Position 2026 AFL Fantasy Forwards

[tigs2010]

Is Sheezel value at 109 (88 without the 5000 he scored against Richmond ) Soft opening run and likely to outscore everyone else in the top 6-8 by 10-25.

Does Trac get enough mid time with Rowelk & Anderson?

Flanders probably lock of the year.

If WC can do us a solid and give bulk mid minutes to Dev and Finlay Macrae we cpuld possibly ignore this line for awhile.

 

[Tex Danger]

I think I’ll go sheezel because of mix of draw, no bye, gulf to next best

Does give me docherry vibes of 1 year he was similar and I planned not to pick him but got swayed but the talk of he’s so much better tha D2 you have to get him and not picking him was absolutely the better option.

It’s rare that 110 guys end up must have in hindsight so at least need open mind to passing on him

My draft 1 will have him but open minded to look at options if I think the team as a whole may be better for taking him on

 

[BennyFC]

Forward line is tough this year - at this stage in pre-season it looks like they have the worst rooks, only one obvious premo (Sheez) and all of the value options are pretty risky. At the moment I don't trust any of the fwd rookies on field, so running mid-pricers all the way from F2 to F6.

The options I'm looking at:

Flanders - Priced at 68. Obvious pick, no further discussion needed.

Philippou - Priced at 58. This entirely depends on getting midfield minutes, will be a terrible pick if he's playing primarily as a forward. Reports in preseason have been very promising. You'd expect the top 3 bananas to be NWM, Flanders and Macrae - is Philippou 4th banana? Preseason watch on Garcia, Windhager and Hall

Connor MacDonald - Priced at 68. Averaged 121 in the Coates Talent League as a midfielder, behind only Nick Daicos (for players picked up by AFL teams). Hasn't had much of a run through the middle in his first four years. Day and Worpel out = opportunity, and reports are that he is getting bulk midfield minutes in preseason. Top 3 bananas would presumably be Newcombe, Nash and Ward - is MacDonald 4th banana? Preseason watch on Cam Mackenzie, Butler and Hustwaite

Sam Lalor - Priced at 54. Averaged 90 in the Coates Talent League in 2024, nothing spectacular. Looks in great nick in the preseason and most Best 23s on the Richmond forum have him as 3rd banana behind Taranto and Hopper. How does Prestia impact his CBAs? Does he have the tank for a full-time mid role? What is his mid/fwd split? Could easily be 25 points of value.

Joel Freijah - Priced at 71. Was given a little bit of opportunity to run through the midfield in 2025 and looked good, but was 5th banana behind Libba, Bont, Kennedy and Richards. A lot of Best 23s in the Doggies forum have him in the starting midfield 3 this year (along with Bont and Richards). Has he usurped Kennedy? What are Libba (maybe halfback rotation) and Treloar doing? Could be a breakout, fully expect his ownership to grow across the preseason

Sam Draper - Priced at 70. Pretty simple in my opinion - great pick if he solo rucks, terrible pick if Fort is named. Showed that he has an ability to score in late 2024/early 2025.

Bailey Humphrey - Priced at 68. Averaged 38% CBAs last year and seems unlikely that will rise dramatically in 2026 given the addition of Petracca. I'd back him in if he could get that CBA rate up to 50%+, I think he'll eventually be a star mid.

Reidy - Priced at 37. No brainer if he is named IMO, but seems like a toss up between him and Pittonet at this stage

 

[Cm Perfect]

Cheers, that's a great breakdown. At the lower-end of mid-pricers there's also Budarick, Todd Marshall

4

Todd Marshall

Age

27

Ht

198cm

Wt

94kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

9.0

2star

K

6.4

3star

HB

2.5

2star

M

3.3

3star

T

2.5

4star

G

1.1

4star

D

8.9

2star

K

7.1

3star

HB

1.8

1star

M

3.8

4star

T

3.0

4star

G

1.1

5star

D

9.6

3star

K

5.6

3star

HB

4.0

3star

M

3.0

3star

T

2.4

4star

G

1.6

5star

(both playing in defence) and even Jamarra who is super cheap and has WCE & Richmond first up before his bye - R0 watch.

Wonder what's going on with Zane Duursma at North too, DEF/FWD at rookie price - probably role/JS dependent though.

