I feel like it's been this way every week so far this season, but Round 4 delivered once again, more carnage, and the boys are here to break it all down.

We dive into how each coach fared, including a rollercoaster week that saw Vice Captain and Captains going MIA, late outs, and again MORE injures! 

While Ryan surged into the top 1% of all fantasy coaches, Josh is having a meltdown scoring the lowest on the pod AGAIN this week.

We unpack all the key talking points from the round, including what went wrong and which players cost coaches heavily, as well as the standouts who delivered and shaped rankings across the competition. We also hand out Brownlow votes and call out the biggest flops of the week.

The episode covers key trade decisions, including the balance between rage trades and smart upgrade strategies, along with insights into cash generation and overall team value. We also discuss the latest injuries and suspensions, and what they mean moving forward.

With upgrade season now officially underway, we break down the most traded players, the best cash cows to target, and the crucial decisions you need to make ahead of the next round.

We also bring back Just the Tips, where we attempt to pick winners and bounce back from a tough week.

If your team took a hit this round, you are not alone, but this is where seasons can turn around. It's onto best 22 this week, so make sure you are prepared, you can't hide those 4 worst on field scores anymore!

Tune in now and get ahead before the next lockout.

Round 3 is in the books and the boys break down everything you need to know heading into Round 4 of AFL Fantasy.

From big score swings to rising team values, we take a look at where each coach sits after three rounds and what it means for your team moving forward. There’s plenty to unpack with trade decisions, role changes and early season trends starting to emerge.

We dive into the key talking points including the most traded players, who’s on the chopping block, and which value picks are still worth chasing. Plus, we cover injuries, suspensions and how they impact your strategy over the next few weeks.

The crew also run through their trades for Round 4, discuss whether to hold or move on from under performers, and highlight potential upgrade targets as we shift into upgrade season.

To wrap it up, we give our tips for the round and help you get ahead before the bye rounds end.

If you’re serious about climbing the rankings, this is the episode you need.

Round 2 delivered absolute chaos, injuries everywhere, forced trades coming up this week, and massive swings in rankings… but one man stood above it all.

Hawko explodes into the top 100 for Round 2, ranked 93rd in the entire competition, leading the charge for The Lockout Podcast after a huge 1905 score and a massive climb up the ranks. 

The boys break down all the key takeaways from Round 2, including:

• Winners and losers from a brutal injury week
• Brownlow votes and the biggest flops
• Early trade strategies and must move players
• Cash generation vs chasing points
• Key buys, holds and sells heading into Round 3

If your team is cooked, climbing, or somewhere in between, this episode gives you the edge heading into a crucial early round.

The 2026 AFL Fantasy season is officially underway and Round 1 delivered chaos, cash generation and plenty of early headaches.

We break down our Round 1 scores, rankings and biggest takeaways, including who’s flying, who’s already in trouble and how our teams are shaping moving forward. The boys run through Brownlow votes, flops of the week and the early trade decisions that could define your season.

We also dive deep into the most traded players, rookie cash cows you must have, injury news and role changes that are already impacting Fantasy relevance. Plus, a full preview of Round 2 with match predictions and key players to watch.

If you're chasing early rank, building cash or trying to fix Round 1 mistakes, this is a must-listen episode.

The AFL Fantasy season is officially underway and we’ve finally got some real data to work with.

In this episode of The Lockout Podcast, we dive into Round 0 and what it actually means for Fantasy coaches heading into Round 1.

We break down the big scoring trends, what surprised us, and which players and roles look very different from what we expected in preseason.

In this episode we cover:

📊 Round 0 scoring takeaways - What the numbers actually told us and what you need to consider

👀 Role changes & usage that could impact Fantasy scoring - Did a boom score from Houston mean he needs to be picked

📈 Players who look like early-season value

⚠️ Warning signs from Round 0 performances

🔁 How it changes our approach to Round 1

And to finish the episode…

🏉 Just the Tips - our tips for the Round 1 AFL matches

Whether you’re locking in your team for Round 1 or trying to work out what Round 0 actually meant, this episode will help you make sense of the first real Fantasy data of the season.

