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An AFL Fantasy Podcast in October?! | 2026 Trade Period #PODPOD
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It's October, but the lads thought it was time to dust of the mics and catch up over some AFL Fantasy chat! The boys catch up, discuss some of the relevant talking points from the trade period and then Holmesy runs through who he believes are the 10 most relevant moves for your 2026 starting squads. It's early, but planning for 2026 has begun!
Follow us on X:
The PODPOD: @podpodAFL
Holmesy: @Holmesyheroes
Lewy: @LewyAF
Harmey: @jonharmey
Dos: @HKdos
Sam: @grillis03
Jordy: @jordandsena
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Transcript
Introduction to AFL Fantasy Classic in October
00:00:18
Holmesy
G'day and welcome to the Pod Pod. It's your host Holmesy here talking all things AFL Fantasy Classic in October. Yep, that's right. The boys are the boys are back. We thought it'd be a good chance to catch up and chat some fantasy.
00:00:34
Holmesy
Louis, I know, does his best work at this time of year. I've never seen him so active in the group chat, so we thought we had to get on and we had to do a bit of a trade wrap episode. So i will throw to you, Louis. I didn't want to go the perennial top 1K finisher. I think we're going to have to rework that intro, um even though he did finish top 1K again, but I think we'll find something a bit more catchy. But good to have you and good to see your face again.
00:00:57
Lew
and Maybe the pre-season specialist might be more up my alley. And yes, I do love this time of year. And I think that might be partly because you can never be wrong. You can sell yourself a story and that's why we're going to spend the next couple of months dissecting our fantasy teams, which will ah not be selected for about another six months. It's ah it's well and truly still the off season, but it's nice to dust off the mic, say good day to you boys and, uh,
00:01:24
Lew
Yeah, kick off the 2026 season, i suppose.
New Co-host Jordi De Sena Joins PodPod
00:01:29
Holmesy
I'll tell you what, Lou, we will are we will go through it because you can absolutely get it wrong at this time of year, although we think we're never wrong. um But as always, we do have the two-time top 10 finisher and runner-up in 2019, John Harmy. no No need to change that intro, mate. That's ah that's a legacy intro, but how are you?
00:01:48
Jon Harmey
Yep, going really well, thanks, Host Holmesy. And, yeah, referring back to the trade period, obviously I'm celebrating another win of the trade period by the Bombers, so it was good news there.
00:02:01
Holmesy
we will We will give you a bit of a bit of time later to go on a bit of an Essendon rant, but it is going to be a shorter pod today, Harmy, so we do need to make sure that we keep it under 10 minutes.
Trade Period Reflections: Key Player Moves
00:02:12
Holmesy
But we do have another co-host now, so we do have a bit of an announcement here at the PodPod. We do have Jordi De Sena joining us full-time for the PodPod this year, which is...
00:02:23
Holmesy
Yeah, fantastic. Geordie comes with a good fantasy knowledge, good background and and the results to come with it as well, Geordie. So how are you, mate? And you don't have to thank us for being on the show.
00:02:36
JORDAN D'SENA
Yeah, I'm good. Thanks. Yeah, it's keen to be part of the crew. so already keen for next year. And yeah, it's keen to talk about all the trades as well. And I think Louis has to send me his spreadsheet because I want to start building that team as well. So have been seeing Louis quite a bit, probably weekly, Lou, ah since the season's done. So um we've been chatting a lot. So yeah, keen to be a part of it.
00:03:03
Holmesy
Yeah, yep. Great, great to have you here. And Lou, let's just go through it. So why why do you find yourself so fascinated with this time of year? And really, you know, not not going to lie, you you are the most active at this time of year. You love it. So what part of the trade period and and moving into pre-season do you just love so much?
00:03:21
Lew
oh I think you know you've got basically an open competition to choose from. and you can We spend all whole year watching our fantasy players and and how the season sort of transpires. and We obviously try to target the best performing players, but in the back of our head, we all are aware of some of the players that might be underperforming or affected by injury or even if it comes to um the mid-season draft or the pre-season draft. We're always looking for that next sort of guy who we can, um you know, i can consider in our fantasy teams. And I think that's why I love the preseason so much is because it diversifies the field so much and you can really nut out um a range of different players for a range of different reasons and outcomes. And I just enjoy that sort of speculation, I think.
Team Changes and Impact on Fantasy: Port Adelaide & Essendon
00:04:10
Jon Harmey
Lou, is there any truth to the rumour that this resurgence in your enthusiasm is due to Ken Hinckley being removed from Port Adelaide Football Club?
00:04:20
Lew
Yeah, well, that was a ah breath of fresh air. It's going to be ah an interesting season. of of ah I mean, there's children who grew up and learned to drive before he lost his job.
00:04:31
Lew
So ah it's going to be a totally different world.
00:04:32
JORDAN D'SENA
Thank you.
00:04:34
Lew
I'm looking forward to it.
00:04:36
Holmesy
Yeah, Josh Carr already stamping his name on that football club by trading for household names. Will Brodie, Jacob Ware. like It seems like you've got a bright future ahead, hey, Jordy?
00:04:49
JORDAN D'SENA
Yeah, definitely. And even Durden, he was just a name that sort of came over, but a lot of delistings as well. So I think it's, yeah, big change, um especially that midfield, I think next year.
00:05:00
JORDAN D'SENA
But personally, I think Will Brodie, I'm going to have him in my team, reckon, come round one.
00:05:05
Jon Harmey
the So you're a Port Nuffy as well, are you, Jordy?
00:05:09
JORDAN D'SENA
Yes, yeah, I've been a member for, well, all my life, really.
00:05:14
Holmesy
Yeah, we're stuck we're stuck with them, Harmy, but to be honest, Essendon Port, I'm not sure sure or what's worse. But what we're going to do...
00:05:14
Jon Harmey
Oh dear.
00:05:21
Jon Harmey
Did you, hold on, did you help Lou make those signs last year, Jordy?
00:05:23
Holmesy
and
00:05:26
JORDAN D'SENA
ah No involvement.
00:05:26
Lew
Last year.
00:05:30
Holmesy
no involvement or no comment, Jordy?
00:05:33
JORDAN D'SENA
No comment.
00:05:35
Lew
I didn't do anything.
00:05:38
Holmesy
All right. So, yeah, look, it is a super important time of the year. i mean, you just have to look back to last year. um You know, we're looking for players that are moving clubs for increased opportunity, whether it be a midfield opportunity, um whether it be a a halfback distributor opportunity.
00:05:55
Holmesy
you know Last year, you know the obvious ones of Bailey Smith, Jack McRae, Caleb Daniel, all not being valued at the Bulldogs, moving to another club, um having a ah plum role and seriously going um out doing their price or what they were priced at, sorry.
00:06:10
Holmesy
But it's also super important to look at the lower names, right? Like no one really spoke about Matt Kennedy, John Noble, but... Matt Kennedy put almost 20 points on his on his starting price to be a top six forward.
00:06:21
Holmesy
um John Noble put sort of 17 points on his average. And although he wasn't a top six defender, there was a period of time where he he was making some serious money and was a good option. So it's really important at this time of year to have a look at all the options and consider it. But at the same time, as Louis mentioned at the top,
00:06:37
Holmesy
um Not every player moves for um for upside, right? Like Harry Perryman last year, we all thought he was moving because he had a ah midfield role at Collingwood, but he goes from a 75 price that figure down to 63.
