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1 – Smith v ADEL
@ Adelaide, THURS 7:30pm

Scored 154 on the Crows in round three
Form – 126, 97, 157 and 127 and has scored
100-plus in his last four at AO
No MID has hit 100 v Adelaide in last three games

2 – Gawn v COLL
@ MCG, MON 3:15pm

Scored 123 solo last week
115 and 122 on the Pies last year and then… 106, 148 and 126
Max Heath in?
Teams named Sunday

4 – Merrett v CARL
@ MCG, SUN 7:20pm

Coming off 109 and 148
Vs Carlton last year – 115 and 79
Has copped tags in the past – Hewy?
MIDs Vs Carlton – Smith 126, JHF 124 and Butters 97

4 – Butters v WCE
@ Optus, SAT 8:15pm

WCE 4th easiest team for MIDs
Form – 97, 122, 109 and 112
Tagged v Eagles in Rd.3 = 86
Hough or Duursma an issue?

5 – Sheezel v FREO
@ Hands Oval, SAT 2:15pm

Last three v Freo – 131, 121 and 127
119 in Bunbury last year (WCE)
Form – 121, 93 and 127
Freo #4 hardest for MIDs – tough!

Nick Daicos v Melbourne

Daicos does sit at No. 6 for me this week and Ed Langdon is the reason he sits this low. He scored 103 and 86 against the Demons last year and he copped the Langdon-tag on both occasions. Surely it happens again. Daicos has scored 6×120-plus in his last seven at the MCG and is flying at the moment with 109, 126 and 102 in his last three games. The tag is a concern – however, Langdon hasn’t tagged this year, but they have used Tholstrup. Either way… it’s happening!

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Quick Links

Game 1: Crows vs Cats |
Game 2: Hawks vs Dogs |
Game 3: Roos vs Dockers |
Game 4: Suns vs Lions |
Game 5: Eagles vs Power |
Game 6: Swans vs Saints |
Game 7: Bombers vs Blues |
Game 8: Pies vs Dees

Thursday – Early news

Early News: Some more DT relevant news heading into Round 13. Hayden Young, Jordan Ridley, and Sam Durham all look set to return, while Sydney could regain both Justin McInerney and Callum Mills. Nic Newman is expected to play despite undergoing finger surgery earlier in the week. Caleb Serong will miss a third straight game and Connor Rozee remains sidelined with ongoing complications from his hamstring injury. Hawthorn’s Will Day is expected to play again but is still likely to be on managed minutes. On top of Hugo Hall-Kahan (DEF/MID $230k) already being announced for Adelaide, we have three more debutants confirmed for Round 13. Jai Murray will make his debut for Gold Coast, Mitch Podhajski gets his chance for Collingwood, and Luker Kentfield will debut for Melbourne.

LOCK HIM IN. ?? Luker Kentfield is set to make his AFL debut on the Big Freeze stage against Collingwood.

?? | https://t.co/9uTvce5Z6h pic.twitter.com/YSCaQB1LVq

— Melbourne Demons (@melbournefc) June 4, 2026

JAI IS IN!!!

Read more: https://t.co/6GctXVsnPW@PeopleFirstBank pic.twitter.com/1e6vOvOISv

— Gold Coast Suns (@GoldCoastSUNS) June 4, 2026

?? Pods to play! ??

Mid-season draftee Mitch Podhajski is set to play in Monday’s Big Freeze clash against Melbourne ??

?? More: https://t.co/xJULKS3ids pic.twitter.com/ESUi9dERZQ

— Collingwood FC (@CollingwoodFC) June 4, 2026

Wednesday – Early news

Round 13 is here, and with only the Giants and Tigers on the bye, it looks like the easiest of the bye rounds to navigate. Early News: Hugo Hall-Kahan (DEF/MID $230k) mid season draft pick will debut for the Crows, while it has already been confirmed that Izak Rankine is officially out. Other news to keep an eye on includes Nic Newman, who recently underwent finger surgery. Carlton is hopeful he will be available this Sunday, but there is some risk around his selection. Keidean Coleman has suffered a hamstring injury and will miss at least five weeks. Sam Durham should be available again after clearing HIA protocols. As most would already be aware, unfortunately Sam Flanders has been ruled out for the season with an achilles injury. Justin McInerney is a test this week after the ankle injury he suffered last round. Note there is a Monday game this week, so official team selections for that match won’t be confirmed until late Sunday afternoon, around 24 hours before the bounce. The traditional Big Freeze match will once again raise awareness and funds for FightMND. Following the recent passing of Neale Daniher, this year’s event will carry even more significance as the AFL community comes together to celebrate his remarkable legacy, courage, and tireless work in the fight against motor neurone disease.

Just seven days after being selected in the Mid-Season Rookie Draft, Hugo Hall-Kahan will make his AFL debut on Thursday night ??

