Matty Rowell loves grass... maybe it's a cure for his leather poisoning? West Coast's stand-in Captain starting to make a case? A couple of players who are way down on their 2022 averages, can they bounce back? There are so many questions coming out of round 9. But let's turn our attention back to fantasy footy for a second and identify some risers in form and others who should be falling out of favour with all fantasy coaches. Let us know your thoughts on who we have down below on all of our social channels twitter, facebook, instagram, discord.
RISERS
Matt Rowell – MID, Gold Coast Suns (167 points)
I wrote about Rowell after his first two scores of 137 and 110 GDS fantasy points through the first through rounds, and at the point I only considered Rowell a "Watch" just to see how he goes for the next few rounds. However now, I genuinely don't think it would be silly to call Rowell a starter option! For the next little while, he's still going to be a player-of-difference. It's going to take a lot for Rowell to win some people over but if he keeps ticking along at the rate he is, it'll happen in no time. His 167 GDS fantasy point outing in round 9 will definitely help, 18 kicks, 11 handballs, 1 mark, 17 tackles and a goal helped him to his eye-watering score of 167 points, which takes his overall season to date average to 112 points per game! I'm not suggesting we have the Matt Rowell of his rookie year back, but it's the closest we have seen in years!
Liam Duggan – DEF, West Coast Eagles (138 points)
West Coast Eagles defender Liam Duggan put in a gutsy effort in a big loss at the hands of the Gold Coast Suns in his debut game as stand-in captain. He valiantly fought all night, racking up 2 kicks, 10 handballs, 4 marks and 4 tackles on his way to 138 GDS fantasy points, his highest score of the season to date. Maybe we shouldn't be surprised, Duggan through his last five games has quietly been ticking along at a 118 points per game average! Very handy for someone who would be D5 or D6 for most teams out there! Obviously with West Coasts ever growing injury log, we'll have to watch Duggan's role as others come back into the team but for now at least, you could do a lot worse!
Joe Daniher – FWD, Brisbane Lions (145 points)
A player like Joe Daniher is generally not the type of player I like talking about but he's playing so well so far this year that it's becoming too hard to ignore. Goal dependent forwards are incredibly hard to trust, often boom-or-bust type operators, they are often overlooked by fantasy coaches unless someone like Daniher breaks the mold and averages 98 points per game so far this season, which is brought down by round 1 and 3 scores of 56 and 41. Although he has those types of games in him, he also has games like his round 9 score of 145 GDS fantasy points off the back of his 6 goal, 14 kick, 2 handball, 9 mark, 2 tackle and 2 hit-out outing against Essendon. Daniher is still the type of player you need to consider with caution but in plus match-ups and especially in games where he's expected to attend more ruck contests, he should absolutely be in the mix for selection.
FALLERS
Jack Sinclair – DEF, St Kilda Saints (88 points)
Yet another sub triple digit score for 2022 fantasy superstar Jack Sinclair in 2023! His inconsistency so far this year seems so out of character for Sinclair who finished as the #2 overall defender in 2022 with an average of 123 GDS points per game. His average so far this season of 11 GDS fantasy points leaves a lot to be desired for coaches who were expecting much of the same this season. His round 9 score of just 88 GDS points leaves the most to be desired, it's his worst game so far this season for fantasy and his scored score below 100 in a row! He isn't unusable, but maybe we just need to alter our expectations a little, he might not be the man of 2022 anymore.
Dylan Moore – FWD, Hawthorn Hawks (71 points)
Another 2022 star who so far isn't anywhere near the same standard in 2023 is Hawthorn's Dylan Moore. After averaging 108 GDS fantasy points in 2022, Moore has only gone on to average 97 GDS fantasy points so far in 2023! Even more worrying for Moore owners, he's only eclipsed 100+ GDS fantasy points twice so far this year! In rounds two and three. Worryingly, as his triple digit streak extends, his scores seem to be getting worse... his round 9 score of 71 GDS fantasy points is his worst yet this season and the way forwards around him have been playing, i'm not sure Dylan Moore can be considered a starter option any more, at least not a must start like he was last year!
Darcy MacPherson – FWD, Gold Coast Suns (66 points)
A gentle reminder of how volatile not just MacPherson but most Gold Coast Suns players can be for fantasy as MacPherson burnt coaches who were looking for him to continue on his streak of 100+ scores in 2023! MacPherson has been one of the best forward options so far this year but it just goes to show how important assessing matchups are. No one has a crystal ball, but with the Suns 70 point drumming of the West Coast Eagles, players that have been incredible form down back for the Suns like MacPherson and Wil Powell barely got a sniff at the footy! MacPherson should still be viewed as a player that can be started with confidence but, just keep in mind these games can occur and you can get burnt.