00:06:52
Holmesy
um Dan Houston was was even worse going from a 94 down to a 67. There are numerous players around the competition that we think have upside because they move. but it doesn't always work out to be the case. So what I've what i've done is I've i've got some honourable mentions, but I've got a a top 10 list of the players that I believe are that you know the most um relevant in terms of picking in your starting squads, and that's going to that's going to start a bit of a discussion and we'll just kind of go round table. So it's my list, and you boys feel free to push back if you don't agree.
00:07:23
Holmesy
um That's what it's all about. But what I want to start with first is just Louis talking about the the TDK trade to the Saints and then the non-trade of Marshall. So in a year that we are predicting the rucks to be a little bit unpredictable with the the new ruck rule change and and the the throw-ins potentially changing as well, with these two players, does that just at the moment just rule them out of calculations in terms of being a starting option for our sides?
00:07:52
Lew
Gee, I think at this stage, it probably has to. Prior to the trade period, I think just about everybody had Rowan Marshall penciled in at R1 or R2 had he moved clubs. And I think there was a bit of interest there for Tom De Koning, solo ruck at the Saints. But now playing in tandem,
00:08:10
Lew
We've seen what that looks like over a couple of different clubs in previous years. I'm i'm just not sure um those two players can accumulate enough points to to even be really worth considering in 2026, potentially.
Player Role Changes and Fantasy Implications
00:08:23
Lew
um I just think, yeah, they've run into each other and they've both fallen down. I'd be keen to hear your thoughts on it though, Holmesy, because I know you're a big proponent of sort of the set and forget rucks in years past and it's always been one of the lines that I think we just discuss ad nauseum um throughout the years. Where are you, and very, very early days, but where are you sitting with it at the moment?
00:08:46
Holmesy
Look, i I was a set and forget, man, Louis. And no doubt I'll do a podcast at some point in the preseason outlining my season, but I'm pretty sure I traded in the ruck line about eight times last year, in and out, in and out. So um maybe maybe I've i' changed and adapted, but...
00:09:02
Holmesy
I think the fascinating thing is going to be um the five players on the bench now and whether teams adopt more of a two-ruck strategy like a Brisbane who's just won the flag or whether they use it as an extra midfielder. But there's no doubt Tom De Koning and Roel Marshall will playing in the same side.
00:09:18
Holmesy
Marshall's got a bit more forward craft. I think Tom De Koning has never scored more than nine goals in a season. It's actually incredible to think that he's on 1.7 mil year. um But for that reason, I think absolutely you can't start either of them. I don't think there's enough upside with the split share and and whatnot to to really be relevant. And who knows, maybe Marshall will get forward status and a 90 to 95 average in the forward line will get it done at some stage. But in in terms of a starting squad option, I think we both have to rule them out at this stage unless there's some injuries. But
00:09:49
Holmesy
Yeah, in October, I think we just let that one go through to the keeper. Harmi, I'll go to you.
00:09:54
Holmesy
I'll just give you a bit of time here. So let's talk about the Zach Merritt non-trade. The floor is yours. How do you feel about Merritt? And then how do you think it's going to line up in terms of an Essendon midfield perspective now? Because there are some options for us.
00:09:54
Lew
Thank
00:10:09
Jon Harmey
um It's hard to tell, but at this stage, i would expect it to just be business as usual. Zakir Merit's their best midfielder. They're saying he's there long term.
00:10:20
Jon Harmey
um Why wouldn't they just give him every opportunity that they did last year, even though played his back pocket a couple of times? But I still think that he's our number one midfielder and that's where he'll be playing. And I guess guess we'll see what's happening in the pre-season.
00:10:34
Jon Harmey
Look, just on that trade period, i know I'm going to be in the minority. I'm a Bombers fan. I'm obviously biased. But um I just reckon that the Hawks stuffed it up. um Really, they waited until the death knock to do anything about it. And all they did was offer up draft picks when Essendon didn't need any draft picks. So we got picked four and five and three others inside, like in the twenty s So...
00:10:59
Jon Harmey
anyway i think that they did a pretty poor job of um ah trying to get someone if they legitimately did want him i don't know maybe it was just to try and upset the uh the bombers in the trade period somewhat and the afl worked with them to create a media hype around it but um yeah look anyway i'm happy with the result um Yeah, and I just think that, well, who's it going to be? Caldwell, Merritt, Parrish, and Durham? Is that the Bombers midfield? What reckon, boys?
00:11:32
Holmesy
Yeah, I think that's as good as any at the moment. I mean, they did like Nick Martin in there at times, but he's obviously going to be out for for a fair chunk of the year. um Yeah, look, I think it's interesting. They threw him around last year. I suppose it'll be about how he how he comes back to the club and and how he applies himself. No doubt he's a professional, but...
00:11:49
Holmesy
I can't imagine some of the players are too happy with him right now. But yeah, definitely definitely one to watch as I would have been. Well, I still am interested in a ah Caldwell, Darcy Parrish type, even with Merritt there, with what they're priced at. But it would have been almost a no-brainer to start one of those guys if Merritt was
Fantasy Player Evaluations and Scoring Opportunities
00:12:05
Holmesy
to leave. but Anyway, not to be. So we're going to start to go through the list that I've created now.
00:12:12
Holmesy
but like Part of the criteria is that I'm really looking at whether or not i will I will pick them in my starting squad. So I'm looking at opportunity first. So whether they are in fact going to be best 22 or whether they're they're still going to be on the outer. So I've taken into account that.
00:12:27
Holmesy
And then obviously I'm looking at mid-pricers who can potentially score 20, 30 points upside and within it with an increased role. Or we're also looking at some other players that might only have 5 to 10 points upside but potentially could be a top six in their position. So I'm taking positional scarcity into it as well.
00:12:46
Holmesy
Couple of the honourable mentions to start. Oscar Allen moving to Brisbane, priced at 50. He's gone 64 in the past, so there's a bit of upside there, but I'm not expecting him to to shoot the lights out at Brisbane. He could have a career year, but you'd be banking on that, and I think there's going to be better options there.
00:13:04
Holmesy
i'm in the forward line at cheaper prices. So i'm I'm passing on Oscar Allen and I'm also passing on Jamara Yugo-Hagan at this point just because he's coming from such a long road back to be fit and firing. So until we're convinced that he's going to be best 22, not willing to to have any other discussions around him.
00:13:23
Holmesy
Jordy, I'll throw to you for this one because you're actually yeah you're a fan of this guy, but he he doesn't make my list.
00:13:28
JORDAN D'SENA
Thank you.
00:13:29
Holmesy
Connor Buderich, so priced at $48, having moved to the Bulldogs to potentially play halfback with Jason Johannesson getting delisted. He will have forward status and you'd think he's going to go and play a sort of distributing role alongside some defense with with Dale.
00:13:46
Holmesy
Talk us about Buderich and why you're interested.
00:13:49
JORDAN D'SENA
Yeah, I have a little bit of interest in Buderik. I think there could be potentially 25 points upside if he has that role. I think the dogs, it just depends what sort of role he plays, whether it's more of a defense role or whether he can you know take a kick out or be on the receiving end of a kick out.
