CBAs Analysis: Round 6, 2024 – AFL Fantasy

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 O’Connor experienced a significant 76% rise in CBAs from the previous week, primarily utilized in a tagging role for his team. While O’Connor can deliver decent scores when playing as a tagger, the inconsistency in his role week-to-week poses a challenge for fantasy coaches, making it difficult to rely on him as a steady contributor.

Joe Daniher saw a 57% increase in his CBAs due to Oscar McInerney’s exit from the game with a concussion. With McInerney’s status uncertain, it raises questions about whether the Lions will continue to use Daniher as their primary ruck throughout the next game or if they will bring in Darcy Fort. Since Fort is listed as a forward in AFL fantasy, his potential role change could make him an appealing one-week waiver wire option if he steps into the ruck position.

Another player to watch is Cam Mackenzie, who, after being subbed out last week, returned with a 39% increase in CBAs. His improved performance coincided with a win for the Hawks, but with Will Day expected to return next week, Mackenzie’s heightened involvement may be temporary. Fantasy coaches should consider this when evaluating his potential for sustained fantasy output.

Justin McInerney took on a more prominent role in his team’s midfield this week, attending 30% of Sydney’s centre bounces on Sunday. This increased involvement translated into a solid AFL fantasy score of 103 points. Importantly, McInerney has recently been granted forward status in AFL Fantasy, a valuable attribute considering the scarcity of consistent scoring forwards in the game. However, fantasy coaches should exercise caution; McInerney’s role within the Swans lineup has been known to fluctuate significantly. Despite his substantial CBA involvement this week, there is a real possibility that his role could diminish in subsequent games, reflecting the team’s tactical adjustments from week to week. This unpredictability makes McInerney a risky, albeit potentially rewarding, pick for fantasy rosters.

Fallers

Jack Bowes experienced a drastic 70% drop in his CBAs, coinciding with Patrick Dangerfield’s return to the side. Despite losing his primary midfield role, Bowes still managed to put up a respectable fantasy score, suggesting he might remain a viable option in AFL fantasy draft leagues. Fantasy coaches should monitor his usage closely, as his scoring and value could fluctuate with the reduced midfield time.

Ivan Soldo saw a 43% decrease in CBAs, a shift driven by the inclusion of Jordan Sweet in Port Adelaide’s lineup and the need to compensate for Charlie Dixon’s absence by moving Soldo forward. However, this adjustment did not pan out as planned, with Sweet being subbed out of the game. Given the lackluster result of this strategy, it’s likely Port Adelaide will revert to using only one ruckman next week, with Soldo poised to reclaim the primary rucking duties.

Luke Jackson also faced a significant reduction in his CBAs, dropping by 43% due to Sean Darcy’s return to Fremantle’s lineup. For those who started Jackson in AFL Fantasy Classic, this development is particularly concerning. His decreased role was reflected in a lower score of just 61 points, raising alarms about his ongoing fantasy relevance in the coming rounds.

Surprises

Ed Richards took an intriguing turn for the Western Bulldogs by attending the first centre bounce on Thursday night and maintaining his midfield position throughout the game. This adjustment comes after the Bulldogs’ heavy loss in Round 5, and their subsequent victory with Richards in the midfield could hint at a positive direction. However, given coach Luke Beveridge’s propensity for rotating roles, the permanence of Richards’ midfield stint remains uncertain, though it’s a situation worth monitoring for potential fantasy implications.

Tom Atkins was completely removed from Geelong’s centre bounce attendances this week, playing exclusively in the backline. This adjustment in his role has led to Atkins being given defender status in AFL Fantasy. Although his fantasy output has been less than stellar this season, the new defender status might offer some strategic value to fantasy coaches. However, while there’s potential upside if Atkins could secure a more consistent midfield role in the future, such a development seems improbable at the moment. This switch poses a challenge for fantasy coaches who may have been counting on better scoring from him based on previous seasons. For now, they might need to adjust expectations and strategies accordingly.

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:

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