Welcome to all GameDay Squad coaches, AFL fantasy coaches, AFL fans or just the curious. GameDay Squad is going to be releasing a series of AFL seasonal reviews that will provide you with all the fantasy insight and recommendations your heart desires. We are just weeks away from the commencement of the 2023 AFL season and if you are late to the party and haven’t done your fantasy research, let GameDay Squad handle that for you. Enjoy this installation of fantasy breakdowns for the West Coast Eagles.
Must start player:
29-year-old veteran Elliott Yeo is coming into his 11 season in the league and as it stands today, he's arguably looking the best he ever has! Yeo has done it tough in recent seasons his game tally in 2020? 10, 2021? 12, 2022? just 5 games played. This obviously doesn't bode well for Yeo and Yeo owners but at some point we need to trust the process and use the eye test. He's been absolutely electric in match-sims and practice-matches, and I know! We don't want to go chips in based off a pre-season game but the guy is running around the park like he's 24 again! Another aspect is his positional status, Yeo is a defender again in Aussie Rules fantasy footy, which makes him all the more enticing to start for round 1. I'm looking to pack him so I can do just that, and if you're one of the lucky ones who already owns him, get him in your squads!
Dream legend card:
We only have a very small sample size but from what we have seen Jai Culley has a really promising fantasy game in his locker. Culley played 4 games last year, in one of those game he left the game early with an injury, but he still managed to finish three of those four games off with scores of over 90 GDS points per game. On paper he's a great legend card to strive to obtain, young, talented and has a fantasy-friendly role. He can score in a plethora of ways, disposals, tackles, marks and he can even impact the scoreboard. He's still very green but I think of all the West Coast Eagles players, he's the legend card i'd like to own the most.
Avoid this Bust:
Tom Barrass had impose himself in a different way last year. With so many injuries and players missing games due to covid-19 protocols, Barrass had to adapt for the sake of the team and found himself around the ball a lot more. His traditional role is someone who kills contests, has a strong mark and can nullify opposing forwards, and I think with some squad health and the likes of Jeremy McGovern and Alex Witherden back in the frame, we see Barrass return to the less fantasy-friendly role he's so good at.
Value on the rise:
A name we can't stop hearing is draftee Reuben Ginbey. Reuben was drafted 9th overall in the 2022 AFL draft and from all reports, he is on fire on the track this pre-season! Tipped to play off half-back and/or work his way up the wing, Ginbey could very well pose some questions come selection time during the week as a player-of-difference who can score big in good matchups. His junior scoring ability helps my case here, he finds the footy so well averaging 20.8 disposals, 2.8 marks and 4 tackled per game at the under 18 national championships. Keep him in your reserves for now but pay close attention!
Value on the decline:
Is this possibly the year father time catches up to West Coast legend Shannon Hurn? The 35-year-old is coming off statistically his best year yet! Averaging 113 GDS fantasy points per game in 2022, which helped him finish as the 8th highest ranked defender league-wide based on a per average basis. BUT, he is 35, we do need to put a cap on expectations a little bit and much like the Barrass case, there is a lot of talent coming back into the squad that should shake things up a little bit and lighten the load for Shannon Hurn this year. I don't think it will be a steep decline! But we should definitely expect somewhat of a decline nonetheless.
2023 Hot take:
Fit and firing after missing last year with injury, Oscar Allen makes a huge case for a green jacket at the end of the season with 40+ goals and some elite pinch hitting ruck work.