Freo had a year to forget on the field, and that has left many with their eyes firmly planted on Justin Longmuir as the coach under the most pressure in 2024. We AFL Fantasy aficionados are more than happy for him to continue, as not only does he give us some AFL Fantasy gold with some premium options, but they have also continually shown that they are looking to promote those internal breakout candidates! Serong and Young, who rose to prominence last year, loom as 10-year 100-110 averaging players in our keeper sides.
So, with an eye firmly on 2024, who should we be looking to draft from a keeper perspective?
Freo does loom as a team to watch from a game-style point of view. Longmuir has been continuously touted as a coach ahead of the curve in terms of game style, so we should expect them to change something in the way they play, but I do think they will continue to lean towards being a defensive-first team.
Freo lost some key role players in the off-season, such as Henry, Schultz, and Hamling, so there are openings for players who can seize their opportunities.
The Undervalued
Could I really go here? It would take some guts, but this guy is exactly what Freo needs in their engine room. Nat Fyfe is going to be seriously undervalued coming off a 2023 average of a mere 49.3. However, several mitigating factors contributed to this dismal performance. Fyfe began the year playing as a traditional full-forward out of the goal square, which is bizarre considering he’s one of the premier midfielders of the mid-2010s. Eventually, he spent stints in the middle, and his time in the midfield was increasing, only for injury to rear its ugly head again. Unfortunately, this has been a frequent issue for Nat, and it’s a massive shame, as he’s so exhilarating to watch at full flight. Keep an eye on his fitness, and role, and potentially grab him at a discount on draft day.
Will Brodie and Jaeger O’Meara are the other two who could fill this space, but if I were either of these guys, I’d be looking to have the biggest pre-season of my life. If Fyfe comes close to full fitness and plays in the midfield, these two will be the ones looking over their shoulders for a spot in the best 22. But if all goes well, there is serious value in both of them. Brodie, in particular, moved from Gold Coast in 2022 and had a terrific season, reaching an average of over 95 AFL Fantasy points. Last year, however, he found himself on the outside looking in. With the rise of young options (who can kick), a hopefully fit-again Fyfe, and the increasing experience of Young, Serong, and Brayshaw, he may find himself in this position again. Keep an eye out to see if they fill other roles, and potentially grab DPP status during the year.
The Breakout Contenders
With the departure of some key role players, we will be looking for some significant breakouts this year from their replacements. Both Liam Henry and Lachie Schultz found themselves either 2G4P or close enough last year through terrific form, and both roles have now opened up with a long list of contenders to take these positions.
Look for Nathan O’Driscoll and Heath Chapman as two potential options to fill the vacated wing role. Chapman in particular has shown some real AFL Fantasy promise, averaging 69 AFL Fantasy points in 2022 as a second-year player. He spent most of last season on the sidelines injured, so in essence, he is entering his third full season, which we all know is breakout time.
Matt Johnson and Neil Erasmus are another two who loom as breakout contenders, and I particularly like Johnson as that Mid/HF option going forward for Freo (replacing Brodie/Fyfe/JOM as that third midfielder in the rotation). He seemed to get the first crack whenever there was an injury in 2023, but some sub-affected scores and the inconsistencies of youth led to only a 56.7 AFL Fantasy average. Erasmus, I feel, is the AFL Fantasy community’s darling, but watching Freo, he seems to be more of a myth in terms of getting that inside midfield usage. However, I do really like him as their replacement for Schultz across HF.
Corey Wagner is the other candidate who looms as a breakout. He averaged 72.8 AFL Fantasy points last year, but that increased to 77 later in the year once Hayden Young moved to the inside midfield role
The Stash Options
Jye Amiss is someone we should keep an eye on. He came into the league and took the key forward slot for Freo with both hands. With forwards looking thinner than ever, someone like Amiss could be viewed favorably from a streaming perspective, particularly in games where Freo is playing weaker opposition.
Tom Emmett entered the side for two games in 2023 and delivered two really strong performances. He kicked two goals in both contests and averaged 71.5 AFL Fantasy points. Given the number of breakout candidates and a young squad brimming with talent, he might be a slow burner, but he certainly has ability
