We have a lot to talk about this week! Ranging from how a few post-round talking points resulted, the surprise retiring of a club star, the results of my first Twitter poll and the highest individual Fantasy score so far in 2019! Let’s start with the post-round talking points, which you may have seen over on Twitter earlier this week.
I ended up trading in Gaff and Dunkley, while holding Walsh. Happy with Gaff’s score (126) however Dunkley (77) and Walsh (76) could’ve been better. Hoping they bounce back next week! My decision to bring in Gaff was partially based on the results of my first poll that I ran on Twitter this week.
I’m happy with the engagements of this tweet, 30 votes isn’t too bad for a first poll on a relatively new account! And the voters got it quite right! I now know that my best chance at connecting with my target audience is via Twitter.
The biggest talking point after Round 9 is the absolutely superb performance of Lachie Whitfield, who scored a phenomenal 190 Fantasy points! Before we talk more about Whitfield’s perfect game, let’s list the AFL’s nominees for Player of the Round:
Mitch Duncan (GEEL)
Brodie Grundy (COLL)
Dustin Martin (RICH)
Lachie Whitfield (GWS)
The overall best player in Round 9 was without a doubt Lachie Whitfield, but that’s not to take away from the other nominees. Their performances would all be worthy of being the best if it weren’t for Whitfield! Duncan and Grundy have been superb all year round, and both I would highly recommend being in your side. Dusty also had what may be his first performance of the year that matches his 2017 Brownlow form.
Now let’s talk about Whitfield’s game. 40 disposals, 18 marks, 3 goals, and 190 Fantasy points. That, to me, is beyond a perfect individual game of football. The fact that it was against the current weakest side in the competition (Carlton) and that it was also a 93 point win should not take away from how incredible this was for an individual performance. I should also mention that this was his first game back after being off two weeks with an injury! I decided to hold him over this period and it is one of the best decisions I have ever made in AFL Fantasy.
Despite Whitfield’s 190 this week, I still think Grundy or Duncan will be most likely to carry their form into next week. The Giants just have too many players who can take over a game, next week it may be Coniglio, Taranto, Cameron, Kelly, Greene… the list goes on and on. Grundy and Duncan have both almost tonned in each of their last 4 matches, Grundy finishing on 99 in Round 7. They’re currently the two form players of the competition, although Whitfield is likely to join them. If I had to pick one though it would be Grundy, who is up against the Callum Sinclair and the Swans next week. The Swans have given up very high scores to rucks so far this year, and I will personally be keeping the Captaincy on Grundy for the foreseeable future.
Amongst all the excitement this week in the Fantasy community, there was some sad news coming out of the Western Bulldogs. Tom Boyd retires at the age of 23, who will forever be hailed as a premiership hero at the Dogs and a near Norm Smith medalist. All the best Tom in your future endeavours, and congratulations on a great career.
Inside AFL 