmesy
Yeah, was very good from Jordy and obviously Hef over at the Keeper League pod. So if you haven't gone and checked out the Keeper League pod, highly recommend you to do that as they will be putting out all of the stats across these
Overreactions and Fantasy Implications
00:02:04
Holmesy
practice matches. And as I mentioned off the top, boys, we've got to chat about the origin a little bit first, Harmi. And we're going to a little bit of origin overreaction. And i just want you to think,
00:02:15
Holmesy
Last year, we had an an exhibition match in pretty much the same time last year. We had the All-Star Indigenous Boys versus Frio. And there was one of the all-time overreactions that was put out from our boy Lou last year. And I was just wondering if you can think back and and remember what that was, Harmi.
00:02:33
Jon Harmey
Yes, I certainly can, actually, Kyle. I think it was the future Brownlow medalist, Chris Judd, reincarnated, ah and the the sole reason why I put him in my starting team, regrettably. But, yeah, i think it was Josh Sinken, was it, Holmesy?
00:02:52
Holmesy
Jason Horne Francis, the next Chris Judd, straight out of Lou's mouth.
00:02:55
Lew
Hey, look, to be fair, no, I was hyping him up all pre-season.
00:02:56
Jon Harmey
Thanks, Lou.
00:03:00
Lew
It was just when that game came along that I felt a little bit more vindicated. But I can remember sending a message in, ah it might have been December, saying, look, Jason Horne-Francis, get around him as a forward.
00:03:13
Lew
He's going to be worth picking on our teams. Yeah. Yeah, but point taken, it does go to show that some of these games, especially the ones that just have zero defense and are pretty much pure offense, can be a little bit of a red herring as well. So yeah, we'll we'll take this all-star game with a grain of salt, that's for sure.
00:03:34
Holmesy
You were a very good salesman after that game, Lou, and Harmi's right. It was one of the main reasons why we all ended up with ah the horn bag. But in lieu of that, to just to celebrate, we're going to do a bit of origin overreaction just to just to start off the pod. And Harmi, I'm going to start with you first. So what's your origin overreaction?
00:03:54
Jon Harmey
Oh, there was plenty, Holmesy. There was plenty. Well, that well I suppose the rucks. That one stood out. I think I sent you boys a message at quarter time saying how awful all the rucks were and we shouldn't be picking any of them.
00:04:06
Jon Harmey
So I guess that was kind of the starting point. And the ruck rules have killed fantasy rucks. Then I started looking at Lockie McAndrew and Cooper Duff title as my starting R1 and R2. But, yeah, I think ah that one was ah an early one that's easy to pick.
00:04:23
Holmesy
Yep, yep. What was it? Tristan Cherry, nine hit outs for the game. Someone who relies on 40 or 50. He's probably dropping 40 or 50 points this this year, Harmy. Don't mind that. Lou, what's your origin
Game Offense vs. Defense Discussion
00:04:34
Holmesy
overreaction?
00:04:34
Lew
Oh, certainly the Rucks were probably the main one. But I think, as I mentioned before, that game was just pure ah offense. There wasn't a lot of defense happening. And I think all the players, you know, they wanted to put up their best performance for the first state of origin in some time. And for that reason, they were very...
00:04:51
Lew
you know, sort of focused on themselves or their team and and winning that game. So we didn't see a lot of attention applied to the opposition. So certainly taking some of those players' scores with a grain of salt, but it it is nice to see the best players in the competition fit and firing and and some of them did look remarkably fit too. so definitely put a little asterisk there to to maybe watch them a little bit closer in the practice game, but it's it's it's tough to read too much into that one.
00:05:22
Jon Harmey
Well, it may be that O'Sheen Mullen qualifies for Western Australia next year and then he could run with Dacos and, um yeah, I don't know, use Zach Butters' tops and try and slow them down a bit because there was no tagging, no defence.
00:05:33
Holmesy
Harmy, Harmy, we probably need him playing as that are defensive forward on Lockie Ash.
00:05:36
Lew
He'd be an ally. an
00:05:39
Holmesy
Best on ground.
00:05:40
Jon Harmey
Oh, best on. Yeah, sorry. Yeah. Thanks, Sam.
00:05:43
Holmesy
How was um just quite how was um Jesse Hogan coming out after the game and saying, this is the best game I've ever played at Optus Stadium and I played for Frio for two years?
00:05:53
Jon Harmey
I liked that. That was good.
00:05:55
Holmesy
That was elite.
Player Roles and Preseason Strategies
00:05:56
Holmesy
ah My origin overreaction and bit of a backstory here. We had on Friday afternoon, we had seven of the origin boys come out to our school for for a Quantarf event. And amongst those seven, there was a few of the Indigenous boys. So Cozzy Pickett, Charlie Cameron, Shai Bolton, Lawson Humphreys. There was one other, but we did have Bont and Merritt.
00:06:17
Holmesy
And there was a sneaky little opportunity for me to have 30 seconds just having a bit of a chat to Zach Merritt. I ah thought about being that Nuffy to get the to get the phone out and ask for a little record, but I couldn't couldn't bring myself to do that. But I did have the little Nuffy conversation and ask him where where he's playing this year. I love my AFL fantasy. And,
00:06:35
Holmesy
He said that Harmi, that he'll play midfield this year, but he'll also get thrown around forward defence because you know that's that's his role in the team now. And without mentioning any names, I didn't prompt him. He said that the the main midfielders are going to be Durham and Parrish.
00:06:51
Holmesy
So didn't mention Caldwell. So my origin overreaction is that Parrish is going to be the highest averaging fantasy player for Essendon. And he's a lock for our sides.
00:07:00
Jon Harmey
For the comp, probably. da it Yep, DP3. He's the man.
00:07:05
Holmesy
So, yeah, obviously he was really honest with me and and definitely had no reason just to to sort of toe the company line there. But no, it was pretty pretty cool to see them up close and personal. I ah probably should have gone full enough as well and asked Bont about the Bulldogs midfield, but you just didn't have it in me. But...
00:07:21
Holmesy
Boys, let's get ah let's get into the podcast now. going to start with some hot topics. But before we do that, the Pod Pod Challenge is back again for 2026. So same as last year, get involved in the community, in a league, just like old time. See if you can beat be old Dossie. We'll make sure we get him in there. And just like last year, there'll be a ah custom AFL fantasy ring available to the winner. Thanks to our friends at supercoachchampion.com.
00:07:45
Holmesy
So I'll put that lead code in the show description below. So make sure you get involved there. And we had over a thousand members in that league last year and I took it out. So hopefully we can get a few more than that this year and we can have some other members up there in the top 100. It's pretty cool to be able to track the community as we go along. But let's start with our hot
Injuries and Midfield Opportunities
00:08:05
Holmesy
topics. And Louis, the first one we need to get to Tom Green, ACL.
00:08:10
Holmesy
It's been confirmed now. You know, massive for GWS, but also pretty big fantasy ramifications as well. And then we may as well just touch on the whole GWS midfield group as a whole, because now it's come out that Finn Callaghan has a hip injury and and he's in a race against time for opening round.
00:08:28
Holmesy
Toby Bedford wasn't actually tagging post-buyer last year, but he was another cog that was in there at times to tag last year. He's out with a serious hammy. Then all of a sudden now we're looking at ah a midfield that's going to be centered around Clayton Oliver if he can get himself fit. So how are you seeing all this?
00:08:44
Lew
Yeah, super flat for Tom Green. He's one of the the AFL's good blokes. I think everybody loves Tom Green. So him missing a year of footy is, yeah, that's going to suck for for us as fans, but definitely him himself. Callaghan out of there. it's It's a massive hole, I think.
00:09:02
Lew
you know Are we running it back with a Stephen Cornelio midfield in that in that DWS Giants mix? Obviously, Clayton Oliver is going to be super relevant again. Whether or not he can recapture some of that form that he was in a couple of years ago.
00:09:18
Lew
At the D's before a couple of the off-field you know sort of shenanigans, I'm not too sure. But what i'm sort of looking at here is I'm really keen for some of that Giants youth to come through this midfield. And I just know that one of these guys is going to provide us some extreme value.