Full details: https://t.co/Pg0xZuFEza pic.twitter.com/g5MAQNVFYz

— Adelaide Crows (@Adelaide_FC) June 2, 2026

Important times to remember

Thursday game teamsheets ~6:20pm AEDT Wednesday

Friday/Sat/Sun game teamsheets ~6:20pm AEDT Thursday

Sunday extended bench selection ~5:00pm AEDT Friday

GAME 1: Adelaide Crows vs Geelong Cats

Thursday June 4 – AEST: 7:30pm Adelaide Oval, Adelaide 🌦🌙

Notes: Wet conditions are expected in Adelaide, with a very high chance of showers during the evening. Hugo Hall-Kahan will make his debut for the Crows and should be a popular downgrade option this week, particularly given his handy DEF/MID status and Round 12 bye. Reports suggest he will effectively replace the injured Isaac Cumming, who is expected to miss some time with a hamstring injury. Unfortunately, despite reports the injury wasn’t as bad as first thought, Izak Rankine didn’t quite get up for this one. Taylor Walker also returns for Adelaide.

GAME 2: Hawthorn vs Western Bulldogs

Friday June 5 – AEST: 7:40pm MCG, Melbourne ☁🌙

Notes: Cloudy conditions are expected at the MCG, with showers most likely earlier in the day and winds easing by the evening. Rookie Bodie Ryan is back in for the Hawks, while rookie Lachie Jaques is out for the Dogs if for some reason you still have him.

GAME 3: North Melbourne vs Fremantle

Saturday June 6 – AEST: 2:15pm Hands Oval, Bunbury ☀

Notes: A unique venue this week, with Hands Oval in Bunbury hosting its 2nd AFL premiership match. Expect more of a country footy feel than the usual AFL venue. Conditions look ideal for football with sunny skies forecast and temperatures between 6°C and 19°C. An interesting inclusion is Zac Fisher who could shake up some roles. As reported, Hayden Young is back for Freo. Bench cashcow Scerri has been dropped.

GAME 4: Gold Coast Suns vs Brisbane Lions

Saturday June 6 – AEST: 5:15pm People First Stadium, Gold Coast ☀🌙

Notes: Mostly sunny conditions are expected on the Gold Coast. Clear conditions are likely by game time, making for ideal football weather. The Q clash! As reported, Jai Murray will debut. Rookie Zeke Uwland has been dropped again. The big news here is that Hugh McCluggage is out injured.

GAME 5: West Coast Eagles vs Port Adelaide

Saturday June 6 – AEST: 8:15pm Optus Stadium, Perth 🌙

Notes: Clear conditions and light winds are forecast in Perth for Saturday night football. If you have Cooper Duff-Tytler sitting on your bench you’ll be happy with his inclusion. Josh Sinn has been dropped for new recruit Brandon Starcevich. Tom Anastasopoulos, who was a popular downgrade target, has been dropped, and so has Jack Watkins if for some reason you still have him.

GAME 6: Sydney Swans vs St Kilda

Sunday June 7 – AEST: 3:15pm SCG, Sydney ☀

Notes: Make sure you check Sunday extended selections at ~5pm on Friday. Mostly sunny conditions are expected during the day, with a slight chance of a shower developing later in the evening. Light winds are forecast. Brodie Grundy is back in after a rest, but the small red flag is whether Peter Ladhams will be included as a second ruck, so check the final bench selections. Callum Mills and Matt Roberts are also back for the Swans. Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera is finally back from injury for the Saints. We already knew Sam Flanders was out injured. There are also some possible debuts here, so keep an eye on selections.

GAME 7: Essendon vs Carlton

Sunday June 7 – AEST: 7:20pm MCG, Melbourne ☁🌙

Notes: Make sure you check Sunday extended selections at ~5pm on Friday. Partly cloudy conditions are expected for Sunday night football at the MCG. Darcy Parish is out injured for the Bombers. Wade Derksen could be a decent defensive rookie option if named after final selections. Mason Redman and Sam Durham are back in as expected.

GAME 8: Collingwood vs Melbourne

Monday June 8 – AEST: 3:15pm MCG, Melbourne ☀

Notes: Monday teams finally released. The annual Big Freeze match raises funds and awareness for Motor Neurone Disease in honour of Neale Daniher and FightMND. Mostly sunny conditions and light winds are forecast. Mitch Podhajski and Luker Kentfield will both make their AFL debuts as expected. Wil Parker has been omitted for Collingwood.

“`

The purpose of this article is to suggest one-week streaming options for draft leagues. Each week, I compile a team of lowly owned players (<40% ownership) that are worthy of a one-week pick-up-and-play, helping you fill any gaps you may have in your starting squads.

