Before the NAB challenge even started, Josh Caddy was predicted to be one of the biggest AFL Fantasy improvers in 2014. The former top 10 draftee averaged 63 in his first year with Geelong after leaving the Gold Coast in 2012.
Throughout the NAB Challenge, Caddy certainly didn't disappoint those Fantasy coaches who believe he is in for a 'break-out' season. He scored 84 and 121 points in his two games and looks set to improve his average by at least 20 points this year.
Some bargains on the radar include ... Jackson Thurlow [DEF $265,500]
After a disappointing debut season due to injuries, Thurlow is cheap and ready to go in 2014. Last year he managed just four games but still achieved two respectable scores of 74 and 81.
He played in one NAB Challenge game for 71 points and at his price he is a bargain in 2014 in he is named in Geelong's best 22.
A player of difference is: Corey Enright [DEF $480,300]
Corey Enright will turn 33 this year, and in the eyes of many Fantasy experts, his numbers will only decline.
After many years of averaging 90+, his average dropped to 81 in 2012 and back then, many believed that age had caught up with him and his days of scoring Fantasy points were numbered.
They were wrong.
He averaged 89 last year and has started his 14th pre-season on fire. He had 36 possessions for a game high score of 128 points in his only NAB Challenge game and looks set for another outstanding year.
The pre-season has taught us ... that Steve Johnson is certainly worth his expensive price tag.
Johnson [MID $641,600] is the most expensive player in AFL Fantasy this year but is still a worthy selection.
Throughout the NAB Challenge, in his first game, Johnson scored 94 points from 29 possessions. But to do that in just 50 per cent game time is unheard of. He had another 94 points in his second game to prove that he is worth every dollar in 2014.
Matthew Stokes [MID $513,100] also dominated his first NAB Challenge game with 117 points and Joel Selwood [MID $576,700] played just minutes before slightly tweaking his hamstring and understandably sitting out the remainder of the game.
Under-priced ruckman, Hamish McIntosh [RUC $344,700] was closely watched by many. He scored 28 points in just over half a game against Melbourne and failed to impress, causing many Fantasy coaches to cross him off their pre-season watch lists.
Twitter Talk
@Trevor_DT asks "@CalvinDT: Given the Geelong injury list, what do you think of rookies like Lincoln McCarthy or Shane Kersten in the forward line?"
With such an insufficient supply of cheap forwards, Shane Kersten [FWD $115,200] would have been a 'lock' before a minor injury saw him miss both NAB Challenge games.
He is certainly a player to watch early in the season as he has been identified as the replacement for the departed James Podsiadly, making him more likely than Lincoln McCarthy [FWD $135,500] who plays more of a small forward role as he did the NAB Challenge for scores of 59 and 33 points.
Coach Calvin has his eye on ...
The only Geelong player in my team at the moment is Caddy. He was a ball magnet as a junior and can be selected as a forward this year.
Hopefully, Kersten will make my team at some stage this year. At $115,200, he is a perfect downgrade target throughout the season or an awesome bench option if he's named in round one.
The premium midfielders that Geelong has to offer must make our teams at some point this year.
Picking up the likes of Selwood and Johnson after their bye is critical. Most Fantasy teams will be starting with players such as Swan, Beams, Pendlebury, Cotchin and Ablett who share the same round eight bye as Geelong.
You don't want your entire midfield sitting out during round eight, so upgrading players in the round nine bye to Selwood and Johnson is the move that will separate you from others in your league.
