Round 21… The dawn of fantasy finals! Plenty of coaches will be moving on to bigger and better things next week but for others it’ll be a case if coulda, woulda, shoulda as they launch into Mad Monday (not exactly a terrible outcome!).

As always, plenty to unpack!

21 down, 3 to go… Must be time for The Weekend That Was!

Western Bulldogs vs Richmond

Studs

Bont (151) – 3 votes… M.Bontempelli (or Bonempalli as Brian would say).

Libba (133) – Actually elite. Still criminally under-rated in fantasy circles but the fact is the man is always at the coalface, always! It lends itself to big scoring and Libba is on a ton run with four in a row!

English (131) – Ruck yeah Timmeh! Kicking off ruck round with a bang. He just seems to float effortlessly across the ground… Gotta feel for Nank and co. trying to run around with him on the night!

Duds

Sm(n)iff (68) –

Rioli (51) – Okay in Dan’s defence, he did play on with a pretty sore ankle but this is finals football in fantasy land! Time will tell if this one hurts that little bit more.

Essendon vs West Coast

Studs

Merrett (128) – Never. In. Doubt. Whilst the actual result was in serious jeopardy, Merrett dominating under the Marvel roof was basically inevitable. Best part about this big ton is that he only needed 29 disposals to get there!

Parish (113) – Merrett’s partner in crime was looking at 125+ at HT… He did slow a little but did enough to justify his selection from coaches looking for an ‘easy’ matchup!

Kelly (112) – Actually huge. He almost single-handedly got the Weagles home in Q4… You wonder why Essendon didn’t have an opponent in the same postcode!

Witherden (106) – I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Weagles high uncontested mark game lends itself to inflated scoring from the defensive group! Six of the Eagles top seven markers in the game are genuine defenders.

Duds

Hobbs (55) – Benny Knobbs doing bullshit jobs.

Beta Martin (52) – Riddle me this: Since my ‘PODzilla’ article about three weeks ago, Martin has gone 91, 67 and 52 – WTF man why you gotta do me like that??? Coincidence? I think not!

Adelaide vs Gold Coast

Studs

Crouch (120) –

Witts (108) – Been an elongated period between ‘studs’ for Wittsy – he’s been solid without being outstanding after a uuuuge 137 in R1!

Duds

Keays (75) – Cannot be held any longer now. Keays has been well and truly pushed out of the mid rotation and the resurgence of Crouch only hinders him further! Trade, trade, trade.

Rowell (73) – 16 disposals, 14 contested?! Now Matty, I know you’re hard as a cats head but it would appear you are would rather drink your own wee than get a cheap outside possie.

Hawthorn vs Collingwood

Studs

Sic Dog (160) – Hahaha holy f*ck. Any non-owners (yep… me included again *facepalm*) well and truly behind the pack this week! 37 disposals and 19 marks in a ridiculous display for the Sick!

Day (106) – Day for it! Was on the chopping block of many a coach over the past month but has three tons over this period to be a safe D5/D6 at present! He’s always had this in him and the Hawks will be stoked with his improvement.

Duds

Mitchell (41) – Things have just gone from bad to worse for Titch owners over the past month… Sub, subbed out, now an injury – surely you didn’t hold?

Daicos (37) –

Geelong vs Port Adelaide

Studs

Butters (130) – Better Butters! And looooong overdue mind you. He waits until a tough fixture to make it happen but the cream rises to the top in fantasy finals!

Gryan Messi (117) – Wizard. Another 5 goal assists… An absolute defenders nightmare when he get the ball 60-70 out – he can just about pick out anyone from anywhere!

Rozee (109) – Yes sir! Just about the safest ton going around – make that an impressive 11 on the trot.

Duds

Houston (46) –

Battle of the Bridge

Studs

Green (141) – Green, green, grass alright – came back in having not missed a beat after a three week hammy. 38 disposals (20 contested) and 10 tackles – massive! Low key under-priced.

Errol (132) – Beastly. I can’t really think of any chinks in this blokes armour when it comes to fantasy! He racks up bulk possies, he marks, he kicks snags, he tackles when needed despite playing predominantly wing – what fantasy dreams are made of.