But first, let’s see how I went last round:

HITS

Cam Mackenzie (100) – he’s in some decent form and Day’s return certainlty hasn’t stifled him at all. He’s a hold until further notice as this kid has always had some fantasy potential (that he may now be realising).

Jake Waterman (96) – delightful. You all know that you have to stream decent key forwards against Essendon by now.

Harry Himmelberg (80) – it’s not a massive hit, but it’s fine for your D4-5 slot, as this was high highest score for the year, surprisingly. Feel free to turf him during his bye though.

Elijah Tsatas (82) – we probably wanted to see more from him given the Eagles matchup, but is still a hold while he’s playing.

MISSES

Nick Bryan (46) – how does a ruckman who played 76% game time score this poorly against West Coast?

Well the Shoe-in, AKA Jake Lloyd, scored in the 50s, but aside from that slip-up, I had a pretty good week with no harmful misses outside of Nick Bryan, which is just baffling to me.

Here are the lowly owned players that I like as stream targets for Round 13 (ownership % taken from AFL Fantasy):

DEFENDERS

Jai Serong (24%) vs. St. Kilda – I’ve been loving this guy as a stream this year, mostly because of his high floor but also because of his 90+ potential. With the Saints to come, one of his 90+ scores is definetely a chance.

Lachie Cowan (5%) vs. Essendon – with a 3 round average of 80, Cowan looms as a nice pick against some sloppy opposition this round. I saw the 21 year old play live last week and he was one who certainly contributed meaningfully to the win over the Cats.

Logan Evans (8%) vs. West Coast – we’ve seen the scoring potential from this guy with 2 100+ scores already this year. Defenders of all sorts get a nice scoring bump against West Coast, and with Bergman and Rozee out of the team, Evans has a nice avenue to scoring. I’m going to call him a total Shoe-in, despite his low ownership!

MIDFIELDERS

Massimo D’Ambrosio (28%) vs. Western Bulldogs – it’s a nice matchup for wingers here, which is bolstered by Mass’s 3 round average of 87. He makes for a perfect Friday night loop-hole options as well.

Elijah Tsatas (25%) vs. Carlton – he simply needs to be owned more than he is, especially with Caldwell set to miss some time. The matchup isn’t amazing for Tsatas here, but I can see him playing on the ball quite a bit and he’s a bit of a magnet.

Blake Acres (16%) vs. Essendon – I went to the Blues came last week and sat in their members, and man, is this guy much maligned. He had a pretty decent return game, however, and with Essendon on deck, fairs to score handsomely this week.

Steele Sidebottom (12%) vs. Melbourne – Sidey is playing a bit of everything at the moment, but it’s mostly flank/on the ball roles and this could be favourable for his scoring against the Dees given recent history. He’s looking pretty washed if I’m to be honest, but I reckon he could pull one out for the King’s birthday.

RUCK

Nick Bryan (22%) vs. Carlton – yes, he was a dud pick last week, but I’m keeping the faith with Bryan. He’s  rucking solo (with some help from new key forward, Ben McKay) and I imagine he’s still finding his feet at the top level after his extended period missed through injury.

FORWARDS

Ben King (5%) vs. Brisbane – shockingly, the Lions have become a plus matchup for key fowards, so if you can overlook his past 2 scores of 24, King could be a sneaky good punt in your deep leagues. The Lions defensive line is in tatters at the moment, just sayin’.

Will Hayward (26%) vs. Essendon – this guy has a last 3 average of 90 and is only 26% owned? What are people doing? Pull your finger out of your arse and make sure this guy isn’t a free agent in your league when he faces Essendon this week.

Pat Lipinksi (31%) vs. Melbourne – this is a sweet matchup for general forwards, and we all know that Lippa can go big when the cards fall his way. Shallow league players could do much worse than to field this guy.

Alright, that’s all from me, and you know the drill. Get me on X, as I don’t see the comments once the weekend starts!

Adios.

This is the easy one right?

So just the two teams on the bye this week which supposedly makes this the easy bye. But of course there are things to we need to navigate to get through this round.

Of course we have the Giants and the Tigers on the bye. There aren’t really any Tigers we are going to have in our teams apart from the rookies and realistically they are all in a position that you could trade them if you wanted to. We know that the key is to have 18 premiums on field and you should be able to comfortably do that without any Tigers.  Now as for the Giants, yes we will be missing a few like Whitfield, Ash, Greene and Callaghan.

But, let’s add to that the other issues we have.  Sam Flanders is the main issue that most of the competition have this week as many of us were planning on holding him throughout the rest of the season. We are also missing Izak Rankine who was going to be a very popular trade in this week and now we are also missing him too. So, this is where the game starts to get interesting as people need to start looking at different players. This is where all those people that say “but everyone has the same team” start to come unstuck.

