Every AFL Fantasy coach knows that cash generation is crucial if you want to have a successful season. 2024 is no different and there are a handful of rookie-priced opinions who are already emerging as near must-have players. There’s still a lot to unfold over the preseason before our first rolling lockout of the season arrives, however the majority of the cash cows listed in this article are worth remembering if you want to stay a step ahead of the competition.

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Toby Pink, Kangaroos

Price: $200K
Position: DEF
Current Ownership: 32%
2023 Average: 51.4 from 20 SANFL games

The main reason mature-aged defender Toby Pink finds himself here is based on the gaping hole Ben McKay left in the Kangaroos’ back-6. North Melbourne signed Pink a month before the draft last offseason, helping to revive his career after three seasons on Sydney’s rookie list – originally drafted as a key forward back in 2016. Having now honed his defensive craft we could see the Glenelg product find a home and a regular gig with the Roos, which would certainly pique the interest of fantasy managers thanks to his $200K price tag.

Harley Reid, Eagles

Price: $300K
Position: MID/FWD
Current Ownership: 67%
2023 Average: 84.5 from 6 Coates Talent League games; 80.8 from 4 U-18 champ games

We don’t need to critically analyse why Harley Reid is the most owned player in fantasy circles. Currently head and shoulder above everyone else from a popularity standpoint, West Coast’s new shiny toy resides in over 25,000 teams with the expectation that he will excel for the Eagles from day one. While he did produce consistent scores in the 80’s at junior, VFL and U-18 level, it’s fair to expect scores in the 60’s and 70’s from Harley as a rookie. If he hits that threshold then Reid will be able to serve his purpose as a cash cow and nudge his price close $600K throughout the season.

Jeremy Sharp, Dockers

Price: $284K
Position: MID
Current Ownership: 32%
2023 Average: 91.3 from 19 VFL games

Bound to become a popular M8-M10 option to commence the fantasy season, Jeremy Sharp is fantasy relevant once again. Following four seasons and 23 games for the Suns, Fremantle pounced on the talented winger to fill a void left by Liam Henry – and two months out, Sharp is in the box seat to feature in that role for the Dockers to commence the season. Forced to spend all of last season in the VFL, Sharp produced more than a few encouraging scores including eight 100+ outings and a season-high 158 in Round 16.

Daniel Curtin, Crows

Price: $279K
Position: DEF/MID
Current Ownership: 53%
2023 Average: 80 from 6 WAFL U-18 games; 59.5 from 6 WAFL League; 101.8 from 4 U-18 champ games

Adelaide made sure Daniel Curtin didn’t evade them on draft night by jumping up a few spots in the pecking order to snag the versatile key position player. Crows fans will be chuffed to have Curtin at West Lakes and having showcased his ability to play a number of roles as a junior, there’s confidence around Curtin’s job security. Flourishing as an intercept defender, we might not see the greatest point totals in his first pro season, but that won’t deter coaches if he’s named in Adelaide’s Round 1 side.

Jhye Clark, Cats

Price: $237K
Position: MID
Current Ownership: 27%
2023 Average: 36 from 1 AFL game; 66.7 from 6 VFL games

Despite playing just one quarter of AFL footy in his debut season, there’s still a lot to like about Jhye Clark. The No. 8 pick from the draft class of 2022 spent his fair share of time on the sidelines last year as he dealt with foot injuries and struggled to squeeze into Geelong’s senior side. His best VFL performance – a 107-point outing in Round 6 that included 29 disposals, 5 marks and 4 tackles – highlights what Clark is capable of when he’s healthy and the Queenscliff product also averaged 101.1 fantasy points in his draft season from nine Coates Talent League games. I’m dubious about Clark’s season long prospects, but he’s still a cash cow worth monitoring if he can get his body right.

Shaun Mannagh, Cats

Price: $200K
Position: MID/FWD
Current Ownership: 43%
2023 Average: 110.5 from 21 VFL games

AFL Fantasy enthusiasts will have heard Shaun Mannagh’s name before and the jokes came thick and fast on draft night when the Cats drafted another mature-aged prospect. Once again, Geelong’s new recruit could make an immediate impact for the club, with multiple AFL teams considering the Werribee midfielder in last year’s mid-season draft. After being overlooked, Mannagh went on to produce ridiculous numbers in the VFL that culminated in BOG honours in the Grand Final where Mannagh recorded 28 touches and snagged six goals. He has the talents to feature as a dangerous forward for Geelong, although he’ll be a lock for coaches if he’s given the opportunity to play in the midfield.

