The AFL have released the first information about next year’s Fantasy/DreamTeam competition.

The topline is that Dane Swan will be a MID/FWD, as will Brett Deledio and Jack Ziebell.

Ziebell is the value pick for mine and Swan will disappoint a lot of people who leap on this news.

» Talk AFL Dream Team and Herald-Sun SuperCoach in our footy games board

What is most interesting is the way the AFL is staggering the release of the prices of players for the various teams.

Fantasy football, in all its forms, has been a huge winner for the AFL. Even those who don’t play the “official versions” are still by extension furthering the AFL brand, simply by participating.

The AFL has also made very clear that it there is no such thing as the off season anymore. Spooked by the success of the A-League’s summer league, the AFL now strives to keep its brand in the forefront of people’s minds year round.

The very carefully staged release of fantasy elements plays perfectly into this strategy.

I know I’m not the only one already plotting my team for next year on the back of this.

Credit where credit is dure: the AFL know how run a media show.