So who to go to? Well this is also an issue because traditionally we only like to trade in people that have come off their byes. But no doubt everyone has Harry Sheezel and this leaves Christian Petracca as the other one so if you don’t have him then bring him in. However, after that things get pretty thin.  Are you game enough to take the Horney One? Jason Horne-Francis. It could be a risk as he hasn’t been the most consistent this season. In SuperCoach, I would be staying away. However, in AFL Fantasy I would be willing to take a chance on him as he has a reasonable BE and he also has a reasonable matchup against the Eagles. Beyond him, Touk Miller is another option, however the concern that I (and many others) have is that we are now going to see the big three Suns in the middle with Petracca, Anderson and Rowell which means we are simply unaware of what this is going to do Miller’s points.

The main players that I would be targeting from this week would be Petracca, Sheezel, Dawson, LDU, Xerri (although wait a bit on him due to BE), Anderson and Rowell. Now yes, I have probably forgotten someone here but they are the ones that would be at the top of my list.

Can we break the rules?

Well I think we can. Back in the day when we had the 6 teams on byes we used to not want to take someone that had their bye still to come, and broadly that is the rules that we still want to live by. However, this season we have the 5 week bye period and we have a max of 4 teams on the bye at any given time. The reason that this would allow us to break the rules is twofold. Firstly, with just the 4 teams (apart from this week’s 2) on the bye we still have plenty of players to choose from. Secondly, after this first week of byes, we only have 4 teams to choose from if we are going to only take people that have had their bye and the way it has worked out, the players that we most likely to want we probably already have, or there is no one that is of any interest to us in that group of players.

Last week I traded in Bailey Smith, yes I knew he would have a bye coming, but I also knew I wanted him in my finished team and he was attainable for me. Those points that he will get me before he has his bye would more than outweigh the other players that I could have taken. Plus, being the first bye week it was get someone on their bye that week or with one later.  Whilst it can be a good play to downgrade and save money to attack next week, don’t forget it is a points game and cash in the bank doesn’t earn you any points!

Alert! Alert! Alert!

This is one of those things where the AFL are just simply taking the p155. I mean, for a game on Saturday, teams have to name their final squad on a Thursday night. For Sunday games they have to name their final team on a Friday night after a squad on Thursday. So it makes sense for a Monday game that we would get a squad on Friday and a final trimmed team on the Saturday.  But no, Old mate Dillon says, nope, you can wait til Sunday night for any names whatsoever.  I mean, does he not realise that Fantasy footy carries this sport and if not for fantasy footy, no one apart from hopeful Eagles fans and absolute die hard Bombers fans would have watched that wind swept abomination last Sunday night or if not for us then the viewership of the blockbuster Dreamtime at the G game with Richmond and Essendon would have had no viewers.

What is the point of this rant? Well it is to make you aware that if you are counting on any fringe players from Collingwood or Melbourne we won’t have a definitive answer on whether they are playing or not until Sunday.

Now AI tried to tell me that teams are out tonight with the squad trimmed on Sunday and if that is the case then fantastic, but I simply don’t trust it. One of the articles it linked was one from this very website written by Warnie but it was from 2023, so not sure what sort of Crystal ball the Dawg has but hey, who knows.

Things To Remember

• Our aim is to keep upgrading our teams rather than just side swapping (Yes looking at you here Xavier Ellis). But given the spread of byes it is a little more palatable but not ideal.
• Don’t forget those team announcement times. Just don’t rely on a fringe player from Monday’s game. Thankfully with it being just two teams on the bye we should be ok.
• Keep a watch on those later byes and make sure you have enough playing.

Thanks for reading my ranting and raving again this week folks. My main message is keep upgrade cadence going (shoutout to the SupercoachCoach guys who were amongst the first to use that term) and to keep an eye looking forward to the tricky last couple of bye rounds.  See you all next Thursday.

Congrats team, we’ve reached the halfway point. In one of the more testing AFL Fantasy campaigns to date, our weekly trade focus once again includes an injury to a popular premium as we gear up for the ‘easy’ bye round. If you rookies score the same way they did last round, then it will be hard for us to top 1,800 with our favourite downgrade targets in Jack Ison (29) and Charlie Banfield (39) failing miserably. These score fluctuations can hurt, but don’t let the underperforming rookies force you to overpay for premium players. We still need balance.

To help achieve that, I’ve tweaked the structure of the article moving forward – grouping rookies by the decisions we actually need to make, rather than just their positions. Cash cows will still play a vital role in the second half of the season, so don’t neglect them entirely as we look to pay up for the Jordan Dawsons of the world ahead of Round 13.

