Midfielders are a fantasy team owner's best friend or absolute worst enemy, this is where you'll generate most of your team's points from and if you whiff on your mids, you have likely whiffed on the season. So if you are in win mode now for season 2022, use this as a guide to target the absolute best of the best for your midfield positions and take the competition by storm!
1. Jack Steele
This one should come as absolutely no shock to anyone! He’s the heart and soul of the St Kilda footy club but for a lucky few, he’s going to be the heart and soul of your GameDay Squad fantasy side for many years to come. At only 26 years of age (yes he’s still dynasty relevant) he’s only just starting to play his most damaging football. Last season Jack lit the league up, finishing 1st in the league in total tackles, 6th in contested possessions per game and added a career-high 13 goals to his already impressive all-round game. There is no better fantasy asset to have in GameDay Squads 2022 edition of AFL Fantasy. Go get him if you can!
2. Sam Walsh
Yes, the injury news is a gargantuan kick in the guts! But let's just put the news to the side and try not to forget that Sam Walsh is the heir to the throne and has already established himself as one of the leagues most elite players at only 21 years of age. He’s a GameDay Squad unicorn because not only will he be a league winner for you in 2022, he’s going to be a league winner for probably the next decade. Last season was by far and away Walsh’s best year but the 2018 number 1 draft pick is only scratching the surface. In 2021 Walsh ranked 9th in possessions per game, 7th in effective disposals per game and 10th in uncontested possessions per game. He enjoyed a career-high 29.8 disposals per game and I can see him firmly cementing that figure well into the early 30’s. Walsh is a jet, he’s Carlton's best player - and he might just be the best player in your fantasy squad this year and for years to come!
3. Touk Miller
Touk Miller is a fantasy gem. He ticks all of those boxes that lead to fantasy success. He kicks, he tackles, he does a good job of keeping the free-kicks against down, he takes marks and can impact the scoreboard as well. As well as this, unquestionably the Gold Coast Suns most talented and most important player, so you know Stuart Dew is going to do his best to keep his star man out on the field as much as possible. His numbers back his fantasy output up as well, 32 disposals a game, 7 tackles and almost 5 marks, ranked him 5th league-wide in disposals per game, 3rd in tackles per game and 6th in uncontested possessions. The only knock on Miller is still the fact that he plays for the Suns, but it is just a fact that Miller is the best player in the team and they want the ball in his hands. Miller is a top 5 lock for me at the midfield position.
4. Clayton Oliver
He may not be as flashy and fancy as Christian Petracca. He may not hit the scoreboard like Christian Petracca does. He may not have a highlight reel near as long as Christian Petracca’s. But don’t let the fact that Clayton Oliver is a less sexy Christian Petracca deter you from trying to pack him! Clayton Oliver has proven to be one of the best fantasy options you can have at the midfield position. The fact of the matter is, Oliver does all the dirty work that makes his teammates look great. He had an outstanding season last year finishing 2nd in total clearances, 1st in contested possessions and 2nd in total disposals. If he can flip is kick to handball ratio - you could be looking at a top 5 fantasy player at the end of the season.
5. Ollie Wines
Our 2021 Brownlow medalist does deserve a shout in this blog! We saw glimpses of Wines taking his game to another level in the coronaball season in 2020, but it was hard to be sure! But boy did he cement our thoughts in season 2021. A career 32.4 disposals a game, finishing 2nd in contested possessions league-wide, 3rd in disposals per game and 10th in total stoppage clearances, he was an absolute bull last year. What’s interesting is that he’s only 27 and coming into his best footy. I think we are going to see more of the same, if not better from Port Adelaides star man, and is a must-start if you can pack him in season 2022!
Now we have identified the midfielders you should be targeting for your GameDay Squad AFL fantasy 2022 team, it's now up to you to go and get them! Will you chase Jack Steele's platinum card or settle for a gold card? Will you go all the way up to diamond for Clayton Oliver? For more on how our card system works, click here. Are you GameDay Ready?
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