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Liam Kermode

GameDay Squad Aussie Rules: Round 2 Team To Beat

Join us as Kerm puts on his general manager cap and selects his dream team going into round 2 of the AFL! He'll have the entire player pool to choose from, which should make selecting 6 defenders, 5 midfielders, 1 ruckman, and 6 forwards weekly easy right? Well, let us know who you agree with and who else you might have selected down below on all of our social channels twitter, facebook, instagram, discord.


Defenders (DEF)

The defenders are going unchanged this week! It was a pretty solid outing in round 1 for my defenders, the exception being Jack Sinclair who was disappointing by his standards. I contemplated bringing Hayden Young or Luke Ryan in for him but I'll give Sinclair one more week and hope he puts up a big score to reward me for my loyalty.

Sam Docherty's diamond GameDay Squad player card

Sam Docherty

Carlton Blues

Verses Geelong at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne

Thursday at 6:20pm AEST


Round 1 score - 136 GDS fantasy points

Doch isn't going anywhere! Lock of all locks, all season long!

Angus Brayshaw's legend GameDay Squad player card

Angus Brayshaw

Melbourne Demons

Verses Brisbane at the Gabba, Brisbane

Friday at 6:55pm AEST


Round 1 score - 114 GDS fantasy points

We probably wanted a little more from Gus in this matchup with Jack Viney out. Still, a score of 114 GDS fantasy points keeps him in the team to beat side as he looks to go big against a Brisbane Lions team with their pants down.

Jordan Dawson's bronze GameDay Squad player card

Jordan Dawson

Adelaide Crows

Verses Richmond at the Adelaide Oval, Adelaide

Saturday at 3:35pm AEST


Round 1 score - 110 GDS fantasy points

It wasn't just a weird game for Dawson but it was a weird game from all Adelaide players on the weekend. Fantasy scoring wasn't as high as we had hoped but still, Dawson's role down back look like it will be profitable for all Jordan Dawson fantasy owners.

Jack Sinclair's platinum GameDay Squad player card

Jack Sinclair

St Kilda Saints Verses Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium, Melbourne Saturday at 6:25pm AEST


Round 1 score - 104 GDS fantasy points

Very poor showing from Jack Sinclair compared to his standards from last year. He still found the ball okay with 26 disposals, but his role looks to have changed slightly with some more good ball handlers down back for the Saints. He's definitely on the hot seat this week and if he doesn't push that 120+ GDS fantasy point mark, he'll be replaced by someone like Luke Ryan, or Hayden Young.

James Sicily's gold GameDay Squad player card

James Sicily

Hawthorn Hawks Verses Sydney Swans at the Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney Sunday at 12:10pm AEST


Round 1 score - 153 GDS fantasy points

James Sicily was borderline sensual to watch on the weekend! The new Hawthorn captain, was everywhere down back as he put up 153 GDS fantasy points off the back of a 30 disposal, 15 mark outing against the Essendon Bombers. I have a feeling we'll be seeing Sicily in this blog pretty much all year long!

Nick Daicos' silver GameDay Squad player card

Nick Daicos

Collingwood Magpies

Verses Port Adelaide at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne

Saturday at 12:45pm AEST


Round 1 score - 137 GDS fantasy points

Shame on anyone who didn't start Daicos after he was tagged in Collingwood's preseason game! Those who were scared away were taught a lesson after he posted a Collingwood high score of 137 GDS fantasy points. He will receive attention in coming weeks but his ceiling is far to high to be taken out of this team to beat.



Midfielders (MID)

The elephant in the room here is that our main man, Rory Laird absolutely stunk it up for all Laird owners in round 1! Which is a bit of a "knock your socks off" statement to make because we (I) thought he was absolutely bullet proof but here we stand more confused in round 2 than we were coming into round 1. My other selections faired pretty well, Andy Brayshaw did Andy Brayshaw things, Jack Macrae was solid as always for the doggies. Merrett battles very well against the Finn Maginness tag on the weekend to put up a respectable score and Jack Steele was also fairly solid, maybe a little under par. Unlike the defenders group, there will be some changes this week!

Rory Laird's silver GameDay Squad player card

Rory Laird

Adelaide Crows

Verses Richmond Tigers at Adelaide Oval, Adelaide

Saturday at 3:35pm AEST


Round 1 score - 64 GDS fantasy points

...

