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North Melbourne AFL Fantasy 2024 team preview | #PODPOD
1.9k Plays1 year ago
North Melbourne is up next as the lads investigate all the AFL Fantasy options from the Kangaroos!
There's a STACK of relevant Roos this season from rookies and mid-pricers right through to premiums as the POD Squad break down all the biggest names, including:
Fresh draftees Colby McKercher and Zane Duursma, popular starting ruck option Tristian Xerri, second-year dynamo Harry Sheezel, oft-injured midfield monster Luke Davies-Uniacke (LDU), the co-skipper Jy Simpkin, and much more!
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Follow us on X:
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Dos: @HKdos
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Statesman: @Statesman33
Holmesy: @Holmesyheroes
Harmey: @jonharmey
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Transcript
North Melbourne Prospects and Player Performances
00:00:16
Speaker
all right welcome to our second of the team preview podcast for the pod pod it is your boy dossie here talking all things afl fantasy with the pod squad we have a bunch of hats in the room minus yours truly but we have five time top 100 finisher the statesman we've got john harmey two time top
00:00:36
Speaker
Ten finisher as well as home see who's also two time top ten finisher we've got a lot of experience in the room i think i was a top three thousand finisher last year so you've got my help as well but we are talking north melbourne kangaroos and when i was looking at some of these players in the fancy team.
Can North Melbourne Improve Under Coach Clarko?
00:00:55
Speaker
There's a lot of relevant people and there's a lot of fancy coaches right now came on a bunch of ruse despite coming second last on the ladder we're going in reverse ladder order for our team previews let's talk about some of the team numbers before we crack in lads seventeenth on the ladder.
00:01:13
Speaker
sixteenth for AFL fantasy points scored third for rebound fifties though plenty of ball in that back line six most for handballs similar to our last team west coast they preferred handballing over kicking eighth most eighth best sorry for clearances so the midfield not
00:01:30
Speaker
I'm terrible in comparison. I mean, comparing West Coast, they were dead last for clearances. So their midfield still got a little bit of a job done, but plenty of work to do this year for North Melbourne.
Critique of North Melbourne's Draft Strategy
00:01:41
Speaker
They were shocking. But lads, first and foremost, can we see with a full season of Clarko, a bit of improvement from North Melbourne this year's state? What do you reckon? They've done a few moves in the off season as well.
00:01:54
Speaker
They've got a lot of talent, so there's every chance, but the talent is young. That becomes a bit of a challenge. So it depends on how well they can click, how long it takes, but the talent's certainly there. The only thing I've got a question mark about is the tools, how much depth, how much talent.
00:02:15
Speaker
have they got in the tool. So they're small brigade, they're midfielders, they're flankers, look very talented and look like you've become a really good team. How they're tall stand up. So I was interested you go back
00:02:32
Speaker
a couple of years ago now for a couple of players. Their first two picks were Will Phillips and Powell. So they went those smalls when they had some really good quality key stock.
Impact of Off-Season Acquisitions on AFL Fantasy
00:02:48
Speaker
And they did it again this year. They've got another two smalls and they've missed out on someone like Curtin, who may be on a structure of footy sense, may be a little bit more of the third rather than the key. So that might be part of the reason why, but they missed out on those tools when they were available. Not that they're absolute superstars at this stage, but they could turn out to be, we know that our tools take a little bit longer.
00:03:18
Speaker
Got Toby pink though, missed out on Curtin, got Toby pink. Yeah, win-win. And Hami, what do you reckon is a full season of Clarko at the helm going to change their fantasy prospects as well for a few of our favourites in this team? Well, I hope that they do because I feel a bit sick in the stomach saying this, mate, but I actually like quite a lot of the North Melbourne players from a fantasy perspective.
00:03:44
Speaker
Yeah, there is a lot to like, and let's talk about their trade period first and talk about some of the players they brought in and how those prospects might affect AFL fantasy. Inns for North Melbourne in the off-season. Zach Fisher coming across from Carlton. Dylan Stephens, a high draft pick a few years ago from Sydney Swans coming across as well. We've also got Bigout Nuon, who I don't know too much about at all, but came in as well. And then, of course, their top draft picks who are already very popular in fantasy classic. Colby McCurcher,
00:04:13
Speaker
from Tassie, and the great man from Tassie, and then Zane Dursmer as well, brother of, as well as a bunch of other picks. Some notable way out, Ben Cunningham retiring there after a solid career at North.