00:14:07
JORDAN D'SENA
Maybe he can push a ah low 70s average. That might be about 25 points. Just one I'll be definitely watching as a forward um and as we make up our forwards.
00:14:18
JORDAN D'SENA
I think, yeah, we sort of there might be a few limited options for prices there. So just one I'm going to move. And I think, you know, as well, he's moved over to a new club. You always see that new club bump.
00:14:29
JORDAN D'SENA
um And the dogs, I feel like, going to change their back line, as we saw. Like Liam Jones delisted. JJ has been delisted. We might see a bit of change there. So one I'm keeping an eye on.
00:14:43
Lew
Nick Caulfield season.
00:14:43
Holmesy
Yeah.
00:14:45
Jon Harmey
Heh.
00:14:46
Holmesy
Yeah, it's definitely one to look at. you know I'm just very wary about the sample size. like We've seen him average, I think it was 73 in the past, but that was off limited games.
00:14:57
Holmesy
He's always been someone that's had potential. I just think we need to see it a little bit more. And what we do know about the Dogs is that they're so concentrated at their top end with Bond, with Treloar, with Libar, with Dale, with English.
00:15:10
Holmesy
They all can't score well. And yes, Buteric being priced at 48, You know, 30 points to go with 78 is something that's, you know, very, very good. I just worry there. So i want to I'm definitely tracking him over pre-season but doesn't make my list at the moment.
00:15:24
Holmesy
Louis.
00:15:25
Lew
Yeah, I just think they already got rid of this guy last year um in Caleb Daniel. They're a very similar sized player, except Buderich's probably got the defensive chops to ah to play more of a lockdown small role, which I think that's where his place may lay in that team. But Harmi, I know you've got a few thoughts on him as well.
00:15:45
Jon Harmey
Yeah, well, that's that's what I was going to say is, well, Lulock, I'm assuming that he's going to be best 22 because they've actively sought him out. But I think it's as a lockdown back pocket because it if you look at their team from last year, it's Bailey Dale and Joel Frazier on the flanks, isn't it?
00:16:04
Jon Harmey
like those Those two would be there. like It would have to be an injury for him to come up the ground more and get a decent distributing role. So I think he's the lockdown back pocket.
00:16:15
Holmesy
Yeah, and if he does lock down at times, then there will be some some floor scores and we really need him to start the year off with a bang, but definitely one to monitor in the preseason. My last honourable mention is Sam Draper. Now, he does interest me a little bit more than some of the other players, but the fact he did his Achilles in round five or round six, typically they're a year-long injury, which means I highly doubt he's going to be ready to go round one. And if he is,
00:16:42
Holmesy
um he'll be coming off a limited preseason. So for that reason, I'm not considering him in the 10. However, he will have forward
Player Trades and Impact on Teams: Robinson, Chesser, Reedy
00:16:50
Holmesy
status. um He is priced at 70 and he did average above 80 in his five games last year, which did include that sub out at three quarter time when he was on 95 against the Eagles. So,
00:17:00
Holmesy
We did see Sam Draper start to break out. However, similar to the Marshall TDK situation, we know Brisbane like to play that dual ruck setup. And I'm not convinced that they just get rid of Darcy Fort now that he's a two-time Premiership player for them.
00:17:15
Holmesy
um He's just played a very important role in ah in a Premiership side for the entire year. um I can't see them just getting rid of him and and playing Sam Draper as then the number one sole ruck. So if at any point Draper does become the sole ruck, then absolutely he becomes interesting as an option in the forward line as 85 plus would give us a ah top 10 forward.
00:17:35
Holmesy
um But for me, just for this list, um I'm not... Not really willing to put him in. um Dev Robertson is one that has been delisted since I did um create this list. So he's not in the 10, but Lou, does Dev Robertson interest you um as a basement rookie coming across to West Coast?
00:17:54
Lew
Absolutely. Yep. That's the sort of players that um are just diamonds in the rough this time of year. And if they can, well, firstly, if he can get back on a list and then do a nice full preseason, I think that's the sort of guy that is almost your first picked. ah Mature age. He's been putting up some large VFL numbers for some years now. He's been in and out of that Lions team and he's probably just a victim of of how strong that side's been for the best part of 48 months. So,
00:18:22
Lew
um I think Dev Robinson probably gets picked up by West Coast and and has plenty of opportunity there. So we might see a bit of a, what was his name a couple years ago? Greg something out of um out of West Coast came in and and went sort of 80s.
00:18:34
Jon Harmey
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
00:18:38
Holmesy
Yep. Yeah, no, I agree. And I'm pretty sure Robertson's going have forward status as well. um Look, they're the basement rookie. They're the types of players we target, the mature age guys that are moving for opportunity.
00:18:38
Lew
And he was a mature age player.
00:18:49
Holmesy
So yeah, Devin Robertson, absolutely have a look at him if he does.
00:18:53
Lew
Greg Clark.
00:18:53
Holmesy
In fact, Greg Clark, that's the one. 28-year-old, wasn't he?
00:18:57
Holmesy
Fun fact, I don't think he won a game playing for West Coast. I think he he played 13 games or something without a win. I think I saw that the other day, so.
00:18:57
Lew
Yeah, he's pretty old.
00:19:05
Lew
Yeah, I think that might be more common than you think at the moment.
00:19:09
Jon Harmey
twenty twenty six
00:19:09
Holmesy
All right. So let's move into these 10. um And then, like I said, feel free to to disagree with me if you want. So at number 10, I've got Campbell Chesser. So he traded from West Coast Carlton.
00:19:22
Holmesy
High draft pick that's been ravaged by injuries over the last few years and obviously hasn't really given it a shake for West Coast. He will be priced at 53 as mid only. So it's ah a bit of an awkward price, but we did see some players last year like Nathan O'Driscoll, Mitch Nevitt, those types that were at a bit of an elevated price point and were able to do some sustained scoring and make some money for us.
00:19:46
Holmesy
It looks like they're starting to go past Blake Aker's on the wing. Sam Doherty's retired. Elijah Hollands has been delisted. If he does get opportunity in that best 22, we did see him finish out the year going 70, 70, 80, and then a 30 for the Eagles. So there is a bit of scoring potential there.
00:20:04
Holmesy
um as As a mid only, he's he's one to watch, but um you'd need a you need to see something special as a mid only to to get excited by Campbell Chesser, wouldn't you?
00:20:13
Jon Harmey
Well, I think he was one of the deals that got done fairly early on in the trade period. And I sort of thought, ah yeah, that might be all right. But then with Will Hayward and Florent coming in at the end and then priced at 53, I just go, man, you're probably actually going to find a rookie that's going to do an equivalent of what he will.
00:20:34
Jon Harmey
don't know. Jordy is too many, too many people coming into Calton to be confident on Chester, isn't there?
00:20:39
JORDAN D'SENA
Yeah, I agree with you. I think that was the thing. I think when he got traded, I was like, oh, I'm bit interested in him. But then Florent coming in, I just, I feel like Florent's just going to play that wing role and basically take his role. But it'll be interesting to see. um Yeah, 53 now at the price. It's just that awkward, awkward spot. So ah think I'll be passing on him at this point unless we see something.
