Liam Anthony: AFL Fantasy News

Open spot for a small defender: The story is about Nathan Grima and his back, but he should be back in 2012 and playing in the back line and is a solid fantasy option.

The interesting note, but not a quote from a Kangaroo, is that Shaun Atley, Liam Anthony or Will Sierakowski will get a chance to win a half back spot. Atley would make fantasy money, Sierakowski is cheap and could make a very useful and quick profit, while Liam Anthony is a superstar fantasy player when his AFL team gives him minutes so there could be 30 possessions a game from him if he gets to patrol half back.

Source: AFL site
Grim fears

Andrew Walker: AFL Fantasy News

Probably just preseason talk: A year ago the talk might have been that Walker only stayed at Carlton because he was going to be given a forward role, so this new story may just be a story. If Walker did spend a lot of time in the midfield in 2012, which seems unlikely, it would probably hurt his SuperCoach stats as he would miss out on the chance for some contested marks up forward but could help Dream Team totals.

Source: Herald Sun
Carlton's Andrew Walker may go the centre in 2012

Lenny Hayes: AFL Fantasy News

Sign him if they name him for round 1: There was some talk previously that the Saints didn't know if he would be ready for the start of the season, but in this story Hayes indicates he can play right now so he looks to be a certainty to be ready for round 1. The Saints didn't bring in any midfield help so Hayes should again be very high in stats.

Source: Herald Sun
St Kilda star Lenny Hayes raring to go

Todd Banfield: AFL Fantasy News

Chance to do more than his opening price: Banfield was good for fantasy teams when he was very cheap, but didn't improve a lot in 2011. In 2012 he could be worth signing if he can kick more goals, which could happen if the Brisbane midfield send more of the ball forward, but Todd Banfield could really do a lot more for fantasy stats if he gets into the Brisbane midfield for more playing time.

Source: Brisbane site
Banfield rides into midfield

Nick Duigan: AFL Fantasy News

Missing a month of preseason: Nick Duigan made his money in 2011 and now with an injury in preseason he could be someone to avoid. Cheap Bootsma may get more of a chance to show he deserves a spot in their back line now. Sam Rowe is also out of action, he could still be useful for fantasy team tactics but the injury would make it much harder for him to win a spot in their round 1 team.

Source: Carlton site
Pre-Season Injury Update

Jordan Lisle: AFL Fantasy News

Ranking Jordan Lisle, Ryan Lester, Patrick Karnezis, Aaron Cornelius, Bryce Retzlaff: The story talks about Brisbane replacing injured Staker and M Clark who took his act to Melbourne. Maybe Lisle will be replacing Clark up forward for Brisbane, and with his marking ability Lisle could surprise in SuperCoach scoring. Staker was a very versatile player for Brisbane, and Lester and Retzlaff have been used as forwards and backs by Brisbane, with Lester being much better and the only choice out of the two for fantasy teams. Patrick Karnezis and Aaron Cornelius can kick goals, but not a lot of them with Brown playing and maybe Lisle will keep both of them out of the team.

Source: Brisbane site
Lion cubs eye off vacancies

Hamish McIntosh: AFL Fantasy News

Fantasy dilemma: The big apple is cheaper this year but right now he is Goldstein's backup. Hamish McIntosh would be a player to sign if Goldstein or Petrie were injured but right now the best idea is to watch the preseason games closely to make sure he can get enough ruck minutes to be worth his price and that he can also find some space in the forward area for some marks and a goal.

Source: North Melbourne site
DT preview: Rucks

Andy Otten: AFL Fantasy News

Out a couple of weeks: Otten could be someone that can do more than his opening price, but missing some of their preseason training could see him fall behind others on their depth chart.

Source: Adelaide site
Minor setback for Otten

Travis Varcoe: AFL Fantasy News

Games for Byrnes, Smedts, someone: Fantasy teams can't have T Varcoe on them to start the season, although check for updated injury news closer to round 1, and with D Menzel also out of action in means a bargain forward could appear at Geelong.

Source: AFL
Varcoe's cruel injury blow

Trent West: AFL Fantasy News

Probably a safe pick for a bargain ruckman: West and more money to spend, or D Cox or A Sandilands, fantasy coaches will be making that decision in only a few days. Starting the season with T West should be a good move.

Also think about the byes, you can use West for the first 11 rounds, and maybe he makes some money. Then round 12 comes along, Geelong and T West have the bye and maybe West could be traded out and Dean Cox could be traded in at a price that is lower than what he started at.

Source: AFL site
West faces test

Tendai Mzungu: AFL Fantasy News

Will play, but position unknown: Tendai Mzungu was great for fantasy teams last year, as he started cheap and then produced stats. Tendai Mzungu costs a lot more in 2012 so most fantasy coaches will avoid him. But see where he plays in preseason games.

Source: AFL site
Tendai mystery

Brett Deledio: AFL Fantasy News

2010 it was Ablett, 2011 it was Scully, now it is Goddard and Deledio: Free agency will be terrible for around fourteen clubs, while the other four will benefit greatly. Some fantasy coaches will think that the contract uncertainty, and constant media speculation, could distract Deledio and hurt his stats. Other fantasy coaches will decide that Deledio has a great incentive to play well, in his "contract year", so his stats will go up. It shouldn't change his stats and he will still be worth his high price in fantasy games.

Source: AFL site
Legends call on Deledio to stay

Shannon Hurn: AFL Fantasy News

Licence to shoot: If the West Coast plan works Hurn will be running more and kicking for goal more often. That has to be good for fantasy scoring. With his kicking ability he is someone to sign, he should score enough for his price and if he can just add a few more kicks he could make some money in 2012 as well. See if he can become the loose defender during preseason games, and watch to see if other teams try to use a defensive forward to tag him.

Source: West Coast site
Eagle ready to Hurn

Jarred Moore: AFL Fantasy News

Improved fitness: Jarred Moore can do a lot more for fantasy numbers, so if he is picked for round 1 and looks to be safe in the Sydney side he could make a useful fantasy profit. Moore says he wants to be a small forward, and the Swans do have a vacancy or two there.

Tom Mitchell is supposed to be a fantasy steal in 2012, but he spent some time recently "lounging" by the pool. Fantasy coaches would prefer to read about him improving his kicking at training, although at his opening price he can make a profit by just walking onto the ground and getting a few stats.

Source: Sydney site
Looking for Moore in 2012

Paul Bower: AFL Fantasy News

Lamenting about his navicular bone: Bower says a number of injuries ruined 2011 but he is ready for 2012, and with a lower fantasy price he is someone to watch in preseason. At his best he would patrol half back, marking opposition kicks and bringing in big SuperCoach numbers, and maybe he can do it again but he has a lot of competition for a spot.

Source: The Age
Sweet and Bower