AFL Fantasy is back again for another season. Both avid and first-time players are preparing their teams for 2024, and we’re here to give you 10 players every side must have.
As the start of the AFL season approaches, over 150,000 fantasy coaches around the country are hurriedly putting together their teams for 2024. And it’s a tough task without slotting in a handful of sure-fire, must-have dudes to get things moving.
So here’s a list of players we’d essentially define as non-negotiable types; a locked-in weekly role, consistent, capable of going huge, or just way too cheap for what we can expect this season.
We’ve all heard rumours of players that are in great form, have been training the house down, or are coming off the back of a pearler of a campaign last year — and some of them may feature in this list.
So despite risks of jumping the gun, we’ve run our eyes over each of the 18 AFL teams and shortlisted the players that are absolute locks in your team — barring any salary cap restrictions.
10 AFL Fantasy must have players for 2024
These statistics and prices are all based on afl.com.au‘s version of AFL Fantasy, not any other fantasy brands — however the message remains roughly the same for those.
Jordan Dawson – Adelaide Crows
Position: Midfielder
Price: $1.024M
The Adelaide Crows captain has broken out as one of the best AFL players in the league during his time in South Australia and we expect this year to be even stronger than his last.
Not only does he average over 27 disposals a match, he’s also a strong defensive presence in the midfield, allowing him to average 113 fantasy points a game in 2023.
Charlie Curnow – Carlton Blues
Position: Forward
Price: $783K
When it comes to Carlton it’s almost impossible to look past Charlie Curnow as the must have player for your AFL Fantasy team.
He will be right up there competing for the Coleman Medal (leading goal-scorer) in a premiership contending side. Considering he averaged 87 points per game last year and he’s in the prime of his life, this is quite the value pick.
Nick Daicos – Collingwood Magpies
Position: Defender/Midfielder
Price: $982K
Daicos is currently the third-most selected play in AFL Fantasy this year, so if you’re wanting to do well against the rest of the footy community, I’d be picking him first.
Averaging 109 points per game last season, his triple threat of floating down back and picking up cheap possessions, to playing a tonne of footy in the midfield, and his ability to kick goals makes him a dream fantasy player.
Zach Merrett – Essendon Bombers
Position: Midfielder
Price: $1.019M
If you’re looking for consistency – which you all are – there’s no looking past Essendon’s Zach Merrett who has averaged over 100 points a season since 2016.
He’s almost the perfect captain option and someone who you rely upon to be on the ground each week for your team.
Tom Stewart – Geelong Cats
Position: Defender
Price: $869K
Tom Stewart sits fifth amongst the most expensive defenders for AFL Fantasy but his time spent in the midfield in-game makes him a worthy purchase for your team.
Last season he averaged 96 points, which at a price of $869K makes him one of the best steals you could find this year.
Harry Sheezel – North Melbourne Kangaroos
Position: Defender
Price: $878K
From what we saw in his Rising Star award-winning first season, and his pre-season performance, Harry Sheezel is set to future establish himself as a future superstar of the league — and you’ll be lucky to ever get him for this price again.
He managed to average a whopping 97 fantasy point per match last year, and you can expect him to only get better and see that total rise by 10-15 points potentially.
Zak Butters – Port Adelaide Power
Position: Midfielder
Price: $898K
There are definitely higher scoring midfielders in AFL Fantasy, but for an average of 100 in 2023, and a starting price point of just under $900K, he’s definitely someone who can guarantee you points whilst saving some money.
Port Adelaide are also expected to be a strong team this year with plenty of direction coming from the midfield one-two-punch of Butters and Connor Rozee.
Errol Gulden – Sydney Swans
Position: Midfielder
Price: $1.015M
With early season injuries to a couple of key Swans midfielders, Errol Gulden is going to have a significant workload meaning two things – one, he’s going to get you plenty of points, and two, you’d want to get him to start the season before his price explodes.
Gulden was a top 10 fantasy point scorer for the first time last year in what was breakout season for the young gun, averaging 112 points a game.
Harley Reid – West Coast Eagles
Position: Midfielder/Forward
Price: $300K
This is our prediction for someone who will have a lot of expectations on him, and we believe Harley Reid will rise to the occasion and be one the top must haves for this season.
His cross positioning between midfield and forward also makes him worth purchasing and at the cheap price of $300K, why wouldn’t you put him in your squad.
Tim English – Western Bulldogs
Position: Ruck
Price: $1.071M
Lastly, you can’t go wrong with selecting the top average AFL Fantasy point scorer in Western Bulldogs ruckman Tim English. The Bulldogs big man is privy to the occasional goal, a disposal machine for someone his size and does all the little one percenters you want out of fantasy player.
Yes his price is the most expensive in the competition, but when someone’s getting your team 118 points a game, there won’t be much complaining.