00:21:05
Holmesy
Yep. The thing to remember, though, he he was a high draft pick, so maybe another club can get the best out of him and he can really explode. But yeah, look, at at this stage, it's a bit awkward. Lou, do you have something to add?
00:21:15
Lew
I was just going to ask if anybody knew what his waffle numbers might be.
00:21:21
Jon Harmey
don't think they're that special.
00:21:21
Lew
was he Was he dominating there or was he sort of just...
00:21:23
Jon Harmey
Nah.
00:21:23
Holmesy
Yeah, he didn't he didn't play a lot, to be fair, but I don't think they're anything special. That Eagles-Waffle team, you can't take too much out of it. like therere ah They're a basket case most weeks. They get you know amate ummate amateurs to come and play for them because they don't have a reserve side and all that kind of stuff.
00:21:38
Holmesy
So um hard to hard to take too much out of that. Next up at number nine on the list, we have Liam Reedy. Now, the reason that he's so low is that there's going to be questions about whether he's actually best 22 and whether he can you know knock off Mark Pitnett. He is going to be 26 years old next season, which is coming into the prime age for a Ruckman. And you'd really be banking on you know similar to what Lloyd Meek did when he left Frio and came over and and managed to take that number one spot away from Ned Reeves, I think it was, at Hawthorne.
00:21:38
Lew
Oh, wow, okay.
00:22:09
Holmesy
He did average over 100 at the waffle level and and seemed to get it done, but hasn't really shown anything to date at AFL level. Will be priced at 37. ah suppose if he is the number one ruck, then everyone's going to kind of go there, Lou. But as an R2 or an R3 option, if we don't get any basement rucks, the age-old question, would you be comfortable paying up a 37 price tag for ah for a Liam Reedy on the bench at R3?
00:22:37
Lew
Yeah, I think the answer to that has to be yes now, just based on how well it has worked in the past when things um fire off correctly. And well obviously referring to Grundy, Cherry and third name escapes me at the moment, but and Gorn, which was a bit of a perfect storm.
00:22:52
Holmesy
It gone. Yeah, two years ago was gone, yeah.
00:22:56
Lew
And we had a whole lot more data on those three, but
Role Exploration of New Club Players: Sarong, Fiorini, Oliver
00:22:59
Lew
yeah. I still think that at 37, you're only spending up a little bit of extra money. Maybe you can save it at your utility spot or on your bench elsewhere. But I think paying 37 for a bloke, if he's going to play ruck for Carlton, even as a second ruck, might turn my eye a little bit.
00:23:15
Lew
And we've got another guy too that we might be able to pick priced at 37 as well. So maybe able to explore the R2 option and then the R3 cheapy as well.
00:23:29
Jon Harmey
the The Blues ruck. Remember um during last season, Pitnett was dropped. Like he was playing in the VFL. He wasn't injured really, was he? Like I remember one time early in the season they made out a story that he was injured, but he wasn't. He just got dropped.
00:23:44
Jon Harmey
So they're now pinning their hopes on Mark Pitnett as their number one ruck, are they? I'm just a little bit surprised.
00:23:52
Lew
I think Pitnett...
00:23:53
Jon Harmey
There's a chance he ends up being the number one ruck, hey, Carlton.
00:23:57
Lew
I reckon he might have been the victim to that merry-go-round with Harry Mackay, Kurnow and TDK where they they just couldn't find that balance right all year. And I think when they line them all up, Pitnett's probably the easiest fall guy of the lot. But they seem to like him towards the end of the year, I thought. And his hit-out-to-advantage rate was actually the highest in the competition.
00:24:18
Jon Harmey
Yeah, righto.
00:24:19
Holmesy
Yeah, he's ah he's a battler. I suppose, Lou, the one other thing before we move on, the appeal of being able to pick Reedy at R3 is in this new age fantasy with opening round, if you like a Grundy or you like a Briggs or another Ruckman that's going to play in opening round and have a bye, it does mean that you get coverage for that particular round as well, um which is sort of strategy we need to be thinking about.
00:24:40
Holmesy
So ah do like Liam Reedy if he if he plays, Lou, but yeah.
00:24:44
Lew
Yeah, I mentioned the other 37-priced ruck as well, which was Vizentini. Harmi, as an Essendon man, is Vigo going to get ah bit of a run at it with a couple of injuries there at the moment?
00:24:56
Jon Harmey
I'm not convinced, mate. He seemed pretty raw when he did play. It sounds as though they're going to go with Blackiston as the ruck until um yeah until
00:25:06
JORDAN D'SENA
Brian.
00:25:07
Jon Harmey
um Nick Bryan's back.
00:25:07
Holmesy
Harmi, Harmi, as if you couldn't love your club more enough.
00:25:08
Jon Harmey
Yeah.
00:25:12
Holmesy
you keep You watch, they're going to recruit Mason Cox as a rookie and he's going to be your number one ruck to start the year until until Brian comes back.
00:25:18
Jon Harmey
Yeah. Look, i'm not um I'm not a big Mason Cox fan, obviously, but I wouldn't be that against it. It's just that with the Bombers, it'll clog up a spot on the list and we've already got to delist a bunch of people still.
00:25:33
Holmesy
Yep. Fair enough. All right, moving on. Number eight, I have Jai Sarong. So the key rebounding defender from Hawthorne traded to Sydney, priced at 26. It seems like he's moved there for for greater opportunity.
00:25:47
Holmesy
You've got Dane Rampey who was delisted, but they've um committed to relisting him as a rookie. You've got McCartan who keeps getting concussed and out. I think they delisted Francis, Mills, who knows what they want to do with his halfback role. So I think if Sorong does get named once again, I think Price at 26 did have big VFL scoring for for ah um a key back, loves his intercepts.
00:26:15
Holmesy
um I think he was the Hawthorne's VFL player of the year or whatever it was. So he he definitely has potential. Geordie, you're nodding your head. do you like the idea of maybe being able to pick a Jai Sarong on the bench or and maybe even ah a D6 option?
00:26:29
JORDAN D'SENA
Yeah, definitely. i think I think he's going to play best 22. I think they target him for a reason. And as you said, there's a lot of spots there. he I think he can play wing as well. He can play halfback. you know've You've lost Florent and these types. And as you said, Lloyd is on the rookie list now. So i think there's a spot for him. And if he's there in that best 22,
00:26:48
JORDAN D'SENA
At his price of 26, I would definitely be picking him. And I guess just a question of can you run it at D6 or is he a good D7 bench option? And we will probably get a look at it as well in opening round with Sydney playing. So that's a little bit of a cheat code, which is awesome. And if he's there and scoring, then I'll be picking him.
00:27:07
Jon Harmey
Yeah, he's probably on your bench, but he's definitely put up some numbers in the VFL having a look through them. Far out.
00:27:14
Holmesy
Yep, so he'd be he'd be much higher up the list if we knew he was guaranteed to play, but come round zero, round one, if he if he's in the side and playing, I think you'd be crazy not to seriously consider him um not knowing what other options we have.