Player Value Strategies in AFL Fantasy
00:04:27
Speaker
Todd Goldstein heading away to Essendon, Aaron Hall, who was a fantasy superstar at times during his career. He's gone. Ben Mackay went off to Essendon and Jack Zebel, who
00:04:38
Speaker
went out with a bang in his final year just absolutely killed in the defensive line especially early last year he's also gone. First of all we've got a buy expert on its state. Is the bar and a concern with the opening round for North Melbourne they don't plan opening round I don't think so is a bar and a concern without that.
00:04:59
Speaker
No, not at all. You can back yourself in. Again, I don't think there's too many, a little bit like West Coast. I don't think there's too many. They're going to be long-term keepers. You're going to be making a bit of cash, a bit of value. So keeping them up to the buy might be AOK. We saw Shesil last year in his rookie year, would you believe?
00:05:22
Speaker
Being a keeper, I think many would have traded him out throughout the year because he'd made you the cash and had a couple of down games. But I wouldn't have thought there'd be too many on this list. LDU's one, but can his body sustain a full season is a bit of a question mark.
00:05:45
Speaker
All right, well, let's talk through some of the more popular picks from North Melbourne. And I've defined this, we're going through all the teams the same way. So the popular picks are 10% plus. And starting out, Colby McCurcher is the most popular player for North Melbourne, perhaps not surprisingly. So $297,000 mid forward. And just looking at some of his draft numbers, really outstanding fantasy prospect.
00:06:11
Speaker
in the state league last year for the talent league so this is the rookie stuff, 112 AFL fantasy points in that league, averaging a whopping amount of disposals, I think it's up near 30, 5 marks, 4 tackles, so it hits all those stat lines and then in the under 18 championships as well, playing for the allies, he played 4 games, averaged 32 touches, 6 marks, 4 tackles, 117 fantasy points.
00:06:39
Speaker
As a Tassie man, Hami, are you pretty keen for the prospects of McCurcher in his debut season?
Evaluating Player Potentials: McCurcher, Dursmer, Pink
00:06:45
Speaker
Oh, absolutely, mate. He'll be as close to a hundred percent on as you can get, I reckon. So I remember him as a, as a, as a young kid, um, and sort of knew his old man. So he'll, I reckon he'll be hitting it in there with a cracking attitude and I will love him at the club. So I expect him to have a good year.
00:07:04
Speaker
Yeah, there's also been similar stats, sorry, similar discussion around him playing in that Harley Reid mold, who's just recently been said he's going to be playing half back. There is some talk that he could do similar stuff. And I think, in fact, the first person I heard that from was a old Calvinator at the traders, who's certainly a big fan of the young man.
00:07:27
Speaker
new him growing up as well similar to the all the tazzy folk have their finger on the pulse but state are you you are wanting to jump in there as well my you're pretty keen on colby mccurcher in our starting squads. I just home is claim the fame with colby's not quite as good as cows. Yes funny funny story actually during their traders live show last year so in twenty twenty three i think it was when was that early in the season or even before it started.
00:07:56
Speaker
I'm having a few beers afterwards with the boys and Calvin went after a few frothy said, look out for this bloke. I hadn't even heard his name yet, of course. Put it in my notes in my phone. And then I remember at the time he was only projected to go at 15th in the mock draft that I saw at the time. So he skyrocketed up late. And yeah, it's great to see.
00:08:20
Speaker
that come to fruition. I think we're all going to slot him in our starting sides. Excuse me. Zane Dursmer at 291,000 mid forward. Holmes here. I want to get your thoughts on him, but first I'll just give you some of the numbers. So Vic Country in the under 18 championships, four games played, not a stack of, not a stack of it. Fifteen touches, four marks, three tackles, 76 fantasy points. And these numbers, by the way, are coming to you from the keeper league pod.
