MAKING IT to the preliminary final, the Cats were once again a team on the lips of many Fantasy coaches. Patrick Dangerfield (MID, $712,000) surpassed his previous best average by more than 11 points while Joel Selwood (MID, $619,000) went at over 100 points in 2016 for the seventh time in his 10-year career.

Sam Menegola (MID, $505,000) made his debut in round 18 and scored 100. The ball-magnet averaged 95 points thrilling coaches who fielded him in the last few rounds of the season.

With the highlighter out as the 2017 AFL Fantasy prices are released for the Cats, Steven Motlop (FWD, $499,000) has caught the eye of coaches.

The forward stocks copped a hammering when the positions were released by Champion Data, with many of last year’s premiums now MID only – it means Motlop could be an astute pick if he returns to his best. 

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What a season Patrick Dangerfield (MID, $712,000) enjoyed in his first year as a Cat. He slotted in right away with 43 disposals and 132 Fantasy points in his first game in the navy and white hoops against Hawthorn and went on to eclipse the elite 110-point mark on 15 occasions. Dangerfield’s best return was 187 against the Kangaroos. The 2016 Brownlow medallist is a set-and-forget captain option, even as the game's most expensive player.

Missing 12 months recovering from a knee reconstruction, Jackson Thurlow (DEF, $282,000) should be set to go come round one. Receiving a 30 per cent discount on his average of 66.7 in 2015, Thurlow should be an important member of Geelong’s back six. With the departure of Corey Enright, the 22-year-old’s numbers are likely to increase and make some early dollars in your Fantasy side.

There are only a handful of Cats with dual-position status with Rhys Stanley (RUC/FWD, $384,000) the only regular starter holding the flexible positioning. However, the only place you would consider Stanley is for the bench in your Fantasy draft, so long as it is a deep one, to help cover injuries across both your ruck and forward lines.

Aaron Black (FWD, $150,000) played just three games with the Kangaroos in the last two seasons and is basement priced as he looks to reignite his career at the Cats. In 2013, Black played 18 games at an average of 70.9, and while he may not be a huge scorer, a 26-year-old with almost 50 games experience at just $150K should be profitable cash cow if he is in the best 22.

The Cats came out of the draft with three mature-agers from the club’s VFL side. 23-year-old key defender Tom Stewart (DEF, $172,000) is one who may make an immediate impact in the senior side. Last season Stewart averaged 17 disposals, the second most of any key defender in the VFL, and 74 Fantasy points.

Persistent injuries have held Scott Selwood (MID, $380,000) back from his best football in the last few seasons, playing five games at the back end of 2017, his first year with the Cats. He has received a 21 per cent discount on his 2016 average of 79.7, making the former Eagle a bargain. As the season commences, Selwood will turn 27 and with a full pre-season behind him, he will hope to return to the form he showed at the Eagles from 2011-13 that saw him average 87, 97 and 108.

The biggest casualty of the change to the third man up rule is Mark Blicavs (MID, $519,000). Last season he racked up 154 hit-outs, an average of seven per game, which equates to seven Fantasy points. He dropped 11 points from his 2015 average and is now without the unique RUC/MID status that made him such a valuable member of our Fantasy squads.

Officially announcing my retirement from the game effective immediately #threesacrowd @seekjobs

— Mark Blicavs (@MarkBlicavs) December 21, 2016

Geelong positions and prices for 2017

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