It is a long pre season, but Holmesy is back with another episode of the Holmes Files. It is December, but we are days away from AFL Fantasy opening, The Traders beginning their club previews and the 50 most relevant beginning. After speaking with the winner of AFL Fantasy classic in 2024 on the last episode, Tom Hales the coach of "PomUnited" joined Holmesy to discuss his epic season where he led the comp from round 13, getting pipped at the post.

On this episode, Holmesy takes a deep dive into the thought process behind what made Tom so successful in 2024. We discuss the important early bye round strategy, dissect his trading strategy and how he set himself up to be successful, how he capitalised during the mid season byes, and some of the mistakes he made that ultimately had him finish in second place. We also take a quick look into the upcoming 2025 season and some strategy behind how we look to build our squads. Enjoy!

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Follow us on X:

The PODPOD: @podpodAFL

Holmesy: @Holmesyheroes

Lewy: @LewyAF

Statesman: @Statesman33

Harmey: @jonharmey

Dos: @HKdos

Tom:  @Tom_Hales_

Some people enjoy a long off-season, but for many die hard AFL Fantasy coaches the pre season can be one of the most exciting times of the year! Holmesy has decided to dust off the mics and bring you a special Holmes File episode - sitting down with Chris the coach of "Noeyedeer5" to discuss his epic fantasy season that concluded with him driving away in a brand new Toyota Hilux! A staple for many fantasy coaches pre-season, join us as we learn from the reigning champ.

On this episode, Holmesy takes a deep dive into the thought process behind what made Chris so successful in 2024. We discuss the important early bye round strategy, dissect his trading strategy and how he set himself up to be successful, how he capitalised during the mid season byes, and the epic trading that saw him take out first place. Discussing all things strategy and philosophy, this episode is not one to be missed. Welcome back AFL Fantasy!

Follow us on X:

The PODPOD: @podpodAFL

Holmesy: @Holmesyheroes

Lewy: @LewyAF

Statesman: @Statesman33

Harmey: @jonharmey

Dos: @HKdos

Chris: @chrisburnham5

And just like that, the bye rounds are upon us! Coaches are about to enter 4 rounds of best 18, with all players set to have a bye at some point in the next 4 weeks. Historically, this is where the good coaches can surge up the rankings as they trade their way towards a completed team! As coaches scramble to fix red dots, upgrade their failing mid-pricers and trade into underpriced premiums, this round of trading will prove to be one of the most important this year! Never fear, the PODPOD lads have you covered!

On this monster episode, Holmesy, Harmey and Lewy review their rounds, discuss bye round strategy, talk about a number of relevant players and answer a stack of listener questions. In one of their best chats yet, this episode is not one to be missed. Stay tuned towards the end as the lads make a heartfelt announcement about the future of the PODPOD. This one was for you listeners, enjoy!!!

Like this episode? Follow us on Spotify or subscribe on Apple to stay up to date when a new episode is released!

Join our open league: ‘The PODPOD Challenge’. League code: N63ANCEP.

The overall winner this year will receive an epic AFL Fantasy ring courtesy of Supercoach Championship Rings!

If you’d like to get a ring for your league from the folks at Supercoach Championship Rings, use the code ‘ThePODPOD’ for 10% off at checkout.

Find ALL our social links here: https://linktr.ee/podpodafl

Follow us on X:

The PODPOD: @podpodAFL

Holmesy: @Holmesyheroes

Lewy: @LewyAF

Statesman: @Statesman33

Harmey: @jonharmey

Dos: @HKdos

After the chaos of round 8, round 9 treated coaches to a bit of normality as we saw some big scoring return to AFL Fantasy. Captains were back with ceiling scores from popular premiums such as Marshall, Daicos and Butters which saw many coaches pushing above 2200 and even further north! However, many issues are starting to appear with a change of role for Harry Sheezel, many of the popular rookie options starting to max out in price and our forward lines still looking like absolute chaos!!

We dug deep this week on the podcast… with the panel containing 6 hats between them, 4 top ten finishes and a current average 2024 rank of…. 9k!!! Join Holmesy, Harmey and special guest DT Lemon as they review their rounds, discuss a number of the key strategies for round 10 and answer a stack of listener questions. As we continue to grind through this bumper AFL Fantasy season, the PODPOD crew have you covered each week to ensure you keep improving your teams and climbing the ranks! Enjoy!!

Like this episode? Follow us on Spotify or subscribe on Apple to stay up to date when a new episode is released!

Join our open league: ‘The PODPOD Challenge’. League code: N63ANCEP.

The overall winner this year will receive an epic AFL Fantasy ring courtesy of Supercoach Championship Rings!

If you’d like to get a ring for your league from the folks at Supercoach Championship Rings, use the code ‘ThePODPOD’ for 10% off at checkout.

