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
Dom Sheed
Dom Sheed saw an impressive increase in his CBA numbers, attending 88% of centre bounces for West Coast last round. This could be an indicator that he’s returning to full fitness and might be a prominent feature in the midfield for the rest of the season. Additionally, with Harley Reid suspended, Sheed could take on some of Reid’s responsibilities, further solidifying his midfield role.
Harvey Gallagher
Harvey Gallagher’s rise in centre bounce attendances continues, largely due to the absences of Tom Liberatore and Ed Richards. While this increased involvement is a positive sign for his future, it’s unlikely that Gallagher will maintain consistent CBA numbers week to week this season. Nevertheless, he’s showing promise for future fantasy relevance.
Jack Graham
Jack Graham experienced a notable 38% rise in his CBA numbers from last week. This is particularly interesting given Richmond’s injury woes, which necessitate his presence in the midfield, however a few players are set to return in the coming weeks. Graham’s value is further enhanced by his forward listing, making him a valuable fantasy asset as he steps up in the midfield.
Fallers
Josh Rachele
Josh Rachele dropped back down to zero centre bounces for the Crows on Saturday. This is disappointing, especially with Izak Rankine out of the side. Many expected Rachele to fill in for Rankine, but his lack of impact against West Coast last week suggests he might struggle to find a midfield role in the future if he’s not utilized now.
Touk Miller
Touk Miller saw a significant 31% drop in his CBA numbers this week, largely due to Will Graham’s return to the side. Graham plays a similar inside role, and his presence could negatively impact Miller’s scoring potential. Fantasy coaches should monitor this situation closely.
Jack Sinclair
Jack Sinclair saw a 45% decrease in his CBA numbers this week. However, this doesn’t significantly affect Sinclair’s fantasy value, as his role across the half-back line is equally fruitful. Sinclair continues to be a reliable option regardless of his midfield involvement.
Surprises
Max Michalanney
Max Michalanney, typically a lockdown defender, saw a 38% rise in CBAs this week. Given his effective ball use, it makes sense that he got some midfield time. With Matt Crouch and Jordan Dawson under injury clouds this week, Michalanney is a player to watch to see if his midfield time continues.
Beau McCreery
Beau McCreery’s increased midfield time was a bit of a surprise, even though it was flagged during the preseason. After minimal midfield involvement early in the season, McCreery attended 55% of CBAs this week and racked up 14 tackles. With Scott Pendlebury, Jordan De Goey, and Tom Mitchell currently out, McCreery could be a handy pickup given his forward listing.
Hunter Clark
Hunter Clark’s return to the St Kilda side and 44% CBA involvement was unexpected. He’s been playing in the VFL for the past month, and it wasn’t clear if Ross Lyon would recall him. Despite this uncertainty, Clark offers something different compared to Jack Steele, Paddy Dow, and Marcus Windhager, who are all similar types. His future role remains uncertain, but he’s worth keeping an eye on.
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 | 82 | -15 | 87.5 | 87 | -5.5 | -0.5 |
| Lloyd Meek | HW | R | 95 | +16 | 86.5 | 88 | +8.5 | +1.5 |
| Jack Steele | SK | C | 85 | +46 | 85.7 | 73 | -0.7 | -12.7 |
| Tristan Xerri | NM | R | 92 | +8 | 85.6 | 89 | +6.4 | +3.4 |
| Jarrod Witts | GC | R | 90 | +5 | 85.6 | 86 | +4.4 | +0.4 |
| Max Gawn | ME | R | 88 | +4 | 85.4 | 89 | +2.6 | +3.6 |
| Toby Nankervis | RI | R | 94 | +15 | 84.2 | 87 | +9.8 | +2.8 |
| Tim English | WB | R | 92 | +7 | 83.7 | 88 | +8.3 | +4.3 |
| Lachie Neale | BL | C | 85 | +9 | 83.6 | 81 | +1.4 | -2.6 |
| Noah Anderson | GC | C | 74 | -3 | 82.6 | 84 | -8.6 | +1.4 |
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
