The Late Cut: AFL $5,000 Saturday

Saturday is here and with it comes two more matches in the AFL JLT Community Series. In the first match, Melbourne is playing host to Carlton at Casey Fields. The Demons are coming off an impressive first outing where they beat the Bulldogs and it is Carlton’s first hit out of the year. In the late match, it is another installment of the Derby, with West Coast taking on Fremantle. Draftstars will be running a $5,000 game for this match with $750 going to first place.

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Here is a team you may consider for the AFL $5k+ Saturday competition

Forward

Nathan Vardy ($9,300)

The former Cat now calls Perth home, after being traded to the West Coast Eagles during the offseason. Nobody has doubted his talent, but his main concern is his ability to get on the park. If Vardy stays healthy, he has the ability to lock down the Eagles number one ruck spot for a large chunk of this year with Nic Natinui’s injury, but in order to do that, he needs to stay healthy, which is no small task. Vardy would love to put his best foot forward and lock down his place in the team with a solid showing in this match.

Christian Petracca ($10,100)

Petracca returned for the 2017 season with a solid hit out against the Bulldogs. He finished the game with 13 disposals and a goal on his way to scoring 58 DS points. Petracca will most likely spend more time in the midfield in this encounter as the Demons take a cautious approach building up his fitness. Petracca at his best in an explosive weapon and glimpses of that here would be good enough for him to put up a good score.

Midfield

Bernie Vince ($13,500)

Vince was excellent in the Demon’s first match against the Bulldogs, finishing with 88 DS points. Vince is one of the Demon’s best players when he is focused, but is prone to making a few errors of judgement. If the Demons are to finish in the eight, they will need the former crow to have a career best year.

Andrew Gaff ($13,700)

After not playing last week, Gaff makes his return to the Eagles for this match against the Dockers. Gaff is a hard running outside midfielder who is one of the best in the league when he is in form. The Eagles will be relying on his run through the midfield this season as they have plenty of in and under options around the ball. This could easily be a career best year for Gaff, so look for a good showing today.

Angus Brayshaw ($11,000)

Brayshaw’s game last week showed us why the demons chose him so high in the draft. He was brilliant s he racked up 16 disposals, but his biggest contribution was his seven tackles. Brayshaw is a bull around the stoppages and along with Jones, Lewis and Viney makes up a midfield full of grunt. He should get plenty of time throughthe middle and can get another big score.

Dom Sheed ($10,000)

Sheed was arguably the best player for the Eagles in their first match last week, racking up 27 disposals on his way to 93 DS points. He is an emerging midfielder for the Eagles, who look to boast good depth through the middle of the ground this year. Sheed and co should be able to run amok against the depleted Dockers midfield.

Defender

Sharrod Wellingham ($9,250)

Wellingham finished with a match high 114 DS points against GWS last week. He looked like his old self, dashing off half back as the Eagles backline was swamped by impressive Giants. If Wellingham can replicate his performance, he should get another good score.

Billie Smedts ($7,900)

The former Cat has found a new home at Carlton and will be looking to impress in this match. Smedts showed promise for the cats, but was unable to break in to the side on a regular basis, before breaking his leg in the VFL. He is fully healthy now and should be able to squeeze into the Blues backline with the occasional run through the middle.

Ruck

Max Gawn ($15,100)

The premier ruckman in the competition, Gawn started his 2017 in good fashion, returning 92 DS points against the Bulldogs. Gawn was dominant for large periods of last season, often a lone hand, dragging Melbourne to victory on multiple occasions. Gawn should be able to bully a recovering Kreuzer and disappointing Gorringe in this lineup and get another big score.

The Line Up

FWD: Nathan Vardy ($9,300)

FWD: Christian Petracca ($10,100)

MID: Bernie Vince ($13,500)

MID: Andrew Gaff ($13,700)

MID: Angus Brayshaw ($11,000)

MID: Dom Sheed ($10,000)

DEF: Sharrod Wellingham ($9,250)

DEF: Billie Smedts ($7,900)

RK: Max Gawn ($15,100)

Salary Remaining: $700