Pills, THRILLS, Callum Mills (117) –

Briggsy (114) – Dead set legend for coaches on the canvas about 10 weeks ago looking for an under priced ruck. He has averaged 97 and added about $300K to his starting price.

Duds

Berg (73) – Any team with Berg remaining is behind the pack, and boy doesn’t it show when virtually none of our big dawgs have stinkers! Frustrating for coaches who have been stuck with forced trades and Berg’s military mediocrity as a result.

Kelly (71) – Just no where near good enough. Particularly for coaches who were relying on Jelly as a unique in an elimination final! Sayonnara 2023!

Cumming (56) – Okay many saw Isaac as an overachiever in 2022 but I don’t think many saw this drop off Cumming.

Norf vs Melbourne

Studs

Ziebell (138) – Vintage. Soak it in coaches, Jay-Z is retiring at seasons end so if you want to watch a professional pocket kicker and 60m bomber in action, do yourself a favour over the last three weeks!

Petracca (108) – Not a high scoring fantasy games for the Dees but Trac keeps the ton streak going, making it 10 in as many starts!

Duds

Xerri (59) – For coaches impaired enough to go back to Xerri Island – all it deserved!

Sheezel (53) – Sheezus christ that sucked. Got off to an okay start but proceeded to sh*t the bed in no uncertain terms. Was this the difference in your knockout final?

St Kilda vs Carlton

Studs

Wood (153) – Woody! Despite being of very little relevance, deserves some credit for ensuring the Saints did not cop a blow out defeat.

Newman (142) – Very punchable head but had Nate Jones froffing from multiple orifices with a kicking efficiency of 90. Well done chief.

Crouch (126) – Literally packed up and went home a 3QT and still managed 126! Bonkers from B.Crouch but this is what he is capable of on his day.

Acres (117) – Wow, imagine doing a Saints and making this two-time reject look $1m.

Marshall (116) – Set ‘n’ forget: The ability to lock a player into your side and not have to worry about their scoring, durability or anything in between. Exactly what we are getting from Marshall!

Hewett (105) – Coaches well back in the pack fielding a mid-price Hewwy and copping a ton whilst other writhe in pain with the likes of Steele shitting out a 59. This game is just downright unfair sometimes!

Duds

Sinclair (83) – 49 points halfway through Q2 and then manages a measly 34 for the rest of the game… Pox!

Steele (59) –

Curnow (50) – On the plus side, Tex will be happy.

Freo vs Brisbane

Studs

Jackson (149) – Ho hey! Big Jacko finishing off the round with a 24 touch, 44 hit out game! Once again, a ruck man thriving on the #1 mantle.

Serong (125) – Since his R1 score of 83, Serong has a lowest score of 94… Incredible for a guy who was seen as merely a value selection to start the season! He has earned his keep as a season long keeper.

Young (119) – Well, well, well… It would appear that over the past fortnight Young has made his way into the midfield rotation! This obviously makes him an enticing proposition for the coming three weeks. Is her in your plans to finish the season?

Zorko (109) – After making a miraculous recovery midweek after complaining of bilateral ruptured testicles, Dorko played an uncharacteristic ballsy game with 20 touches, 10 marks and 5 tackles.

Duds

Dunks (81) – Not season shattering but also far from ideal from a guy who is realistically just better than this!

The Juggernaut Review

Game, set, match – Smartmen! Sicily and Bont > John’s Juggernauts.

Don’t ask me why I didn’t have either of these two jets. For some reason, I didn’t foresee one of the best players in the comp elevating to Brownlow fancy and an intercepting defender in a struggling team strutting around taking intercept marks and kick-ins for fun.

Anyhow, we march on to two prelim finals in my other leagues… No time to put the feet up though the name of the game is maximising points and improving ranking as much as possible over the coming three weeks!

With Daicos out, the silver lining may be that we see a few more unique selections in match ups which is ultimately where it is all won and lost! I think for me it may be a simple case of eating my words and bringing in the Sickest of dogs.

So how did we all go in the first week of fantasy finals? Flex your score in the comments below!

Best of luck next week legends!

Yours in Fantasy,

Fantasy fanatic #70