With Melbourne and Gold Coast playing each other this week, fantasy coaches are effectively robbed of two soft matchups for their fantasy stars. Neither team has a great spread of fantasy starters, so it may be a little tougher to find some quality sleepers. Whatever you do this week, nominate playing emergencies on every line. All your good work could come undone with an ill-timed late withdrawal this week, so make sure you have cover.
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Matchup of the week – Fremantle v GWS
This game is the perfect storm…if your opponent has a team full of Dockers. We've been spruiking Fremantle's great late-season run for months, and it all begins this week against the Giants. They may have just come off their first win of the season, but Fremantle should account for GWS comfortably, and chase a percentage boost as well. This game is the last of the round, and plenty of fantasy matchups will be decided by the final quarter of this fixture. If you're chasing a deficit of less than 100 points per remaining Docker, you'll be in with a real chance.
Start
Dean Terlich v Gold Coast
The mature-aged defender has had an up-and-down season, but he's a definite start option this week. Look past his three-game average of 60 points and expect him to score freely against the Suns. Melbourne won't start favourites, and they'll lose their share of centre-bounces, giving Terlich plenty of opportunities to show his best form.
Jack Gunston v St Kilda
Last week's 37 put end to an outstanding run of 9 games where Gunston was among the elite at his position. Like many of his teammates he was off the boil against Richmond, but the Saints will offer the perfect opportunity to rebound. Buddy's absence will free up space in the forward line, and he'll run his opponent (likely Gwilt or Dempster) off their feet.
Brian Lake v St Kilda
Despite crossing to the Hawks during the offseason, Lake has failed to recapture his dominant fantasy scoring ability. That aside, he has managed 70+ in four of his last five starts, so he deserves some credit. He won't go with Riewoldt unless the Saints' captain plays deep, and will enjoy facing off against promising but inexperienced forward Tom Lee.
Aaron Sandilands v GWS
It will be the giant v the Giants this week at Pattersons, and it's time to start Sandilands. He's been slowly building to peak fitness, and the scary prospect for opposition sides is that he will hit finals in tip-top shape. Giles won't offer much opposition, and after improving his scoring four weeks in a row, Sandilands should go better again.
Nightmare of the week – Adelaide v North Melbourne
North finally showed what they can do when they string a four-quarter performance together, and they'll be looking to finish a disappointing season strongly. The Crows are in exactly the same position, after going deep into finals last year. These teams are full of players who have produced well below their best fantasy numbers this season. For fantasy coaches the uncertainty of whether their Crows and Roos will perform makes this an unattractive matchup.
Bench
Lachie Henderson
He has been a great free agent pickup, and may have plugged a hole for you over the past month, but Jarrad Waite's return has Henderson's value on the lower side. Rowe is also playing, and Carlton hasn't dropped a tall to include Waite. Forward targets will be spread thinly, and the Dogs are playing some great footy so he may struggle to produce his best numbers.
Adam Tomlinson v Fremantle
He's a back-forward averaging over 75 fantasy points per game, but this is a nightmare fixture for Tomlinson. The Dockers are irrepressible, playing at home and hunting a top-2 spot on the ladder. He only managed 69 points last week in a win against the Demons, so anything more than that would be hopeful at best on Sunday.
Brodie Grundy v Sydney
With the ruck position a dearth of consistent options and Kreuzer joining a long list of fantasy starters, Grundy could seem an attractive option. The Collingwood rookie scored 92 points on debut and will carry the bulk of the ruckwork, but the Mumford-Pyke combination has claimed plenty of scalps this year. Grundy will struggle to have any sort of impact this week.
Owner Beware – David Mundy v GWS
The matchup is great, but Mundy is questionable at best to actually take the field on Sunday. He's nursing an ankle complaint, and there's no reason for him to play the Giants if he's not 100%. Finals are still a month away, and this could be the perfect time for a rest for the important midfielder. If he's included in the final squad then start him, but make sure you have emergency cover.
Article supplied by Footy Prophet (www.footyprophet.com) – football analysis and opinion with a fantasy focus. Be a part of the game.