Rookies/cash cows are typically defined as players priced at $400,000 or lower to commence the season

Cash Cow King – Round 12

The premier vote-getters put forth strong efforts in Round 12, with three scores in particular standing out. No offence to Jai Serong, who continues to have a stellar season, but MID/FWD’s Jagga Smith and Milan Murdock as well as Rising Star favourite Willem Duursma were the rookies generating all the buzz. Getting 90+ scores from a trio of cash cows in the bye rounds was a massive boost and hopefully there are more impressive rookie numbers on offer this weekend.

Rising Star favourites and mature-aged wonders dominate the group of nominees this week!

Who gets your vote as the most important cash cow in Round 12? #AFLFantasy

— SportsbyFry (@sportsbyfry) June 2, 2026

Back ‘Em In

Stick With ‘Em

To be clear, the rookies in this section can absolutely be moved on if it helps you facilitate an upgrade. For example, Richmond pair Sam Cumming ($459K, 54, BE 44) and Patrick Retschko ($579K, 45, BE 48) would have been fielded by most of their owners on the weekend, yet there’s a fair chance neither score counted among your best 18. The Tigers rank dead last for total Fantasy points this season, making it difficult for Cumming and Retschko to rack up enough of the footy to become genuine bye-round contributors. It pains me to say it, but I’m putting Josh Lindsay ($681K, 63, BE 71) in this category as well.

By no means is he a must-trade, and depending on your structure, you may need to lean on him for another fortnight. However, the West Coast defender has essentially made all the money he’s going to make and cashing him out is a move I’m strongly considering this round. Last week, it was Leo Lombard ($513K, BYE, BE 41) who was a popular trade-out, with nearly 15,000 coaches pulling the trigger. If you’re still holding Lombard, you could keep him around in the hope of a few more 60+ scores, although I still think moving him on is the correct play.

Key position types Toby Murray ($464K, BYE, BE 47) and Mitch Edwards ($438K, 64, BE 23) could also be cashed in if your finds are drying up. You may be able to squeeze a few extra dollars out of them, but they’ve effectively done their job and there’s no guarantee either of them will produce a best-18 score during the byes. We were hoping popular downgrade option Charlie Banfield ($349K, 39, BE 9) could provide exactly that, although his lacklustre outing last Thursday now has us concerned. I’m still bullish on the Saints youngster, but with several teammates nearing a return, another quiet performance could leave him vulnerable when the teams are announced later this week.

If you didn’t buy into Banfield, then perhaps you’re one of the 7,000 coaches who are adding Thomas Anastasopoulos ($292K, BYE, BE -1) to your mix. He’s a reasonable downgrade choice who has already had his bye, although I’m not convinced that the Port small forward will keep pumping out 50+ scores every week. Still you can hide behind a negative breakeven and a matchup with West Coast this weekend. Harry Kyle ($318K, 57, BE 15) is another cash cow earning consideration after his debut last weekend. While a score of 57 looks encouraging, he was one of Sydney’s lowest scorers against the Tigers and the pending return of Callum Mills could see him be a one-hit wonder rather than a long-term solution.

Cash ‘Em Out

On a weekly basis, this section will be the shortest as most of these players are obvious trade-out candidates. For example, Sam Grlj ($560K, 53, BE 65) is the 4th most traded out player this week, but I assume that the majority of coaches reading this have already dealt the dashing Tiger, so there’s no point rehashing his prospects. The same could be said for Lachie Jaques ($529K, 44, BE 78), Tom Blamires ($579K, BYE, BE 68) and in more recent times, Angus Anderson ($511K, 49, BE 53). That trio should be ditched instantly if you haven’t already given them the flick.

Adelaide duo Lachlan McAndrew ($751K, BYE, BE 84) and Brayden Cook ($686K, BYE, BE 82) saw their ownership plummet last week and their price tags are now at a point where you can turn them into genuine premiums without much fuss. There is a world where you hold onto them if you didn’t pull the trigger during their bye, but both have already made a stack of cash and done exactly what we asked of them. All rookies need to go at some point, right? Jack Carroll ($639K, 72, BE 66) and Michael Sellwood ($516K, 45, BE 62) have reached that stage too. Both rooks have done exactly what we asked of them, and cashing them in now will generate some handy funds for upgrades elsewhere.

On the cheaper side of things, rookies such as Paddy Cross ($361K, 25, BE 32), Ty Gallop ($393K, 37, BE 40), Harvey Johnston ($308K, 48, BE 8) and Bailey Macdonald ($272K, 46, BE 7) remain on the outside looking in when it comes to preferred trade targets. None of them have done enough to convince me they’re worth prioritising at the trade table, and there are more established cash cows still available. For now, this quartet are players that I’m happy to ignore.

Reserves Report

Here is a list of the most noteworthy fantasy scores we saw from potential cash cows in the reserves around the country over the weekend.