Image from afl.com.au

Finlay Macrae, Magpies

Price: $310K
Position: FWD
Current Ownership: 13%
2023 Average: 47 from 1 AFL game; 94.1 from 17 VFL games

Will this be the season that Finlay Macrae finally earns a regular gig at Collingwood? I have my doubts and after plying his trade in the VFL for three seasons, you could argue that Macrae is fighting for his career in 2024. There’s no denying that he can win plenty of the footy after recording 25+ disposals a game last year, although the COVID draftee hasn’t been given a consistent chance to grow at the top level. Finding a place for him in the reigning premiers’ team is tricky, but expect Macrae’s name to be mentioned a ton this preseason as fantasy managers keep a watchful eye on his progress.

Ryley Sanders, Bulldogs

Price: $285K
Position: MID
Current Ownership: 43%
2023 Average: 106.8 from 9 Coates Talent League games; 125 from 4 U-18 champ games

I believe Ryley Sanders will be in the conversation as the most important cash cow for 2024. A prototypical midfielder ready to make his presence felt from day one, Sanders is a proven ball-winner and while he may be forced to fight for midfield snaps at the Dogs, I expect him to play regular senior footy as a rookie. Hailed for his next-level professionalism, Sanders scored at will regardless of the completion he featured in – recording six 100+ scores in the Coates Talent League with a season-low of 87 points. Some will identify that Sanders is a ‘handball happy’ midfield type, however that won’t stop me from locking him into an M6-M8 rotation with confidence.

Zane Duursma, Kangaroos

Price: $291K
Position: MID/FWD
Current Ownership: 50%
2023 Average: 101.4 from 12 Coates Talent League games; 76.3 from 4 U-18 champ games

North Melbourne have a future gun on their hands in Zane Duursma, having starred during his junior career as a goalkicking machine. Booting 62 majors in his last two seasons with Gippsland Power was part of the reason that the Roos opted to draft him 4th overall – set to form a lethal one-two tandem in front of goal with Nick Larkey. Duurs already has some senior footy under his belt after featuring in two games for Casey last season, recording fantasy scores of 34 and 38. Don’t be scared off by those point totals, with the newest North talent bound to have an impact for fantasy coaches thanks to his convenient MID/FWD status.

Image from afl.com.au

Riley Hardeman, Kangaroos

Price: $234K
Position: DEF
Current Ownership: 4%
2023 Average: 84.7 from 7 WAFL U-18 games; 77 from 4 U-18 champ games

We can’t expect North to play ALL of their draftees in 2024 – some are going to be forced to bide their time in the two’s and win a place in the senior side. Riley Hardeman fits that brief with the Swan Districts half-back proving his worth as a first-round pick through the WAFL Colts completion and the U-18 carnival. There’s a world where Hardeman features earlier than expected and I won’t be surprised if we see Hardeman take Sheezel’s spot in the back-6 at times and accumulate some impressive numbers thanks to his elite disposal by foot.

Arie Schoenmaker, Saints

Price: $200K
Position: DEF
Current Ownership: 14%
2023 Average: 104.2 from 8 Coates Talent League games; 78.5 from 2 U-18 champ games

St Kilda pulled off a serious heist with the 62nd overall pick when they drafted Arie Schoenmaker. While he missed the start of the Coates Talent League season through suspension, Schoenmaker made up for lost time while playing for the Tasmania Devils – averaging 104.2 fantasy points and 23.6 kicks with only two scores below 90. He faces an uphill climb to crack the Saints’ Round 1 side, although there’s no doubt that when Schoenmaker does make his debut he’ll be a coveted AFL Fantasy option.

Orazio Fantasia, Blues

Price: $269K
Position: FWD
Current Ownership: 6%
2023 Average: 37.7 from 3 AFL games; 60.1 from 9 SANFL games

It’s tough to forecast what Orazio Fantasia will achieve from a fantasy standpoint in season 2024. Landing at his 3rd AFL club, the mercurial forward will look to add some bite to Carlton’s attacking game – an area they struggled in last season. The Blues joined Essendon, West Coast and North Melbourne as the only teams to have just one player kick more than 30 goals in a season, with Coleman Medalist Charlie Curnow the lone exception for Carlton inside-50. If Fantasia can stay healthy, then it would be fair to expect scores a smidge below his career average of 63.5, coupled with a nice price bump.