00:09:35
Lew
I've certainly got a high interest in Harry Rosten. We saw a little bit of him last season. His junior numbers were great. His VFL numbers are great. And even at AFL level, he's shown some chops and he's gotten a lot of hype, especially from a Tom Green in seasons past too, as one of those guys that should be able to step up and become a ah regular midfielder there.
00:09:52
Holmesy
Thank you.
00:09:57
Lew
But Yeah, it's ah it's kind of looking like the D's midfield at the moment where it's just so depleted that there's going to be opportunity for a player and picking which one is probably going to be the tough thing. But, you know, watching this preseason game coming up next week is going to be so interesting. I think, you know, GWS have probably skyrocketed to to one of the top teams that I'm going to be watching closely this week.
00:10:23
Holmesy
Hami, when Louis says that he's keen to see some of these younger GWS midfielders come through, he's talking about 32-year-old Toby effing green, right?
00:10:36
Jon Harmey
Yeah, and Cogs, same age. i bit But just when you said Cogs, I mean, I have loved Cogs as a player at times, but he's had so many injuries in that.
00:10:48
Jon Harmey
He just sort of has struggled to piece together consistent games. It's actually...
00:10:53
Lew
Flawless preseason, though, for the first time in some time.
00:10:56
Jon Harmey
Well, that's what they tell you, mate. Taylor going down too. is this a like ah It's it's already thinking, you know, that they're going to struggle, aren't they? Let's have a look at them last year.
00:11:08
Lew
I took Sam Taylor out my fantasy team, actually, off the back of that.
00:11:08
Jon Harmey
GW...
00:11:12
Jon Harmey
Oh, you and Bales both probably.
00:11:13
Holmesy
It was relevant last year, round zero.
00:11:14
Lew
I was going to go again.
00:11:15
Jon Harmey
um
00:11:18
Lew
One year early.
00:11:18
Jon Harmey
So we got... Well, Green was 78%. cbas Callahan, 77. Cogs, 48% when he was there. um That's a pretty solid kind of three, really. and Potentially, you know, it's only Cogs there. So don't know. ah When they came out with Toby Green, who's going to play a bit of midfield last week, before all this happened, I thought they're kidding.
00:11:46
Jon Harmey
But now it just kind of stacks up, doesn't it? That they may have to. They don't have a choice but to um to give him a decent run in the midfield.
00:11:55
Holmesy
Yeah, he's going to be an option.
00:11:56
Lew
Thank you.
00:11:57
Holmesy
And once again, we we have the opening round cheat code. I suppose the the frustrating thing is, once again, we just want to find players without this but without a buy. And you pick Toby Green and then it's going to be alongside a Flanders and a Philippou if you go down that road.
00:12:10
Holmesy
And then all of a sudden, it it doesn't really help us from that point of view. But Price at 81, midfield role in opening round. Yeah, he's he's been a scorer in the past. Being 32, though, lose. Obviously tricky.
00:12:22
Lew
Do we see um maybe a Brent Daniels sneak back into that midfield?
00:12:27
Jon Harmey
Yeah.
00:12:28
Lew
He's sort of had cameos in years gone by. He had a bit of an injury-interrupted season last year. Is he someone who can slip in? i also wonder if Lockie Ash potentially can go into that midfield.
00:12:41
Lew
I know they've tried that in the past. They've obviously got Lockie Whitfield back there, and they did work so well in tandem, but... um unless they're really going to throw the keys over to some of these young giants mids, I think we are going to see them try a couple of different things. And maybe that is just going to be a Toby Green in the midfield, but I'm super interested to see what they're going to do next week.
00:13:03
Jon Harmey
The other thing is that they need somebody that can bloody break the lines with a becent bit of pace. That's not Oliver and I thought it was going to be Callaghan but I don't really think it's Cogs either. So that's probably going to be another flaw to the composition of that midfield, isn't it?
00:13:20
Holmesy
Yeah, no it will be Finn when he's up and going. But yeah, it just sounds like he's going to be out of action for the next couple of weeks. As is Harmi, reported today from afl.com.au, Nick Newman struggling to get there for opening rounds. So he's been someone that a lot of us have just had in our sides pretty much since the game opened as that underpriced defender.
00:13:42
Holmesy
Question for you is, if he misses round zero, but then suits up round one against Richmond, can you do it? Or do you give it a week knowing that he's not going to get the double price rise and then it's just one game against Richmond, you get to see it and then you jump on after his bye if you can manage it?
00:13:59
Jon Harmey
That's an interesting proposition you're given there. I
00:14:05
Jon Harmey
ah just think, well, he's going to be undervalued. So he is still a good value pick. Yeah, he'll have that um he will have that buy, but you're probably still better off starting him because then you the uncertainty of whether you're going to be able to bring him in is gone. If they you know are saying, yeah, he's gone really well and he's starting on field and yeah I just think if he's going to start round one, he's probably going to start round zero. They surely can't be you know cut that fine. Otherwise, they'll just give him the extra week off and start him after the bye, I reckon.
00:14:39
Holmesy
Yeah, the other thing is obviously that injury for Wiedering in the origin game. they've They've cleared him of any serious damage, but i mean it didn't look good. If he's going to struggle to make round zero, round one as well, they're going to need all hands on deck in that defensive line, and and Newman's a a senior body there. So definitely one to watch, but maybe not the the slam dunk obvious pick that we all kind of hoped when we started the preseason.
00:15:05
Holmesy
Christian Salem for Melbourne, are still absent from main training with his hammy. Now, this is now a ah major concern. He was someone that we were kind of looking at in terms of opportunity in that Melbourne back line and the way that he finished last year going at 98 post-buy. But the fact is now missed about three weeks in a row and the club's actually being very, they're not giving any information about what's actually happened.
00:15:27
Holmesy
kind of lends me to think that maybe there's something a little bit more serious going on and and they don't have the information to to really give it out. So that rules Salem out for me. I'm not saying he won't be close to a top six defender at some stage down the track and we might trade into him if if the role's there and and whatnot. But yeah, not ah not a starting option for me at this stage, Lou.
00:15:48
Lew
So who's going be taking the kick-ins at Melbourne? Because we're presuming Stephen May is not going to be there. Jake Bowie is going to miss most of the season, certainly the first half. Let's say Christian Salem misses the first couple of weeks.
00:16:03
Lew
Just looking at some of these kick-ins from last season, it it goes down to Trent Rivers, who was fourth in line. you Tom McDonald, that's not going to happen. um Daniel Turner, like that's it. There's...
00:16:15
Lew
There's nobody back there. So I'm sort of looking at maybe where the opportunity comes from. Could we see a Xavier Lindsay, who was a popular pick to start last year, sort of float back into that halfback role and and potentially have that second year breakout off the back of this? Because the the stock's just not there at the moment.
00:16:36
Holmesy
Yeah, the interesting thing is, well, obviously Rivers played in the Origin game on the weekend, so I highly doubt he's there for their unofficial practice match this week.
00:16:41
Jon Harmey
Thank you.
00:16:44
Holmesy
But then there will be the official one next week, so that's definitely one to monitor there, Lou, you're right. But maybe they just don't have the monopoly like they have in the past. Maybe they decide to... develop and use a number of people but absolutely Xavier Lindsay's shown scoring potential in his first year and if there's opportunity there can definitely see a bump on his starting price.
00:17:04
Holmesy
Dion Prestia out with a hammy not relevant for him obviously but does it make a Sam Layla more relevant hammy it's another midfield piece missing what do you think with a with a Prestia?
00:17:18
Jon Harmey
Oh, it's absolutely chance there. And they've been talking him up. Look, I think he was in the midfield regardless. I actually think that the Prestia thing just sort of opens it up for somebody else. I see him coming to get a debut or a Hotton potentially. think that...
00:17:35
Jon Harmey
I think Lawler's going to be there. It's just about how much time he spends in the guts and how much he is on the outside or the forward line and whether he is your burst type scorer or whether he's going to um rack up a bit more possessions that we haven't necessarily seen from him. But I do think he's definitely someone we should be watching as we're coming into round one.
