AFL Fantasy with The Traders

The final siren of the Dees v Pies game has just blown and we're straight into the studio talking Fantasy. Round 12 wasn't too bad from a coaches perspective with some decent scores coming out of our best 18. But we come up to round 13 where plenty of our stars are missing.

The highest averaging player in the competition, Tom Mitchell, is joined by Zach Merrett, Taylor Adams, Josh Kelly, Adam Treloar, Scott Pendlebury and Rory Sloane as guys going at over 110 per game while there are a few popular cows - like Hugh Greenwood - who have the week off making it tough to get an 18 this coming round.

Roy, Calvin and Warnie discuss the round that's gone and get you prepared for the last of the multi-bye rounds... the hardest of all! Goodbyes are hard, badbyes are harder!

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Every six rounds, the team at Champion Data run the numbers and award a group of players dual position status.

They take into account where they line up on the ground, which parts of the ground they get their disposals and their role in the team. If this is significantly different to the single position they are already assigned, they add the new one and become DPPs (dual position players).

Having DPPs in your squad allows extra flexibility in your line up and can help you out when trading.

During the week, 20 new players added a position and quite a few have been welcomed in the middle of the multi-bye rounds.

Basement priced first year players such as Sam Petrevski-Seton, Zac Fisher, Daniel Lloyd and Kurt Mutimer were previously only available as midfielders and with their new forward status, they can provide a handy bench link.

Filling the hole left by Max Gawn and Jake Spencer, Cam Pedersen is now available as a RUC/FWD.

The most interesting names for Fantasy coaches are usually those who add either FWD or DEF to their midfield status.

At their best, Pearce Hanley, Sam Menegola and Travis Boak would be among the best in their new positions. Daniel Rich, Jack Newnes and Dom Sheed will certainly be worth looking at as free agents in your Draft leagues.

Also in this week's podcast:

- How round 11 played out
- Fantasy news including injuries, suspensions, "Magoos news" and more
- Bye round trading
- Your burning questions answered

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They strike fear into Fantasy coaches across the land. The multi-bye rounds are here and they're ready to wreak havoc on our teams.

This weekend we experience the first of the multi-bye rounds. The MBRs - the shortened acronym means for more time to plan or panic - is the block of three rounds when up to six teams have a rest for a week.

For most head-to-head leagues, like the players, you will get a rest as match ups are on hold and will resume in round 14. Coaches playing through these or aiming to rank highly overall, will need to do their best to maximise points over this challenging time.

Rules change to help coaches deal with the group of players missing.

Firstly, the best 18 scores within your on field 22 count towards your weekly total. Sub on the bench players and aim to have at least 18, if not more, playing in rounds 11-13.

Secondly, as a new feature this season, coaches are given an extra trades to use in each of the next three weeks. Three trades per round for the MBRs will definitely help save a donut and get your squad in a position to be competitive.

Roy, Calvin and Warnie are in different positions with their bye structure. They discuss how to manage this tough patch of the Fantasy season.

Also in this week's podcast:

- The highs and lows from round ten
- Fantasy news including injuries, suspensions, "Magoos news" and more
- How to make the most of the loopholes over the next four weeks
- Milking cash cows vs holding for bench cover
- Your burning questions answered

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It's an honour that has only been bestowed upon two before him. Being crowned a "Pig" is not at all derogatory, it is a term of endearment from Fantasy coaches for players who go above and beyond. Those who greedily feast to bring their owners huge scores.

Hawthorn's Tom Mitchell joins Dane Swan and Tom Rockliff in the Sty, a section of the hall-of-fame that houses those who produce incredible Fantasy feats.

The two current Pigs, Swan and Rockliff, have been household names in the community and coaches have been rewarded with monstrous scores whenever they have played.

Swan has legend status as a pig. His 2012 season where he averaged 133.5, backing up from 120.9 the previous year was phenomenal.

