AFLW R3 – KANGAROOS V BULLDOGS
Ripper of a contest to start Round 3 with the Kangas taking on the Dogs in Launceston on what looks like a relatively calm, clear Friday night. Perfect footy weather and we’ve got two sides that are excellent at maintaining possession as well as applying pressure so I expect this to be a high-scoring dfs contest with the cash-line sitting at about 540-550 tonight.
AFLW $2,000+ KANGAROOS V WESTERN BULLDOGS
Teams
NORTH MELBOURNE
B: J.Trend 21, B.Gibson 18, J.Grierson 19
HB: D.Hardiman 31, T.Randall 16, J.Duffin 27
C: E.Kearney (c) 9
HF: K.Ashmore 10, K.Gillespie-Jones 5, D.Bateman 11
F: M.Hope 23, J.Garner 25, C.Munn 13
Foll: Emma King 60, J.Stanton 17, J.Bruton 35
I/C: Elisha King 4, E.Humphries 6, A.Drennan 8, N.Bresnehan 12, C.Haines 29
Emg: T.Mesiti 3, G.Nanscawen 22
In: C.Munn, C.Haines
Out: S.Abbatangelo (Injured), A.Riddell (ankle)
WESTERN BULLDOGS
B: N.Ferres 16, L.Spark 11, B.Hunt 21
HB: N.Callinan 10, T.Ernst 19, H.Scott 22
C: K.Lamb 27
HF: L.Birch 18, K.Brennan (c) 3, M.Conti 8
F: A.McCarthy 15, E.Mackie 25, A.Utri 23
Foll: K.Rennie 24, A.Gogos 36, E.Blackburn 2
I/C: C.Moody 13, H.Wildes 17, B.Toogood 28, D.Berry 7, B.Smith 12
Emg: E.Brown 9, E.Gamble 14
In: E.Mackie, H.Wildes
Out: K.McLeod, E.Brown
Selection
Emma King ($12,720): King will be over 80% owned but the chalk is necessary as the two Bulldogs ruck options are bad and worse. King has the height so hitouts will be up, she has the tackle floor (7 in R1) and she is finding the footy particularly close to goal. Just set King in, forget and move onto defence where there are some bargains.
Lauren Spark ($7,530): In order to stack my midfield and forward line I have faded Jess Duffin which may seem like a big risk but I’m hopeful it’s only a 20pt drop for a bunch of salary I can make up elsewhere. The salary cappers have missed Sparky altogether, averaging 67pts from her two outings. I was targeting the Dogs defence tonight anyway as I expect them to be very busy which means tackles and kick in points and hopefully some marks.
Hannah Scott ($8,610): Scott is my big POD play with Duffin and Spark likely to both be extremely popular. Coming off a 32pt game which doesn’t inspire much confidence, but she is capable of doubling that as we saw in Adelaide R1 and if she can hit that 70pts, the 5k im saving fading Duffin will allow me to come out ahead elsewhere.
Jamie Stanton ($14,100): Stanton has had a great start to the season and here specifically, she looks an almost must-pick with the Dogs likely to spend heaps of time on Bruton and Kearney. Finds the footy or finds whoever has it and tackles them. Could be surprisingly low-owned as well tonight being just under the two superstars in Kearney and Blackburn and just higher than a few solid performers in Lamb and Bruton.
Jenna Bruton ($13,420): Possibly my favourite player in the AFLW. Love the Brute! Has the skills and also has a level of aggression that few midfielders have and when she combines both she just racks up the dfs points. Expect she gets a slightly defensive assignment on Blackburn then tries to run off, which will hopefully ensure a repeat of her last-start 21 disposals and 9 tackles last start against a quality GWS midfield.
Alison Drennan ($7,070): Have watched Drennan with interest first few weeks given her superb VFLW form. Got next to no game time R1 but the injury to Ash Riddell in R2 gave Drennan more minutes which led to more tackling (9) and disposals (11). Loves to handball instead of kick which is not ideal but she does run and spread from the contest better than most and once her teammates start to realise how free she is for that kick, she will break a contest open.
Kirsty Lamb ($12,860): Super consistent 73pt average so far, Lamb is getting the midfield role that Kearney left and tonight, I expect Lamb to occupy the space about 1mm from Kearney all game which will push those tackles up into double figures. Won’t need to find the footy all that much after that to get us our 70pts but Lamby is capable of a big score when on. Will be pretty chalky but the price is right, the role is right and the form is there.
Mon Conti ($9,920): Loved her move into the midfield last game. Expect she continues that role tonight and they will need her to be everywhere. Few will miss her given the better averages above her but she can repeat her 19 disposals and 5 tackles last game here at a great price.
Kate Gillespie-Jones ($13,100): I tried to fade her but you just can’t. KGJ could be the most consistent player in the AFLW in terms of stat lines. Averaging 13.5 disposals, 4.5 marks, 6 hitouts and 5.5 tackles per game. Racks up the tackles when she is rucking then goes forward and gets those mark and kick points. Ashmore and Garner both probably have slightly higher ceilings but Gillespie-Jones has the safer floor.
Salary Remaining: $670
AFLW $2,000+ KANGAROOS V WESTERN BULLDOGS
AFLW Season
Games = 5
Spend = $75
Win = $59.89
Profit = -$15.11
AFL