00:18:00
Holmesy
Jezza Cameron strained his quarter after a slow build back from that broken arm. So he's in doubt now for round zero. So not fantasy relevant for us, but just one to monitor there. Isaac Kako, once again, not relevant, but another hamstring injury for him.
00:18:15
Holmesy
This one's relevant though, Lou. Kalachi, hamstring injury. Now I haven't seen reported today, the the length of his hamstring injury, but we were kind of pegging him as someone that's going to go into that Adelaide side and be another cog forward and maybe on the wing that might free up Rochelle or a Rankin to go into the midfield.
00:18:34
Holmesy
way We were already worried because we have to pick these players blind going into round one. And if we want to start a Rochelle, but that's without a Rankin and now an Archie, do you think that's even more fool's gold about what the role could potentially be once they all come back?
00:18:49
Lew
Look, it's certainly not going to help. I'm still pretty bullish on Rochelle. I think, as we've sort of said in that forward podcast, that the rotation with Rankin is likely, i think. So maybe he escapes the Calo Archie hamstring role there.
Ruck Options and Fantasy Teams
00:19:07
Lew
But yeah, it's it's not going to help, is it?
00:19:11
Holmesy
Yeah, it's it's it's interesting. I haven't heard it reported yet how serious it is. But yeah, definitely one to monitor.
00:19:18
Lew
I think it's tandem.
00:19:19
Holmesy
Harmi, you touched this off the top. would We'll just go over this quickly. So it's the year of the the cheap ruck. McAndrew's gone past Rob, apparently. Vicentini's gone past Sweet.
00:19:30
Holmesy
Who knows? Reedy might go past Pitnett. Now you've got CDT kicking goals for for the Eagles. How are you going to fit all these players in your side, mate?
00:19:39
Jon Harmey
Well, got your utility and you've got the ruck the ruckbe as well, mate. So it could be four spots, really. um We had a lot of questions over the pre-season around value rucks.
00:19:52
Jon Harmey
Well, there you go. You just reeled off four of them. And I think you could potentially be picking these guys. Dante Vizantini, didn't talk about him.
00:20:00
Lew
and I know with
00:20:02
Jon Harmey
Briggs, probably still underpriced. So we've just got heaps of ruck options.
00:20:06
Holmesy
Oh, that's the other one. Madden as well. Madden kicked five and there's a, Selby has an inside source that maybe he's gone past Briggs.
00:20:09
Jon Harmey
Nick Madden?
00:20:13
Holmesy
So five of them.
00:20:15
Lew
Mitch Edwards at Geelong as well.
00:20:15
Jon Harmey
Yeah, but Madden's not kicking five goals from the midfield, though, is he, mate? Like, you've to think he's been in a fair bit time in the forward line if he's kicking five goals.
00:20:26
Holmesy
Ah, you know, floating forward from the midfield.
00:20:29
Jon Harmey
Hmm.
00:20:29
Lew
I know we've had the the utility position for a couple of years now, but it feels like the the r four position has been more relevant than ever since we made that switch.
00:20:37
Holmesy
Yeah, we need it back. We need it back. ah All right, we'll get in touch with Warnie.
00:20:41
Lew
Used to be just a dead spot, didn't it?
00:20:44
Jon Harmey
Yeah, yeah. ah yeah
00:20:44
Holmesy
Yeah. All right, so the meat of our podcast that today, Louis, what the listeners are all here for, we have your team
Louis's Fantasy Team Critique
00:20:53
Holmesy
reveal. So you're going to go through line by line. You're going to discuss the players that you're picking and Harmi and me are just going to rip you apart, talk about players you've missed, ask you any questions, and and that's going to generate some discussion. So without further ado, mate, let's get stuck into it.
00:21:10
Lew
No worries. I'll let it rip. And um of course, this team won't change now. this This is locked in. I can't see myself changing this. But we'll start with D1. Probably no surprises here.
00:21:23
Lew
Everybody knows I can be a bit of a port nuffy. I've got Connor Rosey at D1.
00:21:27
Jon Harmey
Can be.
00:21:28
Lew
And my reason for that is I think he's a really handy captain option to start this season with that fixture, which we've We've been talking about for a couple of months now. ah I like the defensive midfielder eligibility. just gives me some extra flexibility. I don't know if there's necessarily a heap of upside. I could definitely make a good case for a handful of points there just based off some... ah injury last year but for me I just think that this is a guy who's shown his consistency over a number of years as a midfielder and as a halfbacker was only his first year at halfback last season and and dished up a 105 I think that's repeatable in fact I think you can push into sort of 107 areas too if everything goes right so for me I'm putting Connor Rosey at the D1 spot
00:22:20
Holmesy
Yeah, don't don't mind that, Lou. And I suppose that's because there's so many of the high-end premiums that either have a buy or you're projecting to maybe be fair value or overvalued. So he's just one of those anchors down there that you're you're planning to hopefully keep for the year with maybe a few points upside and be a captain option.
00:22:39
Lew
Pretty much. Yep, that's spot on. D2, I've got Colby McKercher. I think this is probably one of those template picks that we do speak about where they've sort of sat in your team all preseason and there's been real no reason to to take him out. He's going to be playing that halfback role at the Kangaroos. We know how fruitful that can be for fantasy and For that reason, he's going to be occupying D2. Junior number's always been elite. We saw at the end of last year in those last 10 games or so.
00:23:11
Lew
quite a decent sample size that he is absolutely killing it off of halfback in terms of fantasy scoring. ah I'm expecting that to trend upwards. He's underpriced based off of the first half of the year where he was thrown around a bit. And I ah think that he's one that we can pick with confidence and is well in the mix to be sort of a top maybe six to 10 defender.
00:23:35
Holmesy
Yep, love that. 95 post-buy and then 95 basically when he was that in that role in his first season as well. Lou, lock that away. d three
00:23:43
Lew
D3, another one of those kind of template picks is Myles Bergman. We've spoken about him quite a few times on this podcast, but he's going to be making the transition into the midfield. We saw that when he played as a pure midfielder last season, he was putting up numbers north of 100. Albeit it was a pretty small sample size. I think it worked out to be about six or seven games in the end. But we know he's got the chops to do it. I think he's priced at 78. He should smash that out of the park, provided he can stay fit. a couple would Coupled with that nice fixture to start, I'm expecting a real nice start from Myles Bergman to get that cash generating in the right direction.
00:24:24
Lew
Not necessarily sold he's going to be a keeper. I think he's probably one that we look to to upgrade in a couple of months' time into the season. But, yeah, I'm really liking this pick here as well.
00:24:36
Holmesy
Just quickly, is there anyone that you've considered, just give us one player that you've considered that's more expensive than a ah Bergman and Mekircher if you had to rejig your structure a little bit?
00:24:46
Lew
Oh, look, probably i was quite interested in Salem pre-injury, and I think that has gone down the line a little bit to a Trent Rivers. I'm i'm not sure where he's going to settle, whether that's going to be a midfielder or as a half-backer, but I think this points out for grabs in that Melbourne team, and I'll probably feel more comfortable trading into a player like that after seeing it in the season proper, but it wouldn't surprise me if he's one that can finally take that step up in terms of fantasy scoring.
00:25:17
Holmesy
Yep, love that. Okay, so Rosie Mkurchar Bergman, go through your D4 to for us. for us
00:25:24
Lew
Okay, so at D4, I actually had a change today and it was based off of the Newman news that came out. I'm really not liking ah a 33-year-old defender who's you know i already having some issues with his hamstrings so close to the season proper. We know that Newman's body hasn't exactly stood up for for a couple of years now and that's just got alarm bells ringing for me. and Coupled with that buy, I think I'd rather just at least get a look at him. um But for for me, I'm going to rule him out unless he can you know maybe play a practice game or or if he can drop something really significant in that opening round.
