Prelim finals time… where only the alphas (and some lucky bustards!) remain! Who’s on the chopping block heading into round 23? Get your trade tips and advice for the week with with Buy, Hold, Fold!

BUY

Nic Newman ($897K DEF, CARL) – 138

The lid is well and truly of with Nic Newman. He has a three round average of 133.3 and goes into match ups vs Gold Coast and GWS (under the roof @ Marvel) whom he had 95 and 116 on earlier this season! He is also enjoying a greater portion of kick-in duties in the absence of Mitch McGovern who will miss at least this week and maybe next week.

Tom Green ($889K MID, GWS) – 118

Greeny back at it with the bulk fantasy points after a three week hammy! The better news? You can now pick him up at only 18% ownership and it won’t break the bank to get back to him. He has 110+ scores vs Essendon and Carlton whom he happens to be coming up against the final fortnight.

Luke Jackson ($777K RUC/FWD, FREO) – 103

As per usual, relishing the opportunity as the standalone ruck man at Freo in the absence of Sean Darcy. He goes into a nice matchup this week with Port Adelaide at Optus who notoriously give up bulk points to ruckmen… Even Rhys Stanley dined out on a 105 vs Port two weeks ago which bodes well for Jacko!

In the Mix: Hayden Young, Matthew Crouch, George Hewett.

HOLD

Brad Crouch ($908K MID, STK) – 67

Well… That was very out of character. Crouch never really got going vs the Tiges but should be fine the next couple weeks. Keep calm and hold!

Adam Treloar ($863K MID, WB) – 72

You and your mate Hack Jack Macrae survive purely due to the fact that you are playing West Coast AND Libba is out. Should be a big opportunity to fill his boots under the roof @ Marvel!

Josh Kelly ($782K MID, BWS) – 73

It’s average, very, very average. Rage trade worthy in my opinion! However, Kelly should be fine over the next fortnight with fixtures between Essendon and Carlton whom he tonned up against earlier this season!

In the Mix: Hack Marecrae, Tom Stewart, Caleb Serong.

FOLD

Lachie Neale ($806K MID, BL) – 80

This may seem harsh but at this point of the season we can’t be tolerating a five round average of 85 from one of our top-line premos. His matchups in Collingwood and St Kilda look okay but his form is poor and he didn’t ton on either of these sides earlier this season!

Tom Liberatore ($875K MID, WB) – 22

Ouch! Finally copped some attention in the form of Finn Maginness but then proceeded to pole drive his head into an opposition shin leading to a concussion. At this stage of the season, you can’t justify holding for the week! Get him up to a big dawg.

Caleb Daniel ($707K DEF/FWD, WB) – 63

0 kick-ins and 9% CBA’s… The role is all over the shop and you couldn’t trust Bevo as far as you could throw him! Bevo dicking around with the magnets like it’s a chess board – Tim f*cking English even took a kick-in at the weekend. Christ almighty, anyway long story short is he needs to go.

In the Mix: Callum Mills, Marcus Windhager, Tim Kelly.

Top 5 Price Rises

• George ‘Lleyton’ Hewett ($604K MID, CARL) +$67K
• Nic ‘Punchable head’ Newman ($897K DEF, CARL) +$59K
• Karl Amon ($780K MID, HAW) +$58K
• Jai ‘The Nuke’ Newcombe ($800K MID, HAW) +$50K
• Jason ‘Horney Horn-Dawg’ Francis ($577K MID/FWD, PA) +$53K

Top 5 Price Drops

• Darcy Moore ($531K DEF, COLL) -$52K
• Cody Weightman ($484K FWD, WB) -$52K
• Jack Gunston ($470K FWD, BL) -$50K
• Yakub Wehr ($382K MID, GWS) -$48K
• Joshy Dunkley ($891K MID/FWD, BL) -$47K

Lowest Breakevens

• Brandon Ryan ($261K FWD, HAW) -5
• Eli Tsatas ($363K MID, ESS) -3
• Dante ‘Exum’ Visentini ($237K FWD/RUC, PA) -2
• Bailey ‘Macca’ Macdonald ($252K DEF, HAW) -2
• Jimmy ‘Simon’ O’Donnell ($234K DEF, WB) 0

Highest Breakevens

• Nick ‘Whisper’ Daicos ($894K DEF/MID, COLL) – 173
• Jordan Dawson ($992K DEF/MID, CROM) – 152
• Tom Liberatore ($875K MID, WB) – 150
• Joshy Dunkley ($891K MID/FWD, BL) – 146
• Adam Cerra ($828K MID, CARL) – 141

So who’s on the chopping block in your squad? Share your early trade thoughts in the comments below!