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Strategy 2026 AFL Fantasy Pre-Season

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No rest for the wicked


We were gifted multiple easy picks in the forward line last season, but I reckon forwards will be very tough to pick in 2026 with a lot of the popular options in 2025 losing their forward status.


A lot of midfielders had very average seasons in 2025 - Butters, Anderson, Green, Steele, Walsh, Serong all averaged below 100. Will any of them bounce back in 2026?


Defenders: Only 8 defenders averaged above 100 (NWM, Sheezel, Whitfield, Rozee, Zorko, Holmes, Sinclair, Ash) then it drops down to Martin (who got injured with 97 ave.) then all the way down to Josh Daicos at 94. I think the biggest question will be: if Nasiah keeps his defender status (he should) will you start him? He will be very expensive.

Rucks: Gawn and English were the best and most consistent rucks over the season (being the only rucks to average above 110). Grundy had a purple patch in the middle of the season where he went bananas. Marshall and Xerri did ok, but were well down from their previous season (Xerri being injured and managed for a portion of the season). Darcy Cameron was the only other ruck that averaged over 100 from the rest. Early days but I reckon a lot of coaches will pick Xerri for how underpriced he is. The big question will be if you have him at R1 or R2 and pick one of Gawn/English/Grundy at R1.



Overall most expensive players on averages (above 110+)

Bailey Smith (116.3)
Max Gawn (113.3)
Marcus Bontempelli (111.3)
Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera (110.8)
Tim English (110.8)
Jordan Dawson (110.2)

Will you start with any of them?
 
Here We Go Again GIF

No rest for the wicked


We were gifted multiple easy picks in the forward line last season, but I reckon forwards will be very tough to pick in 2026 with a lot of the popular options in 2025 losing their forward status.


A lot of midfielders had very average seasons in 2025 - Butters, Anderson, Green, Steele, Walsh, Serong all averaged below 100. Will any of them bounce back in 2026?


Defenders: Only 8 defenders averaged above 100 (NWM, Sheezel, Whitfield, Rozee, Zorko, Holmes, Sinclair, Ash) then it drops down to Martin (who got injured with 97 ave.) then all the way down to Josh Daicos at 94. I think the biggest question will be: if Nasiah keeps his defender status (he should) will you start him? He will be very expensive.

Rucks: Gawn and English were the best and most consistent rucks over the season (being the only rucks to average above 110). Grundy had a purple patch in the middle of the season where he went bananas. Marshall and Xerri did ok, but were well down from their previous season (Xerri being injured and managed for a portion of the season). Darcy Cameron was the only other ruck that averaged over 100 from the rest. Early days but I reckon a lot of coaches will pick Xerri for how underpriced he is. The big question will be if you have him at R1 or R2 and pick one of Gawn/English/Grundy at R1.



Overall most expensive players on averages (above 110+)

Bailey Smith (116.3)
Max Gawn (113.3)
Marcus Bontempelli (111.3)
Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera (110.8)
Tim English (110.8)
Jordan Dawson (110.2)

Will you start with any of them?
Honestly probably none from the 110+ list, if i was to pick one it would be Dawson.
 

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D1 - Nic Newman
 
Players that I'm watching that could be underpriced:
Defenders:
Nic Newman
Dan Houston (if role changes)
James Sicily
Colby Mckercher (if role sticks)
Keidean Coleman (if he's fit)
Jordan Ridley

Midfielders:
Sam Flanders (if he moves clubs)
Hayden Young (maybe but discount wont be great)
Harley Reid
Sam Walsh
Zac Butters (sucks with a tag)
Caleb Serong???? (surely he averages a ton)
Will Day (not falling for this again)
Stephen Coniglio?
George Wardlaw
Errol Gulden (M1 lock for me)

Rucks
Briggs? (doubt it though)

Forwards:
Brent Daniels
Mattaes Phillipou (barring fitness)
Jason Horne-Frances (finally priced correctly)
Dylan Moore?
Elijiah Hollands (barely)
Daniel Curtin
Max King (hear me out, priced at 52 and gets a further 30% discount to a rookie price)

Feel free to add any you'd like or feedback on these
 
Players that I'm watching that could be underpriced:
Defenders:
Nic Newman
Dan Houston (if role changes)
James Sicily
Colby Mckercher (if role sticks)
Keidean Coleman (if he's fit)
Jordan Ridley

Midfielders:
Sam Flanders (if he moves clubs)
Hayden Young (maybe but discount wont be great)
Harley Reid
Sam Walsh
Zac Butters (sucks with a tag)
Caleb Serong???? (surely he averages a ton)
Will Day (not falling for this again)
Stephen Coniglio?
George Wardlaw
Errol Gulden (M1 lock for me)

Rucks
Briggs? (doubt it though)

Forwards:
Brent Daniels
Mattaes Phillipou (barring fitness)
Jason Horne-Frances (finally priced correctly)
Dylan Moore?
Elijiah Hollands (barely)
Daniel Curtin
Max King (hear me out, priced at 52 and gets a further 30% discount to a rookie price)

Feel free to add any you'd like or feedback on these
Cooper Lord if has the same role that he played in the last few games.
 
Will Brodie - Port. (If he gets there)
Not sure how he'll be priced. Hasn't played for ages.
 

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Will Brodie - Port. (If he gets there)
Not sure how he'll be priced. Hasn't played for ages.
Don't quote me on this but the general rule is usually

1. Up to 30% discount based on how many games under 10 they played this year = Will gets 30% discount.
2. Discount is applied to the highest average in the last 2 years = Will hasn't played AFL in the past 2 years.
3. If not applicable, then it applies to the last season they played, which for Will was 2023 when he averaged 67 from 5 games.

So I think from all that he'd get a 30% discount on an average of 67. Which would price him at an average of 47, which in this years salary cap would be equivalent to $480k.

Last time I recall it happening was Sam Naismith, who was absurdly priced because his last season he played like 2 games and averaged 90, despite missing the past few years.
 
AFL Commission were meeting today to talk about rule changes for next year including potentially getting rid of the sub rule.

Hope they do.
Subs already been confirmed gone i think, 5 on the bench though, so rooks will get low TOG anyway.
 

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AFL Commission were meeting today to talk about rule changes for next year including potentially getting rid of the sub rule.

Hope they do.
Lasoo freekick (last touch out of bounds) will have a bearing on chip mark players between the arcs = more +6's, and less hitouts for rucks as less boundary throw ins.
Strongly rumoured to come in eventually.
 
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