00:26:03
Lew
So what I've done is I've changed him to Kitty Coleman and he's a little bit cheaper. I'll get some cash off the back of that and
00:26:11
Holmesy
Thank
00:26:12
Lew
his His role, it's it's a little bit up in the air. I think ultimately, though, he's going to be one of those guys that they want to use. They want to give the football and and utilize his skill set because we do know how talented he is. he's just He's almost too cheap to ignore. And I think Brisbane being the fantasy scoring side that they are, that he should be able to really put some significant points on his price stat point there.
00:26:38
Holmesy
Yep, don't mind it. Opening round watch. A little bit concerning with the match-in reports of them throwing him all over the ground, but that's probably just to get him through and and to train some secondary positions now that they're so stacked back there. loot five and six?
00:26:51
Lew
Five and six, I've got Lockie Blackiston at D5. I think if he's going to be taking the main ruck role at the Dons, at least to start that season, there's points up for grabs there. I think he's priced at about 34 or something. So realistically, he should smash that out park in that role.
00:27:12
Lew
He's probably going to be a little bit raw, but he is a 27-year-old mature ager that was plucked out of a waffle, I think. So he is used to playing a little bit against men, and ah I'm expecting him to... I'm basically picking him as a little bit of an overpriced rookie, but I'm expecting that opportunity to really...
00:27:28
Lew
help for his fantasy scoring. And then at D6, popular pick, I've got Zeke Uland. ah He's going to be playing a wing at the Gold Coast, allegedly, and we know that he's, you know, already pegged as one of the competition's next superstars. So really liking that pick there. I think...
00:27:47
Lew
He's probably one as well that with what we've got down back in terms of rookies, we can we can flick on and off based on the on the fixture. We know ah Josh Lindsay, who's actually my D7, should get games for West Coast. Jacob Barrow should get games for Essendon as well. And you've got that Sam Grill as well with that defensive status. so I think that position can be flicked around to start the year based on matchups and and sort of who actually impresses because we don't know a whole lot about these guys just yet.
00:28:16
Holmesy
Yeah, 100%. The caveat being for the team reveal is that, yeah, we don't know which rookies are going to be there, but I do like that you've, you've ratted off some names that have that defender mid DPP, which means you can fling your squad around a lot more um during the buys to cover other positions and whatnot. So love that Lou. Let's go into the big dog midfielders.
00:28:36
Lew
Yep. And starting it at M1 is a favorite of mine, Errol Goulden. He's obviously got that buy, so that may raise a couple of question marks with people. But priced at 102, I really think that this guy can push 110 type numbers. And if that's the case, then the buy doesn't actually bother me as much. I ah think he can make that up over the course of the season. And realistically, if he scores the way that I'm expecting him to, ah the rest of the competition that don't start him probably aren't looking at start at actually getting him into their teams until post-buy, and by which case, by which time rather, I'm hoping that I've gotten full dividends on him with a couple of ceiling games, couple of captain options. And um yeah, I'm just very bullish on Errol Gould, and I think with a fit Sydney side pushing for a flag,
00:29:25
Lew
that he's going to play a massive role in that. And he just seems to fit the trend of the AFL going towards those guys that can carry the football and get high metereage per disposal, as well as, you know, just being an absolute disposal efficiency weapon.
00:29:42
Holmesy
Harmi, you put the thumbs down there on the call, not that the listeners can see it. Is that because you're trying to be sneaky and you don't want them to know that you're picking him at M1 as well? Or do you are you against the pick?
00:29:53
Jon Harmey
Well, anyone that is on the Marrera's Magic subscription homes, he would know that you've got him at M1. um I'm just waiting to see who Lou's got at M2. He's probably Nick Dacos, by the sounds of things, if he's keen on, you know, high-priced midfielders that have got a buy.
00:30:09
Holmesy
Origin overreaction, he's going 149 this year, Harmy.
00:30:10
Jon Harmey
oh yeah, OK. Sorry.
00:30:12
Holmesy
Come on.
00:30:12
Jon Harmey
Yep, he is.
00:30:13
Holmesy
Go on, Lou.
00:30:13
Lew
So Zach Butters at M2. This one's a bloke that hasn't really moved from my side. He's going to be an extremely popular pick this year. i Had an injury interrupted year to begin last year with that knee issue. So he didn't really have a full preseason.
00:30:29
Lew
And then, of course, we know that he did cop a couple of tags during the year, which is certainly going to to repeat itself this season. But I just think that... He's a player certainly in a contract year and without the buyer that just feels safe at his price point.
Key Player Discussions and Selections
00:30:44
Lew
And I think there's ah there's a couple of points upside there. So for that reason, coupled with that port fixture, which I'm just going to keep mentioning, I really want a piece of that certainly early.
00:30:55
Holmesy
Yep, 106 averaging player since he went into the midfield midway through 2023, I think it was. So tags will always be there, but we still probably haven't seen that Brownlow type season for him for him yet. He's probably still got upside. So underpriced on what he's done before. Yeah, really like Butters, Luke.
00:31:14
Lew
At M3, this is a guy who has come in and out of my side a lot this preseason. As you know, Holmes, I am a little bit of a hater on this guy, but it's Jack Steele.
00:31:24
Holmesy
Wee!
00:31:25
Lew
um
00:31:25
Holmesy
a
00:31:26
Lew
look I do just question whether or not, you know, that's where the game is trending, that sort of player. I just think he's a little bit slow and I don't know. I just think he's a bit of a plotter, to be honest.
00:31:37
Lew
But there's opportunity in that D's midfield.
00:31:39
Holmesy
That's what Melbourne want, mate. That's what Melbourne are going to do. That's what they're going to do.
00:31:43
Lew
And he's just about the only senior head in there that that's shown that he can, you know, sort of hold down the fort. I think he's going to be their M1, obviously. And we have seen that he is a guy that can provide those outlets sort of 45 kicks and likes to present for those. We know what his tackling game is like as well. I just think this is a safe one. ah I'm, you know, I'm hoping that he can go from a 96 to sort of 102 areas.
00:32:10
Lew
ah That being said, also wouldn't surprise me if he' if he's kind of just priced it what he's going to be just because of the market share of that team.
00:32:20
Holmesy
How much are you going to hate yourself, Lou, when five rounds in, he's a 95 guy and you just you just didn't back yourself in, which I don't think is going to happen, personally. I think he's going to he's going to go well beyond 100. But, yeah, don't mind Jack Stillen, no early buy two, which is what we're after.
00:32:36
Lew
ah Yes, but speaking of which, I've got Sam Walsh at M4. So another guy with the early buy. We know Sam Walsh has been pretty injury prone in the last couple of years. He just hasn't gotten a good run at it. But by all reports, his preseason has been completely uninterrupted.
00:32:54
Lew
ah think he's going to come out with a point to prove and being priced at what he is, I think it's about 94 homes off the top of my head. He's a guy that we've seen can can push 110 type numbers. we know that.
00:33:06
Lew
He can get it done on the inside. He can also get it done on the outside. And I think Carlton are going to be leaning towards him to to give them something a little bit different in that midfield. He's such a hard worker. He presents for the footy at all times. And that Richmond matchup to start is probably a really good place to be in round one, I think. So for that reason, I think he's got enough upside to sort of mitigate that buy.
00:33:31
Holmesy
Louis, question. James Jordan tags him in opening round and he scores a 70. Rolls there though. What are you doing?
00:33:40
Lew
or I think I would still maybe back it in.
00:33:44
Holmesy
Points on field. Points on field. I'd back it in.
00:33:46
Lew
Yeah. ah Because there's every chance he goes 140 against the Tigers the following week too. I'd like to just see him playing some good football and looking like he's fit. I want to see him running on top of the ground, Holmesy, basically.
00:34:01
Holmesy
Yep, yep, don't mind that. all right, let's go through M5 to 8 a bit quicker.
00:34:05
Lew
Yep. Darcy Parrish, bit of a template pick as well. Love hearing that from you, Holmesy, with your mate, Zach Merrick, giving you the fantasy gossip there. So that just strengthens that pick a little bit. No early buy. I think this is kind of the Adam Chera pick of last year. I think they're probably going to end up in similar areas in that 95 sort of scoring range. And But potentially even 100 plus because we know that Darcy Parrish, when he's in form, when he's fit, he's a 105 averaging player. ah This one gets a little bit spicy maybe depending on how you want to read it.