64 GDS fantasy points... from Rory Laird... 2022 GDS scoring champion... #1 ranked midfielder all off-season... 64 GDS fantasy points.


I mean, if there was ever a time to drop Laird from the team to beat team, its now... but I just cant bring myself to do it! I know the round 1 score was poor, but we are talking about Rory Laird here, he's probably going to put 170 on Richmond this week. If the 64 score happens consistently, i'll rethink my choice here but as it stands, Laird remains undroppable.


Andrew Brayshaw's legend GameDay Squad player card

Andrew Brayshaw

Fremantle Dockers

Verses North Melbourne Kangaroos at Optus Stadium, Perth

Saturday at 6:30pm AEST


Round 1 score - 140 GDS fantasy points

Dudes just very good at football. It's a bit like the famous saying from former New York Jets quarterback Sam Darnold - "I'm seeing ghosts out there", Brayshaw is just literally everywhere! The funny part is, it was as if he was in second gear the entire game! I still think he has more to show, and that truly is the scary part. He faces North Melbourne this week so we are officially on record watch!


Jack Macrae's diamond GameDay Squad player card

Jack Macrae

Western Bulldogs

Verses St Kilda Saints at Marvel Stadium, Melbourne

Saturday at 6:25pm AEST


Round 1 score - 124 GDS fantasy points


Jack Macrae just went about his business in typical Jack Macrae fashion. In the doggies loss to the Demons, Macrae had a lazy 33 disposals, 4 marks, 3 tackles and pushed forward for a goal on his way to 124 GDS fantasy points. The myths and stories regarding Macrae's role were also squandered as he attended 62% of the games centre-bounces. He could be a mainstay here Jack Macrae.


Clayton Oliver's bronze GameDay Squad player card

Clayton Oliver

Melbourne Demons

Verses Brisbane Lions at the Gabba, Brisbane

Friday at 6:55pm AEST


Round 1 score - 140 GDS fantasy points

It's a little blasphemous that I didn't include Oliver in my round 1 team to beat but in true blogger fashion I didn't want to be "too vanilla". It came back to bite me! Clayton Oliver went off in round 1, scoring 140 GDS fantasy points off the back of a 33 disposal, 6 mark, 7 tackle outing against a really solid Western Bulldogs midfield. It doesn't get any easier for Clarry as the Dee's take on Brisbane on Friday night but he's just too dominant to leave out.


Tom Green's gold GameDay Squad player card

Tom Green

Greater Western Sydney Giants

Verses West Coast Eagles at Optus Stadium, Perth

Sunday at 5:20pm AEST


Round 1 score - 152 GDS fantasy points

BANG! Our second midfield change and it's Tom Green who was hugeeeeee in round 1 against the Adelaide Crows in sweltering conditions. He seemed completely unfazed as he found the footy for fun. 37 disposals, 6 marks, 4 tackles and a goal on 81% CBA attendance for GWS as he scored 152 GDS fantasy points! I mean, he's a must start, it is as simple as that!

Ruckman (RUCK)

There were some very decent ruckman scores over the course of round one. Namely, Jarrod Witts' 132, Toby Nankervis' 128 and Max Gawn's 133 scores but i'm not going to drop Tim English! We will get to more in a moment but he himself scored well and I still think he's the safest option at the position.

Tim English's platinum GameDay Squad player card

Tim English

Western Bulldogs

Verses St Kilda Saints at Marvel Stadium, Melbourne

Saturday at 6:25pm AEST


Round 1 score - 130 GDS fantasy points

So yes, I will be sticking with Timmy English after his solid outing against the Melbourne Demons. English had 24 disposals, 6 marks, 4 tackles and 22 hit-outs against the superstar ruck combo of Max Gawn and Brodie Grundy, no easy feat! Numbers and score aside, English passed the eye test! He was getting around the ground well, hit the contest with power, strong with his hands which bodes well for English's future scoring.


Forwards (FWD)

I'm electing to make one change heading into round 2 with my forwards and it's going to be Dylan Moore making way for Toby Greene! Dylan Moore played well without setting the world alight scoring 97 GDS fantasy points but Greene's score is just too hard to ignore. Tough decision in what was a tough week for the forwards!

