In 2015, the Cats are thrilled to be partnering with fantasy experts footyprophet.com to bring you all the insight you need about AFL Fantasy and the Cats’ fantasy value. Every week Footy Prophet will rank their ‘Footy Prophet Fantasy Five’, ranking the top 5 players predicted to score the highest and then will review the results in the review!

THE WRAP UP

As the two most successful clubs since 2000, history took another turn on Saturday night, as Hawthorn soared past Geelong by 36 points. As clear underdogs heading into the match, Geelong was beaten by a clinical Hawthorn outfit striving for a third consecutive premiership. Four Cats and four Hawks topped the fantasy ton, with Liam Shiels top scoring for the match. Cyril Rioli and Steve Johnson were the standout smaller forwards with six and two goals respectively, while Luke Hodge (four goals) and Cam Guthrie (three) were also able to impact the scoreboard. While there was no fairy-tale for Steve Johnson in game 250, it was a typical performance of flair and poise.

THE STANDOUTS

In the Round 19 preview, we suggested that this matchup was a make-or-break moment for Cam Guthrie ($469 000, MID). But thanks to Chris Scott and the coaching group, Guthrie has finally ventured into unchartered territory and is a tagger no more. Rejoice! Comfortably one of Geelong’s best, for the right reasons, Guthrie produced a three-goal, 30-disposal performance and 124 fantasy points, all of which were team highs. He has now produced three scores over 110 in as many weeks, which ranks eighth in the league during that period. Guthrie’s scores over the past three weeks comfortably sits among familiar fantasy superstars Dane Swan, Tom Rockliff and Dan Hannebery and he will be an enticing option in AFL Fantasy in 2016.

Steve Johnson’s ($450 000, MID/FWD) 250^th game was sour as the Cats went down, however that didn’t stop the milestone man from producing a vintage Stevie-J performance. It was one of Johnson’s best games of 2015, typifying his reputation as a big game player. A fantasy score of 108, his second ton of the year, was courtesy of a roaming role inside 50 for two goals and 23 touches. The performance encapsulated Stevie-J’s class of which he has played throughout most of his career and the same would be required for Geelong to renew his contract beyond 2015. Congratulations on 250 games!

Despite being behind on the scoreboard, veteran defenders Corey Enright ($465 000, DEF) and Andrew Mackie ($453 000, DEF) were able to assert themselves on the game, finishing with 105 and 103 points respectively. The pair was assigned the task on Hawthorn’s dangerous small forwards Luke Breust and Cyril Rioli, who combined for nine goals. Luckily, fantasy doesn’t account for conceding goals and both Mackie and Enright produced high disposal counts, largely due to Hawthorn’s 54 forward 50 entries. The pair took 18 marks between them and continued their consistent form throughout the latter stages of 2015.

WHO FELL SHORT?

Jimmy Bartel ($497 000, FWD/MID) was certainly not the worst performing Cat in a fantasy sense, however for owners paying top dollar, 71 points is inexcusable around fantasy finals. Bartel was played in defence, on the resting midfielder. He managed 19 disposals and seven marks, while also only recording one tackle. Bartel’s performance was neither spectacular nor horrid and could easily bounce back this weekend against St Kilda.

Similarly, James Kelly ($426 000, MID/DEF) suffered an ankle injury and was substituted out of the game in the third quarter. He only managed 10 disposals for 49 fantasy points in his time on the ground which is set to see his price plummet. Kelly would have no doubt pulled up sore on Sunday, however later tweeted that he had only aggravated an existing injury and is likely to play again this weekend.

FOOTY PROPHET'S FANTASY FIVE

• Joel Selwood (5^th) produced a score of 98, courtesy of 25 disposals and a goal.
• Mark Blicavs (6^th) produced 93 points and went up against Ben McEvoy and David Hale in the ruck. He also laid an impressive eight tackles.
• Josh Caddy (11^th) wasn’t able to continue with his dominant form of recent weeks, managing just 71 points.
• Jimmy Bartel (11^th) played in defence and earnt a run of the mill 71 points playing on the resting midfielder.
• Corey Enright (3^rd) ranked second of all Cats for disposals and first in marks, attributing to a score of 105.
  

NEXT WEEK

Geelong face another test next week against St Kilda, who are capable of producing elite games of football albeit inconsistently. Chris Scott has hinted toward a possible AFL return for luckless yet loved Cat Daniel Menzel. A return would no doubt ignite the team, who currently sit one place outside of the top eight. Three Saints are averaging over the 100 point mark, compared to zero Cats. With that being said, Geelong’s Joel Selwood, Josh Caddy and Steven Motlop are all averaging over 100 across their last five games.