Joel Fitzgerald, Demons – 152 points, 40 disposals, 6 marks, 6 tackles, 1 goal
James Tunstill, Lions – 118 points, 29 disposals, 7 marks, 5 tackles
Jakob Ryan, Magpies – 113 points, 33 disposals, 5 marks
Billy Coutee, Swans – 107 points, 27 disposals, 6 tackles, 1.1 in front of goal
Jack Ough, Giants – 105 points, 33 disposals
Max Heath, Demons – 17 disposals, 33 hitouts, 1 goal
Oliver Wiltshire, Cats – 91 points, 19 disposals, 7 marks, 3.1 in front of goal
Lachlan Carmichael, Bulldogs – 89 points, 24 disposals, 6 marks
Will McLachlan, Lions – 89 points, 11 disposals, 6 marks, 7 goals!
Alex Dodson, Saints – 88 points, 17 disposals, 29 hitouts
Caleb May, Bulldogs – 88 points, 11 disposals, 38 hitouts, 1 goal
Tobyn Murray, Dockers – 87 points, 13 disposals, 7 tackles, 2 goals
Mitch Podhajski, Magpies – 84 points, 10 disposals, 7 tackles, 2.4 in front of goal
Zane Zakostelsky, Lions – 83 points, 14 disposals, 23 hitouts, 6 marks, 1 goal
Tom Burton, Tigers – 82 points, 21 disposals, 9 marks
Sam Swadling, Magpies – 78 points, 18 disposals, 6 marks, 1 goal
Finlay Macrae, Eagles – 73 points, 18 disposals, 6 tackles
Oliver Francou, Eagles – 72 points, 19 disposals, 7 tackles
Wade Dersken, Blues – 72 points, 16 disposals, 8 marks
Bodie Ryan, Hawks – 66 points, 20 disposals, 5 marks
Marcus Herbert, Eagles – 64 points, 23 disposals

Q & A

The weekly Q&A section aims to address the biggest rookie/cash cow issues that we are facing. If I don’t get to your answer in the article, I promise I’ll answer it on Twitter – and as always, you can drop your follow-up questions below.

Hey Fry

Would you buy into a newbie rookie like Fitzgerald or Hubert at $230k or pay up for Ison or Banfield?

I’m thinking best 18 means the newbie cheap rook is better play for next 4 rounds if the saved cash can be used elsewhere?

— Neil (@Lefty113) June 2, 2026

Usually, I want to wait a week on $230K players to see how they fit into the system to avoid buying into a 1-2 week wonder (shoutout Harrison Oliver) – however, the byes allow us to take a bit more risk. With added trades to utilise each week, we can save a lot of extra coin by going straight to the bottom instead of paying an extra $120k-$130K for the likes of Banfield and Ison. If the rookie you’re buying is going to be on your bench once the byes conclude anyway, you can probably afford to bite the bullet and go the $230K guy – just make sure you don’t get stuck with a bench full of dead weight when Round 17 rolls around.

I’m stuck on trades so just looking at dead rooks. Who goes first-Harrison Oliver or Charlie Edward’s?

— Pax (@tellmemorepal) June 2, 2026

Charlie Edwards goes first. I’m not convinced that he will play again this season, while Oliver could at least see an AFL field again.

Fitzgerald surely debuts right

— libertarian West ozzy (@centristozzy) June 2, 2026

He’ll force Steven King’s hand eventually with the way his VFL numbers are stacking up! Remember, he won’t have the same license to roam and do whatever he likes when he (hopefully) makes his AFL debut. That doesn’t mean we won’t all jump aboard, but I don’t think Fitzy will become Tom McCarthy 2.0. I’ve been wrong before though…

Hi Fry, the million dollar question for you Can you please rank the following mid season draftees: Artemis, Fitzgerald, Herbert and Hall-Kahan (just named to debut) and would you launch straight away at any of them if named? Thanks

— Olivier Calvi (@oliviercalvi06) June 1, 2026

As I kind of talked about above, there’s a world where you can launch into all of them as soon as they are picked. Of course, there’s a higher degree of risk involved, so if I had to rank them, I would legitimately rank them in the order you listed them – Artemis, Fitzgerald, Herbert, Hall-Kahan. That’s based on how I perceive their role and scoring record to translate to their respective AFL sides, but the more news that filters out closer to their first game will help us paint a clearer picture.

Remember the Name

In no particular order, here are some of the other rookie-priced players to consider throughout the season.