00:27:28
Holmesy
Number seven, Braden Fiorini. So targeted by Essendon to play a lockdown wing role. Now, I'll be on the record and say at the moment, I'm not interested in picking Braden Fiorini from a starting squad perspective, knowing that he's he's going to go to Essendon to play a wing role.
00:27:44
Holmesy
We have seen him put up big numbers in the past. What, he averaged 105, maybe 2021, 2020, somewhere around there when he was getting inside midfield time. Even at times this year, he was putting up premium numbers on that wing at Gold Coast. So he's always been a natural scorer, um but has been in and out of the 22 at Gold Coast. Priced at 86 with mid-status, though, you'd really want him to go 100.
00:28:06
Holmesy
ah hundred and And Lou, you know I love saying this, but if you've got Zach Merritt going 100, if you've got Caldwell going 100, if you've got Darcy Parrish getting himself fit, knowing what he can do from a scoring perspective, Nick Martin when he comes back,
00:28:19
Holmesy
What can we realistically see Braden Fiorini doing on a wing for Essendon? And not even to mention that they did change their game style towards the end of the year where they wanted to go more direct and not chip around as much. So does Fiorini interest you at all?
00:28:34
Lew
Well, the game style is the big thing, that comment you made at the end, because if they revert back to the beginning of the season of 2025 and how they were sharing the pillar round, that was where Nick Martin really took advantage. And of course, he's not going to be there. We've seen Fiorini has been able to get up and down those wings.
00:28:53
Lew
um for the Suns and score accordingly quite well actually for a number of years now. And if Essendon are going to play that, share the ball around and and want to use Fiorini on that wing, which you know they're they're kind of undermanned at the moment, I think that potentially Fiorini could really provide some fantasy relevance for us this year.
00:29:14
Holmesy
Yeah, I suppose the difference with Nick Martin is he did have the forward status. So obviously being able to pick him in in in the forward line and then in defense when he picked that up. I'm not sure, like Nick Martin had the license to roam really deep in defense, right? And then also forward. So I'm not sure they want Fiorini pushing as hard into defense as Nick Martin was. And It's only October, but you'd think they plan to have their full defense back of Ridley, Mackay.
00:29:41
Holmesy
um Who else am I thinking of?
00:29:43
Lew
Raid.
00:29:43
Holmesy
Archie Roberts. like They lost pretty much their whole back line, which meant Nick Martin had to go had to go back there with with a full healthy list at Essendon, Touchwood. um I'm not sure we get that from Fiorini. Maybe he can go that sort of 95 as we've seen Josh Dacos, who's at the at the elite end of wingman in the competition.
00:30:01
Holmesy
It wouldn't surprise me. He's ah he's a natural scorer. He's just not someone I'd be willing to take a punt on at 86. Geordie, do you have any opposing thoughts to that?
00:30:10
JORDAN D'SENA
No, i agree with you guys. I think he, to me, just screams a bit a good draft player. I reckon he'll hover around that 90 average. Maybe he pushes that 95, as you said. I can't really see him doing much more than he has done at Gold Coast unless he goes inside mid. and ah And as we said, it's going to be hard unless there's an injury or something. So, um yeah, one I'm not looking out for classic.
00:30:35
Jon Harmey
um Yeah, Holmesy, I spoke with mate of ours, um Hayden Kenny, and he let me know that Fiorini is going to go 135 at the Bombers this year as an average. So I'm pretty keen at this stage.
00:30:47
Holmesy
Thank you for getting that contractually obliged comment in there, Harmy, and keeping our sponsorship for another another week. All right, coming in at number six, I've got Clayton Oliver. So it's it's been well reported about his issues at Melbourne and and then not getting the best out of him over the last couple of years with all his off-field stuff.
00:31:06
Holmesy
So he's going to a club that has managed to turn some careers around from that point of view. If you think about Jesse Hogan, um you know, turning things around and and Jake Stringer as well, it seems like he's going to a good landing spot.
00:31:18
Holmesy
We know what Clary can do when he's fit and healthy, priced at 90 after being a solid 105 plus player for many years. And that does include a couple of years at 113 and 115. So when he's at his best, he's up there with the best scorers. I suppose...
00:31:32
Holmesy
Geordie, he's now going to be playing alongside Finn Callaghan, who's just exploded. He's playing alongside Tom Green, who's a ball magnet. Kelly is out for the year, but you've still got some other players in and around the mark that don't mind scoring in terms of Whitfield and Ash.
00:31:47
Holmesy
I suppose for Clary, do you see him as being one of the main guys in there and will the scoring come from that? Or do you think they're just going to slide him in as that sort of M3 behind Callaghan and Green and he's just a bit more of a role player inside?
00:32:01
JORDAN D'SENA
Yeah, I think Callahan and Green just screen to me M1 and 2 right now.
00:32:06
Jon Harmey
Yeah.
00:32:07
JORDAN D'SENA
And I feel like he's just the m three behind those guys.
00:32:07
Jon Harmey
yeah
00:32:11
JORDAN D'SENA
As you said, Price at 90, I think he's going to be better this year at the Giants and it's going to be good for him. We've seen a lot of players go there like Jesse Hogan, Stringer, and they've, um you know, getting away from the limelight. I think he's going to be good. I just think that Callaghan and Green are still then the main two guys.
00:32:28
JORDAN D'SENA
But I think, you know, Price at 90, he's probably going to still do that is what I think. Or maybe he goes to 95. It's hard to see him going back to what he used to do at Melbourne.
00:32:39
JORDAN D'SENA
um But yeah, one obviously one to monitor if there's an injury. I'm worried about Tom Green and how that might affect him um because I feel they're similar players. And I know green like Green, a couple of years ago, went at 110. And think we've seen Callaghan go past that now. And the Giants game style has always changed a little bit where we saw Tom Green not sort of spreading as much. So I'm wondering whether that helps Callaghan and maybe he's more of an option.
00:33:06
JORDAN D'SENA
And potentially Green and Oliver could, you know, take points
Debate on Player Potential in New Teams: Curnow & Petrarca
00:33:10
JORDAN D'SENA
off each other. So, yeah, once month, yeah.
00:33:12
Holmesy
Yeah, Callaghan's an interesting one because I think if you do look at his pre-by post-by splits, he definitely went above what he averaged, but he also screams now that he's broken out.
00:33:24
Holmesy
did he Did he make the All-Australian squad or did he actually make the team? I can't remember, but either way, he's now very clearly the number one tag target. um So that always makes it hard for fantasy when you're going to be the one that's targeted each week.
00:33:38
Holmesy
um And, yeah, you'd hope that Whitfield and Ash don't have 35 touches each in the back line and GWS can actually move the ball forward, which would help a Clary, Finn Callaghan, Green as the ball goes through the midfield. But, yeah, definitely definitely one to watch. And i I put him in here because you can't not, right, with his legacy, if he gets everything right again, there's, you know sky's the limit. he's He's still a gun.
00:34:00
Holmesy
So one to one to wait and see on. Louis, I'll go to you for this one. He could be higher, but i've just I've just tempered expectations, but I want a Port Adelaide point of view here. So, Will Brodie coming across from Frio. He's going to be priced at 44, coming across to play under Josh Carr, who was his midfield coach at Frio in 2023 or when he played is twenty three games and average ninety five I suppose the question is, you've got Butters, you've got Jason Horn-Francis, you've got Wines, you've got Drew, and then Rosie off halfback. Who knows what that looks like?