00:34:41
Holmesy
Tanner Broome was out with illness today, mate.
00:34:43
Lew
Yeah, I know, I know. And he's been floating in and out of my team as well. In fact, I've got the cash to to put him back in if I want. But Will Brody's sitting there at M6.
00:34:54
Lew
six I just, I think this is a guy who is going to get that early opportunity round one and two. And ah don't want to miss out on that with the fixture. And look, fully aware that, yes, he could be omitted based on Ollie Wines coming back in round three, but...
00:35:12
Lew
In an ideal world, he takes that opportunity by the reins. And if he can make 80 to 100K in those first two weeks, then look, first of all, it's probably a stiff omission if he is getting dropped. Second of all, I think he's quite an easy flip. He's someone that we can trade down into a rookie that perhaps we've missed that's got to break even trending in the right direction and make plenty of cash on the other end to to maybe fix up your side with that second trade. So,
00:35:38
Lew
Yeah, for me, ah I think I'm on Will Brodie this year.
00:35:43
Jon Harmey
All right, Holmesy, I have a question for you. This is a point in time where, you know, the coin could be tossed two ways.
00:35:55
Jon Harmey
Do we trust the guy that has been going down to the pre-season training sessions and having a look at the action? And is that the person we're listening to? or is it the poor Nuffy that is just seeing what he wants to see?
00:36:12
Holmesy
I don't know, yeah the guys that go down to training that we're listening to are both Port Nuffie, so i'm not I'm not sure we can listen to more. I don't know, Aaron Bryans was pretty convinced that he's that sort of 23rd, 24th player right on the edge.
00:36:26
Holmesy
But I think Lou's right in terms of if he's there round one, you give him the two games to have a crack. If he's dropped after round in round three and he's made 80K, yes, it's not fantastic, but...
00:36:38
Holmesy
um it's still okay. You can then get onto the next rookie coming through or jump to the mid-price that you've missed. So ah if he's there round one, i'll I'll seriously look at it just like you, Lou. I think, yeah, I'd back him in to play well in those two games and hold his spot.
00:36:52
Lew
Yeah, and I can remember similar discussions back in 2022 when he was a forward price to a similar price at Fremantle as well. So I'd hate to miss out on that early fixture if he does end up playing the first five games or so.
00:37:05
Lew
At M6, so this is formerly where Tanner Bruin was hanging out, but I've just decided to put a little bit of cash in the in the bank instead.
00:37:14
Holmesy
be M7 now, right?
00:37:16
Holmesy
M7, Parrish was five, yeah.
00:37:16
Lew
We're at M7, yep.
00:37:18
Lew
ah So this is Dan Annable. We know that his junior numbers are are really quite good. He's going to play round one is what we're sort of reading into the track reports. He's he's trained in that A side all pre-season.
00:37:33
Lew
Highly rated, highly touted. I just think that this is a guy that potentially you can put up a ah really nice score on field. And as I said, Brisbane is really conducive of those fantasy points. So that's a nice little spot to to put in there and you know He's probably someone that, like I said, with the New Orleans can float off the bench. and I'll rattle off a couple of names at the end here. But M8, template pick, Jagger Smith. Missed last season with an ACL.
00:38:02
Lew
His junior numbers are just absolutely phenomenal. And he's going to get all the opportunity in that Carlton midfield this year. There's a lot of hype coming out of the Blues because ah for him.
00:38:14
Lew
And that Richmond round matchup too should be quite nice. I think this is a guy that we're going to be having on field certainly for the first probably six weeks.
00:38:24
Holmesy
Yep. I agree with all that, Lou, but before we go on, you've been beating the drum, at least in our group chats, about potentially wanting to put a mid forward in your midfield to to add flexibility to your squad.
00:38:37
Holmesy
You haven't gone with it on this occasion, but just can you quickly talk me through why you're considering that?
Maintaining Midfield Flexibility
00:38:42
Lew
Well, I do have that flexibility, actually, um if if you will let me continue on. But
00:38:49
Holmesy
All right. not Fair enough. Fair enough.
00:38:52
Lew
andll I'll touch on it then.
00:38:52
Holmesy
um
00:38:53
Lew
But on the bench as well, I've got Harry Schoenberg from the Eagles. He was given a list spot. I think he's going to try and take it with two hands. He's another that's shown that he's really got a capacity to score.
00:39:04
Lew
I think he's going to make the line and we know that he's a bit of a mature ager and a bit of a fantasy pig too. So he's one that I can see floating on and off my field too based on the matchup.
00:39:16
Lew
And then at M10, I've got Sam Grill just for that DPP flexibility into the defensive line.
00:39:23
Holmesy
Yep, another name that's getting some love, Jack Carroll too, if he's there off halfback for the Saints. Someone that I'd really like to look at being that mature mature body. But yeah, really like that structure, Lou.
00:39:36
Holmesy
Let's go to the Rucks. Where we at?
00:39:38
Lew
Okay, R1, we've got Tristan Sherry ah not overreacting on the Saturday night game where he got nine hit outs and played about 30% togged. I think this guy is really going to take um the opportunity of of that fixture.
00:39:53
Lew
I mean, it really is quite... um I'm trying to get it up here, but for some reason it's not showing me. Here we go.
00:40:00
Holmesy
Yeah, it's like Port, Essendon, West Coast, like all the good gravy matchups earlier, right?
00:40:00
Lew
Port Adelaide.
00:40:05
Lew
Yeah, yeah. So, yeah, Vicentini, then the Eagles, and then Essendon. So he's probably a Blackiston, and then into a Pitt-Net-Ready combination. So he should be able to dominate those games.
00:40:17
Lew
And I think he can return to – I think he can do what he's priced at, at the very least. I really rate Tristan Sherry. I think he's one of the best rucks in the competition.
00:40:28
Holmesy
Go on then, reveal who your R2 is.
00:40:29
Lew
All right.
00:40:30
Jon Harmey
Hold on.
00:40:31
Holmesy
Oh, here we go, homie.
00:40:31
Lew
Oh, yeah.
00:40:32
Jon Harmey
Just remember this last year as well, Kyle. My mind is going back to the last year's preseason where Louis said he would be the highest averaging player in the game, Kristen Cherry, last season.
00:40:44
Lew
Yeah, he had hamstring tendonitis all year, Harmy. He just couldn't get it done with that.
00:40:48
Holmesy
Dr.
00:40:48
Lew
He still put up a really nice average.
00:40:49
Holmesy
Louis diagnosing him.
00:40:52
Lew
So we'll see see what he does this season. All right, let's get to ah two So this is a position that's changed for me all preseason. I've had a lot of Kieran Briggs in there. I've had a lot of Dante Vicentini in there.
00:41:08
Lew
Prior to those, I had Jordan Sweet in there. um
00:41:11
Holmesy
He's going to do it. He's going to do it.
00:41:12
Lew
At R2, I've got Lachlan Andrew.
00:41:15
Holmesy
the
00:41:18
Lew
And fully aware that this this could change. um But if he's ahead of rob I just, I like this pick. I know it's probably safer at R3 and we'll we'll get into this soon. But um for me, ah I'm liking spending down here because there's so much uncertainty around these rucks and maybe, you know adjusting those rucks a little bit, few weeks into the season when I've got a little bit more data as to who's actually taking advantage of these new ruck rules.
00:41:51
Jon Harmey
Now I'm alright with it, Lou.
00:41:51
Holmesy
Yeah.
00:41:52
Jon Harmey
Alright, it's okay.
00:41:53
Holmesy
Just jump ahead, Lou. Who's your R3? Because it promoted a bit of discussion. I want to say something, but who's your R3?
00:41:59
Lew
So my R3 is Cooper Duff-Titler off the back of that intraclub. He kicked five goals. i think I think he really put his name up in lights probably for the coaches that you know he he's against the Eagles,
00:42:12
Holmesy
Against the art the Eagles B squad that had four of their assistant coaches in it. But yeah.
00:42:17
Lew
I know, but he's getting a lot of hype. I think they're going to want to put him into that side quite early. So, yes, it's selection dependent, but I've got him at R3 and in my utility, I've got Liam Reedy.