Find ALL our social links here: https://linktr.ee/podpodafl

Follow us on X:

The PODPOD: @podpodAFL

Holmesy: @Holmesyheroes

Lewy: @LewyAF

Statesman: @Statesman33

Harmey: @jonharmey

Dos: @HKdos

Fizz: @StevieFizz

Bails: @BailsDT

Round 8…. What…was….that!!!??? Carnage, carnage, carnage! Beginning with a Connor Rozee sub on Thursday night, coaches thought things couldn’t get any worse and boy were they wrong! Tom Green, Zac Williams, Elliot Yeo and Jye Caldwell all headline a number of popular premiums that found themselves injured, with Jordon Sweet adding himself to that list on Wednesday. There were bullets everywhere and it has left coaches wishing they were playing other formats that have access to trade boosts. Never fear, the PODPOD lads are here to dissect a round from hell and to help set you up in a position to improve your team despite ideal circumstances!

The panel is a bit different this week, with Holmesy joined by Steve Fizz from the Draft Doctors and Bails from the AFL Fantasy Fanatics as they help you navigate the strategy required for round 9. They review the round that was, discuss key strategy now and leading into the byes, discuss a bunch up trade targets and answer all of your listener questions. With many coaches wondering where to go from here, this episode is not to be missed!

Like this episode? Follow us on Spotify or subscribe on Apple to stay up to date when a new episode is released!

Join our open league: ‘The PODPOD Challenge’. League code: N63ANCEP.

The overall winner this year will receive an epic AFL Fantasy ring courtesy of Supercoach Championship Rings!

If you’d like to get a ring for your league from the folks at Supercoach Championship Rings, use the code ‘ThePODPOD’ for 10% off at checkout.

Find ALL our social links here: https://linktr.ee/podpodafl

Follow us on X:

The PODPOD: @podpodAFL

Holmesy: @Holmesyheroes

Lewy: @LewyAF

Statesman: @Statesman33

Harmey: @jonharmey

Dos: @HKdos

Fizz: @StevieFizz

Bails: @BailsDT

Round 7 saw a mixed bag for coaches, with many good teams copping bullets whilst others remained steady on their rise towards a top 100 cap. Fantasy jets such as Jack Steele and Rowan Marshall are shells of their former selves off the back of injuries, Tom Powell has been shunted to the forward line and many rookies and mid pricers times are coming to an end. For coaches in good spots, it’s time to attack!! Whilst other coaches find themselves in a hole desperately hoping to find a way to fight back into the season!

Join Harmey, Holmesy and Stevie Fizz of the Draft Doctors as they dissect the round that was and guide you towards your trades for round 8. The lads review their rounds, talk about many relevant trade targets and discuss players who potentially need to be traded out. In this episode the boys dive deep into strategy and using their experience provide key insights into how you should be looking to attack at this point of the season. This episode is not one you want to miss!!!

Like this episode? Follow us on Spotify or subscribe on Apple to stay up to date when a new episode is released!

Join our open league: ‘The PODPOD Challenge’. League code: N63ANCEP.

The overall winner this year will receive an epic AFL Fantasy ring courtesy of Supercoach Championship Rings!

If you’d like to get a ring for your league from the folks at Supercoach Championship Rings, use the code ‘ThePODPOD’ for 10% off at checkout.

Find ALL our social links here: https://linktr.ee/podpodafl

Follow us on X:

The PODPOD: @podpodAFL

Holmesy: @Holmesyheroes

Lewy: @LewyAF

Statesman: @Statesman33

Harmey: @jonharmey

Dos: @HKdos

Just like that, round 6 is over and the bye rounds have come to a conclusion. There were two types of coaches this week… Coaches lucky enough to be on the end of some monster premium scores from players like Dawson, Xerri and Grundy… And coaches who found their teams crumbling with sub par scores from Saints players, North players, Luke Jackson and basically any player that Holmesy had on field. With round 7 approaching and a return to a best 22 format, coaches who have planned well and kept their cash moving are sure to see a surge in the rankings as they charge towards hat territory!!!

Join Stato, Harmey and Holmesy and they digest a round of Fantasy footy that they would all much rather forget. From a Holmesy sob story team reveal, to Stato going old school and channeling his inner Dos and Harmey providing the level head he always does, this episode has everything you need in preparation for an early ANZAC day eve round beginning of football. They discuss a bunch of players, sit down and chat strategy and answer a bunch of listener questions that is sure to help you attack this upcoming round of footy. Enjoy!

Like this episode? Follow us on Spotify or subscribe on Apple to stay up to date when a new episode is released!

Join our open league: ‘The PODPOD Challenge’. League code: N63ANCEP.

The overall winner this year will receive an epic AFL Fantasy ring courtesy of Supercoach Championship Rings!

If you’d like to get a ring for your league from the folks at Supercoach Championship Rings, use the code ‘ThePODPOD’ for 10% off at checkout.