00:34:38
Holmesy
Do we see Will Brodie getting a solid midfield role in that side, or is he coming over as more of a depth player? What do you think?
00:34:47
Lew
Yeah, well, it's, I mean, like all things, it's going to depend on form. I think in terms of getting rid of Butters out of that midfield, that's just not going to happen. And Horne-Francis is just going to split some time forward um as per usual. But I think there's absolutely a world where Will Brodie um can jump ahead of a Willem Drew or an Ollie Wines. I don't think those two were...
00:35:09
Lew
We're shooting the lights out as it was anyway. And there's clearly a lot of boxes that have been ticked so far just in terms of the connection to Josh Carr and Will Brodie. I think it's someone that we've clearly gone out and targeted.
00:35:23
Lew
um Whether that's depth or not, we're going to find out. I think a decent preseason and we can start to you know see a little bit clearer whether or not Will Brodie is going to be um relevant for us in three months time but if he can nail down a best 22 spot in that port side priced at 44 I'm going to find that really difficult to pass up I think I'm sort of thinking of some of the guys that we picked at this price last year like um I think you mentioned ah Mitch Nevitt Holmes and there was also Ned Long who was priced a little bit more but these guys if you can get on them first it just takes you so much further
00:35:54
Holmesy
Odriscoll, yep.
00:36:04
Holmesy
Yep, all you need ah from these guys, you know, priced at 44. We always say that, oh, yeah, 30 points of upside would be great. But if you can get a good four five-week block where they go, you know, a couple of spike games and that averages a 90, they just make cash and they are...
00:36:19
Holmesy
the players that sort of propel you up there. So yeah, I'm ah i'm a big fan. If he's a best 22 player, I think he's got scope to got to go past Ollie Wines. I don't want to, you know, ruin your parades too much, but I do think Porter in a bit of a rebuild and they do need to start to go past an Ollie Wines and and find the the next guy to come through. So I'll definitely look at him, Geordie, if he's there come round one.
00:36:43
JORDAN D'SENA
Yeah, ah just a couple of days ago, I saw an um Seven News did a little ah interview on Horn Francis and he's expecting more midfield time next year. Obviously, we'll still split a bit forward because he's dangerous there.
00:36:57
JORDAN D'SENA
And he sort of mentioned that Rosie... will play halfback. So there was a few nuggets in there.
00:37:05
JORDAN D'SENA
So I think think, you know, he sort of him, but as wines drew. So I ah definitely be starting him.
00:37:10
Jon Harmey
Thank you.
00:37:12
JORDAN D'SENA
And one of those things where, you know, if, if he doesn't go so well, a few rounds, you just sort of trade out of him. But I think it's too dangerous to not start him with that sort of track record.
00:37:23
JORDAN D'SENA
I've gone 95, you know, maybe it doesn't go 95, but even a 70 is good price um and good, you know, good way to kick off cash gen.
00:37:33
Holmesy
Yep, agree there. And I think Port Adelaide is going to be a very fascinating team to talk about throughout the preseason. But at the same time, um without knowing how Josh Carr is going to play, it's it's going to make picking some of those players a bit blind. But we will get into that as the preseason rolls around.
00:37:49
Holmesy
Number four, Charlie Curnow. Now, he's he's up a bit high, but the more I looked into the numbers, the more this one kind of makes sense to to to kind of talk about as a forward option. Jordy, you put out the the graphic of all the players that we're expecting to lose forward status this year, which is a lot of players.
00:38:05
Holmesy
And and no doubt we get more options during the preseason when we find out you know who's going to play more mid-time.
00:38:06
JORDAN D'SENA
Yep.
00:38:10
Holmesy
But Right now, as it stands, I think Charlie Curnow actually presents as a semi-decent option for our starting squads. Now, moving to Sydney for for a fresh start, he's now the main guy, not playing alongside Harry Mackay. And he's not going to have anyone beside him, really, which which can be a good thing, but also means he's going to get the number one defender and be clamped. So we do need to keep that in mind. But...
00:38:33
Holmesy
You know, he's he's averaged 87 before in that Coleman year. And 87 in this landscape with forwards would put him pretty clearly as a top sort of 8 to 10 forward, maybe even higher. So already there's scope to with what he's done in the past to to be ah to be an option. Priced at 66, that would be 20 points of upside and and getting in into the top 10 forwards.
00:38:55
Holmesy
Sydney should be more competitive than Carlton were this year, so he should find a bit more supply and and a fresh start. You'd think he he's one of those players that would thrive off that. Harmi, it's an awkward one, and they do not come off a lot of the time, but we do have to talk about him, right? If if he if he goes back to that 87, he's almost a knockout pick from that price.
00:39:17
Jon Harmey
Well, he's not going 87, so let's just put a line through that. What do you reckon could legitimately go at, Holmesy?
00:39:26
Holmesy
Well, why why can't he go 87? What did Jezza average this year?
00:39:31
JORDAN D'SENA
I think he did 84.
00:39:33
Jon Harmey
Ah.
00:39:33
Holmesy
84. So let's let's go. like He's ah he a Coleman medalist. ah Two years ago, he was almost you know probably top 10 players in the comp. In theory, he still he could have a peak season left in him. He's not terribly old. What is he, 20, 28?
00:39:48
Holmesy
Somewhere around there. So he's still got plenty of time left.
00:39:51
Jon Harmey
Yeah, don't know. He would have to have a...
00:39:51
Holmesy
Look.
00:39:52
Jon Harmey
He'd have to look and pretty mint in the pre-season. I mean, this is a guy that's had four surgeries on his knee in the last year, isn't he? So just think that there's ah some level of risk and I feel as though we are going to be presented with people that are a little bit cheaper whose um role and job security and body and that will be a bit more sound possibly.
00:40:17
Jon Harmey
Look, I'm not going to put a line through it, but, I mean, key forwards I don't love anyway, which he probably is. um You know, like Jez are running up the ground at GMHBA.
00:40:29
Jon Harmey
Yep, he does a fair bit of work, doesn't he? But, you know, if you see Curnow running out of the forward line at the SCG, he's probably going to end up in the back line because it's a smaller field and I just don't know how they're going to set up. So, ah I don't know, mate.
00:40:44
Jon Harmey
I'm not convinced you'll have to do a bit more um work justifying it to me, I think.
Final Thoughts on Player Moves and Pre-season Planning
00:40:49
Lew
I think you both make good cases. Where it's going to be interesting is um how the forward line actually shakes out because ah those following us on the PodPod Twitter, Jordy put out some great content just going over just some of the top 10 forwards and we'll do that for all the rest of the positions. But After Harry Sheasel, who's obviously priced at 109, starts to drop off very, very quickly, don't you think, Holmesy?
00:41:16
Holmesy
Yeah, and that's that's purely the reason that he's in this list. And to be honest, I'd love a year where we might actually be forced to pick some some key forwards or general general forwards because there's just not the midfield options to pick.
00:41:28
Holmesy
Typically, they come through and it's only October, so no doubt we'll get more. But just at this point in time, that's why I put him in there, Harmi, and it's my show. So he's in there.
