The GWS GIANTS are yet again incredibly relevant in every form of AFL Fantasy. With an unknown mix of CBAs, a long list of incumbent superstars, a mixture of breakout buzz, and highly anticipated returns – it’s a wild cocktail of fantasy potential!
Let’s investigate which GWS players are worth your while this season.
Take a listen to our latest podcast: Pre-season 2022: Geelong, Gold Coast, GWS.
Stephen Coniglio
Here at the Keeper League, our podcast rules state that we can’t talk about anyone that was a top-150 AFL Fantasy scorer in the competition the year prior. If they fall within this bracket, they become #2G4P – too good for the podcast.
Rules are rules!! Welcome #B2P (back to the podcast), Stephen Coniglio!
Some poor form, an Amazon documentary, and a couple of serious injuries have filled Cogs last couple of years – with little time left to put up any AFL Fantasy points. Following a 59-point average in 2021 from just 60% time on ground (TOG) in a mere five games, fantasy coaches will be eyeing off a big bounce back this season.
As with so many of our fantasy favourites, Coniglio’s ceiling will be reliant on his midfield time. With Hopper, Ward, Kelly, Taranto, and Tom Green receiving bulk centre bounce attendances (CBAs) in 2021, they’ll have to spare a few for Cogs – but how many is the question. If the semi-final is any indication, Coniglio was fifth in line for CBAs – behind all bar Tom Green… who broke his arm in the elimination final the week prior.
I tend to think it’ll be closer to the start of the 2021 season, where the fit and firing 28-year-old was Leon Cameron’s number one option in the middle – attending the most centre bounces of any GWS player over the first two games – before his season-altering syndesmosis injury.
Luckily for his owners, gaining forward status has been an offseason blessing, and – if healthy – 2022 should see the return of #2G4P status for Co-Captain Cogs.
Tom green
Could Tom Green be the latest young Giant gun forced to go elsewhere for more opportunity? Well, Leon and Co. have until the end of 2023 to convince him to stay – and you’d think they’ll start the pitch sooner rather than later.
After a successful 2021 campaign, where the 21-year-old notched 17 games and averaged 72 AFL Fantasy points (in just 71% TOG), can he become a more prominent fixture as an inside midfielder in his third season?
This becomes a tough ask, considering we’re already predicting a Coniglio comeback! There’s only so much midfield time, and so much pill to go around – unfortunately, not everyone can improve from one year to the next.
Green attended 41% of GWS’ centre bounce attendances last season. Should his midfield time increase at the expense of, say, Calan Ward – the oldest of the midfield brigade – and BOOM, third-year breakout. Should he remain around the 70% TOG, 40% CBAs – or even dip with the Cogs resurgence – and we could see T. Green in the VFL Team of the Year.
Long term, this guy is a star. Short term – it may be a rollercoaster. As Stevie Fizz of The Draft Doctors loves to say, he has a wide range of outcomes this season.
Brayden Preuss
Is it finally – at long, long, long last – Brayden Preuss season?
It’s been a wild ride for Preuss truthers over the years. First, the once-spritely young ruck prospect was stuck behind Todd Goldstein, which was seemingly the only thing holding him back from fantasy stardom.
Then, in a shrewd business decision, the then 23-year-old thought it was time to find his own team and take upon the number one ruck mantle – choosing Melbourne as his destination. Unfortunately, he missed the memo that Max Gawn, arguably the best ruckman in the league, and still in his prime, was also at the club.
Finally, at the end of 2020, Preuss was set free. Arriving at the GIANTS, the 206cm behemoth was set to take the reigns from Shane Mumford, and fulfil his long-awaited fantasy potential.
Alas, injury struck. Yet again, the truthers were set to hold out for Preuss season until 2022.
IT’S 2022! WILL THE PREUSS PROPHECY BE FULFILLED?
With Mummy retired, Matt Flynn and Kieran Briggs still raw, the now 26-year-old Preuss – having years to learn from Goldy and Gawn, and blessed with a true ruckman’s frame – is ready to take the reigns at G-Dubs.
To give some context of his fantasy potential, in Preuss’s last healthy-ish season playing as a solo ruckman in the VFL, he was the league’s leading fantasy player by average, scoring 132 AFL Fantasy points per game by the way of 18 disposals (15 kicks), six marks, three tackles, and 52 hitouts.