00:08:48
Speaker
but in the talent league he was a fairly solid contributor getting the outside ball lots of kicks again thirteen kicks only six handballs but racking them up six marks hundred and one fantasy points off the back of nearly three goals a game so homes he's some pretty good numbers but what do you think about him in your starting squad is pretty expensive.
00:09:08
Speaker
Yeah, at this point in time, Dossie is not one for me. I think listening to his numbers and without seeing him play, obviously, it sounds like he's more of an impact player forward of center and playing for North Melbourne in a rebuilding side. I'm not sure there's going to be as easy outside ball as what he might have got in the under 18 championships. So I think there's probably going to be better options at a lower price point rookie wise in the forward line for us at this stage.
00:09:33
Speaker
Once again, I am looking forward to seeing him play in the preseason and if he does get a gig round one, then he will need to be considered. Any inside goss there, Hami on the Tassie front. Do you know his dad? What's the guy? No, no, his brother plays for Essen and he's for a good career too. No, I need that inside goss. Unfortunately, not a Tassie boy. All right, let's get to some of the next popular picks.
Ruckman and Player Performance Analysis
00:09:56
Speaker
Surprisingly, again, Toby Pink. This is your man, Hami. 33% own 200K defender. What can you tell us about Toby Pink?
00:10:03
Speaker
Well, I guess I could tell you that if he's taking Ben Mackay's spot, who averaged 40 last year, had some scores in the teens, I'd say that's probably not pointing towards a high rate of scoring for your fantasy team this season, does he? 200K though. Do you reckon he'll be able to take a spot? Because all we need him to do is play, mate. Yeah, and he'd probably make 50,000.
00:10:31
Speaker
Alright, so a flag on those 33% of coaches keen on Toby Pink, perhaps a little bit too highly owned there, according to Harmony. Let's get to one of the really relevant players, and he is a popular pick as well, 19% owned at the moment. And obviously, these numbers were very early in the season, but I'm just looking at where the pulse is at the moment in the fantasy community, Tristan Sherry.
00:10:54
Speaker
the rockman five hundred and eighty thousand dollars i did mention at the top of the show obviously tod goldstein out of the picture finally moving on to us and then. You think that cherries got the full time rock roll state to himself and at five hundred thousand that's just dirt cheap for a block that has showed some fancy signs in the past.
00:11:14
Speaker
Yeah, absolutely. And look, he's in my team straight away. Look, he's not there as a keeper, he's there to make cash, hasn't got one of the early buys, gives me a good look at everything else that's going on. We know he's going to be the number one ruckman as long as he's fully fit, does the preseason games without a hitch, he's there.
00:11:37
Speaker
I'm going gone or Grundy, most likely Grundy at this point. So I'm happy to take on one of the rounds five or six, but not keen on the two or three. And it allows me a little bit of time to see if there's a regression in price for either Marshall and or English.
00:12:05
Speaker
Okay, any other thoughts? Yes, Holmes on Cherry because this is a big talking point. I think our rock lines and just the value he presents but also the conundrum of who else you're going to pick in those R1 and R2.
00:12:16
Speaker
Yeah, I was just going to come in off the back of Stado's point just there, all really valid. And the news coming out today that Tim English hasn't been in full training or contact training the entire preseason. And even now he's dealing with some, they've named it medical issues that aren't related to training. So reading between the lines there, there's something pretty serious going on. They do estimate that it'll be fit come early February, but
00:12:43
Speaker
That's a bit of a red flag there. So maybe English potentially starts the season a little bit slower. Tristan Cherry gets his price up nicely and then you can, like Stato said, get up to either English or Marshall around just before the buys and lock in your second keeper there. I was just going to say, there are a few small flags with Cherry, but price at 66, I can't see him going below it. So he's going to make money. It's just about what sort of increase he's going to have.
00:13:13
Speaker
Yeah. All right. Moving on to another popular pick here. And he was the dominant rookie last season. Harry Shiesel, $878,000 now. Can you pick him in his second year, Holmes? He's 17% owned. Lots of people keen to pick him up. Defensive status. Obviously, we saw how well he could go back there. And now Zebel's out of the picture as well. So is Aaron Hall, the other guys back there that usually racked it up.