DEFENDERS

Dylan Patterson (Suns, $334K)
Oskar Taylor (Giants, $294K)
Jaxon Artemis (Bombers, $230K)
Lachlan Carmichael (Bulldogs, $270K)
Cooper Simpson (Dockers, $340K)
Matt Whitlock (Kangaroos, $230K)
Harrison Ramm (Power, $268K)

MIDFIELDERS

Harry DeMattia (Magpies, $230K)
Josh Smillie (Tigers, $230K)
Luke Urquart (Kangaroos, $230K)
Adam Sweid (Dockers, $254K)
Joel Fitzgerald (Demons, $230K)
Tyan Prindable (Magpies, $230K)
Luke Beecken (Lions, $230K)
Ollie Greeves (Hawks, $230K)
Ben Camporeale (Blues, $230K)
Marcus Herbert (Eagles, $230K)
Oliver Francou (Eagles, $230K)
Sam Swadling (Magpies, $230K)

RUCKMEN

Aidan Schubert (Hawks, $262K)
Kayle Gerreyn (Bombers, $230K)
Harrison Coe (Magpies, $230K)
Caleb May (Bulldogs, $230K)

FORWARDS

Sid Draper (Crows, $307K)
Jesse Dattoli (Swans, $273K)
Finlay Macrae (Eagles, $293K)
Mitchell Marsh (Crows, $266K)
Mitch Podhajski (Magpies, $230K)
Jay Polkinghorne (Cats, $230K)

After picking up TPP last week, Sam Flanders becomes an issue for coaches as he will miss the rest of the season with an Achilles injury. The Traders debate the best trade for the Saint while looking at the strategy of bringing in Crows, Suns, Roos and Port players coming off their bye.

Click here to download.

Head to fantasy.afl.com.au or download the app to make your trades.

Episode guide

0:30 – The Traders’ round 12 scores.

7:30 – Crypto.com Trade of the Week

8:50 – Votes for the Cash Cow of the Year.

10:50 – News of the week.

16:15 – Giants and Tigers bye.

19:20 – Targets from Crows, Suns, Roos, Port.

39:20 – Can you buy players with a bye to come?

41:35 – Most traded and The Traders’ early moves.

44:00 – Questions from social media – follow @AFLFantasy on X, @aflfantasy on Instagram and like the Official AFL Fantasy facebook page.

– – – –

Find more from Roy, Calvin and Warnie.

Head to afl.com.au/fantasy for more content from The Traders.

Like AFL Fantasy on Facebook.

Follow @AFLFantasy on Instagram.

Follow @AFLFantasy on X.

Find the podcast

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• OMNY
• AFL.com.au

Click here to listen on Spotify.

Click here to listen on Apple Podcasts.

Audio replay of the game-by-game wrap as part of the Lockout Lift LIVE show on our Patreon.

Join our Patreon and watch Lockout Lift LIVE from 3QT of the final game of the round! You can get the full show with some extra fun as live video or podcast on either the $5 or $10 tier. We have a ball doing it, come along for the ride.

Head to patreon.com/dttalk to sign up today. We recommend using the website rather than the app to avoid the extra iOS charges.

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1 – Smith v CARL
@ MCG, FRI 7:40pm

Form – 97, 157 and 127
132 on the Blues last year
MCG this year – 127 and 124
MIDs v CARL – Horne-Francis 124, Butters 97… Sanders 102, Bont 92… Neale 124
Weather: 20% chance of showers

2 – Daicos v Dogs
@ Marvel, SAT 7:35pm

136 on the Dogs last year (MCG)
Marvel last year – 140, 137, 102 and 129
Flag – his foot he had scans
Dogs rate as #3 hardest for MIDs

3 – Merrett v WCE
@ Optus, SUN 7:20pm

Weather – windy & 90% of rain (10-20ml)
Form – 148, 96, 111 and 111
Scores v WCE – 81 last year… then 111, 110, 128, 111, 118 and 132
The Eagles #4 easiest for MID
Hough tag?

4 – Bontempelli v COLL
@ Marvel, SAT 7:35pm AEST

Vs Collingwood – 159, 114 and 119
Form – 107, 92 and 143
Loves Marvel

5 – Heeney v RICH
@ SCG, SAT 1:15pm

Rich #2 easy for MIDs
102, 127, 90, 105 V Rich in the past
Form – 98, 98, 92
 Scores v RICH – Merrett 148, Parish 129, Macrea 125, Hall 114, Rankine 162, Dawson 133.

Calvin’s Captains – Top 10 (Round 11)

Not my best effort – but a few were nailed. Let’s hope we have heaps more this week.

1 – Brodie Grundy 80
2 – Archie Roberts 106
3 – Zach Merrett 148
4 – Nick Daicos 126
5 – Bailey Smith 97
6 – Harry Sheezel 121
7 – Marcus Bontempelli 107
8 – Dayne Zorko DNP
9 – Zak Butters 97
10 – Luke Jackson 93

Keep your eye on Bailey Dale this week against the easiest team for Defenders to score against – Collingwood. He should have a day out against the Pies and recently we have seen similar players to Dale so with ease such as: Duggan 110, McCarthy 100… Blakey 146… Humphries 104… Amon 113 and Impey 105. He scored 106 last week – plus he had 93 and 123 in his lasttwo against the Magpies.

