Opinion
One round down, 21 to go. Welcome to the second instalment of the fantasy draft.
Eighteen players have been drafted to their new clubs, with six captains already named. It will be interesting to see how the clubs go about the second round of the draft.
In case you missed the first round of the fantasy draft, this is how it works. Every current player on an AFL list is placed into an open pool, the draft order is based on the home-and-away AFL ladder between 2012 and 2019, and every club is building towards a fantasy best 22.
Midfielder/forward, Gold Coast
Dangerfield has been one of the best midfielders of the last decade, and despite being on the other side of 30 now, he is a no-brainer for the Suns at pick 19.
(Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
Dangerfield has been a star for both the Crows and Cats, winning a Brownlow Medal, four club best-and-fairests, seven All Australians, a Showdown Medal, and one selection in the 22-under-22 team in 2012. He makes an already strong midfield stronger, joining the Suns’ new skipper Patrick Cripps and taking the vice-captaincy.
Gold Coast fantasy 22
B:
HB:
C: Patrick Dangerfield (vice-captain)
HF:
F:
Foll: Patrick Cripps (captain)
IC:
Ruckman, Carlton
Marshall is a left-field selection for the Blues, but at the age of 24 and already having strong years for the Saints over the last few years, he wins the selection to take the available ruck spot in the Blues side. He finished second in the St Kilda best-and-fairest last year and is sure to continue to develop into one of the best ruckmen in the AFL over the next few years.
Carlton fantasy 22
B:
HB:
C: Nathan Fyfe
HF:
F:
Foll: Rowan Marshall
IC:
Defender, Melbourne
Sicily has been regarded as one of the Hawks’ best defenders over the last few years, having become an integral piece of their defence.
(Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)
The Dees win this selection, gaining a strong rebounding defender who at 186 centimetres can play on talls and smalls, and also has the ability to be able to play in the forward line if required. He has featured in the 22-under-22 team once and was selected in the extended All Australian squad in 2019.
Melbourne fantasy 22
B:
HB: James Sicily
C:
HF:
F:
Foll: Marcus Bontempelli (captain)
IC:
Midfielder/defender, Brisbane
The Giants star joins the Tigers star Dustin Martin, with Whitfield taking a place on the wing in the Lions’ fantasy 22. At the age of 25, Whitfield is already an All Australian and a club best-and-fairest winner. He has some pace and will allow the Lions to have some run in their midfield.
Brisbane fantasy 22
B:
HB:
C: Lachie Whitfield, Dustin Martin
HF:
F:
Foll:
IC:
Midfielder/defender, St Kilda
Yeo is often underrated by the AFL world because of his presence being outside Victoria. There is no doubt that Yeo is one of the best midfielders in the competition.
(Photo by Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
His ability to rotate off the halfback line also improves his position. The 26-year-old has been a strong player for the Eagles, winning a premiership, two All Australians, two club best-and-fairests, and a Glendinning-Allan Medal.
St Kilda fantasy 22
B:
HB:
C: Elliot Yeo
HF:
F: Tom Lynch
Foll:
IC:
Midfielder, GWS Giants
The first pick of the 2018 draft could not have gone better in his first year in the system, gaining over 500 disposals. He highlighted that the hype over him was no joke and showed that we should be excited about what is yet to come in his career. After only 23 games, Walsh is a Ron Evans Medallist and is set to have an exciting career. The Giants are getting some quality talent in the draft yet again.
GWS fantasy 22
B:
HB:
C:
HF:
F:
Foll: Brodie Grundy, Sam Walsh
IC:
Small forward/midfielder, Western Bulldogs
Stephenson has become a quality part of the Pies’ attack in only two years of AFL experience. His first year highlighted exactly what we have to look forward to in his career, with Stephenson kicking 38 goals in 26 games as Collingwood made the grand final. The 2018 Ron Evans Medallist will become a key cog in the Dogs’ attack in their fantasy 22.
Western Bulldogs fantasy 22
B:
HB:
C:
HF:
F: Jaidyn Stephenson
Foll: Max Gawn (captain)
IC:
Midfielder, Essendon
The Bombers are crying out for strong inside midfielders at the moment, and that is their priority in the fantasy draft, with Jack Macrae being taken with pick eight and tough inside mid Cunnington being taken with their second-round pick. Cunnington is one of the best contested ball-winners in the AFL and is a two-time club best-and-fairest.
(Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
I considered naming him as the captain of Essendon instead of Macrae, however decided against it.
Essendon fantasy 22
B:
HB:
C: Ben Cunnington (vice-captain)
HF:
F:
Foll: Jack Macrae (captain)
IC:
Midfielder/forward, Port Adelaide
The Power are taking a few Giants stars in the draft and are taking a future star of the competition with pick 27. Taranto had his best year yet in 2019, winning a club best-and-fairest, a Brett Kirk Medal, and featuring in the 22-under-22 team. The sky is the limit for Taranto.
