Backline war horses:
The saying there are many ways to skin a cat has never been more relevant than when you sit down on day one looking at your blank team ready to embark on a brand new AFL Dream Team Season. But the one theory I will discus relates to almost all fantasy owners most despised position. Yes, the band-aid back line. I'm sure I am not the only one who as been struck down late in the season and had to limp home with at least one big fat zero in there backs. So what balance of risky injury returning players, playing rookies (first yr players) and Guns should you go with. My thoughts are...
-The backline is the position that makes the least money in most fantasy teams (Rucks aside)
-There are generally plenty of gun draft picks/cash cows sprinkled through the forwards and mids especially, so money can be easily made there.
-The backline is also the position that in the past has lent itself to a lot of injuries.
The idea is to look for at least 4 preferably 5 backs that have played close to every game in the past 2 seasons and any games they did miss were not injurys that are likely to reoccur. i.e. Hamstring, groin. Players Like Enright, Hargraves and Goddard spring to mind. No real upside, rather boring and obvious even, but a 22 game player that will net you more than a good points return is worth his weight in gold. Just like each trade.
Yes this will chew some dollar, but that's ok because we can gamble a little more in our midfield with one or 2 playing rookies and maybe another 2 players that are on the verge of a breakout season. Knowing that between the 2 rookies on the field and the 2 on your bench you will end up with 2 round one starters and if you have done your research at least one reserve.
Yes, choosing rookie backs can pay off for your AFL Dream Team. Broughton from 09 is a prime example. That said of course you can always jump on after 2 games if they are just too good to pass up. The other bonus with having extra rookies in your mids as opposed to other positions, is when it comes to selling off your cash cows. There is always a plethora of midfield rookies that have jumped out of the blocks with 2 big scores first up to choose from. Where you can have nailed it with a rookie back and are ready to cash in, only to find the there is not a single decent playing first year back to downgrade to.
In the end the less trades you have to waste the better. Picking a side where you can set and forget as many backs as possible might just be the key to get you a league win or who knows maybe even a crack at the a car.