00:42:21
Jon Harmey
Oh, yeah.
00:42:29
Lew
So, I'm picking the parachute options.
00:42:29
Holmesy
Yeah, yeah. yeah
00:42:32
Lew
I'm not just going a risky R2 and not having backups here. If something goes wrong at selection table early, I've got people that I can plug in. i can hide behind best 18, of course, over those first couple of rounds as well.
00:42:46
Lew
So it's not necessarily hurting my on-field scoring, but... More importantly with this, it actually means that I'm unlocking that mid-forward flexibility through the ruck line because i can put a Liam Reedy or a Cooper Duff titler into my forward line and then move um one of my forwards into the utility and can basically trade out of one of these guys, especially the mid-prices where there's a bit of question marks about whether or not they're going to be worth it.
00:43:17
Holmesy
Yep. No, that's that's what I was going to say. I really like the idea of if you are going to go down that rookie R2 route, having that Liam Reedy, whether it be in the forward line, in the forward bench or in utility like you have. So you've got the option to trade out of it because if there's no parachute option out and he's gone after a couple of weeks, you're in ah you're in a lot of lot of strife there. So yeah, don't mind that.
00:43:39
Lew
And essentially what this does is means I can trade out or into any other line as well as having the opportunity to to have to fix that R2 position if it all goes wrong. So I can trade one of these mid-prices into, know, it could be a Vicentini, it could be a Brian, Nick Brian a couple of weeks into the season and jump on really early. But it's just, it's really giving me green lights for this versatility at the moment.
00:44:06
Holmesy
Beautiful. All right, so F1, we already know is Harry Sheasel. So go from F2 down.
00:44:13
Lew
F2, I've got Christian Petrarca. I ah tweeted out the other day, this is a guy that comes in and out of my side quite a bit, but ultimately this early fixture is so juicy for me. I think priced at 90, he's someone that can maybe put up something north of...
00:44:28
Lew
Of 100, at least to start the season and maybe discover a little bit of ceiling there in a line where we're struggling for a couple of options that are going to be safe. I think Christian Petrarca probably represents that as the Eagles round one, Richmond round two, and then the grudge match round four of the Melbourne Demons.
00:44:48
Lew
So I think he can really take advantage of that.
00:44:49
Holmesy
Yeah. It's as good as it gets.
00:44:51
Lew
Yeah. And I want a piece of it.
00:44:51
Holmesy
Yeah.
00:44:54
Holmesy
Beautiful.
00:44:55
Lew
Okay, moving on to f three we've got Sam Flanders. I'm not going to spend too much time on this one. I think this is just an easy pick and to be honest, should be in every single coach's team to to start the year. He's going to be that M2 at the Saints and we know how good they can ah score in fantasy and we know how good Sam Flanders can score in fantasy as well when he's given the right role.
00:45:18
Holmesy
Yep, beautiful. um Yeah, I'm really keen to see where you've landed for your F4 to 6. So let's go here. Has he has he bought into the CMAQ hype?
00:45:25
Lew
So if
00:45:28
Lew
No, I haven't. ah' I've got Josh Rochelle at F4. I'm buying that he's going to be a significant part of that midfield. Even with that Calarchin news, I think that Rochelle's time to take that jump is probably going to be this year with a little bit of extra opportunity there.
00:45:48
Lew
So we know that's that. You've sort of been spruiking a bit, Holmesie, that when he goes 30% CBAs or more, he's an 85
00:45:53
Holmesy
you
00:45:57
Lew
I think if that's what he floats at in terms of CBAs, I would take an 85 every single day of the week coming in at the price point that he is. So I'm expecting maybe 40% to 50% CBAs, hopefully. Rotation with Rankin, as I mentioned, potentially. But even if that's a little bit lower, I think he's got the skills to to be able to to score even in that high half-forward role.
00:46:20
Holmesy
Yep, yeah, really like it. And I know the market share's kind of been getting a ah little bit of a bad rep in the community, but that kind of stat just screams to me that there is a hole in that Adelaide midfield that someone needs to take by the scruff of the neck in terms of a ah scoring perspective, but also in in playing the AFL game. And I think someone's going to do it and I think Rochelle has the opportunity to do that. So like that, Luke.
00:46:41
Lew
ah At F5, I've got Matthias Filippo. This is a guy who has been highly touted for a couple of years now, and his body has really let him down, which is why he comes in so discounted.
00:46:53
Lew
ah think there's going to be a bad taste in a lot of coaches' mouths based off of last year where he never really got running. and And to be honest, I'm not sure he played any midfield at all. He was sort of deployed as one of those third talls.
00:47:06
Lew
up forward and just couldn't get a good crack at it. He's had a full preseason. He's training as a midfielder, which is what he was drafted as. His junior numbers jump immediately off the page. His VFL numbers are also very good. And even going back ah a season or two, his AFL numbers as a midfielder are really good as well. So,
00:47:25
Lew
Priced at 58, this is a guy that's shown that he can score. I think if he gets that opportunity in the M3, M4 range at the Saints, which I think M4 at a minimum is probably the hitting zone for him, that he's a guy that should be able to really excel based on the price that he's coming in at.
00:47:43
Holmesy
Yep. And once again, opening round, so we get to see the role, but yeah, you're right. Even, even in the half forward line, if he's up around the ball has, has all the potential in the world, we just need to say that his body's right. And then we'll we'll go from there.
00:47:57
Lew
F6, I've got Devrob. I think this is a very popular pick amongst coaches too. We know that he can score. He's just squeezed out of that Brisbane Lions midfield and ultimately their list. I know he's got a couple of deficiencies, but I think that the Eagles tried chasing him a year or two ago. They couldn't get him.
00:48:15
Lew
He's at the Eagles now. He should get the opportunity. And I think that he's a guy just with a couple of years of development underneath him, a slightly bigger body that he can maybe take advantage of that and and put up some scores that are half decent just as an F6 rookie in a line where we're probably really scratching around for for rookies.
00:48:35
Holmesy
Have you thought about if if we're not going to get enough rookies to fill the bench, which we probably will, but have you played around with any structures where you've taken mid prices all the way down to F6?
00:48:46
Lew
Yes, yes, I have. So I have had C-Mac in my side as well throughout the preseason. I've had Jamara Oogelhagen.
00:48:53
Holmesy
Jamara, Jamara.
00:48:55
Lew
Yes, he's been in there. Even Liam Reedy has but has been on field. I've still got that opportunity. So Liam Reedy can sit at F6 essentially as well. um But, yeah, so there has been sides where I've had mid-prices go to F6 and then even spill out into my midfield with a Christian Petrarca as a midfielder. So perhaps I'm not as low on some of these forward options as what some other coaches are, but definitely approaching with caution. And it's why I'm i'm so...
00:49:24
Lew
bullish on having this link from the forward line because I'm just not convinced that all of these guys are going to be a smash play and you know trading down into somebody else that might not necessarily be there, it can be a really hard spot to be in.
Potential Rookie Impacts
00:49:39
Jon Harmey
Lou, have you had any any draft options that have included Tim Kelly, just to get that forward mid-link and you swap with Rady?
00:49:47
Lew
Not yet, not yet, but you're a great man, Harmy. So he's in the black book. I don't think they've got Waffle Fantasy though. So if if he if he was, he would be in my forward line.
00:50:00
Holmesy
Beautiful. Lou, just to wrap us up, what are the two bench rookies that you have in the forward line?
00:50:05
Lew
So F7, I've got Lockie Doverston. He should play round one. He's a bit of a high half forward, pushes up the ground hard type. Not expecting amazing scoring from him, but if he's not going to be playing, you know, that pure small forward role for North, I don't mind this guy. I think maybe he can be someone that that puts up a 50 average. And as I said, there's not a lot of rookies to choose from at this stage. I think there's probably a couple of basement ones that are going to come through.
00:50:34
Lew
But at this stage, he's someone I'm happy to put there at a bit of an inflated price. Hopefully, I can trade him down in a couple of weeks' time based off the practice. F8, I've got Leo Lombard. He's getting a little bit of hype out of the Gold Coast. They think he's going to play on a high half forward.
