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The AFL fantasy draft: Round 4

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Roar Rookie
25th May, 2020
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Three rounds down, 19 to go.

Welcome to the fourth round of the fantasy AFL draft. With 54 players off the table, it will be interesting to see whether they start going on a needs basis in the fourth round of the draft.

In case you missed the first three rounds 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. Every club is building towards a fantasy best 22

Pick 55 – Dougal Howard – key defender – Gold Coast
The Power-turned-Saints defender may well be a big loss to Port Adelaide after the Power told Howard that they saw his future at Alberton as a forward. Howard preferred to play as a defender, and requested a trade to St Kilda to receive opportunities as a defender. Howard has a bucket full of potential and takes the Suns’ fullback position in the fantasy draft. He sets the Suns bookends nicely.

Gold Coast fantasy 22
B: Dougal Howard
HB:
C: Patrick Dangerfield (vice-captain)
HF:
F: Aaron Naughton
Foll: Patrick Cripps (captain)
IC:

Pick 56 – Zach Merrett – midfielder – Carlton
Merrett is a star for the Bombers and at the ripe age of 24 years old. He gives the Blues a strong midfielder to lead this club for the best part of the next decade. Merrett was an All Australian in 2017 and won two best-and-fairest medals in 2016 and 2019. Merrett is the vice-captain of the Bombers and will take the captaincy of the Blues in the fantasy world.

Carlton fantasy 22
B:
HB:
C: Nathan Fyfe
HF:
F: Nick Blakey
Foll: Rowan Marshall, Zach Merrett (captain)
IC:

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Pick 57 – Darcy Moore – key defender/key forward – Melbourne
Moore to the Demons is fitting given his father, Peter Moore, played for Collingwood and Melbourne throughout his career. Given the Dees love having key defenders in their side, Darcy Moore fits the bill and gives them a sense of versatility with his ability to play as a defender and a forward. Moore hasn’t received many accolades throughout his career thus far but certainly has plenty of potential to star in years to come.

Darcy Moore Collingwood Magpies AFL 2016

(AAP Image/Julian Smith)

Melbourne fantasy 22
B: Darcy Moore
HB: James Sicily, Nick Haynes
C:
HF:
F:
Foll: Marcus Bontempelli (captain)
IC:

Pick 58 – Darcy Fogarty – key forward – Brisbane
Following Moore, we have another Darcy in Darcy Fogarty. Fogarty hasn’t had much opportunity to strut his stuff so far, but despite limited opportunity, he showed what he is capable of with nine goals in the last four games of 2019. He is viewed by the Crows as a key part of their attack in the future. He takes a position in the Lions’ attack in the fantasy draft.

Brisbane fantasy 22
B:
HB: Lachie Whitfield
C: Adam Tomlinson, Dustin Martin
HF: Darcy Fogarty
F:
Foll:
IC:

Pick 59 – Jacob Hopper – midfielder – St Kilda
Jacob Hopper was a victim of the Giants’ talent in his first couple of years at the club, with only 23 of a possible 49 games in his first two years. He would have had a spot guaranteed in most other clubs’ best 22. He has worked himself into the Giants’ best 22 in the last two years, with 44 games from a possible 50. Hopper is a player who is often overshadowed by the star power of the Giants, and in the fantasy world, he looks set to be a leading player in the Saints’ midfield.

St Kilda fantasy 22
B:
HB: Jake Lever
C: Elliot Yeo
HF:
F: Tom Lynch
Foll: Jacob Hopper
IC:

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Pick 60 – Josh Dunkley – midfielder – GWS Giants
The 23-year-old is part of a powerful engine at the Dogs. He has been a strong player, winning a premiership over 67 games in the league, and adds to the Giants’ midfield in their fantasy 22.

Josh Dunkley of the Bulldogs handpasses the ball

(Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

GWS fantasy 22
B:
HB:
C:
HF: Isaac Heeney
F:
Foll: Brodie Grundy, Sam Walsh, Josh Dunkley
IC:

Pick 61 – Luke Parker – midfielder/forward – Western Bulldogs
Luke Parker has been one of the best midfielders in the competition since his debut. Parker is a midfielder who can play forward and is the Swans’ co-captain, a premiership player, two-time club best-and-fairest, and an All Australian recipient in 2016, which was the same year that he finished runner-up in the Brownlow Medal behind Patrick Dangerfield. He joins Max Gawn in the midfield engine at the kennel, with hope for the Dogs to draft a midfield similar to that of their current quartet.

Western Bulldogs fantasy 22
B:
HB:
C:
HF:
F: Jaidyn Stephenson, Bayley Fritsch
Foll: Max Gawn (captain), Luke Parker (vice-captain)
IC:

Pick 62 – Tom Stewart – defender – Essendon
The 27-year-old defender has only been in the AFL system for three years after being taken as a mature-aged draftee, but he has been as good as anyone since he started. Stewart is already a two-time All Australian and still has a few years left in him. He contains versatility to play on both talls and smalls, giving the Dons options to have him as a possible third man up in their line-up.

Essendon fantasy 22
B: Tom Stewart
HB:
C: Ben Cunnington (vice-captain)
HF:
F:
Foll: Jack Macrae, Dion Prestia (captain)
IC:

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Pick 63 – Adam Treloar – midfielder – Port Adelaide
The former Giants player and current Pies midfielder is one of the best in the competition when he is at his best. The Neale Daniher Trophy recipient and Anzac Medallist in 2019 and 2018 respectively gets the nod to join Tim Taranto in the Power midfield. They will get to work on building a strong midfield at Alberton.

