In the constantly shifting landscape of AFL Fantasy, Centre Bounce Attendances (CBAs) emerge as a pivotal metric for assessing a player’s midfield involvement and, consequently, their impact on fantasy leagues. This past weekend’s action revealed significant shifts in CBAs, highlighting players experiencing notable increases or decreases in their involvement. Such fluctuations are crucial for AFL Fantasy coaches and football enthusiasts, signalling potential changes in roles, fitness levels, or team strategies, and providing essential insights for upcoming rounds.
Risers
Mark Blicavs
Mark Blicavs saw a significant rise in his CBA numbers this week. He was utilized as a tagger on Tom Green and then took over from Toby Conway in the ruck after Conway was subbed out. This versatility means Blicavs could become a real threat as a tagger, stopping key midfielders and impacting their fantasy scores. Keep an eye on this role as it develops.
Tom De Koning
Tom De Koning returned to the centre bounces, taking the number one ruck role due to Pittonet’s absence. However, don’t expect this to last long as De Koning is primarily needed as a forward option. Looking ahead, when Jack Silvagni returns from injury next year, De Koning could be Carlton’s number one ruck, making him a buy-low candidate in trades for those planning ahead.
Tom Atkins
Tom Atkins made a return to Geelong’s CBAs, but predicting Geelong’s attendees is like trying to catch smoke. He was out of the mix last week and could drop out again depending on team selection. His fluctuating role makes him untrustworthy as a consistent midfield option.
Josh Rachele
Josh Rachele saw an increase in his CBAs following Izak Rankine’s hamstring injury. Despite this, with Harry Schoenberg also back from injury, Rachele’s midfield role might not be permanent once Rankine returns. He’s worth monitoring, but don’t bank on him maintaining consistent midfield time.
Finn Callaghan
Finn Callaghan stepped into the midfield after Stephen Coniglio got injured, scoring 76 points. While his score was modest, Callaghan has the potential for better scores in an inside role, which might continue with Coniglio out. Additionally, Brent Daniels and James Peatling are also candidates for more midfield time, so it’s worth watching how this scenario unfolds.
Fallers
Luke Jackson
Luke Jackson’s CBAs dropped with Sean Darcy returning to the ruck, pushing Jackson forward. This role change hurt Jackson’s scoring as he performs better in the ruck. Fantasy coaches need to monitor this situation closely to gauge Jackson’s future output.
Matt Kennedy
Matt Kennedy saw a decrease in CBAs due to Elijah Hollands’ inclusion but still managed to score 91 points, which is a positive for Kennedy’s owners. However, the Carlton midfield mix remains fluid, especially among fringe players like Kennedy and Hollands.
Christian Salem
Christian Salem didn’t attend a single centre bounce but still scored an impressive 133 playing at half-back. Melbourne opted to use Alex Neal-Bullen more in the midfield, who is trending upwards in both CBA usage and scoring. Salem owners should be pleased with his scoring potential from the half-back line.
Connor Rozee
Connor Rozee experienced a decrease in CBAs as he returned from a hamstring injury and hurt his ankle early in the game, leading to him playing mostly forward. This is a concern for his fantasy prospects, so keep an eye on his fitness in the coming weeks.
Surprises
Elijah Hollands
Elijah Hollands saw a significant bump in CBAs this week, which is good news considering he’s listed as a forward. This increase came at the expense of Matt Kennedy, whose CBAs dropped. The Carlton midfield mix is constantly changing, especially with fringe midfielders like Kennedy and Hollands. With Adam Cerra injured, Hollands might see more midfield time, but Cerra’s eventual return will shake things up again.
Max Holmes
Max Holmes had his highest CBA numbers for the year, attending 69% of the centre bounces and scoring 116 points. Despite concerns about his scoring in a midfield role, Holmes has matured and shown he can perform well. He should continue to be a valuable player wherever he is positioned.
Sam Switkowski
Sam Switkowski saw his first CBAs for the season, getting five in total. He scored better when he had CBAs last year, so this could be a sign of things to come. Monitor his role closely as he could become a valuable player with increased midfield time.
Riley Garcia
Riley Garcia stepped into the midfield when Ed Richards was subbed out due to a concussion, scoring a serviceable 78 points. This is one to watch as Garcia is a forward where the position is scarce. However, with Tom Liberatore returning soon and Richards only missing a week, Garcia’s increased role may be short-lived.
Analyse the CBAs from the weekend in our user-friendly tables in our premium resources section – featuring advanced analytical tools to better measure the most significant changes, seasonally and week-to-week.
Preview of Advanced CBA Stats:
| Player | Club | Pos | LG% | LG%vsPG% | Avg% | L3Avg% | LG%vsAvg% | L3G%vsAvg% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reilly O’Brien | AD | R | 90 | +8 | 87.7 | 90 | +2.3 | +2.3 |
| Jack Steele | SK | C | 100 | +15 | 86.6 | 75 | +13.4 | -11.6 |
| Lloyd Meek | HW | R | 83 | -12 | 86.2 | 86 | -3.2 | -0.2 |
| Jarrod Witts | GC | R | 90 | +5 | 85.6 | 86 | +4.4 | +0.4 |
| Tristan Xerri | NM | R | 76 | -16 | 85 | 84 | -9 | -1 |
| Max Gawn | ME | R | 72 | -16 | 84.6 | 81 | -12.6 | -3.6 |
| Toby Nankervis | RI | R | 85 | -9 | 84.3 | 86 | +0.7 | +1.7 |
| Lachie Neale | BL | C | 90 | +5 | 84 | 84 | +6 | 0 |
| Tim English | WB | R | 65 | -27 | 82.6 | 81 | -17.6 | -1.6 |
| Oscar McInerney | BL | R | 84 | -4 | 82.5 | 83 | +1.5 | +0.5 |
View more CBA Analysis numbers here.
Key:
LG% – Percentage of CBAs last game
LG%vsPG% – Percentage of CBAs last game versus percentage of CBAs previous game
Avg% – Average of CBA percentage in games played
L3Avg% – Average of CBA percentage over the past three games
LG%vsAvg% – Last game CBA percentage vs average CBA percentage
L3G%vsAvg% – Last three games CBA percentage vs average CBA percentage
