It’s time to smell the roses a little bit in season 2022! That feeling of packing a diamond Sam Docherty or a platinum Rory Laird didn’t really hit me when it happened. Though in the blog, I’m going to tell you why I hold those cards of mine very close to my heart as I select a fantasy MVP for every club in the league. Let us know your thoughts on who we have down below on all of our socials - twitter, facebook, instagram, discord.
Adelaide Crows
Rory Laird
I imagine a lot would have had Benny Keays here but for me this isn’t particularly close, it’s got to be Rory Laird. After missing the first two games of the season Laird has been an absolute monster for the Crows and their engine room, not dropping a score below 100 GDS fantasy points once so far this season! Jet.
Brisbane Lions
Lachie Neale
He’s currently the Brownlow Medal favourite but maybe more importantly, the best fantasy asset by a country mile on the Lions team. His current GDS fantasy average is an eye watering 133 points per game! It’s pretty simple really… Lachie Neale is an absolute joke and good luck stopping him.
Carlton Blues
Sam Docherty
The highest averaging defender in fantasy AFL? Sam Docherty! The D1 of a few years ago obviously hasn’t lost anything out there on the field as he resumed his role as quarterback for the blues off half back. Docherty is averaging 19 kicks per game and as we know in GameDay Squad scoring a kick is worth 4 points – more than any other AFL fantasy platform. Docherty is the best player you can have down back for me leading into the final half of the season.
Collingwood Magpies
Jack Crisp
Jack Crisp for me has been a gargantuan reason as to why Collingwood have exceeded expectations so far this season. His move into the midfield has complemented the team well, and his fantasy scores have shown it. At the time of writing Crisp sits 7th in the league for tackles and has gone on a massive streak of ten 100+ GDS fantasy point games in a row. Oh and he still hasn’t missed a game…
Essendon Bombers
Darcy Parish
This one sucks a little bit because he just got injured in round 13 and will miss some time, though it has to be said that Darcy Parish was building into having an insane season. In a year so far where Bombers fans would like to forget everything, the one thing they’d like to remember I’m sure is Parish. Averaging almost 33 disposals a game and averaging 125 GDS fantasy points if we removed last week where he was subbed out early. Hopefully he’s back and back to his old self soon!
Fremantle Dockers
Andrew Brayshaw
Andy Brayshaw is a jet.
I could leave it there because that’s all you need to know but he’s the highest averaging fantasy player for a reason. The ability to go off his head, beyond scores of 200 GDS fantasy points like he did in round 2 vs St Kilda and almost exclusively scoring over 100 in every outing this season will make you a very wanted man. GameDay Squad is a dynasty fantasy platform, Brayshaw might just be the #1 man to have for the next 10 odd years.
Geelong Cats
Tom Stewart
The general down back for the Cats has taken the crown back off Cam Guthrie as the best fantasy player this season for me. It was a slow-ish start for Tom Stewart to start the season, though he’s since come into his own and has made the backline his down at the cattery. He ranks 4th in average marks per game and 3rd in average kicks league-wide. To go with it he averages 123 GDS fantasy points per game, highlighted by a monster score of 206 against the Crows in round 11!
Gold Coast Suns
Touk Miller
Things are changing up at Metricon Stadium, but one thing remains the same, Touk Miller is really good at football. He currently ties Bulldogs star Jack Macrae for 3rd in the league for total clearances, he also sits 13th for disposals per game league-wide. Miller once again finds himself being the heart and soul of the Suns team, beating the next average (Noah Anderson) by 11 GDS fantasy points per game.
Greater Western Sydney Giants
Josh Kelly
There have been a lot of hot and cold players for the GWS Giants so far in season 2022, but I have landed on Josh Kelly. At present, Kelly is 10th in the league for total disposals and has a new pep in his step since the stepping down of Leon Cameron. His average to date of 120 GDS fantasy points means he takes the cake for best fantasy player so far at the Giants.
Hawthorn Hawks
James Sicily
James Sicily proved to be a pre-season favourite on some other fantasy platforms due to his price and upside and he has (so far) repaid the faith for those early admirers. He could have been forgiven for having a slow start coming off a major ACL injury in season 2021, but he hit the ground running straight away! He currently ranks 3rd for total marks and 1st for total kicks league-wide, though his biggest asset is his consistency, only dropping below 100 GDS fantasy points just once for a season average of 117.
Melbourne Demons
Clayton Oliver
A bit of a no-brainer here for the Demons. Cases could be made for Max Gawn and even Angus Brayshaw but Clayton Oliver has been a level above most of the league, let alone just the Dee’s side. Oliver right now leads the league in disposals per game with 34 and has a season average of a whopping 133 GDS fantasy points! He’s as solid as you’re going to get in fantasy football.
North Melbourne Kangaroos
Jy Simpkin
I feel if Jed Anderson had played more than a handful of games, he would be my pick nevertheless, I have landed with Jy Simpkin. Jy started the season on fire, scoring 120+ GDS fantasy points in 3 of his first 5 games however, it has since been a rocky road for Simpkin, along with his club. Let’s hope both can find some good form.
Port Adelaide Power
Ollie Wines
Port Adelaide was a bit of a tough one to decide on as they don’t have a standout fantasy star so far this year. I have however landed on Ollie Wines. The Reigning Brownlow medallist would have the highest average of all Port Adelaide players in 2022 if he did leave the ground early in round 4 and just so happens to be the most consistent when he is playing, scoring over 100 fantasy GDS points in 8 of his 11 games.
Richmond Tigers
Jayden Short
For those who listen to the Footy GameDay Show you will know that I was really high on Jayden Short going into the season and he has repaid the faith so far. Richmond fair dinkum love the ball in his hands as he averages over 22 kicks a game and his fantasy average is the beneficiary of this, his 126 GDS fantasy average rivals the likes of Sam Docherty and Tom Stewart as he looks to take the D1 crown in the back end of the year.
St Kilda Saints
Jack Sinclair
What a revelation Jack Sinclair has become so far this season. For me, Sinclair has firmly established himself as one of the premier fantasy defenders and with a team who boasts the likes of Jack Steele, Brad Crouch and Rowan Marshall, it is somewhat a surprise to be writing about Sinclair here. His role off half-back for the Saints has proven fruitful for his fantasy production, averaging 122 GDS fantasy points with all bar one game over 100 points. Fairly handy!
Sydney Swans
Callum Mills
Callum Mills has catapulted into superstar status so far in 2022. He’s become the vocal point of the team, finding the ball almost at will at times. The next best GDS fantasy average on the Swans side (Luke Parker) is over 10 points behind which just further demonstrates how good he’s been for the swannies this year. He’s averaging 133 GDS fantasy points so far which put him up with the likes of Lachie Neale and Andy Brayshaw.
West Coast Eagles
Alex Witherden
Alex Witherden is the best of a dire situation at the West Coast Eagles as they have been decimated by covid protocols and injuries. While the results haven’t come in for the Eagles, Witherden remains consistent and productive for fantasy owners. Scores of over 100 GDS fantasy points in 8 of his 10 games so far help to win this award for best fantasy player for the Eagles, he’ll take all the wins he can get this year I’d imagine…
Western Bulldogs
Josh Dunkley
This is another one where it could have gone to a few names such as Bailey Smith, Tim English or even Jack Macrae but for consistency, average and his super high ceiling I’ve gone with Josh Dunkley. For me Dunkley has been an absolute force this year, everything from his tackling, scoring ability and knack to find the footy, he’s everything you want in a fantasy player and more!
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