Find ALL our social links here: https://linktr.ee/podpodafl

Follow us on X:

The PODPOD: @podpodAFL

Holmesy: @Holmesyheroes

Lewy: @LewyAF

Statesman: @Statesman33

Harmey: @jonharmey

Dos: @HKdos

What a rollercoaster of emotions AFL Fantasy threw up for coaches in round 5. Many coaches got off to an absolute flier with a Max Gawn vice captaincy and it seemed coaches were in for a big one! However, just 24 hours later this was flipped on its head with popular premium Marcus Bontempelli putting up his worst score since 2015!! It didn’t get much better from there with other popular premiums Dawson, Sarong and Green all putting up scores that have coaches wishing they hadn’t forked out the big bucks!!! Thank goodness for the rookies who pulled through showing once again that “guns and rookies” has been a good strategy in the best 18 system. As long as you pick the right guns!!!

After much deliberation, we are finally joined once again by the Statesman who has finally been given permission from Mrs Stato to rejoin the podcast. We are also joined by special guests Mitch and Luke from the Ball Boys AFL Fantasy Podcast as they help Holmesy, Lewy, Harmey and Stato review round 5 and help prepare for the last of the bye rounds. This episode includes an apology from Holmesy, a strategy round table, player discussion and a Q&A section dedicated to our listeners as the race towards a Hilux and glory heats up!!! You won’t want to miss this episode as the lads put your head together to continue navigating you through this epic AFL Fantasy season! Enjoy!

Like this episode? Follow us on Spotify or subscribe on Apple to stay up to date when a new episode is released!

Join our open league: ‘The PODPOD Challenge’. League code: N63ANCEP.

The overall winner this year will receive an epic AFL Fantasy ring courtesy of Supercoach Championship Rings!

If you’d like to get a ring for your league from the folks at Supercoach Championship Rings, use the code ‘ThePODPOD’ for 10% off at checkout.

Find ALL our social links here: https://linktr.ee/podpodafl

Follow us on X:

The PODPOD: @podpodAFL

Holmesy: @Holmesyheroes

Lewy: @LewyAF

Statesman: @Statesman33

Harmey: @jonharmey

Dos: @HKdos

Gather Round has been and gone and what a crazy week we had for AFL Fantasy with a return to a best 22 team. Popular rookies such as Sharp, Reid and Dempsey ensured that coaches with a ‘guns and rookies’ approach kept their season rolling in the right direction, with many monster scores from popular premiums such as Bontempelli, Rozee and Sheezel meaning there were some monster scores from coaches that were able to pull away from the pack!! With two weeks of best 18 systems to go including this week that sees many popular premiums on a bye, it is time to see which coaches have been disciplined with their planning and who may be caught swimming naked when the tide goes out heading towards round 7!!!

Join two time top ten finisher and runner up Harmey, two time top ten finisher Holmesy, the ever consistent Lewy and special guest, two time hat winner and gun coach DT Lemon as they sit down round table style and discuss all of the key strategies heading into round 5. This episode is not one to miss as they not only discuss a plan for this week, but how best to navigate and plan your trades so that you are best placed to exit the byes at round 7. Contents include a strategy round table, key player discussion and answering a bunch of listener strategy questions!!!

Like this episode? Follow us on Spotify or subscribe on Apple to stay up to date when a new episode is released!

Join our open league: ‘The PODPOD Challenge’. League code: N63ANCEP.

The overall winner this year will receive an epic AFL Fantasy ring courtesy of Supercoach Championship Rings!

If you’d like to get a ring for your league from the folks at Supercoach Championship Rings, use the code ‘ThePODPOD’ for 10% off at checkout.

Find ALL our social links here: https://linktr.ee/podpodafl

Follow us on X:

The PODPOD: @podpodAFL

Holmesy: @Holmesyheroes

Lewy: @LewyAF

Statesman: @Statesman33

Harmey: @jonharmey

Dos: @HKdos

DT Lemon: @Lemon_DT 

Round 3 saw some monster scores from some popular premiums that had coaches licking their lips as they witnessed their rankings leap towards hat territory. Nick Martin went BANG, Max Gawn reminded everyone of his ability as the number one ruck, Riley Bonner had a big ton and other popular premiums like Sheezel, Heeney and Steele continued their ripping form to start the year. However, it was a round of some incredible lows as well with many popular first year rookies and mid-pricers putting up scores that made coaches thankful for a best 18 round!!!

Join Harmey, Holmesy and Lewy as they dissect all of the hot topics from round 3 and review a banger of a round. They review their individual rounds, talk about the key players you should be looking to bring in and also jump off, whilst answering a stack of listener questions! As the season heats up and we head towards Gather Round and another full best 22 round, this episode is not one you want to miss!

Like this episode? Follow us on Spotify or subscribe on Apple to stay up to date when a new episode is released!

Join our open league: ‘The PODPOD Challenge’. League code: N63ANCEP.

The overall winner this year will receive an epic AFL Fantasy ring courtesy of Supercoach Championship Rings!

If you’d like to get a ring for your league from the folks at Supercoach Championship Rings, use the code ‘ThePODPOD’ for 10% off at checkout.

Find ALL our social links here: https://linktr.ee/podpodafl

Follow us on X:

The PODPOD: @podpodAFL

Holmesy: @Holmesyheroes

Lewy: @LewyAF

Statesman: @Statesman33

Harmey: @jonharmey

Dos: @HKdos