Every club has its stars and its… guys who are good to have in the locker room. But as fantasy coaches those are the important guys to us. It’s not the 10, 15 or 19 guys we know are locks for the team; it’s the last one that we agonise over, and in hind sight makes us wonder what-if we’d selected differently. Be it age, role, job security, injury history or just not liking the player, there are plenty of reasons why we may hold or fold on a player when we shouldn’t.
So without further ado, here’s a very unqualified opinion on that last keeper of each team who may have raised the eyebrows (or at least caught the interest) of other coaches:
Lochie Fogarty (Puttenesca Chiefs) – I could talk at length about Charlie Constable, but see last season’s write up and the same will apply (noting that Charlie Constable has now moved to said team that values his potential). Fogarty was a pre-season hype of 2021, and largely delivered on that for the Puttenesca Chiefs. His 67 from 16 games was admirable, including a 120 pt game in round 3 and an 83 in the final home and away game. So arguably not so contentious. However he was in and out of the team last year, and with the additions of George Hewett and Adam Cerra, he’s no lock for best 22. Also Fogarty is the Chiefs 6th forward keeper, where they only have 4 defenders, and an All-Australian in Shannon Hurn is sent back to the pool. This may be the right long-term call as there is a 12 year age gap between the two, however in a win now window, time will tell if this was the right call.
Eligible Suitors: Hugh Greenwood, Shannon Hurn, Paul Seedsman, Bayley Fritsch, Trent Cotchin
Last Seasons Contentious Call: Charlie Constable
Deven Robertson (Defenestrators) – The signs of a fantasy game are well documented from his junior games, but the question is really will the kid get a game? A pure mid in a team that is already stacked at midfield and is pushing for a flag, doesn’t leave Robertson a lot of room to move. There is a world where Robertson doesn’t play a game in 2022, and for a team coming off a premiership, would a James Sicily or Issac Smith have been better suited in their win-now window?
Eligible Suitors: James Sicily, Ryan Burton, Ben Cunnington, Issac Smith, Tom Hawkins
Last Seasons Contentious Call: Daniel Rich
Daniel Rioli (Soloman’s Soldiers) – Once again, a strong top to tail list makes this difficult to pull apart. But Rioli is the one that stands out, especially as he’s their only keeper predicted to average below 60 by Ultimate Footy. A perennial small-forward he was reinvigorated as a running defender late in the season with a last 5 games average of 78 in this role. The question now is, will Richmond persist with this role, especially with players coming back and a need for Richmond to adapt their game style to stay in the hunt for a flag? Also given the strength of the players the Soldiers are cutting, they could easily select a number of other players with proven history of higher scoring and more certainty of role (such as those listed below).
Eligible Suitors: Zach Tuohy, Ben Ainsworth, Kane Lambert, David Swallow, Zak Jones
Last Seasons Contentious Call: Luke Jackson
Jake Bowey (Roughnecks) – A mini-rebuild has from the Roughnecks may raise a few eyebrows, and Bowey may be the most surprising of the lot. Playing 4 games, Bowey dished out a whopping 54 pt average across the season. However all 4 were the last 4 games of the season, and he held his spot to add a premiership medal to his cabinetry. Drafted pick 21 in the 2020 AFL draft, he certainly has talent, and by all accounts is a beautiful kick of the ball. I won’t begrudge the Roughnecks taking a punt, I just didn’t see it coming.
Eligible Suitors: Liam Shiels, Daniel Howe, Scott Pendlebury, Liam Baker, Jeremy Howe
Last Seasons Contentious Call: Liam Shiels
James Jordan (Love Sparkles) – I really wanted to write this about Will Brodie, as his demise gives me great joy after years of being on my list and never delivering. But this year looks probably more promising than ever. So I turn my attention to a player who averaged 70 across 21 games, including an injury affected 8 in round 20, which may have been what cost him a spot in the grand final side. All this at the age of 21, some may not see this as contentious at all. The problem is that Melbourne’s midfield is already stacked, and the addition of Luke Dunstan only compounds that issue. Breaking into a premiership side is never the easiest thing to do, and they won’t be gifting spots to their youth, so plugging into the best 22 may be a battle JJ fights all season.
