By Nick Westerman and Adam Lazaroy
The Eagles are a fascinating team heading into 2023, after what was one of the most dismal and disappointing seasons in their club’s history. The upshot in AFL Fantasy terms is that there are a plethora of fallen premium options who will be looking to bounce back to something near their previous best. The biggest problem we have is picking the right players in what was last year’s third-lowest-scoring team. Despite some opportunities last season, there also hasn’t been quite the development in younger players that keeper coaches would have been hoping for. Hopefully, this season sees a reversal in fortunes for a team that usually performs well.
Take a listen to our latest podcast: Pre-season 2023: West Coast Eagles Preview feat. Jeppa from +6 Podcast
The Undervalued
Andrew Gaff was once considered one of the league’s premier midfielders, having averaged 111 in 2018 and 2019. That was a few years ago now and in 2023 he is certainly not the same player he once was (evidenced by a drop in average from 97 to 81 between 2021 and 2022). Hopefully, with the return of Dom Sheed in the middle, he can break those shackles and get involved in a few more mark-and-kick chains like back in his heyday. With an uninterrupted pre-season, Gaff will comfortably average at least what he did in 2022 but has the potential to push well into the 90s, and hopefully even a little more!
Dom Sheed offers tremendous value in season 2023. He has consistently been a 90+ averaging player and following only 1 game in 2022 is a trade target that might not cost you an arm and a leg. While he feels like he’s been around forever, he’s only 27 which makes Sheed an attractive proposition for keeper owners. Previously the Eagle’s ‘Mr Fixit’, what should really have our mouths salivating for his return in 2023 is his potential CBA midfield role. Back in 2019, he was given a 12-game run as a prime mover in the centre and averaged 106.2. Since then he’s shown glimpses when thrown in the middle, but all the indications are that he’ll be a full-time centre this season. He even had a massive 88% CBA share in his single game last year. Fingers crossed his role and fitness hold, as if those two stars align, Dom Sheed is capable of being even more than just a 90s guy.
Elliot Yeo or “The Yeo Yeo” has been a bit up and down recently (pun definitely intended). Let’s hope this is one of the ‘up’ seasons! He only played 5 games last year at 57.4 and is much better than that. He had three years where his fantasy game really clicked into gear. He only missed a total of two games in seasons 2017, 2018, and 2019. In the first of these, he was an All-Australian in the backline and averaged a respectable 98.3, which should really have us salivating given his defender status and potential backline role. Adam Simpson has also teased bursts in the centre for Yeo, where in ’18 and ’19 (another All-Australian year, this time as a midfielder) he averaged 106.8 and 102.7 respectively. If those soft tissues can hold together, he is the real deal, so grab him if he’s available!
Jamie Cripps is a player rarely thought of as being fantasy relevant, yet in the last 9 games of 2022, he managed to average 81.8. He’s averaged 80 before (in 2015 and 2018), and if he does it again, would currently be the 15th-ranked forward. Even on last year’s average of 73.1, he was the 32nd forward overall, making him an F4 who was unrostered in many leagues. Cripps is not a player who will win you a flag, and at 30 is not a long-term option, but he is definitely a sneaky bit of value and potentially an excellent F5 who won’t cost you a cent.
I’m not sure you can predict a breakout year for a guy that has previously averaged 96.9 (back in 2019), but off the back of a fairly average year in fantasy terms (84 from 17 games), Tim Kelly indeed represents value. If you take out his injury affected 17, his average jumps up to 88. Kelly will also be freed up by the returns of Sheed, Shuey, and Yeo, making a return to the 90s a distinct possibility. In addition, he has a great ceiling, going as high as 150 in the past, with multiple scores over 130 in his 5 year AFL career. While he’s probably not going to go over 100, he’s certainly worth more than his 2022 average!
The Breakout Contenders
Jai Culley was one of the casts of thousands who played for West Coast last year, being drafted mid-season, then debuting in round 18 with a solid 76, followed by an eye-raising 87. Unfortunately, he donned the vest in the next round scoring 36 and then was suspended, before returning in round 23 for another solid 71. Sub-affected games aside, that makes for a decent first-up average of 78. With a full pre-season under his belt, I’d expect Culley to improve on that and push well into the 80s…if he gets a role. With the well-documented injury history of players like Shuey, Yeo, and Sheed, I’d think that some decent mid-time is certainly on the cards for him this year. While he won’t be elite in 2023, he could well be fieldable, and at 19, serve you well for years to come.
Liam Duggan has arguably already ‘broken out’, averaging a career-best 83.5 last year. However, at only 26 years of age, it certainly seems he has another gear to reach. In his last 5 games, he averaged 106.6, and while I don’t expect him to get to those heights, a season average in the low 90s is certainly within his grasp. Much like last year, he has had an interrupted pre-season, so his start may be slow, but if he has another end to the year like 2022, he could be a super handy pickup.
The Stash Options
Someone for deeper leagues (and people who like speculative picks), Bailey Williams had a fairly torrid year in 2022. While he managed 17 games, his third-highest score was 60, which isn’t great reading. It is important to note that the Eagles threw the magnets around last season, playing various combinations of Callum Jamieson, Hugh Dixon, Luke Strnadica, Williams and Nic Naitanui. What really stood out was that there were only two games where Williams was the sole ruck. In those, he scored 106 and 108. While a lot would have to go right for him to become the main ruck at the Eagles (He’s not guaranteed to be the heir to Nic Nat), he has the fantasy game and is worth a cheeky stash if you have room and need the depth.
Campbell Chesser looked like he could be anything when he was drafted. There was talk he could feature strongly last year until an injury ruined his chances. In 2023, he is slowly making his way back, and despite his salary cap hype, probably won’t be fantasy relevant this season in keeper leagues. Given how highly rated he is at the Eagles, however, he’s certainly one to consider stashing for the future in deeper leagues.
Connor West is another highly-rated Eagles youngster, who at 23 is patiently waiting for older heads like Shuey and Hurn to retire. He was thrown around everywhere in 2022 and enters the 2023 season looking to cement himself in the side. He’s shown his fantasy potential in the WAFL, with scores of 144 and 121 in 2021. He also had a game last year where he was thrown on the ball and promptly delivered, with 29 touches and a score of 114. He’s a risky pick, as he’s a former mid-season draftee and is only contracted to the end of 2023, but he could be worth a look.
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