AFL Fantasy Lottery Ticket Targets: Who doesn't LOVE absolutely nailing a selection that you can show off in your AFL Fantasy group chat! I'm going to go through and try to identify some players that could do exactly that! Depending on the lineup strategies you're crafting or the squad makeup you're assembling, any of these players could serve as viable choices. While none of them might ignite immediate excitement (after all, they're lottery selections for a reason), it's crucial to pinpoint potential hidden gems that could still make an impact, even if it's not a direct hit.
Here's a compilation of various defenders, forwards, midfielders and rucks I'm contemplating selecting with my last bench positions, considering they all currently hold little to no selection value right now, becoming ultimate underdogs.
Cooper Simpson
Team: Fremantle Dockers
Position: Forward
2023 Average: NIL Has anyone given Cooper Simpson some love this preseason? Doubt it! (Probably because it's an overreaction to one half of a preseason sim match) So let's start with him here. The number 35th overall pick in the 2023 AFL draft has started to carve a name out for himself this preseason. Obviously task number one for the 19 year old is to break into the starting team, but so far he has passed the most important test of of them all! The eye test! In a single half in a match sim against the West Coast Eagles, Simpson put up a very tasty stat line of 10 disposals (at 90% disposal efficiency), 3 tackles, 1 mark and 1 goal, a very very impressive hit out for Simpson in his first real hit-out. He can be a legitimate contributor to this Freo side, playing high off the half-forward line using his pace and accurate ability off his foot to break lines, i'll be keeping a close eye on how he progresses early in the season!
Massimo D'Ambrosio
Team: Hawthorn Hawks
Position: Defender
2023 Average: 49.50 Former Essendon Bomber has made his way over to the Hawthorn Hawks and may have found himself in the absolute best case scenario! Hawthorn have been completely and utterly decimated down back in terms of injuries. So far they have lost Denver Granger-Barrass, James Blanck and Changkuoth Jiath all to long term injuries. Meaning a shake up in defence is needed and meaning some of the rebound mid/talls will have to play more lock down roles. This is perfect for D'Ambrosio who could get leant on to use his cut-throat kicking ability to get Hawthorn out of their defensive half more often. D'Ambrosio showed off his fantasy ability in Hawthorns most recent sim game against the Western Bulldogs where he had 26 disposals, 17 of which were kicks and 4 inside 50's. The guy could be anything and i'll be making sure I have a D'Ambrosio card on hand just in case!
James Rowbottom
Team: Sydney Swans
Position: Midfielder
2023 Average: 90
He's always been there or thereabouts James Rowbottom but could 2024 be the season we actually see him in some teams? I think so. While he has been understandably overtaken by his fellow Swans young stars in Chad Warner and Erroll Gulden, Rowbottom has still churned out decent fantasy production without setting the world alight, but with recent news of Luke Parker suffering a broken arm, Rowbottom could be in poll position to hit the ground running in this Sydney midfield. Rowbottom has all the tools to be successful this season and take his game to another level, he's another worth keeping tabs on as a smokey for selection.
