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
Colby Mckercher stands out this week, with his participation in the midfield seeing a substantial 51% centre bounce attendance rate after not attending any this year. This spike in CBAs underscores Mckercher’s escalating role and suggests a strategic pivot by his team to leverage his midfield capabilities. The redistribution of midfield duties has consequentially opened up the scoring potential for players like Zac Fisher across the half back line.
Meanwhile, Matteus Philippou‘s role at St Kilda has grown, evidenced by his involvement in 48% of the CBAs. This increased midfield presence is likely a direct result of Marcus Windhager‘s absence. Philippou stepping up in this manner highlights the fluid nature of team compositions and the opportunities for players to shine. However, this situation is anticipated to be temporary, with expectations of a shift back to the team’s usual setup upon Windhager’s return.
Fallers
Jack Macrae‘s role at the Western Bulldogs took a significant turn this week, starting as the substitute and consequently seeing a 36% drop in his CBAs. Given the current dynamics within the Bulldogs’ squad and Macrae’s uncertain status in the best 22, deploying him in fantasy lineups carries a heightened level of risk.
Transitioning to new, Taylor Adams experienced a 29% reduction in his CBAs from his previous outing at Collingwood, now donning Sydney’s colors. While this decrease might initially suggest a diminished role, it’s likely more indicative of the Swans’ cautious approach, gradually reintegrating Adams into the fray after his injury. Fantasy coaches should keep a watchful eye on how his role evolves in the coming weeks, as it could signal his potential impact in fantasy.
Jy Simpkin also saw a significant decrease in his midfield involvement this week, a strategic move by his team to accommodate Colby Mckercher‘s increased presence. This shift, however, carries a silver lining for Simpkin’s fantasy prospects. With his anticipated move towards gaining forward status in the near future, Simpkin’s fantasy value may see an uptick, offering a unique advantage for coaches looking to optimize their team’s composition.
Surprises
In this week’s roundup of AFL Fantasy developments, the segment on surprises is headlined by an unexpected tactical maneuver involving Sam Flanders of the Gold Coast Suns. In a significant shift from his usual role, Flanders did not attend a single centre bounce during the latest round. Instead, he was deployed to the half-back line, a move that, while surprising, may very well prove to be a strategic masterstroke for both Flanders and fantasy coaches.
This transition is particularly noteworthy considering the congested nature of the Suns’ midfield. By moving Flanders to a half-back position, the team not only capitalizes on his skills in a less crowded space but also opens up new avenues for fantasy scoring. The half-back role Flanders now occupies appears to be one ripe with potential for accumulating fantasy points, offering a promising outlook for coaches looking to leverage his talents.
However, this shift does raise questions about the implications for other players within the Suns’ roster. The repositioning of Flanders could impact the future prospects and fantasy relevance of players such as Wil Powell, Connor Budarick, and Alex Sexton. Each of these players has contributed significantly to the Suns’ backline early in the season, and Flanders’ introduction into this space could lead to adjustments in their job security and the dynamics of the team’s defensive strategies.
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% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jack Steele | SK | C | 81 | -5 | 88.4 | 87 | -7.4 | -1.4 |
| Reilly O’Brien | AD | R | 80 | -4 | 87.7 | 84 | -7.7 | -3.7 |
| Rowan Marshall | SK | R | 88 | +12 | 87.7 | 87 | +0.3 | -0.7 |
| Max Gawn | ME | R | 90 | -2 | 86.6 | 89 | +3.4 | +2.4 |
| Tom Green | GWS | C | 85 | +5 | 86 | 83 | -1 | -3 |
| Luke Davies-Uniacke | NM | C | 83 | +3 | 85.1 | 83 | -2.1 | -2.1 |
| Ned Reeves | HW | R | 82 | -5 | 84.5 | 79 | -2.5 | -5.5 |
| Lloyd Meek | HW | R | 77 | -13 | 84.4 | 82 | -7.4 | -2.4 |
| Jarrod Witts | GC | R | 82 | -11 | 84.2 | 86 | -2.2 | +1.8 |
| Tristan Xerri | NM | R | 83 | +3 | 83.4 | 82 | -0.4 | -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