00:13:41
Speaker
Harry Schiezel might have that D 50 to his own or does he have a bit of a position change in mind? What are your thoughts, Holmsey? Yeah, well, that's the thing, Dawson. I've been listening to Stado and Stevie Fiers talk about this a little bit as well. I think Harry Schiezel potentially has one of the greater variances of outcomes. If he continues in that halfback role, which he won the best and fairest last year, there's no reason that he can't be a day cost 2.0 and push that 97 upwards.
00:14:09
Speaker
But personally, I think that his development will be that he starts to move more into the midfield and forward line to get him a little bit more damaging up the ground. And if that is the case, then I will predict a little bit of regression from Chisel because it's going to be pretty hard to go north of 97 as a midfielder playing for the Kangaroos.
00:14:28
Speaker
As always, it's a big pre-season watch to see what his role is, but he's an absolute gun. And whether we get him this year or we're looking in the future, he's
Defensive Roles and Breakout Potential
00:14:38
Speaker
going to be a big part of our fantasy teams at some point in his career.
00:14:41
Speaker
It is a tough one. We saw, we saw Nick Daikos take his unbelievable game to even new heights, even bigger heights in his second year. Could, how many could he do the same? I'd probably tend to sit on Holmsey's side here and just think, where's the points coming from? He already had that amazing role, but if he's playing defense, um, could be juicy as well.
00:15:00
Speaker
I think, you know, going back before he made the AFL, Nick Dacos was the midfielder and pumping out massive scores. And that wasn't really Harry Schiezel, but Harry Schiezel's first year, I'm going to say is better than Nick Dacos. I think he averaged more than Dacos in his first year. He did. So, and he had some quite low scores. I think there was a couple of scores he either got tagged or he played forward or something. So, geez, maybe if we dropped them out, what did he have? We probably averaged over a hundred, does he?
00:15:30
Speaker
Yeah well that's the thing that he got tagged and that could be something we also see in the future and like you said he did play a little bit of forward at times and showed that it wasn't the same fruitful scoring that we get when he played in that halfback juicy role.
00:15:45
Speaker
Yeah, I think you're right in saying what state and Steve, if he's been talking about in that high level of variance homes here, that's just about where we have him at the moment. And even if you're trying to pick him, he's the sort of player that has to be a caper. And if there's going to be variance through the season and then testing some new positions.
00:16:03
Speaker
It'll be a risky starting pick. Let's move on to another popular pick. Zack Fisher, six hundred and twenty three thousand dollars. Got the mid, what's his mid forward eligibility, I think, at 13 percent ownership. Pretty high, highly owned, but purely forward, does he? Purely forward. OK, that's that's juicier for me. And then he's also obviously pegged to play.
00:16:25
Speaker
in a half back roll, or at least in the back line, picking up some cheapies back there. So, Stado, we haven't talked to you on a bit. Are you keen on some Zach Fisher? And then we'll throw it to Holmsey, because he's keen to have a chat as well.
00:16:36
Speaker
Yeah, again, it's one I want to see, but all the words and all the talk has been absolutely positive so far. Obviously, Hall's, he will out possibly, she's all out. It means there are a couple of positions available in that defensive line. We know he played a bit at AFL and did a fair bit in VFL in this position. So obviously,
00:17:02
Speaker
taking over and getting a bit of age and experience there in a role that he's played. So I'm pretty keen, I'll be honest.
00:17:12
Speaker
Yeah, I think the interesting thing that makes Zach Fischer a very viable option for us is if the Kangaroos play a similar game style to what they did last year. If we have a look at the top averaging players for North Melbourne last year, we had LDU first. Obviously, he's a gun. But then we go down the list. We had Schiezel Hall, who obviously didn't play many games, but then Zebel,
00:17:33
Speaker
Bayley Scott. So all of a sudden there's four out of your top five players that were defenders. You had Taryn Thomas coming in next who played a little bit of half back but moved into the midfield late. Liam Shields and then Luke McDonald. So all of these the top averaging players for North
00:17:48
Speaker
all spent considerable time in the backline for North. And I think that's how they're going to play. They might say that they're going to come out and play a lot quicker to start until the season actually gets rolling and they need to change things up a little bit. So I'm interested in Fisher for that reason, if he does have the halfback roll.
