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
David Swallow
David Swallow saw a significant rise in his CBAs by 54%, stepping in to replace Alex Davies, who was initially set to stand in for Touk Miller due to injury. However, with Davies suspended, Swallow took the opportunity to fill the midfield void. Listed as a forward, Swallow’s increased midfield role makes him extra valuable in fantasy leagues. He scored 89 AFL Fantasy points, and with his new role, he could continue to be a valuable asset.
Liam Baker
Liam Baker saw an uptick in his CBAs by 46% this week, likely due to Tim Taranto being out. Baker’s increased midfield involvement resulted in 73 AFL Fantasy points. While this role might be temporary, it’s essential to monitor the situation next week. If Taranto returns, Baker could move out of the midfield, but his current form makes him a useful option.
James Peatling
James Peatling saw an increase in his CBAs by 45%, a change that typically occurs when Stephen Coniglio is out injured. Peatling scored 86 AFL Fantasy points, making him a worthy streamer option if Coniglio remains unavailable. Fantasy managers should monitor Coniglio’s status closely to gauge Peatling’s potential value in the coming weeks.
Zak Jones
Zak Jones experienced a sharp rise in CBAs by 38%, stepping in Mattaes Phillipou’s absence due to injury. Jones scored an impressive 102 AFL Fantasy points, indicating his potential value. He could be a good waiver wire pickup if he’s available in your league, especially if Phillipou’s absence continues.
Jack Carroll
Jack Carroll saw an increase in his CBAs by 45%, as Carlton opted to use him over Adam Cerra, who appeared in defence this week. Carroll’s performance, with 58 AFL Fantasy points, suggests potential for increased midfield involvement. Watch for a possible role change for Cerra, which could further boost Carroll’s opportunities and fantasy value.
Fallers
Ed Richards
Ed Richards saw a fall in his CBAs by 58%, due to Adam Treloar returning to the side this week. However, Richards still attended seven centre bounces and rolled into the stoppage, starting from defence. This is a positive sign for his future defensive status, maintaining his relevance in draft and keeper leagues next season.
Trent Rivers
Trent Rivers experienced a decline in his CBAs by 50%, with Tom Sparrow being used more in the midfield along with Christian Salem before his hamstring injury. Melbourne’s constant rotation of midfielders has been a theme this season but Rivers has been one of their better performers. This decline could be related to having no ruckman and selecting players better suited to read the opposition’s ruck taps. Rivers scored 73 AFL Fantasy points despite the reduced midfield time.
Jack Sinclair
Jack Sinclair saw a 36% decline in his CBAs this week. However, whether he plays in the midfield or the defensive line, Sinclair’s scoring threat remains consistent. He scored 110 AFL Fantasy points, demonstrating his ability to perform well regardless of his role, making him an ever-reliable fantasy option.
Sam Draper
Sam Draper experienced a fall in his CBAs by 35% due to Todd Goldstein’s return to the side, resulting in shared ruck duties. Despite this, Draper managed to score 83 AFL Fantasy points, which is a positive outcome given that another ruckman was eating into his centre bounce attendances. This performance indicates that Draper can still be valuable even with reduced midfield time.
Preview of Advanced CBA Stats:
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.
| Player | Club | Pos | LG% | LG%vsPG% | Avg% | L3Avg% | LG%vsAvg% | L3G%vsAvg% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reilly O’Brien | AD | R | 80 | -4 | 87.1 | 85 | -7.1 | -2.1 |
| Lloyd Meek | HW | R | 89 | +21 | 85.6 | 81 | +3.4 | -4.6 |
| Lachie Neale | BL | C | 93 | +5 | 85.5 | 92 | +7.5 | +6.5 |
| Jack Steele | SK | C | 68 | -22 | 85.4 | 81 | -17.4 | -4.3 |
| Max Gawn | ME | R | 86 | 0 | 84.7 | 81 | +1.3 | -3.7 |
| Tristan Xerri | NM | R | 81 | -2 | 84.2 | 82 | -3.2 | -2.2 |
| Jarrod Witts | GC | R | 93 | +33 | 84.2 | 81 | +8.8 | -3.2 |
| Toby Nankervis | RI | R | 85 | +8 | 83.9 | 82 | +1.1 | -1.9 |
| Rowan Marshall | SK | R | 93 | +7 | 83.5 | 91 | +9.5 | +7.5 |
| Noah Anderson | GC | C | 80 | -12 | 83.3 | 85 | -3.3 | +1.7 |
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