Drafted in 2015, the seven-year apprenticeship is over – it truly is Preuss season. How much of a season, though, is a different question. Having played 18 games in his entire AFL career, you’ll want to handcuff him with Flynn to be safe!
Jesse Hogan
One of the rare key position players with huge potential, Jesse Hogan is a guy that has pumped out a seasonal average of 89 AFL Fantasy points, albeit back in 2018.
And while as we get further away from that glorious season, and it starts to look more and more like an outlier, I’d like to put my chips in once more on Hogan as a cheeky keeper option in our desolate forward lines in 2022.
Since 2018, the soon-to-be 27-year-old has had a horror run on and off the field, playing just 27 games in the subsequent three years. However, his first year at the GIANTS was a promising return to his best.
Hogan kicked a goal in every one of his eight games, bar one, including two bags of four, a solitary three snagger, and a trio of two-goal hauls. Simply put, he knows where the big sticks are. Hogan also has a high-mark game – averaging over six per contest, a number he’s equalled two other times in his career.
After averaging 70 AFL Fantasy points in 2021, Hogan could put up a few more points through a couple of extra disposals – he only averaged 13 last year, significantly down on his best seasons – and even kick a few more snags if the GIANTS improve from being the 13th best team for inside 50s per game.
With GWS’ second leading goal-kicker, Jeremy Finlayson, moving clubs, Hogan will be asked to do plenty in 2022 and be the focal point of the team’s forward-line entries. For a low opportunity cost for fantasy coaches, you might as well use a later pick in your drafts and potentially reap the rewards.
Jake Riccardi
After bursting onto the scene with his first debut games in 2020 – scoring 87 and 83 (109 and 104 adjusted!!), Jake Riccardi had a far more modest second season.
While a pre-season ankle injury slowed his early-season progress, Riccardi still showed his scoring prowess in the reserves.
Riccardi averaged 112 from his six games in the VFL, including ridiculous scores (and I repeat: RIDICULOUS – these scores are NOT typos!) of 186 and 170!
Riccardi did what he want in the second tier, racking up monumental mark numbers, and illustrating that he hadn’t lost his fantasy touch when given the right role. Clearly, this entailed more freedom at VFL-level, presumably spending some time on a wing, and hence being granted dual-position MID/FWD status accordingly in AFL Fantasy.
The departure of Finlayson, along with the early-season absence of emerging key forward, Zach Sproule – who’s had recent shoulder surgery – leaves a hole in the forward line for Riccardi to fill. Even if his true fantasy potential might be better served on a wing, or in defence, Riccardi having a spot in the team to work on his craft at AFL level will be promising.
Given he’s still just 22 years old, should have a permanent role on the team, and has shown a ceiling at both VFL and AFL-level, Riccardi should be targeted in redrafts as a smoky breakout candidate for 2022. He’s also an ideal long-term fantasy stash in dynasty leagues, should a mark-happy role emerge in the future.
James Peatling
Flagged by The Oracle as a potential debutant with a nice fantasy game last year, James Peatling got his chance to debut in round 20, and he delivered as promised.
Scoring 82 AFL Fantasy points on debut, the GIANTS youngster picked up 19 disposals (14 kicks), seven marks, six rebound 50s and three tackles against Port Adelaide. His subsequent games against Geelong and Richmond were less fruitful, scoring 44 and 40 in reasonable TOG.
The Power, Cats, and Tigers are three pretty tough matchups to get adjusted to AFL level, and should we see more of Peatling at the top-level in 2022, we should see some more of his fantasy-friendly game. He showed some serious scoring potential in the VFL, averaging 100 across his 11 games.
A well-rounded fantasy game for a defender, the 20-year-old has a high kick-to-handball ratio, nice uncontested marking game, and is well-equipped to lay a tackle.
Competitions for spots are tough to come by at the GIANTS, and their defensive line is no slouch. It might take an injury or a ‘health and safety protocol’ for him to get a gig in 2022 – but as a late flyer, waiver pickup, or cheeky stash, Peatling could pump out some nice numbers if given the opportunity.
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