00:41:38
JORDAN D'SENA
What if he comes out and does 115 opening round, kicks a bag of goals, then he'll be in the team.
00:41:45
Jon Harmey
o
00:41:47
JORDAN D'SENA
in the team
00:41:48
Lew
Well, instead of Ollie Hollins kicking to him, he's got Gilden and Chad Warner, so...
00:41:48
Holmesy
I forgot the cheat codes there. Yep. All right.
00:41:53
Jon Harmey
There's a few people around that price point. You've got Bailey Humphrey. He's the best player in the league if you follow the draft period. Oh, yeah, home to Mo.
00:42:00
Holmesy
He's just trying to get home, isn't he? Take me home, country road.
00:42:04
Jon Harmey
Yeah, that's right.
00:42:06
Holmesy
All right, sticking with forwards, number three, I've got Christian Petrarca. moving to Gold Coast for a fresh start. He's been trying to get out of Melbourne for a while. Priced at 90 after averaging 105 plus for multiple years.
00:42:21
Holmesy
um He's not guaranteed to have forward status, but at this stage, it's quite likely that he retains it. I think he complements Raoul and Anderson quite well as that sort of third to fourth midfielder playing that mid-forward split.
00:42:35
Holmesy
And having forward status, he's definitely going to be someone that we pick at some stage throughout the year because he will be a top six forward in my opinion. Jordy, however, ah do have him quite high on the list, but I'm not necessarily sold yet that there's as much upside as we need in a starting pick. And I think you might be able to get him around that price or maybe even a little bit cheaper at some point. So what do you think about Petrarca? What can you see him doing?
00:42:59
JORDAN D'SENA
Yeah, that's that's my thoughts too. I think you know Price at 90, I think he's going to be a top six and he you think he's going to be in that 90 to 100 range with that split just because of you've got Anderson and Rao who are going to take the bulk CBAs.
00:43:12
JORDAN D'SENA
we just We have to monitor it. if there's you know If there's an injury or something, he's going to get more time. um But, you know, I know Louis is pretty keen on track F2, but there might be another guy that Holmes and me and you might be keen on instead with few injuries.
00:43:29
JORDAN D'SENA
But, um you know, we've got, yeah, there's another guy on the this top 10, which I'm sure we'll talk about as a forward option. But, yeah, I mean, I just think between 90 and 100, I think ah it's sort of like last year we saw Horn Francis play.
00:43:43
JORDAN D'SENA
priced at this 90 and we all thought that he was going to take that jump to go to 100 105 and he was behind well at the of the year he was behind rosie and butters although butters was injured a little early on and we saw him you know sort of hover around there or regress so i think track's going to be a lot better because it's a fresh start for him but not sure there's much value to start it that's just my my thoughts
00:44:08
Holmesy
Louis, sell me Christian Petrarca because he's ruined my season two years in a row and he didn't quite cost me last year, but I always go back there. So I'm i'm trying not to. So ah just sell me him.
00:44:20
Lew
Mate, I'm not pulling that hard for him. ah just think that just going over that forward line, and as I said, there's a bit of a chasm in between the best and the rest. And I think potentially this could just represent a fair price, fair player sort of deal where, um to be honest, whether or not I pick him will probably be determined on what forwards are available outside of you know maybe a Harry Sheasler and the rookie price players and my confidence in those mid-priced guys because...
00:44:49
Lew
We know what we're going to get from Christian Petrarca. It's going to be a 90 plus. So I don't think barring injury or you know something unforeseen that's going to be in threat at all. It's probably going to land about 95 really. But um is it enough upside when you're talking value? Probably not. But when you strip it back and you think about what other options there may be, um potentially that might be a nice little sort of island to set yourself on.
00:45:16
Lew
um to start your fantasy team and then trade around it. But no, I don't feel strongly one way or the other just yet.
00:45:25
Holmesy
Yeah, no, I agree with that. And like I said, don't underestimate the the fresh start of the new club, um the Damien Hardwick effect. He's had Dustin Martin play under him for years and he was able to manage him perfectly in terms of that sort of mid-forward split and getting the best out of him. So he's is's definitely going to be relevant with forward status. We just need to to decide later on in the pre-season whether or not there's better options.
00:45:48
Holmesy
All right, coming in at number two, a player I'm super excited about, Jack Steele. So a shock move to Melbourne after being told by the Saints that he wasn't required anymore, which is very strange considering they kept Jack McRae.
00:46:02
Holmesy
Harmi, have you said a you know hats out prayer for your boy? um Who's the bald-headed midfielder that got delisted? Zach someone?
00:46:09
Jon Harmey
Oh, Zach Jones, how is he getting a game?
00:46:10
Holmesy
Who was he? Zach Jones?
00:46:12
Jon Harmey
Honestly, he shouldn't have been on the list last year. And then McRae's the sub. Oh, so cute. They're a basket case.
00:46:20
Holmesy
he's He's still on your field, isn't he?
00:46:24
Jon Harmey
Nah, Tim Kelly was my forward, bitch.
00:46:29
Holmesy
Anyway, Jack Steele, we know he's been a fantasy beast in the past. What has he got? ah Five out of the last six years being above 100. um 106, 97, 110 in his last three years. Coming to Melbourne with no Clary, no Petrarca, pretty much just a young midfield.
00:46:46
Holmesy
If he just has the role where he's an 80% CBA midfielder and it's his midfield and that the young guys play around him, combined with the fact that he's now going to a Melbourne system, which admittedly may change now that they've got a new coach, but they do love to chip around and we know Jack Steele's at his best when he's able to get marks on top of the tackles.
00:47:04
Holmesy
That 96, that could be well over 100 again. i mean, that 96 does include um that sub game and then a ah weird game where he played forward and and barely scored. So there's there's upside in Jack Steel. Louis, are you as excited as I am
00:47:19
Lew
Yeah, I think I'm all aboard just ticking every single box at this stage. If he can do a full preseason, he's going to be a real tough one to pass up at that but sweet spot at 96. I really like a guy who can go from 95 to 105. Opportunity, yeah.
00:47:35
Holmesy
Yeah, combined with the fact now that that's two clubs that he's he's left.
00:47:36
Jon Harmey
Yeah.
00:47:39
Holmesy
I'm not sure whether he got asked to leave GWS, but clearly he didn't feel valued there.
00:47:44
Holmesy
Now, as the club captain as the club captain, he's been told to leave St. Kilda. That's got a lot of fire in you to to get back to your best to to prove them wrong. So, yeah, I'm i'm really aboard Jack Steele at this point. Like you said, Lou, that...
00:47:44
Lew
opportunity and
00:47:56
Holmesy
has typically been my hitting zone trying to find that player priced in the the low to mid-90s that um scores like a top eight mid and and you're away. So yeah, really excited about Jack Steele. But as always, we do need to see how that midfield mix lines up.
00:48:09
Holmesy
They might go full rebuild and give all the time to Rivers and Pickett and Langford and and whoever they draft.
00:48:14
Lew
Langford.
00:48:16
Holmesy
So we just don't know that yet at this point, I do like Jack Steele, which brings us to our number one. And I'm pretty sure this would be everyone's number one consensus as the most relevant player to move in the trade period. And that's Sam Flanders.
