And just like that we say goodbye byes and hello to the home stretch of the 2023 fantasy season.
As always plenty to rant and rave about!
15 down, 9 to go, must be time for The Weekend That Was!
Melbourne vs Geelong
Studs
Petracca (125) – Beast mode: Activated. 3 round average of 115 without Clarry there… Perfect start to the round for those who pounced on a VC loop!
Duncan (120) – That’s more like it Duncs! He had always had this scoring prowess in the kit bag… Hopefully his arthritis doesn’t flare up in the coming weeks.
Stewart (100) – Huge on an unfavourable marking night! Stewwy registered 9 marks on the night, the most of any player on the ground with his trademark intercepting game again massive for Geelong.
Duds
Gawn (84) –
Grundy (67) – At one point Grundy had spent 15 consecutive minutes on the bench… $900,000 a season – at least Lollingwood are paying part of it!
St Kilda vs Brisbane
Studs
Sinclair (130) – This man as a midfielder is legit! He was at the coalface all night and coaches who haven’t yet traded in the big-calved beast will be scrambling to get it done this week as his price soars!
Dunks (120) – This was looking like a flat hundo until Dunks put his nose in the trough and buttered up for a couple +6’s in the last five or so minutes. Peak fantasy!
Crouch (116) – If I’m an oppo team, might as well let this turnover merchant have 30+ each week and cash in on his 15 clangers!
Andrews (110) – Saints could have won this game by 20 goals if Andrews was playing for them.
Steele (104) –
Cheers Damo… From now on can you please share your trades each week by Friday’s rolling lockout? Asking for a mate.
Duds
Lester (83) – Yeah decent score Ryan but you get a mention in the duds for flopping around like a Ballerina…
WIndhager (42) – Honestly had no idea Marecus was playing… Says a lot when he occupies a position in the Spuddernauts.
Lohmann (27) – IF you had Lohmann and didn’t have more than 18 playing this week… THEN you might as well delete team.
Sydney vs Worst Coast
Studs
Errol (141) – Hahahaha! Inside the first 5 minutes, Errol had strolled in like a Sunday picnic for the church to register two majors. Incredible to think this could have been nastier!
Heeney, Rowbottom, Warner, Sheldrick, McLean, Papley (various scores >100) – Genuine bloodbath. I mean, how in the f*ck do you allow Hayden McLean to ton up?! Arguably worse than the 170 point drubbing.
Shuey (120) – One of about three blokes who can hold his head high… It was vintage Shue with 28 touches, 5 marks and 8 tackles.
Kelly (107) – You gotta feel for TK a bit here… I guess it was his choice to go but not in a million years could have anyone predicted this seismic fall from grace! Anyway he has probably already wrapped up the BnF. I hear the winner is granted a three game spell as just pulling on the jersey is punishment enough at the moment!
Duds
Mills (64) – ‘sighs‘ Even Stevie Wonder could have foreseen Pills Thrills Mills getting subbed off… But guess who decided to bring him in…? The other blokes on my wish list were all on their bye. Anyway, he’ll be worth a dozen eggs and a pack of blueberries in a couple weeks!
Worst Coast – On the bright side, thanks for making my gauntlet tipping piss easy each week… These guys would find a way to make traffic cones look good.
Freo vs Essendon
Studs
Ryan (143) – 25 kicks and 18 marks! Wowee! Enjoys the open expanses of Optus Stadium as Freo inevitably dick around with the footy, switching at will.
Bray (129) –
Alpha Martin (112) – 5 tons in a row… Time to start taking the Alpha Martin seriously! A huge win for those draft owners.
Hobbs (105) – For many coaches running with a lopsided bye structure, Hobbs was the man to bite the dust… Those who held have been handsomely rewarded with a nice ton and bulk $$$$!
Duds
Parish (83) – Perhaps a little harsh but the facts are we are coughing up over $900K for you, Darce. Lift.
Young (61) – Couldn’t find his willy for a wee let alone find the sherrin on a 165x130m grass field.
Collingwood vs Crom
Studs
Dawson (172) –
N.Daicos (115) – Spent the first eight mins on the bench… As it turned out, it didn’t matter! All of his touches seemed to turn to gold for the Pies – those criticising his ‘easy’ accumulation off half-back have gone preeeetty quiet now!
Laird (111) – Desk Pig was a little handball happy with 21 of his 31 touches coming in +2’s… It didn’t stop him from tonning up. Jet!
Mitchell (109) – After a slow start to 2023, Mitchell has lifted astronomically over the past six weeks! Not quite the premium bacon of old but the man still knows how to fantasy!
Duds
Cox (64) – Actually a pretty good score by your standards, Mason. Just don’t act like a yanker (yes, pun intended) and resort to pushing and shoving an opponent after you kick a goal… Brave for a bloke wearing goggles!
Crisp (56) – Mmmm… At least he keep his consecutive games streak going?
Gold Coast vs Hawthorn
Studs
Day (116) – Yes sir! After an average six week patch, Day benefitted from the suspension of the sic Dawg buttering up down back for plenty of +6’s and kick-ins! Hopefully the role remains for at least the next two weeks.
Fiorini (115) –
Mitchell (91) – Solid as a rock Seamus! Another 24 touches and 6 marks to the reliable youngster. Good cover for anyone owning Whitfield or still needing to field a rook or twelve.
Duds
Rowell (68) – Hahaha how I got roped into selecting this pale ranga is anyone’s guess. Shut the door on the way out, Matt!
Humphrey (36) – The kid has been excellent but the end of the byes should also symbolise the end of the Bear’s run in your team. Has been pushed out of the midfield mix the past fortnight and today it showed!
The Juggernaut Review
1911.
Imagine your last twelve trades going towards planning for the final of the bye rounds, only to drop (another) 1,500 spots in the ranking and go owen two for the weekend. In all honesty, it all boils down to some utterly piss poor decisions at the trade table from the fat headed guru that is yours truly!
Bringing in Mills this week knowing full well he would likely be on reduced minutes and drop another $50K… D’oh!
Bringing in some red-headed clown to help out with ‘bye structure’… D’oh! Newsflash: It doesn’t really matter about bye structure if the scores being put up are barely counting to your best 18…
Anyway, around the grounds we saw some matchups consisting of squads with actual fantasy ability come right down to the wire, including the below:
Just a hunch but I think M.Rowell may feature in a ‘rage trade’ or twenty for Dave and his ‘Kakadu Knightriders’! Great contest gents we love to see it!
So finally, the byes have come and gone. Hopefully you have traded tactfully over the month to give your squad a nice launching pad heading into the final nine weeks! It now gets to the stage of the season where coaches are no longer running with rooks on field (hahaha must be nice!) and will be optimising their on field players. I would strongly encourage looking at fixtures and upcoming match ups when splitting hairs on close trade calls – It could be the difference when it comes to the pointy end of the season!
So how did we all go in round 15? Flex your score in the comments below!
Best of luck next week legends!
Yours in fantasy,
Fantasy fanatic #70
Fantasy Fanatic 