00:50:51
Lew
And I think Hugh Greenwood said that he's expecting him to push up the ground a little bit and get lots of tackles. So, highly rated. Was a little bit anonymous last year in the games that he did play, but another year of development should do him well. And if he's getting into that best 23 for the Gold Coast, which are absolutely stacked these days, then he's clearly got some some coaches which are highly rating him. So, yeah, ah I'm expecting him to to do all right there.
00:51:18
Holmesy
Beautiful. All right, Lou, what I'll get you to do tomorrow is you've obviously got the screenshot of your team. We'll get you to put that out on the PodPodX account and the listeners can roast away and let you know what they don't agree with. But really like the the flexibility that you've got in your side at the moment. I think it's so crucial, especially in these opening round early buys, to be able to swing your players around, to be able to cover when different premiums and whatnot are off.
00:51:44
Holmesy
And yeah, really like the balance at the moment.
00:51:47
Lew
And I should also mention I've got 201K remaining salaries. So I think certainly with that r two that it's – I'm always wanting to take a little bit of cash into round one anyway.
00:52:00
Lew
But I think if you're taking a few extra risks in a team that having a little bit more is always going to help you. So so having that there should serve me well.
00:52:07
Holmesy
so It's a lot better than the 900K Stato had in his bank when he did his team reveal for us last year or the year before. Harmi.
00:52:18
Jon Harmey
Lou, I was just going to say one thing I noticed as you went through your midfield was you're going to have three players out on that round two bye, so you're already playing one player short in that round two.
00:52:31
Lew
Yep.
00:52:31
Jon Harmey
Don't know if you noticed that.
00:52:32
Lew
Yep.
00:52:34
Jon Harmey
Yep.
00:52:34
Lew
yep
00:52:34
Holmesy
Doesn't care, Harmi. Doesn't care.
00:52:35
Jon Harmey
And also a serious lack of Essendon players, which I was quite disappointed your team. Yeah. in your time so
00:52:42
Holmesy
Yeah, Louis, quick before we go on. Caldwell, you were massive on in the preseason. He's found his way out now. You're not as convinced with the bodies returning?
00:52:50
Lew
but Very different price points in that round two by two, Hami. So I'm not too worried about losing ah a Dan Arnable, for example. i think you're a bit harsh, including him potentially. ah And sorry, Hamsi, what did you say, ma
00:53:06
Holmesy
um Caldwell, someone you were really big on in the preseason. You've gone against him for an Errol now who has a bye. So you've you've cooled a bit on ah on a Jai Caldwell.
00:53:13
Lew
Yeah, it was big pretty early. um i mean, I suppose I haven't called too much on him. I think he's going to do all right. I just wonder if he's more fairly priced at 104 than the upside that maybe i was seeing a couple of months ago. that's It is a pretty stacked midfield at the Dons and they all score quite well. Certainly hearing Darcy Parrish is going to maybe shoot the lights out a little bit. Concerns me just because I think Parrish and Caldwell maybe have a couple of similarities there in that midfield. So maybe robbing Peter to pay Paul a bit.
00:53:44
Lew
As I said, I think Goulden's got enough upside on his price where that buy can be mitigated a little bit, especially if some of these rookies are actually going to put up some real nice fieldable scores. So ah Harry Schoenberg being a a mature ager, if he can put up a 70 in the week that I'm missing Goulden, then...
00:54:01
Lew
You know, I'm potentially 40 points down in that buy round, which I'm expecting to be made up with Errol Goulden on the games that he does play. If he goes at that, you know, 110 clip.
00:54:13
Jon Harmey
Lou, Harry Schoenberg was one that I was actually a bit surprised to see in your team. So I'm assuming that you have found something you like about the training reports. You've got a feeling he's best 23 at the eagles
00:54:28
Lew
Yeah, i think he'll get an opportunity. Just watching that intra-club game the other day, he did look all right. And, yeah, I'd just like to favour those guys that have just played a little bit of senior football. And, you know, when it's last chance saloon, some of these guys really want to take it with two hands and, And West Coast, even though they're not great in terms of overall fantasy scoring, I think he's a guy that's going to be putting in his all. And, you know, at that inflated price point, 320K, he's a pretty easy guy to just flick around into another rookie anyway.
00:55:03
Holmesy
Beautiful. All right. So what we're going to do for the last 10 minutes here is just answer some of the listener questions. But before we do that, just a reminder. So the Pod Pod has once again partnered with Q Platforms in 2026 to help answer all of your AFL fantasy questions.
00:55:19
Holmesy
So throughout the season, we will try and answer as many listener questions as we can on the PodPod channel here. And during the season, Selby and I will be will be recording a podcast late in the week that will be answering a lot of the general questions and themes leading into the round. But if you would like a guaranteed answer to any of your AFL fantasy questions, whether it be a team review, questions on strategy or individual players,
00:55:45
Holmesy
um then you do have the ability for a small fee to have a fully personalized audio response, like I said, to help answer all of your AFL fantasy questions. So the link is in the show description below, but head to askmeonq.com forward slash pod pod AFL.
00:56:00
Holmesy
That's Q-U. And yeah, we can get the ball rolling again with those questions. Harmi, I'm going to start with you. This one's from Sandra. How many rookies is too many?
00:56:12
Holmesy
So can we consider eight of them if they have job security? So what I'm thinking there is eight on field, thinking that they want to go a more guns and rookies style approach for the best 18.
00:56:24
Holmesy
And if we have rookies with good job security, how many of them is too many?
00:56:35
Lew
Just take yourself off mute, Harmy.
00:56:39
Jon Harmey
Thanks, mate. Eight is a lot of a lot of rookies on field.
00:56:42
Lew
Good advice, though.
00:56:46
Jon Harmey
I ah don't reckon there's been a year i would have started eight rookies on. um And I guess the thing with that is you' got to have eight plus your bench, don't you? So that is a lot of people that you are confident are best 23 and are going to be there for six to eight weeks to get the maximum.
00:57:03
Jon Harmey
price increase in there. ah don't know. There's some that we would be really confident in, but I think eight eight feels like too many, guys. You ever started eight on field?
00:57:14
Holmesy
ah 2018, I did Harmi, actually, when i when I came ninth. I think the thing about starting that many rookies on field, Sandra, is that you might get away to an absolute hot start if you're dropping some of these rookie scores away and you're able to really capitalize on your top-end premium scores.
00:57:19
Lew
So draft.
00:57:31
Holmesy
But if you've got eight on field and you're picking another eight in on the bench, the chances of all of them getting through and playing significant games without getting dropped is super, super low. So if you end up with four or five red dots, your cash gen's gone, and then that hot start is going to get mitigated when other teams can upgrade around you instead of you being able to make those trades
Risks of Starting Rookies
00:57:52
Holmesy
later on. So I think eight is too much, but I can definitely see why some coaches are looking to go more down a value guns and rookies approach to really optimize for best 18.
00:58:03
Holmesy
Louis, this one's from Andrew. Now, most of his question was talking about picking a primo on the buy, which I think you've absolutely gone through with the Errol Goulden pick. He was impressed with Windsor during that practice practice match, having that midfield role.
00:58:20
Holmesy
Defender, I think priced around mid-50s to 60-ish. I don't have it off the top of my head, but is there any interest for Caleb Windsor?
00:58:28
Lew
Yeah, I've got a lot of interest in in that Melbourne team. I know that somebody's going to stand up and take the points that ah that are up on offer just because half their team have pretty much departed based on last season. So as I said earlier, ah it's probably i'm probably most comfortable trading into Melbourne early on. I've i've really got them...
00:58:49
Lew
circled as a fantasy relevant team in terms of value for us to to pick a way out early if you're super bullish or I think go for it as a starting pick as well if you saw something significant in the practice game then then yeah back yourself in because a lot of these guys are coming in at at a pretty significant discount anyway
00:59:09
Jon Harmey
The other thing with Caleb Windsor is he was a sub three times last season. So, you know, there there he's hes he's got some upside there already, I reckon. So I think he you'll well he'll go up. It's just about whether he goes up enough to make it a really worthwhile pick for you.