Port Adelaide fantasy 22
B:
HB:
C:
HF: Tim Taranto
F: Jeremy Cameron
Foll:
IC:
Midfielder, North Melbourne
While the Roos lose their contested beast in Ben Cunnington, they’ve managed to draft former Swans and current Hawks ball-winner Tom Mitchell. Despite questions over whether he will be able to get back to his 2018 best, Mitchell will still be an important cog in the North Melbourne fantasy midfield alongside Clayton Oliver. Mitchell is a Brownlow Medallist, two-time All Australian, and two-time club best-and-fairest.
North Melbourne fantasy 22
B:
HB:
C: Tom Mitchell
HF:
F:
Foll: Clayton Oliver
IC:
Winger, Fremantle
The Saints speedster has had a pretty strong career so far, starring with his blistering speed and precise kicking from the wing. Coincidentally, in the fantasy draft, his former club Fremantle have taken a punt on the West Australian and will place him back on the wing to continue his 54-game career for the Dockers.
(Photo by Daniel Carson/AFL Media/Getty Images)
Hill is a three-time premiership player for the Hawks and a club best-and-fairest winner for the Dockers.
Fremantle fantasy 22
B:
HB:
C: Brad Hill
HF: Jordan de Goey
F:
Foll:
IC:
Winger, Collingwood
A second winner in a row has been selected, with the Pies beginning work on their midfield in the draft, with Lions winger Hugh McCluggage being taken with pick 30 and joining Brisbane teammate Charlie Cameron. McCluggage had a breakout year last year with 22 goals and 475 disposals from 21 games and helping the Lions push into the top four. At 22, his best is still ahead of him, and he would be a promising pick-up for any club.
Collingwood fantasy 22
B:
HB:
C: Hugh McCluggage
HF:
F: Charlie Cameron
Foll:
IC:
Defender, Adelaide
The Crows get to work on building their defence after gaining star Tim Kelly in the first round of the draft, drafting their best rebounding defender Rory Laird. Laird has been a key part of the Adelaide back half, winning a club best-and-fairest, two All Australians, and two features in the 22-under-22 team.
Adelaide fantasy 22
B:
HB: Rory Laird
C:
HF:
F:
Foll: Tim Kelly
IC:
Small forward, Richmond
The Tigers want to have strong small forwards on their list, and McDonald-Tipungwuti is a perfect fit for the Tigers’ explosive game plan.
(Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Media/Getty Images)
He was a beneficiary of the Bombers’ supplement saga, managing to earn a spot in the Essendon line-up in 2016 and never looking back. His game is filled with excitement and explosiveness.
Richmond fantasy 22
B: Harris Andrews (captain)
HB:
C:
HF:
F: Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti
Foll:
IC:
Midfielder, West Coast
The Cats midfielder is overshadowed by stars Joel Selwood, Patrick Dangerfield and Gary Ablett, but there is no doubt that Duncan would be one of the best midfielders if he was placed into other clubs’ midfields. Duncan has been a solid player over 203 games at Geelong, managing to win a flag in just his second season in the hoops.
West Coast fantasy 22
B:
HB:
C: Mitch Duncan
HF:
F:
Foll: Lachie Neale
IC:
Midfielder, Sydney
At the age of 25 and coming into his peak, Crouch is such a dangerous player for the Crows when he is on.
(Photo by Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images)
Crouch has been a star since debut, winning a Showdown Medal, an All Australian, a club best-and-fairest, and a feature in 2017 22-under-22 team. Crouch joins Giants player Josh Kelly in the Swans midfield and will form a strong 1-2 combination with him.
Sydney fantasy 22
B:
HB:
C: Josh Kelly (captain)
HF:
F:
Foll: Matt Crouch
IC:
Small forward, Hawthorn
Papley finally gets his wish to end up at a Victorian club, however not the Blues. In this draft, he will join Giants skipper Stephen Coniglio in the brown and gold, with the Hawks beginning work on their attack. Papley showed in the 2020 Bushfire Relief Match that he is up there with the best players in the competition, kicking five goals for Victoria. He featured once in the 22-under-22 team and led the Swans’ goal-kicking in 2019.
Hawthorn fantasy 22
B:
HB:
C: Stephen Coniglio
HF:
F: Tom Papley
Foll:
IC:
Key forward, Geelong
Hipwood is one of the best young key forwards in the competition, sitting in the shadows of the interstate life. Hipwood has plenty of potential and will form the basis of the Cats’ fantasy attack for years to come. At the age of 22, Hipwood is a club-leading goal-kicker once and a two-time 22-under-22 recipient.
Geelong fantasy 22
B:
HB:
C:
HF:
F: Toby Greene, Eric Hipwood
Foll:
IC:
Two rounds done, 20 rounds of the draft to go. Quite a few current stars are off the table after only two rounds, however there are many more available.
Clubs may begin looking on a needs basis and certain positions are chosen based on what they have already drafted.
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