Rockliff is the king pig. He holds the record for the highest season average of 134.7 posted back in 2014. This year, he was going at 129.2 before dislocating his shoulder.

Coming off his 50 disposal and 177 Fantasy point game, it was time to crown Mitchell as an official pig.

We have been tracking his progress, even before being drafted, as he has all of the traits to be one of the best ball-winners we've seen.

On debut, Mitchell donned the substitute vest. When he got the chance to get into the game in the second quarter, he went on to score 98 points. The following week, free from that green clothing, he played a full game collecting 31 disposals and 10 tackles for 144 points.

It was the start of something special.

Although there were some ups and downs due to stints in the NEAFL and some having to play some roles that weren't conducive to big Fantasy scores, Mitchell has been the man we had hoped he would as a Hawk.

In each of his nine games at his new club, Mitchell has scored 115 or more for an average of 131.7. This is the best start to a Fantasy season ever recorded as the midfielder's 1185 points knocks off Brent Stanton's record of 1164 scored in the opening nine rounds of 2012.

The Traders chat to Tom on the week's episode of the Official AFL Fantasy Podcast to induct him into the Sty.

Also in this week's podcast:
- The highs and lows from round nine
- Fantasy news including injuries, suspensions, "Magoos news" and more
- What to do with the fattened cash cows
- Which Gold Coast and Port Adelaide players are the best to pick up this week
- Social media questions answered
- Calvin's captain form guide

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Watching the Fantasy Pig Tom Rockliff go about his business at University of Tasmania Stadium on Saturday afternoon pleased The Traders.

That was until the last three minutes of the game.

'Rocky' dislocated his shoulder after racking up an impressive 130 Fantasy points. While the results of his scans are yet to be known, it would be safe to assume he will miss this week and not out of the question that he misses the following week before the Lions' bye. Sadly it looks like he needs to be traded.

The positive is that the most expensive and highest averaging player in the competition has an understudy or two.

Tom Mitchell scored 132 in Launceston to take his average to 126 as his pig-like tendencies have increased since joining the Hawks. Later that evening at the MCG, Zach Merrett gathered 33 disposals and 12 tackles for 150 points.

One of the 'piglets' is the best option to trade the King Pig to, but if you already have the duo, there are plenty of suitable player to bring in to help improve your side as the bye rounds approach.

Roy, Warnie and Calvin discuss trade possibilities and more on this week's episode of the Official AFL Fantasy Podcast.

Also in this week's podcast:

- The highs and lows from round eight
- Fantasy news including injuries, suspensions, "Magoos news" and more
- Playing the breakevens
- Gold Coast and Port Adelaide byes
- Social media questions answered
- Calvin's captain form guide

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We are around a third of the way through the season and things start to get challenging. Yes, they may have already have been challenging so far this season with injuries, suspensions and players being managed, but there is more to come.

Gold Coast and Port Adelaide face off in China as they play for premiership points for the first time outside of Australia and New Zealand.

What scores can we expect from our Fantasy players in Shanghai? Will the long flight hinder the numbers of our stars?

The Traders discuss the big matches in the upcoming round and delve into the numbers that each ground has dished up over the last three years.

Also in this week's podcast:

- Roy, Calvin and Warnie's great start to the season
- The highs and lows from round seven
- Fantasy news including injuries, suspensions, "Magoos news" and more
- Which cash cows to milk
- What to expect from the China game and trading strategy
- Social media questions answered

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Crows are flying, sitting at the top of the ladder at 6-0 and midfielder Rory Sloane (MID, $720,000) is leading the way as the top scoring Fantasy player in the competition.

A fracture of Sloane's eye socket interrupted his pre-season limiting his ownership. Even some coaches who started with him when named in round one decided that 68 wasn't good enough and traded him out.

Since then, Sloane has scored 152, 139, 143, 132 and most recently, 155.

The five round average of 144.2 is a true indication of his form and less than 15,000 coaches own the most expensive player in the competition.