00:48:29
Holmesy
um From all reports, he's moving to St Kilda with promise of inside mid-minutes, which makes sense. I mean, you're not going to leave the Gold Coast now as they're exploding and and looking towards a premiership. So clearly he feels undervalued in that side and and wants to move for more opportunity.
00:48:44
Holmesy
um We did see him average 108 last year, but that did have a lot of halfback time. So what I did was go back through and and just look at the scores from when he didn't have any kick-ins and when he was playing as a CBA midfielder and he still averaged 98.
00:49:00
Holmesy
From a 68 price tag, I think it is 60, yep, 68.
00:49:04
Lew
Yep.
00:49:05
Holmesy
If he's getting midfield minutes at St Kilda in that system where they chip around, he's a ball magnet priced at 68 as a forward. Jordy, I think at this time of year, he's as big a lock um as a preseason pick as we can get really.
00:49:22
JORDAN D'SENA
100%. He's, well, there's talk. We could even, you could even start him potentially as an F1 if you don't want to pay it for Sheezo. I think he's going to, yeah, he's a lock. And I still think Nassaya Wanganemalera is their number one mid. And I think he's pretty much there as the number two guy. I think I saw a tweet that he said, yeah, he's going to have heavy inside minutes. And that was obviously the reason why he went to Saints. Yeah.
00:49:46
JORDAN D'SENA
um And, you know, Jack Steele's gone. So I feel like he can play that sort of defensive Jack Steele sort of role with get a lot of tackles. He's just probably going to be that guy that's just going to rack up heaps of touches and score so well for us. He reminds me of Tim Tirano that year he moved, had forward status and was just that inside ball.
00:50:07
JORDAN D'SENA
um at that year at Richmond and had that knockout year. So, um you know, provided he's all fit and everything and the pre-season goes well, I think he'll be the highest, um well, highest owned player.
00:50:19
Holmesy
Yeah, and we're obviously not going to get ahead of ourselves, but it does have Bailey Smith vibes about it. Not that he's going to average 116, but just that player that everyone picks in the preseason and and you don't have to think twice um and he's just there. So, Harmi, got something you want to add to that?
00:50:35
Jon Harmey
Oh, no. It's going to be, I mean, he's just a walk-up. I think my pretty much every team's going to have him. But hold on. What did he say? Curnow was priced at 68. Flanders is priced at 68. Bailey Humphrey, 68.
00:50:46
Jon Harmey
sixty eight Someone else. Brent Daniels, 68.
00:50:50
Holmesy
Colby McKercher priced at 79.
00:50:53
Jon Harmey
No, these are all forwards I was reeling off. This is just a sweet spot, isn't it, for the forward line? 68, righto.
00:50:59
Holmesy
Petrarca coming in. What's that going to do to Bailey Humphrey's midfield time, mate? He's going to be a full-time forward.
00:51:04
Jon Harmey
da I don't know. I don't about Petrarca. I tell you what, when I saw Clayton Oliver traded, I thought, oh, that's such a pretty good landing spot. He could go all right. thought, what did he average this year?
00:51:17
Jon Harmey
And then I looked at it, I was 90. I was quite surprised. I thought, jeez, I thought he averaged a lot less than that. And Petrarca was kind of the same. I saw it and... I thought 90, well, geez, there's actually a world where he doesn't even get 90 as an average. So, I don't know.
00:51:31
Jon Harmey
Petrarca, probably a good draft pick, but I'm not convinced he's going to be a 100 midfield averaging player at the Suns.
00:51:38
Holmesy
Thanks for that, Harmi. And that would have been good information when we were talking about Petrarca and Oliver.
00:51:41
Jon Harmey
Hmm. Are you...
00:51:42
Holmesy
So feel free to to chime in there next time. Louis, do you have something to add to Flanders?
00:51:47
Lew
Not to Flanders, um ah just wrapping up, I guess. ah just We mentioned the five-man bench a couple of times during the podcast, but didn't really expand on it.
00:51:59
Lew
Holmesy, it seems like you know it's it's been um ringing about in your head a little bit.
00:52:00
JORDAN D'SENA
Thank you.
00:52:04
Lew
What sort of changes do you see happening from a fantasy perspective now?
00:52:10
Holmesy
Yeah, look, I reckon like we're going to catch up again in December when we've got a bit more information about how it's all going to line up. But I think it's fascinating. Like anything, you're going to get teams that think about doing it different ways. So we do know that the AFL can be a bit of a copy league at time and and Brisbane have just won the flag with um Big O and Darcy Fort as two genuine ruckmen in their side. So...
00:52:31
Holmesy
you know Maybe some sides do um go more of a two-ruck prong setup. Other sides, maybe they just want to stack their teams full of mids and just run over the top of sides. If you've got a ah good, genuine number one ruck, obviously like a Max Gorn or Tristan Cherry or someone like that, you're not really looking at playing a second ruck alongside them unless they're sort of tired or but injured. So we can have these discussions later on in the preseason, but i think it's going to be fascinating. And if you can pick the teams that are going to,
00:52:59
Holmesy
stack with the midfielders and and have more more of them running through, I think, yeah, it could be interesting for fantasy. But ah i do i i have disagreed with some of the takes that have said that it's going to be harder for us with the rookies now because there's going to be some rookies that get really low time on ground with the five on the bench. And I do agree, but nothing is worse for the rookies than Luke Treanor getting two minutes on the ground out of a total of 120 and getting a two.
00:53:26
Holmesy
So I'd much rather take a rookie that has a chance to score inside a 50% tog than one that's in the green vest and and doesn't.
00:53:34
Lew
did we um Do we have confirmation on what the fantasy changes are just yet in terms of playtime and all that?
00:53:42
Holmesy
Nah. So, um yeah, we'll we'll wrap up now, but ah the plan is that we'll catch up again sometime in December when the game's closer to being open um and we've got more information about how the game's going to work and and what the official new rules are.
00:53:43
Lew
no
00:53:55
Holmesy
And then we'll do our ah classic drafting pod um sometime around Christmas where we we draft our squad. And unfortunately, Jordi, going have to play the dossie role this year.
00:54:05
Holmesy
Harmi has, um now that you've come in, he doesn't want to do it anymore. um So you're going to play the dossie pod pod role. And and do the loose picks, but yeah, looking forward to it.
00:54:14
Holmesy
and Yeah. So yeah we will wrap up there, guys. As I mentioned, that's the plan. We do have some big things planned for the Pod Pod this year. So we'll release those um closer to the game opening when we've got a bit more of an idea of how it's all going to work.
00:54:14
JORDAN D'SENA
Sounds good.
00:54:28
Holmesy
Lads really enjoyed catching up. um ah It's one of my favorite times of the year this year as well, just starting to slowly go through some options and thinking about things and knowing that a lot of coaches aren't sort of thinking about this stuff at this time of year.
00:54:41
Holmesy
You know, it makes me feel good that i'm I'm putting the work in and can really have another good year. So, Enjoy the next couple of months, boys. We'll catch up soon. And yeah, Louis, send Geordie the spreadsheet. He wants to build a side.
00:54:53
JORDAN D'SENA
Peace.
00:54:54
Lew
Bye. bye
00:54:55
Holmesy
Bye.