Which Berry is ripe for the picking? Can Daniel Rioli please give us those 100+ scores again? Should we be patient for the day to arrive for a budding Hawthorn star? There are so many questions coming out of round 19. But let's turn our attention back to fantasy footy for a second and identify some risers in form and others who should be falling out of favour with all fantasy coaches. Let us know your thoughts on who we have down below on all of our socials - twitter, facebook, instagram, discord.
RISERS
Sam Berry (Adelaide Crows - Forward)
Sam Berry wasn’t the berry I thought I’d be writing about come round 19 in the 2022 season but nevertheless, here we are… Adelaides inside bull has become an intriguing option for fantasy coaches interested in a forward point-of-difference player to help them in the pointy end of the season. To this point, he’s done just that. With the omission of Matt Crouch, Berry has enjoyed a role in the guts that has helped him to scores of 97, 109, 90, 128, and 141 GDS fantasy points in his last 5 games. Those are the kind of numbers many have been missing so far in the forward line, especially from someone who is probably your F4 or F5. I’d be comfortable starting a gold or above Sam Berry card for the rest of the season.
Ryan Burton (Port Adelaide Power - Defender)
Someone to keep a close eye on during the pointy end of the season is Port Adelaide defender Ryan Burton. After starting the season relatively slowly, averaging only 76 GDS fantasy points in his first three games of the season, he's gone on to become a really consistent defender option. In his last 5 games, Burton has put of scores of 85, 112, 99, 107 and 130! Dan Houston cant stay on the field for more than 10 minutes, Riley Bonner was a sub last week and Darcy Byrne-Jones has come back and is playing a weird wing role. I think the opportunity for production is as high as it has ever been for Ryan Burton, his fantasy scores are seemingly a beneficiary of this.
Marcus Bontempelli (Western Bulldogs - Midfielder)
The Bont is back into premium territory! He’s in red hot form both for fantasy and on the field as he lead the Doggies to a massive win over the Demons in a grand final replay. Bontempelli himself had 26 disposals, 9 tackles and a goal which helped him to a GDS fantasy score of 142! A big score indeed, but his round 19 score is dwarfed by his round 18 score of 161 GDS fantasy points. I myself often underestimate Bontempelli’s fantasy scoring ability at times because he’s surrounded by the likes of Adam Treloar, Jack Macrae, Josh Dunkley, Bailey Smith and Tim English, but now it’s just becoming too hard to ignore just how important he might be to your team as he hits the best form he’s been in all year, at exactly the right time.
FALLERS
Daniel Rioli (Richmond Tigers - Foward)
Well, it was fun while it lasted for Daniel Rioli and his fantasy form. It was only two risers and fallers blogs ago where I included Rioli in the risers section off the back of three 100+ performances in a row and a new role off the half-back flank. Since then, two scores of 72 and 71 have left a sour taste in many of the fantasy coach's mouths who decided to trust and start him. I would like to see how Rioli fares over the next couple of weeks before I put a massive cross through him because he did spend 72% of his time in the defensive half in round 19 in the draw to Freo, but as it stands today he is falling.
Patrick Dangerfield (Geelong Cats - Midfielder)
A couple of weeks is a long time in fantasy footy, and an extra long amount of time for Patty Dangerfield these days. The former premo has only seen 12 games so far this year and baited a lot into thinking 2016 danger might be back, scoring 121 GDS fantasy points against the Melbourne Demons in round 17. His round 19 score proves just how volatile starting Patty Dangerfield in 2022 can be. 11 disposals, 2 tackles and a goal was enough for a measly 44 GDS fantasy points. There’s no doubting Dangerfield is a champion of the game, but for fantasy - there’s no way anyone can start him with any confidence.
Will Day (Hawthorn Hawks - Defender)
Will Day will be a great starter… one day! But today isn't that day. I’m really high on him as a dynasty prospect, and I was high on him going into the season. However, his round 19 score of only 43 GDS fantasy points proves he isn’t ready to be started just yet. He’s had great games and shown glimpses of what he will be, but much like Patrick Dangerfield above, the volatility involved in starting him right now is just too risky. I can’t wait to be able to start him! As I have a platinum card of his. Day will just have to sit the pine until he shows a bit more.
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