Is Sloane a must-have? If he continues this form, then yes. A breakeven of 89 means that he isn't getting any cheaper.

The Traders will discuss whether you should shell out the big bucks for Sloane or other premium players around that $700,000 mark or do you look for a fallen premium as cash is hard to come by this season.

Also in this week's podcast:
• The highs and lows from round four (link to Roy's Form Watch: http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-04-30/fantasy-form-watch-jobe-needs-a-good-lie-down)
• Fantasy news including injuries, suspensions, "Magoos news" and more
• Cash cow culling
• Bye structure
• Social media questions answered
• Calvin's captain form guide

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Every six rounds, the number crunchers at Champion Data work with the team at Fantasy HQ to adjust positions of players to reflect their roles in 2017.

Where they line up, gather possessions and their heat maps all go into the mix to award players with dual position status ahead of round six, 12 and 18.

In the first round of changes, 24 players have had a position added.

Robbie Gray has regained the MID/FWD status that he has held across most of his years. Mitch Robinson and Michael Barlow are other midfielders to pick up dual positioning and could be among the best of the forwards available for the rest of the season.

Popular cash cows Andy Otten and Dan Houston have added FWD and DEF status making the duo share the swingman link of DEF/FWD. This may prove to become very handy when trading around the bye rounds.

Draft coaches who selected Brandon Ellis and Cameron Guthrie will have some consolation for this slow start to the year with the ability to throw them in defence.

On this week's podcast, Roy, Calvin and Warnie discuss each DPP adjustment in detail, together with exclusive numbers from Champion Data.

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It was a round where things started evening out. Some of the players that exceeded expectations early on gave their coaches a reality check.

One man who is consistently getting the job done for his coaches is Marc Murphy. Carlton's skipper started at $482,000 and after four rounds is now worth well over $600,000. Murphy is the highest averaging AFL Fantasy player following scores of 139, 125, 145 and 124.

While there has been a fast start to the year from our premiums, Murphy is the only player to have scored more than 120 in each game.

If you're in the 73 per cent of coaches who don't have him, is it too late to get him?

The Traders discuss the big movers of the opening four rounds and how to get the most out of the cash cows in your team. Roy, Calvin and Warnie dissect the best trades and discuss the selection dilemmas facing Fantasy coaches ahead of round five.

Also in this week's podcast:
• The highs and lows from round four (link to Roy's Form Watch)
• Chop's chopping block
• Fantasy news including injuries, suspensions, "Magoos news" and more
• The dual position player watch list
• Social media questions answered
• A look ahead to Anzac Day and your Match Day teams

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A long term injury isn't something that any footy fan likes to see, especially Fantasy coaches.

Max Gawn (RUC, $588,000) is set to spend the better part of the next three months on the sidelines following surgery on his injured hamstring. Melbourne's ruckman went down in the second quarter on 32 Fantasy points, meaning the most expensive ruckman at the start of the season dropped $46,000 in value this week.

The main talking point on this week's episode of the Official AFL Fantasy Podcast with The Traders is what to do with the 208cm hole left in the ruck division.

The 24 per cent of Fantasy Classic owners have a few choices. One is to find the cash and trade up to the in-form Brodie Grundy (RUC, $623,000), or basically straight swap him to Stefan Martin (RUC, $582,000) who is in the form that made him the top ruckman of 2015.

These are simple moves, but could be get clever with the moves and make get more points out of our squad?

Roy, Warnie and Calvin discuss the Max Gawn trade and help Fantasy Draft owners replace their first round pick with someone suitable.

Also in this week's podcast:

- The best and worst from round three
- Chop's chopping block
- Fantasy news including injuries, suspensions, "Magoos news", breakevens and more
- Which players we should stick with and who to move on
- The players we missed with a look at Charles' team who had the top scoring team of round three
- Social media questions answered
- Some stats to help you with your trade and captain dilemmas

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.