It’s getting towards the pointy end of the season, so AFL Fantasy captain selections are as important as ever! Here are my top picks for Round 17.
Vice-Captains
Thursday night presents the two best VC options for the round, but the question is, who do you pick? Taranto and Gulden face off in Thursday night footy, and I don’t think you’ll need to find a captain later in the week if you pick either of them. Tim Taranto had his first score below 100 for the season last week, only scoring 80 points. However, that is only one week out of 15 he has played and I think he bounces back and is the safe VC option this week with what he has done this season, but I want to take him on…
Errol Gulden is my top VC option this week. A three-round rolling average of 127, consisting of scores of 128, 145 and 108. Last week against the Tigers, Neale and McCluggage both did as they pleased in the midfield, collecting 34 disposals each and scores of 127 and 116 respectively. It’s a friendly matchup for the young piglet, and I am backing him in to outscore Taranto tonight…
Read our forward mid-pricers discussion about replacing Fyfe
Read who’ll likely get DPP additions after Round 17
Captains
If you back one of the aforementioned two VCs in and it doesn’t go how I think it will, there are some other good options floating around later in the week. Read my top picks for Round 17 below.
- Jordan Dawson
I got it horribly wrong last week having Laird above this man. He is quite simply their number 1 midfielder now, and as safe as anybody to captain week in, week out. I don’t think he is getting enough recognition for the season he is having. Averaging 115.8 for the year. 3 round rolling average is 137.7. 5 round rolling average is 135.2. Of his last 5 scores, only one has been below 128. We talk about wanting our premiums to have multiple avenues to score, well Dawson is the perfect example. Averaging 31.6 disposals, 6.6 marks and 8.6 tackles in the last 3 weeks. Superstar. Both in fantasy, and football in general.
- Marcus Bontempelli
Averaging 130 in his last 3 and 122.8 in his last 5. 11 tons in his last 12 weeks. Including scores of 148 and 158. The superstar has finally become a genuine AFL Fantasy premium this year. Collingwood have started allowing teams to score much more freely against them recently, including allowing Dawson to score 172 and Anderson to score 123 in the last 2 weeks. Expect Bont to perform again this week, just like he has all year.
- Nick Daicos
How lucky have we been this year in fantasy? 2 defenders averaging over 114 is unbelievable. And so is how good this kid is. Tag or not, it doesn’t matter, this son of a gun will get it done. Midfield, half back. Still doesn’t matter, but expect him to stay in the midfield this week after his 36 disposals, 10 tackle effort last week. The dogs don’t, and wont, tag. Nick will do his thing again this week. 150 last week, 5 tons in a row. Lock him in to your team for the next 12 years everyone, whether he keeps defender status or not. We are witnessing the next Gary Ablett Jnr.
- Adam Treloar
Since Treloars return from injury 4 weeks ago, he hasn’t dropped below 110 and has a top score of 130. These last 4 games have all been at Marvel, where he plays this week. Last year against the Magpies, Treloar scored a massive 134 against them and as mentioned above when talking about Bontempelli, they have started allowing teams to score much more freely against them in recent weeks. Only owned by 1.4% of teams, Treloar could be a perfect POD Captain option this week for his owners.
- Lachie Neale
He’s back. 6 tons in his last 7 games. 2 of those have been 120+. We know what he is capable of on his day, with 3 140+ scores last year alone. He has the matchup we look for this week, taking on West Coast. At the Gabba. With no Josh Dunkley to take disposals off him. Last week we saw Crouch score 137 in this match up, and Neale is going to be the one taking full advantage this week.
