AFL Round 18’s Sunday slate offers a fun three-game slate getting underway at the MCG with a classic Victorian rivalry between Melbourne and North Melbourne. Both sides are effectively playing for draft position at this point in the season but this could be high scoring from fantasy perspective. Then we move to Marvel Stadium were St Kilda will host the surging Sydney Swans. Again, not a game where finals will play a role but some interesting daily fantasy targets to consider. Finally we go to the Adelaide Oval where Port Adelaide will be looking for a percentage booster against the West Coast Eagles.
As always, this is all about the daily fantasy and this Sunday slate draws another massive $50,000 prize pool at Draftstars in their main contest, plus more qualifiers for the $1 million AFL Star contest! In addition, there are a variety of alternate contests:
AFL $5,000+ Sunday High Roller ($150 Entry)
AFL $3,000+ Sunday Mini ($2 Entry)
AFL Daily Fantasy Lineup Tips: Round 18 – Sunday
AFL Fantasy Round 18 Sunday – Where to Attack?
North Melbourne look be a great target on this slate by stacking up Melbourne players. Over the last 10 games, North have been giving up over 10 points per game above the league average to inside midfielders, which is the second highest in the league over this period. They are also giving up the third most points to key forwards and most points in the league to general forwards. Melbourne love racking up possessions this season so they should take advantage of these gaps.
Going back the other way, Melbourne give up over 9 points per game above league average to attacking half backs (the most in the league), and over 4 points per game to the designated kicker.
The other obvious game to target is Port Adealide against West Coast. The Power are 42 point favourites in this matchup and West Coast have given up above average points to inside midfielders (over 5 points per game above league average, the fourth most in the league), over 3 points per game above league average to key forwards and over 5 points per game above league average to general forwards. In addition, West Coast are also giving up the fourth most points in the league to attacking half backs. This will be a very popular hammer game stack option.
Game Script – Melbourne midfielders and forwards / North Melbourne backs
Port Adelaide midfielders and forwards
AFL Fantasy Round 18 Sunday – Our Value Fantasy Picks
Max Heath ($6,000) comes in on debut after being drafted as an 18 year old in 2021. He has turned into a dominant ruckman at VFL level over this time with his last two games posting 120 and 126 fantasy points while dominating the hitouts. AS always with first game ruckman at minimum price, the big question will be how much time will he get in the number one ruck role, but the Saints do have the option of putting Rowan Marshall forward, which I expect them to do quite a bit while letting Heath show what he can offer. At minimum price this is close to a lock value play.
Riley Hardeman ($7,860) is a more speculative value play in North Melbourne back stacks. As mentioned above, Melbourne are giving up huge points to attacking half backs and Hardeman showed his ceiling potential earlier this year with a massive 106 point game.
AFL Fantasy Round 18 Sunday – Our Mid Price Fantasy Picks
Joe Richards ($10,210) has been playing great football over the past five weeks with three scores of 83+ points. This will be the best matchup of all of these games as he lines up against West Coast who have been giving up the second most points in the league to general forwards. In addition, Richards gives protection against the weather as even if they rain comes in during the game he should be able take advantage of ground balls and tackles to keep his scoring ticking over. If you are looking for a key forward to target against West Coast, the obvious choice is Mitch Georgiades ($12,030), however his price is getting up there, or you can look to Jack Lukosius ($9,900) who is much cheaper and coming off an 80 point game last week.
Jordon Sweet ($12,280) stands out as a mid priced option as the sole ruck against West Coast who have been giving up the most points in the league to opposition ruckman over the last 10 games.
AFL Fantasy Round 18 Sunday – Our Premium Fantasy Picks
Christian Petracca ($15,070) will take advantage of the second best matchup in the league for inside midfielders against North Melbourne. His ceiling is over 120 points and he should get forward and hit the score board in this match with Melbourne just under 5 goal favourites. Start your Melbourne midfield stacks here.
Colby McKercher ($14,480) is absolutely revelling in his move to the back line where he played his best footy last year. North are playing Sheezey ball no more, instead it is McKercher ball time and he has posted three straight scores of 99, 103 and 124 fantasy points. This week he draws the best matchup in the league for attacking half backs against Melbourne and stacking up North across the back line will be an elite play on this slate.
Heres our Suggested Draftstars Lineup for AFL Fantasy Round 18 Sunday
Weather Report for Sunday 13th July
Melbourne – 15 degrees and cloudy
Marvel – Always perfect conditions
Adelaide – 16 degrees and showers – up to 6mm. Check this games conditions prior to the bounce as you might want to avoid players relying on uncontested possessions.
AFL Betting Markets Round 17 Sunday
Melbourne ($1.21) vs North Melbourne ($4.45)
Points: 169.5
Line: Melbourne -27.5
St Kilda ($2.44) vs Sydney ($1.56)
Points: 166.5
Line: Sydney -9.5
Port Adelaide ($1.08) vs West Coast ($8.00)
Points: 168.5
Line: Port Adelaide -42.5
