HOW SOON is too soon to start planning your 2016 NAB AFL Fantasy assault? If you're serious about Fantasy, then you should have started planning for next year the second North Melbourne's round 23 team was revealed.
That great 'equaliser' of football, the NAB AFL Draft, is done and the next generation of Fantasy gold has been named.
There's been a fair bit of naysaying and negativity around this year's batch of youngsters, making it the most unloved draft since Kevin Sheedy circumvented the breeze by tying down the windsock against West Coast at Windy Hill.
Look a bit deeper, and you'll see plenty of Fantasy talent coming through the junior ranks, and with the 2016 pricing yet to be revealed, it's possible the cream of the crop will be bargain selections.
Just as in real life, young key position Fantasy prospects will rarely be worth your cash – even Rising Star Jesse Hogan needed a season at VFL level to build up his value in the forward line.
The key is to find the draftees with solid form in junior competitions who have been selected by a club likely to hand them plenty of games over the season, and plenty of minutes around the ball – think Carlton, Brisbane Lions and possibly the Suns, depending on how quickly they can regain players like Jaeger O'Meara and David Swallow.
With this in mind, here's how the top 10 draftees stack up in Fantasy.
1. Jacob Weitering (Carlton)
Likely Fantasy position: Defender
TAC Cup average: 82
U18s average: 54 (120 minutes)
Fantasy relevant?
Gun player was a no-brainer first pick for the Blues, and he'll get plenty of game time with their leaky backline. But he'll be pricey and key position defenders are Fantasy kryptonite. Steer clear in year one.
2. Josh Schache (Brisbane Lions)
Likely Fantasy position: Forward/ruckman
TAC Cup average: 89
U18s average: 99 (120 minutes)
Fantasy relevant?
Don't dismiss Schache too quickly when picking your first Fantasy team for 2016. The Lions need every ounce of his talent in their forward line, he's got serious runs on the board in terms of Fantasy points in under-age footy. With a Jesse Hogan-like year he could make you some decent coin, particularly if he's handed ruck status.
3. Callum Mills (Sydney Swans)
Likely Fantasy position: Forward
U18s average: NA
Fantasy relevant?
Has been a shining talent in underage football for a few years until injury struck in 2015 but the Swans didn't hesitate in matching Melbourne's bid for their academy star. As ever with a John Longmire prospect, he'll need to earn his stripes in a strong midfield but if he can match the 12 games of Isaac Heeney from this season, he'll be worth a look.
4. Clayton Oliver (Melbourne)
Likely Fantasy position: Midfielder
TAC Cup average: 101
U18s average: NA
Fantasy relevant?
Is he the new Ollie Wines or the next Sam Mayes? There's no doubt that the Morrish Medal winner ticked all the boxes for the Demons who made him one of the biggest draft bolters in years. Arguably the red and blue midfield went backwards this year so there should be a spot for Oliver from the start in 2016 and if he can match Wines' first year average (74.2 from 22 games), he'll be worth a bench slot in your midfield at least.
5. Darcy Parish (Essendon)
Likely Fantasy position: Midfielder/forward
TAC Cup average: 99
U18s average: 84 (120 minutes)
Fantasy relevant?
While the Dons don't bat deep in the midfield, they do have David Myers and Travis Colyer returning from long-term injuries and Parish would need to really set the NAB Challenge alight to have John Worsfold pick him for round one. Worth waiting a season, but his U18 numbers were impressive.
6. Aaron Francis (Essendon)
Likely Fantasy position: Defender
U18s average: 74 (120 minutes)
Fantasy relevant?
The third-tall backman has been a vexed spot for a few years now but Francis looks a far better option than, say, Ariel Steinberg or James Gwilt. He's an outstanding mark with a great tank, and if he gets some midfield minutes in the NAB Challenge he could be a dual-position option.
7. Jacob Hopper (GWS)
Likely Fantasy position: Midfielder
TAC Cup average: 95
U18s average: 118 (120 minutes)
Fantasy relevant?
The stack of GWS midfielders to have graced the draft in recent years have generally delivered a solid Fantasy return – think Stephen Coniglio, Lachie Whitfield, Dylan Shiel and Josh Kelly (watch this space). Hopper is a ball-magnet who should benefit greatly from Shane Mumford's ruck dominance and must be tracked closely in the pre-season.
8. Callum Ah Chee (Gold Coast)
Likely Fantasy position: Forward
U18s average: 66 (120 minutes)
Fantasy relevant?
The warning bells will be ringing loud and clear for Fantasy coaches on Ah Chee. He might prove a great pick for the Suns but inconsistent small forwards with spectacular highlight reels don't bring home the bacon in Fantasy. Look elsewhere for your forward line.
9. Sam Weideman (Melbourne)
Likely Fantasy position: Forward
TAC Cup average: 58
Fantasy relevant?
Could be. Picture that Demon utopia where Chris Dawes suddenly recalls his 2010 form and Jesse Hogan merely continues his path to superstardom. There's a slot waiting there for a classy third tall in the Tom Lynch mould. Queries around Weideman's injury-interrupted 2015 mean you should track his NAB Challenge closely.
10. Harry McKay (Carlton)
Likely Fantasy position: Forward/ruckman
TAC Cup average: 54
U18s average: 50 (120 minutes)
Fantasy relevant?
Dual-position status could make McKay a bench option. He tore up a number of TAC Cup games last year and can expect Brendon Bolton to fast-track his development under another Carlton rebuild. If he gets some time in the ruck in the NAB Challenge, consider closely ahead of Matthew Kreuzer's annual breakdown.
Best of the rest – the other draftees to consider
20. Brayden Fiorini (Gold Coast)
Topped all scorers for Fantasy in the TAC Cup (averaging 130.7) and can expect minutes in the Suns midfield if the injury curse sticks around.
22. Kieran Lovell (Hawthorn)
Upside: a complete Fantasy ball-magnet who dominated TAC Cup, under-18s and at the combine. Downside: spots sure don't come easy in the Hawthorn midfield.
24. Ben Keays (Brisbane Lions)
Outstanding ball winner, Queensland captain, back-to-back All Australian – ticks every box and will be under-priced for 2016.
31. Ryan Clarke (North Melbourne)
Clocked 190 Fantasy points in a late-season TAC Cup clash and should be closely watched through the NAB Challenge.
36. Tom Cole (West Coast)
Can play a number of roles and has strong Fantasy numbers and VFL experience under his belt.
49. Bailey Rice (St Kilda)
Impressive Fantasy numbers for Dandenong Stingrays (average 93.1) and can expect to get his chance in the young Saints midfield.
54. Mitch Brown (Essendon)
The perfect plug and play option for the Dons and will be desperate to prove he's AFL quality after so much time in the VFL.
The first round of NAB AFL Fantasy prices for 2016 will be revealed on 14 December with Carlton, followed by the Brisbane Lions and Gold Coast.