Jack Dunkley's gold GameDay Squad player card

Josh Dunkley

Brisbane Lions

Verses Melbourne Demons at the Gabba, Brisbane

Friday at 6:55pm AEST


Round 1 score - 84 GDS fantasy points

Very uncharacteristic score for Josh Dunkley in what was a very uncharacteristically poor fantasy scoring game for the Brisbane Lions as a whole. While Dunkley was poor, so were the likes of Lachie Neale, Hugh McCluggage, Jarrod Berry, Keidean Coleman and more with Daniel Rich the only Lions player eclipsing the 100+ GDS marker. I'm willing to let this game go through to the keeper in what i'm calling a freak accident from Dunkley.

Connor Rozee's silver GameDay Squad player card

Connor Rozee

Port Adelaide

Verses Brisbane Lions at the Adelaide Oval, Adelaide

Saturday at 3:35pm AEST


Round 1 score - 112 GDS fantasy points

Rozee was good without being great in round one against the Brisbane Lions. He was incredible in parts of the game and in turn, went quiet in other parts. Nonetheless he did score well off the back of 23 disposals, 4 marks, 6 tackles and a goal as Port Adelaide upset the Lions at home. A very good start for Rozee and he'll be a mainstay in this team to beat blog for a very long time.


Tim Taranto's legend GameDay Squad player card

Tim Taranto

Richmond Tigers

Verses Carlton at the at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne

Thursday at 6:20pm AEST


Round 1 score - 141 GDS fantasy points

In Richmond's round 1 draw with Carlton, new recruit Tim Taranto looked the best of the bunch from the first whistle! His score of 141 GD fantasy points ranked him 2nd amongst all forwards in round 1 (Tied with Harry Sheezel) and it took 32 disposals, 3 marks and 8 tackles to get him there. Any worries about Taranto's scoring ability in a "System that doesn't allow volume fantasy scoring" should be eased a lot more after that performance.


Stephen Coniglio's bronze GameDay Squad player card

Stephen Coniglio

Greater Western Sydney Giants

Verses Adelaide Crows at GIANTS Stadium, Sydney

Sunday at 12:10pm AEST

Round 1 score - 125 GDS fantasy points

Business as usual for the great man Stephen Coniglio in round 1. 125 GDS fantasy points off the back of 32 disposals, 3 marks, 1 tackle and a goal is enough to label Coniglio a must start. Pair that with his game-high 84% centre-bounce-attendance and you've got yourself a bonafide star at the position. As if that was in question anyway...


Toby Greene's diamond GameDay Squad player card

Toby Greene

Greater Western Sydney Giants

Verses Adelaide Crows at GIANTS Stadium, Sydney

Sunday at 12:10pm AEST


Toby Greene now gets a chance to make his debut for the team to beat in round 2 after his monstrous score of 138 GDS fantasy points in round 1. Greater Western Sydney's captain was electric, booting four goals and four behinds, as well as totalling 19 disposals, 8 marks and 4 tackles. Toby looked like he was back to some of his best fantasy ways in round 1 and I have been burnt by him in the past, i'm willing to risk it for some big scores!


Errol Gulden's platinum GameDay Squad player card

Errol Gulden

Sydney Swans Verses Gold Coast Suns at the Heritage Bank Stadium, Gold Coast Saturday at 7:00pm AEST


Round 1 score - 118 GDS fantasy points


God he's good... Errol Gulden is going to be so incredibly good this year for fantasy footy! Sydney destroyed the Gold Coast Suns on their own deck in round 1, Gulden was a massive part of that. The big question everyone had coming into this game was, how much midfield time was Gulden going to see? He saw 50% CBA, more than both James Rowbottom and Callum Mills, so the opportunity looks like it's going to be there for some time!


Fringe players that just missed out on the starting 18.

Caleb Daniel (DEF) - Western Bulldogs

Bailey Dale (DEF) - Western Bulldogs

Luke Ryan (DEF) - Fremantle Dockers

Hayden Young (DEF) - Fremantle Dockers

Jack Steele (MID) - St Kilda Saints

Touk Miller (MID) - Gold Coast Suns

Lachie Neale (MID) - Brisbane Lions

Darcy Parish (MID) - Essendon Bombers

Zach Merrett (MID) - Essendon Bombers Rowan Marshall (Ruck) - St Kilda Saints

Jarrod Witts (Ruck) - Gold Coast Suns Zak Butters (FWD) - Port Adelaide Power

Dylan Moore (FWD) - Hawthorn Hawks

 


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