Click here to download.

– – – –

Find more from Roy, Calvin and Warnie.

Head to afl.com.au/fantasy for more content from The Traders.

Like AFL Fantasy on Facebook.

Follow @AFLFantasy on Instagram.

Follow @AFLFantasy on X.

Find the podcast

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• Google Podcasts
• OMNY
• AFL.com.au

Quick Links

Game 1: Saints vs Hawks |
Game 2: Blues vs Cats |
Game 3: Swans vs Tigers |
Game 4: Lions vs Dockers |
Game 5: Dogs vs Pies |
Game 6: Dees vs Giants |
Game 7: Eagles vs Bombers

Thursday – Early news

Round 12 is here, with the first mid-season bye round meaning no games this week for the Crows, Suns, Roos, or Power. Thursday teams were already announced last night, with the main change seeing Will Day return for the Hawks, although they do lose cashcow Bodie Ryan. Tim English is confirmed to return for the Dogs, although there is a small red flag with ruck rookie Caleb May (RUC $230k) also debuting.(NOTE: Hes only named as Emergency). Harry Kyle (DEF/MID $230k) will debut for the Swans. Nick Daicos has been given the all clear to play this week. Big injury news with Dayne Zorko potentially sidelined for as long as six weeks with a quad injury. Tanner Bruhn will return for Geelong against Carlton on Friday night. Izak Rankine has also been listed as TBC with a calf injury.

Important times to remember

Thursday game teamsheets ~6:20pm AEDT Wednesday

Friday/Sat/Sun game teamsheets ~6:20pm AEDT Thursday

Sunday extended bench selection ~5:00pm AEDT Friday

GAME 1: St Kilda vs Hawthorn

Thursday May 28 – AEST: 7:30pm Marvel Stadium, Melbourne 🏢🌙

Notes: Indoor night game. Will Day returns for the Hawks, while popular cashcow Bodie Ryan has been omitted after just one game. Finn Maginness has also been dropped. For the Saints, Alix Tauru and Isaac Keeler are back in.

GAME 2: Carlton vs Geelong Cats

Friday May 29 – AEST: 7:40pm MCG, Melbourne ☁🌙

Notes: Partly cloudy conditions are expected for Friday night football at the MCG. Tanner Bruhn returns for the Cats, while downgrade option Wade Derksen has been omitted for the Blues. Jacob Weitering and Blake Acres are back in for Carlton.

GAME 3: Sydney Swans vs Richmond

Saturday May 30 – AEST: 1:15pm SCG, Sydney ☀

Notes: Mostly sunny conditions are forecast in Sydney. Peter Ladhams replaces the managed Brodie Grundy for the Swans, while Harry Cunningham and Hugo Kyle are also back in. The Tigers regain Dion Prestia, while Liam Fawcett gets another opportunity.

GAME 4: Brisbane Lions vs Fremantle

Saturday May 30 – AEST: 4:15pm Gabba, Brisbane ☀

Notes: Sunny and warm conditions are expected in Brisbane. The big news here is that Dayne Zorko is not named as expected. Cody Curtin remains in the side, while cashcow James Tunstill has been omitted.

GAME 5: Western Bulldogs vs Collingwood

Saturday May 30 – AEST: 7:35pm Marvel Stadium, Melbourne 🏢🌙

Notes: Indoor night game. Outside the stadium, Melbourne is forecast to be partly cloudy with a very high chance of showers, most likely in the afternoon and evening. Tim English returns for the Dogs, although rookie ruck Caleb May is only listed as an emergency. Angus Anderson is back in for the Pies.

GAME 6: Melbourne vs GWS Giants

Sunday May 31 – AEST: 3:15pm TIO Traeger Park, Alice Springs ☀

Notes: Make sure you check Sunday extended selections at ~5pm on Friday. Sunny and warm conditions are expected in Alice Springs, although the unique ground conditions at Traeger Park can sometimes impact scoring and gameplay. A few important inclusions here with Lachie Whitfield, returning for the Giants, although there may still be some risk of a late out for Whitfield.

GAME 7: West Coast Eagles vs Essendon

Sunday May 31 – AEST: 7:20pm Optus Stadium, Perth 🌦💨🌙

Notes: Make sure you check Sunday extended selections at ~5pm on Friday. Wet and windy conditions are forecast in Perth, with a very high chance of showers and damaging winds possible. Sam Durham, Mason Redman, and Jye Caldwell are all out injured for the Bombers. Elijah Tsatas is an inclusion, but has been named on the extended bench.

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Cal’s Scale of Hardness an essential tool to be great at this game that helps you gauge the upcoming challenges for a team or player. It has been used by Darren Carr the 2023 winner… Matt Mottram the 2022 winner and x3 hat champion – and if it’s good enough for them… it’s good enough for us.

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