Late Week Pickups – Round 8

 

Each week I’ll be looking at players who are sitting in the free agency pool that can be used in your matchup that can give you a little extra scoring power. When using these players, I use Ultimate Footy’s ownership of 65% or less to give everyone a go for those that play in bigger leagues.

 

Bayley Fritsch: With Charlie Spargo coming into the Melbourne team, Fritsch has had a role change. From playing inside 50 he has now moved onto a wing position and being used as link up player. In 35% of teams, he has been mainly talked about in salary cap formats but is now a genuine option in draft. A clean user of the ball, the Demons are looking to get the ball in his hands more.

 

Up against the Suns this week, we have seen them give up fantasy points to the opposition as we saw last week against the Dogs. Fritsch has been averaging 5 marks and 3 tackles a game and with more time in the middle of the ground you can expect those numbers to go up.

 

Jaidyn Stephenson: Another one of those players who has been talked about in the salary cap formats but now a draft option, Stephenson has been impressive in his debut season. In 63% of teams Jaidyn has been producing some decent F5 scores. With the Pies playing some good football the last month, he is always in the game as we have seen when he was given the old Pagans paddock against the Crows and kicked 5 goals.

 

The Pies are up against the Cats this week, whose defence hasn’t been great this year with all the new faces in there as well as the Pies seemingly having the wood over the Cats the last few years, there is an opportunity for Stephenson to produce another quality score for your team.

 

Lachie Keefe: In for his second game this week, Keefe will be playing as the second-tall forward and ruck with big Jono Patton dropped to the magoos and Lobb named as the ruck. In 33% of teams, the Giants are up against the Eagles who without Nic Nat after he was suspended for an ‘unreasonable tackle’, so should be able to score some points in the hitout department against Lycett.

 

While Keefe scored well in AFL Fantasy, his Supercoach score was affected by his poor disposal efficiency. If he cleans that up this week, then there is no reason he can’t score in the 80’s in both formats this week.

 

Darcy Lang: Darcy Lang is making his debut for the Blues this week after impressing in the VFL for the last 2 weeks. Lang has averaged 18 possessions, 5 marks and tackles in his 2 games, and will be relying on his clean efficiency to move the Blues forward.

Lang moved from the Cats in search of more mid time. Listed as a forward the I expect Lang to play through the mid, while resting forward.