Port Adelaide fantasy 22
B:
HB:
C:
HF: Tim Taranto
F: Liam Ryan, Jeremy Cameron
Foll: Adam Treloar
IC:

Pick 64 – Adam Saad – small defender – North Melbourne
The speedy Essendon defender, who is well known for his ability to break lines and his precise kicking, gets the call up to the Roos. In recent years, the recruiting team at Arden Street have worked hard to get Jared Polec and Jasper Pittard in the blue and white, showing that they are prioritising their rebounding defensive stocks, and Saad fits perfectly into that. He will add some flare out of the back half for the Roos.

North Melbourne’s Jack Ziebell chases Essendon’s Adam Saad

(Michael Willson/AFL Media/Getty Images)

North Melbourne fantasy 22
B: Adam Saad
HB:
C: Tom Mitchell
HF: Devon Smith
F:
Foll: Clayton Oliver

Pick 65 – Taylor Adams – midfielder – Fremantle
The current Pies vice-captain, alongside Steele Sidebottom, joins an engine room already featuring James Worpel at the Dockers. Adams is a strong on-baller for the Pies. He has the ability to play on the outside if need be, giving the Dockers a bit of flexibility.

Fremantle fantasy 22
B:
HB:
C: Brad Hill
HF: Jordan de Goey
F:
Foll: James Worpel, Taylor Adams
IC:

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Pick 66 – Scott Pendlebury – midfielder – Collingwood
There haven’t been many players aged over 30 selected in this draft yet, but Pendlebury fits a need in this Pies fantasy 22 side. It’s hard to imagine the Collingwood skipper in any colours besides the black and white, making this draft selection more fitting. He brings a wealth of experience and is a big-game player, winning a Norm Smith in the winning 2010 grand final for Collingwood. Pendlebury is a six-time All Australian, three-time Anzac Medallist, and five-time club best-and-fairest. Despite his age, he doesn’t look like slowing down for another few years yet, and it would not surprise if the 302-gamer had it in him to get to 400 games.

Collingwood fantasy 22
B:
HB:
C: Hugh McCluggage, Scott Pendlebury
HF:
F: Charlie Cameron
Foll: Toby Nankervis
IC:

Pick 67 – Jaeger O’Meara – midfielder – Adelaide
O’Meara hasn’t quite risen to the heights of Chris Judd, a star that he was compared to in his early days at the Suns, but he has become a handy player despite his battles with ACL injuries. Since arriving at the Hawks, he has slotted into the midfield brilliantly.

Jaeger O'Meara Hawthorn Hawks AFL 2017

(AAP Image/Julian Smith)

Adelaide fantasy 22
B:
HB: Rory Laird
C: Jaeger O’Meara
HF:
F:
Foll: Jarrod Witts, Tim Kelly
IC:

Pick 68 – Harry McKay – key forward – Richmond
In the Tigers’ fantasy 22, Todd Marshall and McKay will be the twin towers leading their talls. McKay has plenty of promise for the Blues, having kicked 50 goals in 35 games. His height gives him the extra ability to be able to pinch-hit as a ruckman.

Richmond fantasy 22
B: Harris Andrews (captain)
HB:
C:
HF: Harry McKay
F: Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti, Todd Marshall
Foll:
IC:

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Pick 69 – Andrew Gaff – winger – West Coast
Gaff is a hard-running winger for the Eagles. He has been only the third player to wear the number three in the blue and gold. The two-time All Australian and club best-and-fairest will keep his spot in the Eagles’ 22 in their fantasy 22, which has plenty of star power in their engine room.

West Coast fantasy 22
B:
HB: Zac Williams
C: Andrew Gaff, Mitch Duncan
HF:
F:
Foll: Lachie Neale
IC:

Pick 70 – Steele Sidebottom – midfielder – Sydney
At the age of 29, Sidebottom still has a few good years left in his legs. Sidebottom brings a wealth of experience with him. Sidebottom is a premiership player, two-time club best-and-fairest, and an All Australian recipient. He is an Anzac Medallist and is vice-captain of Collingwood. He has been named as vice-captain of Sydney behind Josh Kelly due to his experience.

Steele Sidebottom celebrates.

(Photo by Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Sydney fantasy 22
B:
HB:
C: Josh Kelly (captain)
HF: Connor Rozee
F:
Foll: Matt Crouch, Steele Sidebottom (vice-captain)
IC:

Pick 71 – Rory Lobb – key forward/ruckman – Hawthorn
Hawthorn enjoy having a ruck combination in their side, and Lobb joins Reilly O’Brien to play a forward-ruck role. Lobb has played 89 games for 77 goals and has been a solid contributor without starring, and will provide a solid piece to the Hawks’ puzzle in their fantasy 22.

Hawthorn fantasy 22
B:
HB:
C: Stephen Coniglio
HF:
F: Tom Papley, Rory Lobb
Foll: Reilly O’Brien
IC:

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Pick 72 – Jeremy Howe – defender/forward – Geelong
Howe has become one of the best defenders in the competition and has the ability to play on talls and smalls. Despite turning 30 in June, he becomes a handy player for the Cats in their back half. He gives them an x-factor with his high-flying marks that not many other players in the competition can give.

Geelong fantasy 22
B: Jeremy Howe
HB:
C:
HF:
F: Daniel Rioli, Eric Hipwood, Toby Greene
Foll:
IC:

Who do you think will be the first player taken in the fifth round of the fantasy draft? Who has been a shock draftee in this round?

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