00:59:28
Holmesy
Wuhami from Zach then, if you had to pick one of Lindsay, Windsor or Langford, which one is it?
00:59:35
Jon Harmey
That is funny um because I have been toying with this same issue myself and all I have done, of this is a cop out here, at Zach, was it? Like I have just put Langford on there because he's the most expensive and I will just flip it to whichever one I'm happy with closer to the start.
00:59:56
Holmesy
I think it's probably Windsor right at the moment if if the role's there purely because he's got the defender status where the other two is mid only, which makes it a bit harder. But we'd probably have to agree that if Lindsay has the half-back role with kick-ins, he probably has the highest upside, right?
01:00:13
Lew
Yeah, I think so. I think he can be an 80 guy if he gets that prime sort of halfback role.
01:00:19
Holmesy
Yeah.
01:00:19
Jon Harmey
Yeah, I'm quite keen on him.
01:00:20
Holmesy
The thing...
01:00:20
Lew
Langford, I don't really know what to read into.
01:00:20
Holmesy
the thing
01:00:22
Lew
We haven't seen a lot of him as a midfielder. He's highly rated and all. And I don't doubt that he's going to get more midfield minutes based off the back of this. But it's ah its I just don't know enough about him yet.
01:00:35
Holmesy
Yeah, I agree with that.
01:00:35
Jon Harmey
Yeah, and he's...
01:00:37
Holmesy
Sorry, Harmin.
01:00:38
Jon Harmey
average to average... you're right, you
01:00:40
Holmesy
The thing about Windsor, Louis as well, he could be a really good player, but don't like in the early part of his career, don't you think he's been more of an impact player at the moment rather than an accumulator? So he might have the midfield role and he might look really good bursting from stoppage four or five times a game that only just results in in a handball or a kick. And then he has 20 touches for a 50 fantasy. So I think that's where I'm at with the Windsor at the moment.
01:01:06
Holmesy
Harmi.
01:01:07
Jon Harmey
I just reckon, oh well, Windsor just appears to be more of your classic wingman, doesn't he? Like he's he's got the the tank to run, good Ks and set smooth running.
01:01:20
Jon Harmey
You know, he's going to get 20 possessions a game rather than inside mid who gets 30. So that's what I feel. But... You know, it sounds as though in that pre-season match, yeah, he was in the guts, so good on him. With Langford, he he averaged over 100 in his under-18s comp, so I guess we sort of see that, but he would probably need to be in there at a fair clip. You know, we're talking 60% CBAs probably in order to um to get the real upside that we would want, and that's probably questionable at this point in time whether he does.
01:01:55
Holmesy
All right, the next one I'm going to combine. So Aaron asked us to give us the three best pods each, but Forrest has asked what player now under 10% will raise the most
Fantasy Strategy Evaluations
01:02:06
Holmesy
ownership at round one. So I've got four names here as four players that are pods that are under 10%.
01:02:12
Holmesy
that I can see rising at round one if particular things go their way. So first one, Lockie Blackiston at 9.1% revealed in Louis' team. If he's there round one as the sole ruck, I can see that ownership rising there, Harmi. You give me a dirty look there, but I can see that rising if he's there.
01:02:32
Holmesy
The next one, Lou, Jamara Yugalhagen, 7.9% on the caveat that he comes out against Geelong in round zero and has a ceiling game, gets his cash going.
01:02:42
Holmesy
I think similar to Sam Taylor last year, they'll look at that purely for the opening round score plus the the fixture coming up. The next one is Lockie McAndrew at 6.6%. Once again, round one comes around and he's named as Sol Ruck.
01:02:58
Holmesy
I can see that going significantly higher, whether it be at R2 or R3. And then the last one, had to get him in here, my boy, Adam Treloar, 5.9%. Round zero comes, he's 70% center bounces and back to being that scoring pig that we know.
01:03:16
Holmesy
No doubt he'll trick a lot of us in, myself included, and potentially break some hearts and ruin some AFL fantasy teams. but Yeah, there's some names for you, Forrest.
01:03:27
Holmesy
Last question, Louis, from Damien Quessa. Do you think old school guns and rookies is doomed to fail in today's AFL Fantasy game if there is no perceived value in the starting guns you select? So he's thinking at like the M1 to M5 value. They're all coming in at around 1 mil and it's it's pretty hard for them to have significant value from that sort of 100-ish price tag.
01:03:53
Lew
Well, yes and no, because what we know is that in best 18 system, it really does favour ceiling, those top end players that can put up the points early.
01:04:04
Lew
But ultimately playing, you know, throughout the whole season, that cash is so important is what sets you up to really compete sort of post buy later on and complete your side as quickly as possible.
01:04:16
Lew
I think guns and rookies probably, i would sway that it's more of an outdated strategy now. I think we've seen for the past couple of years that value is key to this game. You need to predict the upside. Hopefully you get more hits than misses, but as long as your cash is constantly rising, you're always going to be in a position to to trade into the players which are giving you the most amount of points. So guns and rookies certainly in the in the best 18 system is probably going to be something that starts really well, but I think What we see is these teams that really prioritise value and get it right are the ones that come home really quite quickly and make up a lot of ground in the back half of the season. So just following the trend of what we've seen in the last couple of years, ah i would have to say that these days you really need to be targeting that value. Ideally, you find a mix of both, but it can be so difficult to do.
01:05:11
Jon Harmey
Just going back to that previous question, Holmesy, about the 10% ownership, I've got one for you. I've thought it through. Based on Lou's brilliant team he's given us.
01:05:24
Jon Harmey
In round zero, Tanner Bruin comes out and he hits about 75 to 80 and Will Brodie is not named and everybody just flips straight across to Tanner Bruin.
01:05:37
Jon Harmey
There you go, there's a scenario, I reckon.
01:05:39
Lew
Start both.
01:05:39
Holmesy
Yeah, don't mind that.
01:05:41
Lew
I think he's a massive pod.
01:05:41
Holmesy
And just quietly, just quietly, Andy Brayshaw, top eight mid for the last three years or whatever it's been, 4.1%, no early buy, good early fixture. Definitely one to one or two there, boys.
01:05:54
Holmesy
But Harmy.
01:05:54
Jon Harmey
You told us all those Frio guys are crap and the market share so low. Don't worry about going at Andy Brayshaw's over 7% market share.
01:06:00
Holmesy
Content, Harmy. Content, content, my boy.
01:06:04
Holmesy
No, just one to monitor. I'm not completely off Andy Bray, but I still stand by all of the conversations we've had so far around Frio during the preseason. But that's going to wrap us up, boys.
01:06:15
Holmesy
Quickly just going around the room. Lou, you've been a little bit more active on the socials, but where can the the listeners find you on X?
01:06:22
Lew
You'll find me at Louis AF. I'm not too active. um I shitpost every now and then and that's about it.
01:06:28
Holmesy
ah You had the the meme that got put up of your AFL fantasy team, which is all the Buzz Light years with the Port Guernseys on. That was good.
01:06:35
Lew
Thank you. Thank you.
01:06:38
Holmesy
Harmy?
01:06:39
Jon Harmey
Oh yeah, I'm just John Harmy, I'm just reposting Louis shitposts, so.
01:06:47
Holmesy
I'm at Holmesies Heroes. Make sure you're following the official PodPod AFLX account. um The season guide is still going nice and strong. There'll be a podcast, Holmes Files, released on Wednesday with JD as we go over how to navigate and dissect the preseason as we are now going into unofficial unofficial practice matches and the official practice matches. So that was a really good one to get involved in. So if you haven't got your season guide yet, head over to morerasmagic.com.au to purchase that and
01:07:19
Holmesy
The app is super cool as well, being able to access that on your phone instead of having to be on the computer. As always, make sure you subscribe to us on Spotify or Apple Podcasts so that you get notified whenever we release a podcast.
01:07:33
Holmesy
We'll be back next week with some more updates on these unofficial practice matches. And yeah, the preseason's heating up and we can't wait to chat about it.