 

[BennyFC]

Todd Marshall

4

Todd Marshall

Age

27

Ht

198cm

Wt

94kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

9.0

2star

K

6.4

3star

HB

2.5

2star

M

3.3

3star

T

2.5

4star

G

1.1

4star

D

8.9

2star

K

7.1

3star

HB

1.8

1star

M

3.8

4star

T

3.0

4star

G

1.1

5star

D

9.6

3star

K

5.6

3star

HB

4.0

3star

M

3.0

3star

T

2.4

4star

G

1.6

5star

is an interesting one - was apparently even taking kick-ins today? Seems wild to me, surely Rozee and Farrell take them. He's definitely a pre-season watch.

 

[Tex Danger]

Todd Marshall is an interesting one - was apparently even taking kick-ins today? Seems wild to me, surely Rozee and Farrell take them. He's definitely a pre-season watch.

Surely he’s more a kpd style who pops 40-50

 

[BennyFC]

Surely he’s more a kpd style who pops 40-50

I just don't want to miss the Maric of this year (like I missed Maric of last year)! But I think you're probably right

 

[Tex Danger]

I just don't want to miss the Maric of this year (like I missed Maric of last year)! But I think you're probably right

Yeah I know what you mean

Move to defense always piques interest

But move to kpd defender not likely fruitful unless kick ins, interceptor, or distributor and I’d be surprised if he was that but will be watching pre season esp with the lack of standout fwd options/rookies

Hell 50s may be enough from him

 

[Mr Gor]

I don't see a world in which Marshall is ahead of Aliir, BZT, or the big Rat in terms of being a KPD. Unless Rat swings forward, I don't see Marshall getting a gig down there.

 

[BennyFC]

Word from the Western Bulldogs match sim is that Treloar is straight back into the starting Mid rotation (along with Bont and Richards). Libba wasn't playing so hard to know where he fits. Treloar has averaged 100+ eight times across his career. Pending the eye test in opening round, he could be the clear Top 6 fwd with upside (priced at 90) that we're looking for

 

[tigs2010]

Word from the Western Bulldogs match sim is that Treloar is straight back into the starting Mid rotation (along with Bont and Richards). Libba wasn't playing so hard to know where he fits. Treloar has averaged 100+ eight times across his career. Pending the eye test in opening round, he could be the clear Top 6 fwd with upside (priced at 90) that we're looking for

Cant wait to get on board...

 

[tigs2010]

Lalor looks pretty nailed on to be a starting mid for us based on all the match sims.

Last week was him and Cumming with 1 of the older blokes and McAuliffe on other team. This week McAuliffe played more mid/wing and Cumming was on other team. (Teams looked like an even split not a probables v possibles scenario)

 

[bettingonbetts]

Surely he’s more a kpd style who pops 40-50

R1 last year Finlayson popped an 84 playing a similar role to what it looks like they’re trying with Marshall. I started Finlayson and was pretty happy seeing him at around 55 at half time.
Got dropped though as they didn’t like his defensive pressure.
If Marshall can do similar I’m definitely risking starting him with his low price tag

 

[Mr Gor]

I'm actively avoiding injury prone guys. I have no problem taking on guys like Treloar and Parish.

 

[Corkintheocean]

I'm actively avoiding injury prone guys. I have no problem taking on guys like Treloar and Parish.

Better to start Treloar until he implodes. Only costs one trade to flick him. Will cost you a trade + $200k if he starts the season doing his 110+ stuff. And he'll be putting 20-30 points a week on whoever you have at F2 (or F3 given everyone will have Flanders).

 

[happy_eagle]

Probably only see myself starting with 2 of Sheezel, Treloar and Petracca.

Right now its Sheezel and Petracca.

 

[bettingonbetts]

Probably only see myself starting with 2 of Sheezel, Treloar and Petracca.

Right now it’s Sheezel and Petracca.

Yeah definitely can’t have Trac and Treloar. Round 0 is a massive watch, the only reason I’ve got Petracca ahead at the moment is his first two rounds before his bye.

 

[bettingonbetts]

Treloar hammy

 

[Shaunn]

Treloar hammy

Wasn't going there anyway but seals that now, Treloar owners kissed .

 

[Mr Gor]

Classic

 

[Corkintheocean]

Treloar hammy

I'm in a year long sports tipping comp and picked him for most fantasy points in Rd1 on Friday.

My kiss of death burning up the track in preseason.

 

[Corkintheocean]

Wasn't going there anyway but seals that now, Treloar owners kissed .

Name change to Shaunnster168

 

[Shaunn]

Name change to Shaunnster168

 

[Sneh]

How do we feel about Connor Spudarick as a POD?

 

[Barrybran]

How do we feel about Connor Spudarick as a POD?

As someone who had him in 2024, absolutely ****ing not