00:18:06
Speaker
But I am a little bit not cautious, but what can he get to? I think if he gets to 85 with the lack of forward options we have, I think that's probably a win. But if he's less than that, then maybe it's a bit of a nothing pick. So what do you think, Hami? What do you what can you see Zach Fisher getting to if he does have the halfback role? And we play a little bit of hypothetical that Seychelles has gone into the midfield as well.
00:18:29
Speaker
Uh, yeah, look, I'm pretty keen on the role. Um, they pursued him as well. You know, like you've got to think they chased him, um, to get him to cross. So priced at 69. If you have a look at the, um, last, what last five scores he got, um, at the end of the season last year, before he got dropped again, though, mind you, um, he was averaging and sort of in the mid nineties. So I just think that he's, um,
00:18:55
Speaker
He's going to be over 80 if he's got a plumb row and that's pretty close to a top 6 forward at this point in time. So I am keen. All right. An interesting name to be thrown around at this time of year. Zach Fisher. I'm also pretty keen. Just the forward status if you're playing defence and given our lack of forwards.
00:19:16
Speaker
I think he's got to be a name we talk about and finally LDU, Luke Davies Uniac, another popular pick over 10% owned.
Midfielder Selection Challenges in AFL Fantasy
00:19:23
Speaker
So that's seven players for North with over 10% ownership. At this time of year, obviously things are going to change. I'm fully aware of that. 879,000 though. Stado.
00:19:33
Speaker
We all know I'm a massive fan of LDU, hits all stat lines, probably plays every single center bounce just about, plays huge time on ground when healthy. Do you think there's some value in him as well? Given he had, you know, there was ups and downs last year. Can he come through for a monster breakout this year and really be worth it as a starting pick? He's in my team at the moment, Dost. I've got to find a way to get him out.
00:19:59
Speaker
because he burnt me not once, not twice, but three times last year. And I don't know if I want to live through that pain for someone that I don't think is a top eight. I know there's potentially a bit of value priced at 97, but 14 games last year. Yeah, he's a good player, but I don't know if I want to live through that experience again. Hammeh, do you want to live through that?
00:20:30
Speaker
I just remembered that laid out. I was sitting there doing something with the kids. I'll just check the scores here. Check the scores here against Hawthorne. You should go right here. Oh, no, zero instead. Oh look. That was the latest weight. Yeah, wasn't cool.
00:20:49
Speaker
Sorry, Hami, would it be worse though if you lived through that last year and then you don't pick him this year and he ends up being a top, you know, five to eight midfielder? That would be worse. He's got all the potential in the world. He really does. You feel like he's going to have a year where he's at the top end of the comp. If he averaged 78 and that's what I was paying for, I'd quite happily go with that burden. But the upside being, you know, a max five to 10 points, I don't know if I want to live it.
00:21:19
Speaker
He's currently there. I've just got to find, you know, I'm really, honestly, I'm struggling to find the primos I want in my midfield and looking for people that have got a bit of value still concerns me with it, with the change of style a little bit and what he went through last year and the fact that he played through an injury
00:21:42
Speaker
He had an operation after the season, so that's why he's a little bit slow, so his preparation's not perfect. Laird, I don't know if we're starting to see the crumbling bit. I think Goulden and Dawson regress a little bit, so I'll keep looking at going, who's actually going to be in that midfield of mine that is a primo with a bit of value? And, God, there's a lot of question marks at the moment.
00:22:12
Speaker
I'm not overly excited about my squad. Let's move on to the big dogs though, Stado. I'm not overly excited about your squad either. So, LDU was the big dog from last year. Holmes, he mentioned them before. Schiezel was the second biggest. We've talked about him already, three biggest highest averaging, sorry. And then Bailey Scott of the remaining players,
00:22:38
Speaker
is the third highest kangaroo averaging, 86 last year, 85 and a half. Hami, you're shaking your head. The bloke came home like a steam train, 105 average in his last five. That's a fair bit of upside playing on the wing, but you don't like that role as a high scoring consistent player. He's broken out, mate. Move on to the next generation. We want to see the value of players. Okay. Well, there was 20 points upside in that last five games though, mate.