In Episode 20 of The Lockout Podcast, the boys break down the most important part of AFL Fantasy team building: foundation picks and smokies. These are the players we are locking into our teams with full conviction, and the sleepers sitting right on the edge as potential Point of Difference selections that could hit, but also could bust!

We go position by position through defence, midfield, ruck and forward, discussing why certain premiums and value picks are must haves, how preseason roles and fixtures are shaping decisions, and which lower owned players could emerge as breakout options in 2026. The discussion also dives into early byes, injury risk, cash generation, and why having a clear reason for every pick in your side matters more than chasing pre-season hype.

If you’re finalising your structure, debating set and forget options, or looking for smart differentials without going full left field, this episode will help you lock in your team with confidence heading into the season.

Our club specific previews are done, and now the team selection grind is officially on.

In this episode of The Lockout Podcast, we dive deep into rookie picks, mid-priced options, and PODs (Players of Difference) to help you build a competitive AFL Fantasy side beyond the vanilla selections.

We break down the two main strategies, guns & rookies vs mid-price madness, while running through under 400k rookies, value picks in the 400 – 700k range, and overlooked players who could separate you from the pack.

From job security rookies and cash cows, to breakout mid-pricers and left-field PODs, this episode is all about finding value, creating flexibility, and getting ahead early.

If you’re tired of copying the template team and want real options to attack AFL Fantasy 2026, this one’s a must listen.

The final team preview is here as we wrap up our AFL Fantasy 2026 team reviews with the West Coast Eagles.

After another brutal season at the bottom of the ladder, the Eagles enter 2026 with major list turnover, fresh draftees, and a few genuine Fantasy talking points. We break down the fallout from an exodus of senior players, the influx of young talent, and whether West Coast are finally ready to turn a corner, spoiler, we dont think so, yet...

We dive into Tom McCarthy’s breakout season, Tim Kelly’s alarming decline, Ryan Maric’s role change, and debate whether Harley Reid is ready to explode. We also unpack new arrivals like Devin Robertson, Finn McRae and Josh Lindsay, assess who actually belongs in your Fantasy side, and lock in where the Eagles finish on the ladder.

With all team previews now complete, we look ahead to rookie rankings, cash cows, and early Fantasy strategy as the season creeps closer.

The AFL Fantasy 2026 team previews roll on and this episode turns its attention to the Richmond Tigers, a club deep in rebuild mode after a brutal 2025 season but quietly stockpiling young talent for the future.

We unpack Richmond’s year, assess the draft haul that’s shaping the next generation of Tigers, and break down what went wrong on field and in Fantasy. From Toby Nankervis once again carrying the load, to Taranto’s disappointing output, to the emergence of value options like Sam Banks, we dive into who actually matters for Fantasy in a side still finding its feet.

The boys debate underperformers, boom players, breakout candidates and ultimate Fantasy picks, before locking in where Richmond sits heading into 2026. 

With plenty of kids, limited premiums and a long road ahead, the big question remains, is there any reason to start a Tiger in your Fantasy side this year?

We’re nearing the pointy end of our AFL Fantasy team previews and this episode turns the spotlight on North Melbourne, a side that’s quickly becoming one of the most fantasy relevant teams heading into the 2026 season.

The Kangaroos showed clear signs of growth in 2025, building around a talented young core and finally starting to translate development into performance. From a fantasy perspective, there’s plenty to like, with multiple players capable of delivering value across different price points and positions.

We break down North Melbourne’s season, list changes and overall trajectory, dive into Harry Sheezel’s midfield role and elite Fantasy ceiling, assess under performers and injury concerns, and identify the boom players and breakout candidates who could shape fantasy teams this year. 

We also unpack value defenders, rookie options, ruck strategy, and lock in our ultimate Kangaroos picks before debating where North sit on the 2026 ladder.

With a friendly early draw and genuine upside across the list, the big question remains, how many Kangaroos are you starting with in 2026?