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
Neil Erasmus saw a notable increase in CBAs this week due to Nat Fyfe’s absence, attending 15 CBAs (50%) compared to none previously. Although this is an encouraging sign of opportunity, Erasmus struggled to convert this into a high fantasy score, eventually being subbed out. The jury is still out on his long-term impact.
Zak Butters benefited from the Sydney not deploying a tagger, as James Jordon played on the wing instead. This change led to Butters attending 83% of the CBAs, up from 25% the previous round, resulting in a more prominent midfield role that positively impacted his fantasy output.
Tom Powell transitioned back to the midfield after playing in defence last week. He had 10 CBAs (37%) as North Melbourne faced Richmond, a team known for conceding fantasy points. With Colby McKercher returning to the half-back line, Powell’s role in the midfield is promising, though consistency remains a question.
Brent Daniels played a key role in GWS’s comeback against Hawthorn, increasing his CBAs to 9 (33%). His involvement in the midfield could persist, even with Coniglio’s impending return, as Coniglio might take up a forward role, allowing Daniels to maintain his midfield presence.
Koltyn Tholstrup was a surprising addition to Melbourne’s midfield, registering 9 CBAs (32%). With Melbourne’s finals hopes slim, they are likely to trial different combinations, giving Tholstrup opportunities to showcase his skills in the centre.
Fallers
Rory Laird saw a shift back to a defensive role, reminiscent of his earlier career days where he initially made a name for himself. Fantasy owners might be optimistic about this change, hoping it leads to dual-position player status in the future.
Jake Stringer moved forward and was effective kicking a few goals, which boosted his fantasy output despite a drop in centre bounce attendance, reflecting a strategic adjustment that could benefit his overall performance.
Marc Blicavs experienced a reduction in CBAs due to Rhys Stanley’s return as the primary ruckman, shifting Blicavs out of his previous role. This change highlights the fluidity in Geelong’s lineup as they adapt to personnel changes.
Zak Jones saw his CBA involvement decrease with Mattaes Phillipou’s return. Initially starting on the wing, Jones worked his way into the midfield contests, but increased competition in the midfield has negatively impacted his scoring potential.
Sam Draper shared ruck duties with Nick Bryan, which might have been expected to decrease his scoring. However, Draper still managed to score well, and his dual listing as a forward continues to provide value for fantasy managers.
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
