Each week, we rely on our AFL Fantasy Projections (available to members of The Keeper League) to identify some of the best captain options for your team.
While there are always some obvious captain options, we try to dig a little deeper to find less popular options due to the widespread nature of players in keeper leagues. However, if you have Uber premium players, please don’t take this article as advice not to put the captaincy on them.
In addition to the top captain options, we’ll also look at some streamer options who may not be automatic selections in your side but have a history of performing well against their opponents. These options are worth considering if you’re looking for a differential advantage in your matchup.
Captains
In the absence of Josh Kelly and Harry Perryman, Stephen Coniglio is the number one midfield option at GWS. Last year, he scored an impressive 120 AFL Fantasy points against West Coast and is expected to dominate again.
Caleb Serong had a modest score of 83 AFL Fantasy points in Round 1, but he’s too hungry not to bounce back. Moreover, he has a strong track record against North Melbourne, with a three-game rolling average of 108 AFL Fantasy points against them.
Luke Parker is also a strong option this week, with a rolling three-game average of 107 AFL Fantasy points against Hawthorn and a similar average in his last three games at the SCG. His consistency makes him hard to ignore.
Jack Sinclair may have scored only 86 AFL Fantasy points in Round 1, but he had 26 disposals with a great kick-to-handball ratio, which suggests he was more productive than his score reflects. Moreover, he has a solid track record against the Western Bulldogs, averaging 100 AFL Fantasy points in his last three games against them, including a massive 146-point haul last season.
Callum Mills saw a reduction in his centre bounce attendances in Round 1, which affected his AFL Fantasy scoring. However, this week he faces Hawthorn, a team he scored 162 points against in 2023. His rolling three-game average of 129 points against Hawthorn makes me confident that he’ll bounce back strongly.
Vice-Captain
Hugh McCluggage has a strong track record against Melbourne, with an average of 113 AFL Fantasy points in his last three games against them, including a score of 105 in their last meeting. The young gun will be looking to bounce back this week, making him an appealing vice-captain option.
Patrick Cripps can be a bit of a roller-coaster captain option, but the early game allows owners to loophole him in. Despite struggling against Geelong in recent years, he has a high ceiling and is averaging 105 AFL Fantasy points from his last five games against the Cats.
Max Gawn may no longer be a completely safe Captain option, but after his monster Round 1 and a Friday night clash with Oscar McInerney, I’m prepared to VC him. His dominance in the ruck and around the ground makes him a tempting option.
Cam Guthrie had a disappointing outing in Round 1, but the Thursday night fixture against Carlton gives him a chance to bounce back. He has averaged 90 AFL Fantasy points in his last three games against them and has the potential to exceed that this week.
Connor Rozee is a young talent on the rise, and his track record against Collingwood at the MCG is impressive. He scored 115 AFL Fantasy points against them last year and is averaging 105 points from his last three games at the venue. With increased midfield time this season, he’s an exciting option for the Saturday afternoon game.
Streamers
Jack Bowes is a high-risk, high-reward option, but the Thursday night fixture against Carlton makes him a bit less risky. He has averaged 96 AFL Fantasy points in his last three games against them, and if he’s played in the right role, he can easily score 80+ AFL Fantasy points this week.
James Aish is an underrated midfield option at Fremantle, where he’s surrounded by stars. He scored 100 AFL Fantasy points against North Melbourne last year and has averaged 91 AFL Fantasy points against them in his previous three games.
Alex Neal-Bullen is a favourite among Keeper League players, and the Friday night fixture against Brisbane, coupled with his strong performance of 89 AFL Fantasy points against them last year, makes him an appealing option for streamers this week.
Ben Long may have disappointed his owners in Round 1, but his role and time on ground (TOG) numbers were promising. This week, he faces Essendon, who gave up four scores of 75+ AFL Fantasy points to defenders in Round 1, including two tons. Long could bounce back strongly against them.
Callum Wilkie has a solid track record against the Western Bulldogs, averaging 76 AFL Fantasy points in his last three games against them and scoring an impressive 123 AFL Fantasy points against them last season. He’s an intriguing option for those looking for a mid-range defender.
Want more projections? View the top 20 projected scores of the round here…