Eligible Suitors: Luke Shuey, Lachlan Bramble, Matthew Kennedy, Rory Lobb, Jesse Hogan
Last Seasons Contentious Call: Brayden Sier
Thomas Highmore (MaherShalalHashBaz) – Some coaches may not have realised Highmore is even an AFL player, let alone a keeper. Playing 12 games in 2021 at an average of 61 won’t scare too many opposition coaches, however he did finish strongly playing 6 of the last 9 games. With Coffield going down with injury there is potentially a spot for the 24 yr old, however the Saints are flush with backmen, so it remains to be seen who feels the squeeze. But to his credit, he is more of an interceptor defender which sets him apart somewhat from the raft of half-back types, and he did get a 110 in round 13 showing if he can perfect that role, he could be quite fantasy friendly. I’ll bite.
Eligible Suitors: Ed Curnow, Joe Daniher, Tom Hickey, Charlie Curnow, Tom Atkins, Joel Selwood
Last Seasons Contentious Call: Charlie Curnow
Sam Menegola (Te Puke Pukekos) – I successfully picked all of coach Nelson’s keeper selections and I think that’s because they all made sense. That doesn’t mean there weren’t a few interesting calls, and Menegola is the one that stands out. Bounced around the league until he landed at Geelong, who when finally given a shot, dominated at the wing position and has remained there ever since. At 29 yrs of age, he defies the Pukekos draft strategy of 2021, which saw them pile on the rookies like they were going out of fashion. Looking at this keeper list though, I think they are primed to be in the window to make a deep finals run and hence holding Sam Menegola compliments that nicely. 2021 post-season knee surgery has delayed his pre-season and may not have him 100% by round 1, which is his only dilemma. The Pukekos will need to figure out which way their team is going and holding Menegola might just be the indicator. Plus he’s rated as an elite player by Champion Data, so that counts for something (Wait a minute while I bump Sam Switkowski up my draft order! Gotta get me some of that elite talent).
Eligible Suitors: Lance Franklin, Josh Kennedy, Jacob Weitering, Darcy Tucker, Rhys Stanley
Last Seasons Contentious Call: Sam Philp
Matthew Flynn (Lethal Vipers) – This is a 3 horse race and someone is going to come up with a juicy ruck role! The GWS midfield has long been one of the best midfields serviced by one of the slowest ruckmen in Shane Mumford. Retiring more times than Farnsy, Mumford is now finally out of the picture (maybe) and a void exists at ruck for GWS. At the start of 2021, that void was filed by Matt Flynn, who shared the load with Mumford to a tune of a 70 pt average across 12 games. Injury struck the 24 yr old and GWS elected to play Kieren Briggs (in what I assume was a ‘what do we have to lose’ scenario). With Preuss fit (at least until the next stiff breeze comes along) does he take the lead ruck role? Can they tandem each other through the year or do they play a two ruck lineup? Do they throw a Briggs amongst the pigeons? Who knows, but this more than many looms to be a boom or bust pick.
Eligible Suitors: Jed Anderson, Finlay Macrae, James Aish, Peter Wright, Angus Brayshaw
Last Seasons Contentious Call: Rory Atkins
Riley Bonner (Taxmanian Devils) – Dubbed the ‘Snelling’ of the 2021 draft by a rival coach, the much maligned and oft-criticised Bonner is a keeper, which is the first step in the success of a second round draft pick. However to remain on this list, he will need to show the potential that saw coach Bernardi draft him so high, and there is no better opportunity than 2022. With the addition of former Devil Trent Dumont, and Josh Sinn and Lachie Jones slated for half-back roles, it remains to be seen if there is a squeeze for spots. But Bonner has the runs on the board and a betting man would say it’s his to be taken. A selection that is not without its question marks, albeit less than Snelling (and he turned out fine, so what do I know).
Eligible Suitors: Dion Prestia, Sebastian Ross, Luke Dunstan
Last Seasons Contentious Call: Will Snelling
Tom Cutler (Feelin Dusty) – I have to admit, this one took me by surprise. At first glance I just assumed coach Jaye liked players with fabulous abs (this may still be true, just unconfirmed). Or he may just like players who spend all their time in the VFL. After bouncing around different teams and between the AFL and VFL, Tom Cutler may have found a spot in an AFL side at last. Playing out the last 10 games as a defender, Cutler looked… good with two 90+ games in his last 3. With Heppell slated to move to a wing a defender role may be Cutlers for the keeping in 2022. It is worth noting several proven mids were tossed to the draft pool, each only a handful of years older than the 26 yr old with significantly better job security. Additionally a buyers beware is that Cutler has looked good in various roles in the past, only to find himself also looking good in the VFL the following week (did I mention how good looking this guy was…)
Eligible Suitors: Tom Liberatore, Nic Naitanui, Nick Vlastuin, Travis Boak, Brandon Ellis
Last Seasons Contentious Call: Cam Guthrie