00:23:08
Speaker
He's not going to do it. Fit hard is mid only, Dossy. You guys are looking at Carl Eamon, although I get it. You want the defensive status, but similar bracket, similar upside. Just, just saying. Uh, let's look at the other guys. Super popular in niche fantasy circles. I would say is Jai Simkin. So who wants to talk about Jai Simkin? He's been talked about a lot in our circles. Um, clearly not as highly owned as these other players though, but Jai Simkin.
00:23:38
Speaker
very cheaply priced in the six hundred thousand dollar bracket i'll get his exact price up in a sec but i want to spend seventy four seventy five.
00:23:49
Speaker
He's priced about $74.75 and that's because he's had injured scores and missed chunks of the season. I guess if you're questioning what the upside is at the top end of the market, then this is a guy that's going to have 10 points upside. If you're a little bit uncertain, you can put him in as somebody that doesn't have an early buy, he's going to make your money until you get those people that you are keen on popping. I think he's not a bad stepping stone option. He won't be there
00:24:18
Speaker
as a keeper, but he's still not a bad pick, I don't think. I think he's been talked about a lot in our chat or in various people that I've been talking to just because back a couple of years ago it was him and LDU just getting every cent about his attendance and obviously like he said injuries, mishaps, Simpkin didn't go in there. He's still,
Georgie Wardlaw's Growth and Podcast Conclusion
00:24:38
Speaker
isn't he? Is he co-captain as well? He's right up there in the leadership group. He is co-captain.
00:24:43
Speaker
I mean i think he's he will have the role and if you are can i just always whenever i find him he's burned me as well like i've had a fifteen with him in my squad as well so is one of these guys that does you know occasionally get injured and, can you get these weird things go on so that's the only thing that's holding me back but home is a huge upside for some kid from your end as well.
00:25:04
Speaker
I don't think there's huge upside. I think there is upside. I've spoken about this on the podcast before. I just think with the emergence of LDU and some of the younger midfielders coming through and the way that they're playing through the back line, I think maybe he tops out at 90 to 92, which, yeah, 15 points. Upside is not too bad. It's just whether you want to try and chase a little bit more.
00:25:25
Speaker
All right. Last but not least, cause I won't mention Taran Thomas. We mentioned him before. Apparently he's dealing with a groin is what I've heard. I don't know if that's been out there yet. So let's talk about the last player who I think, uh, Stevie fears of the draft doctors out. I guess the other week had him as his breakout. He's been talking him up a lot.
00:25:45
Speaker
and Georgie Wardlaw for a second year breakout. I've got to say he's one of the most exciting players for me to watch. One of my favorite players already to watch just given his burst of speed out of stoppage. Just the way he attacked the ball in his games that he did play last year.
00:26:02
Speaker
Low time on ground you know room to grow in the center bounce attendances as well plenty of outside stayed a george ward law talk us through if this guy can really take us in that second year to the next level five hundred and fifty two thousand dollars it's a tough price bracket can you go to the next level.
00:26:20
Speaker
Yeah, I'm not as convinced as Steve, I'll be honest. I think he's going to improve this year, but has he got the 30 points that I want for someone that is priced there? That's my worry. I think he's got upside, I think he's going to improve. I just don't think he's going to do Clayton Oliver, or is it Petrarchus, second year numbers, whoever that was that really stepped up. Oliver. Yeah.
00:26:48
Speaker
I just don't think it's got that McRae, I think. Yeah, the thing working against Wardlow at the moment is his mid-only status. We could take a fly to Clayton Oliver, a Jack McRae, a Tim Taranto, a Zach Merritt. They all had forward status in their second season and they all went big. But as mid-only, it's a tough ask. What I'm saying is Steve Fizz, he hasn't got his finger on the pulse that black.
00:27:17
Speaker
He said he knows a king of stable fees, but realistically no one is in the country. All right. That'll wrap up our North Melbourne team preview. Make sure you follow us at Pod Pod AFL on all your social channels and leave a rating and review this preseason to help us out. That'd be great. We hope to see you on our next podcast. We'll be looking at