Tigers' Fantasy: Lock in star recruit, uncertainty over other gunsSome prized recruits have certainly changed the dynamics at Tigerland but how will it change their Fantasy output?
By Calvin from The Traders
afl.com.au
17 January 2023The Tigers scraped into the final eight last season and in 2023, they will be one of the most discussed teams when it comes to AFL Fantasy.
Before we dive into the new recruits and the other players to write down into your Fantasy Black Book, let's reflect on some standout performances from last season.
Nick Vlastuin (DEF, $798,000) had his best Fantasy season to date, averaging 90. On Draft Day, this would rank him inside the top 15 defenders available.
For the first time in his career,
Toby Nankervis (RUC, $758,000) played the full 22 games, one of only six Tigers to do so. In the past, Nankervis has battled injuries but put that aside last year to average a very respectable 86.
Lock them inExciting news fantasy fans...
Tim Taranto (MID/FWD, $846,000) has held his forward status and will slot straight into the Richmond midfield!
Taranto has been a Fantasy star over the past four seasons, averaging 104, but his role at Greater Western Sydney during that time was somewhat inconsistent.
Taranto only attended 44 per cent of the centre bounces last season, a number that should increase this year, alongside his average of 96.
Track their pre-seasonWhy would we want to track the pre-season of Richmond's most expensive player?
Well… it all comes down to where
Jayden Short (MID, $867,000) is playing.
From round seven onwards last year, Short became a full-time midfielder for the Tigers, averaging 95. The thing is, Short is different to other players and actually scores better in defence, where he averaged 107 in his first six games last year.
If Taranto and Jacob Hopper push him back into defence, then maybe Short has some upside this season.
However, Fantasy track-watchers are already out and about and have seen Short training with the midfield group. Not what we want to hear, but let's keep watching.
Dual-position tempterDue to several unfortunate factors in 2022,
Dustin Martin (MID/FWD, $677,000) had his lowest Fantasy output since debuting in 2010. He averaged 72 across eight games, well below the 81, 94, 97 and 93 in the previous years.
Martin has returned to pre-season training and even though he might spend more time forward this year, the supply from the midfield should be the best it has been in some time.
Bargain basementSelected at No.49 in the NAB AFL Draft,
Kaleb Smith (DEF, $204,000) was the first player Richmond snapped up. Smith is damaging off half-back and averaged 71 in the WAFL Colts.
We can't expect big things straight away, but Smith does have a Fantasy potential and is a name to keep track of for the future.
Bigoa Nyuon (DEF, $200,000) was drafted in 2019 and debuted last season in round nine against Hawthorn when he scored 23. He continued to develop and hone his craft in the VFL last season, playing 17 games to average 59. Will the 197cm defender be called upon again?
Draft sleeperIt wasn't that long ago that
Hopper (MID, $716,000) was averaging 94 as a full-time midfielder for the Giants. He found a new team in the off-season and should join the likes of Trent Cotchin and Dion Prestia in their midfield brigade.
Due to a knee injury, Hopper only played seven games to average 66 and therefore sits outside the top 100 rank midfielders based on average. Bump him up your rankings!
Buyer bewareEven though
Shai Bolton (MID/FWD, $658,000) was Richmond's third most used midfielder last season, where will he fit now?
Bolton averaged 74 and attended 56 per cent of the centre bounces (behind Cotchin and Prestia) but with the inclusions of Hopper and Taranto, alongside a healthy Martin… where will he play now?
Player Position 2022 Average 2022 Games 2023 Price
Jayden Short MID 97.9 22 $867,000
Tim Taranto MID/FWD 95.5 16 $846,000
Nick Vlastuin DEF 90.1 16 $798,000
Dion Prestia MID 89 18 $788,000
Toby Nankervis RUC 85.6 22 $758,000
Jacob Hopper MID 66.1 7 $716,000
Trent Cotchin MID 79.2 18 $701,000
Daniel Rioli DEF 78.4 22 $694,000
Dustin Martin MID/FWD 72.4 8 $677,000
Tom J. Lynch FWD 76.1 18 $674,000
Shai Bolton MID/FWD 74.3 22 $658,000
Jack Graham MID/FWD 74 20 $655,000
Liam Baker DEF/FWD 69.6 22 $616,000
Nathan Broad DEF 69.5 22 $615,000
Kamdyn McIntosh MID 67.8 20 $600,000
Marlion Pickett MID 64.7 18 $573,000
Jack Ross MID 62.5 13 $553,000
Jack Riewoldt FWD 62.3 20 $552,000
Noah Cumberland FWD 63 7 $508,000
Tyler Sonsie MID/FWD 62.7 6 $489,000
Noah Balta DEF/FWD 53.5 17 $474,000
Hugo Ralphsmith DEF 53 13 $469,000
Jason Castagna FWD 52.2 16 $462,000
Ivan Soldo RUC/FWD 48.5 13 $429,000
Dylan Grimes DEF 43.7 15 $387,000
Ben Miller DEF 43.2 10 $383,000
Thomson Dow MID 47 6 $366,000
Maurice Rioli FWD 40.9 14 $362,000
Josh Gibcus DEF 40.5 17 $359,000
Robbie Tarrant DEF 40.3 19 $357,000
Rhyan Mansell DEF 53 2 $357,000
Judson Clarke FWD 42.3 3 $296,000
Kaleb Smith DEF - - $204,000
Bigoa Nyuon DEF 23 1 $200,000
Jacob Bauer FWD - - $200,000
Mate Colina RUC/FWD - - $200,000
Sam Banks DEF/MID - - $200,000
Tom Brown DEF - - $200,000
Steely Green MID - - $200,000
Seth Campbell FWD - - $200,000
Tylar Young DEF - - $200,000
Samson Ryan RUC/FWD - - $200,000
https://www.afl.com.au/news/872548/tigers-fantasy-lock-in-star-recruit-uncertainty-over-other-guns
