The plethora of fantasy leagues have football fans immersed in the game like never before. In Lake, out Dempsey. In Cox and Maric. Out Stephenson. Substitute midfielders, Ledger and Neale.
While our real clubs struggle to engage with their fan-bases and sell memberships, the fantasy league developers have well and truly hit the nail on the head. Never before have so many football fans entered fantasy competitions across all codes.
And never before has the regular football fan been so keen to follow every statistic for kicks, handpasses, marks, tap outs, or injuries.
A world where you are the coach is a stroke of genius and very addictive. The weekend performance of your fantasy team brings elation and disappointment close to that of the real results. And if you think the substitute rule is slowing down the real game, it is a killer for your fantasy team.
In would be interesting to see the audience ratings over the first two weeks of the NAB Cup series. I am sure there would be a spike in ratings. All fantasy league fans are tuning in not only to watch their team run around for the first time this season but also to watch the other eight matches and find the next Dahlhaus or Christensen.
February is a busy time for us fantasy freaks. We compile our list of rookies; crossing off anyone who hasn’t had at least two solid weeks in a row. We analyse players coming back from injury and make bold assumptions as to their impact this season.
Filling your team with guns and rookies is paramount. Rookies who play regular games are your cash cows. They make you the most money, which allows you to upgrade to regular A-grade stat machines that may have dropped a little in price since the start of the season.
Which rookies to select and the amount are the million dollar questions. In 2012 we are helped out a little with the introduction of GWS. Many strategists will fill their eight rookie spots with GWS players. But Sheedy’s best 22 is anyone’s guess right now.
In the lead up to round one there are unlimited trades. And what I like most is swinging the changes at will. My fantasy team is a work in progress with more work still to be done.
The prevalence of fantasy leagues means that everyone is an AFL expert, now more than ever.
Bib merkel
Guest
Ha ha great article I just did my morning subs and changes to my team
AndyMack
Guest
Must admit I tend to check out the team lists when named more from a fantasy team point of view, I check my players first, then as an afterthought, go and check how the mighty sharks/magpies are shaping up!!! Speaking of which, NRL teams been named, need to go make some changes for round 2......
The Cattery
Roar Guru
there was a Roar league last year, but I can't remember how it came about, I had a shocking season, so probably prefer to forget that it ever happened
BAFL
Roar Rookie
@Camtherose. I would be keen to join. It is easy to setup a league.
We should start a Roar Supercoach and/or Dreamteam league...
The Cattery
Roar Guru
Two very good observations made: 1. The weekend performance of your fantasy team brings elation and disappointment close to that of the real results. 2. And if you think the substitute rule is slowing down the real game, it is a killer for your fantasy team.