Colby McKercher, Kangaroos

Price: $297K
Position: MID
Current Ownership: 55%
2023 Average: 111.7 from 9 Coates Talent League games; 117.3 from 4 U-18 champ games

Currently the second most selected player in Classic teams, Colby McKercher is set to have a significant impact as a rookie. Absurd per-game averages will entice every switched on fantasy coach after the Kangaroos’ MID dominated his final junior season – highlighted by an epic 41-disposal outing against the Oakleigh Chargers that saw him record a score of 167! McKercher is expected to slot straight into North’s midfield rotation and given the injury history of Luke Davies-Uniacke and Jy Simpkin, he may be expected to shoulder a heavy burden if they go down yet again. I could waste more of your time, but in three simple words – just pick him.

George Stevens, Cats

Price: $200K
Position: MID
Current Ownership: 3%
2023 Average: 99.5 from 13 Coates Talent League games; 86.5 from 4 U-18 champ games

I contemplated leaving George Stevens off the list of rookies who get a significant write-up, although there are a bunch of tempting factors that swayed me. Stevens is expected to sit behind a fair few Cats on the depth chart, however there is more than enough evidence to suggest that he has a reputable fantasy game. Making the switch from defence to the midfield for the Greater Western Victoria Rebels saw Stevens regularly score over 100 points while laying a healthy bunch of tackles. If Geelong gives him a run in 2024, I’m sure I won’t be the only coach tempted to bring him in.

Remember the Name

There are bound to be other cash cows that demand our attention throughout the fantasy season. While I didn’t include a deep dive on every rookie-priced player in the game, these 26 cheaper options should remain on the watchlist for coaches. Some offer more upside than others, but in a sentence or two here’s what we could expect from them in 2024.

Caiden Cleary, $231K, MID, Swans – Featured in Sydney’s VFL team for six games last year – chalking up scores of 50, 67, 76, 68, 77 & 40. If he’s given a chance then he’ll become a popular pick, although there is no guarantee he’ll play AFL in year one.

Harry DeMattia, $228K, MID, Magpies – Tough midfield rotation to crack into, but Collingwood have big plans for DeMattia after handing him Taylor Adams’ No. 13. He is more likely to develop in the VFL all season unless injury strikes. 

Darcy Wilson, $249K, MID/FWD, Saints – We could see Darcy Wilson slot into the Jade Gresham role at St Kilda, showcasing his talents as a damaging high half-forward last year for the Murray Bushrangers. Probably deserves a comprehensive write up and if he builds towards an early debut I’ll be picking him.

Nick Coffield, $358K, DEF, Bulldogs – The former Saint will look to put injury issues behind him and cement a regular spot in the Dogs’ senior side. Popular D5-D6 choice right now and a breakeven of 40 is well within reach…should he play.

Image from westernbulldogs.com.au

Billy Dowling, $200K, MID/FWD, Crows – A dominant force as a junior (125.5 AVG in 12 U-18 SANFL games) who went on to average 77.2 in 20 SANFL appearances in 2023. It’s hard to envision Dowling cracking Adelaide’s midfield rotation, although he’s proven he can score when given the opportunity.

Charlie Edwards, $240K, DEF/MID, Crows – Another new Crow who thrived late in his draft year, Charlie Edwards will probably become a SANFL regular in 2024. He did post an average of 81 across his final seven games for Sandringham, however he looms as more of a developmental MID for Adelaide.

Joel Freijah, $200K, MID/FWD, Bulldogs – Freijah is a talented outside runner who is bound to produce a highlight or two every game. Yo-yo scoring will likely hamper him from making serious waves in his first AFL season, but he may emerge as a decent downgrade option if the Dogs play him. 

Harry Barnett, $200K, RUC/FWD, Eagles – My favourite R3 option (sorry Max Heath), we could see Harry Barnett break through for his first AFL action this year. After trading for Matt Flynn, Barnett may be forced to wait although he did average 50 points and 15 hitouts in his 15 WAFL games a season ago.

Josh Gibcus, $256K, DEF, Tigers – Hamstrung last year, Richmond is keen to hand over the defensive reins to Josh Gibcus as he approaches his third season. While I believe he can become an impactful AFL player, his fantasy average of 40 means you should probably look elsewhere.

Nate Caddy, $273K, FWD, Bombers – Essendon’s first draft pick matches all the checkpoints of a slow burn key forward – competing in the Coates Talent League, U-18 competition and VFL while averaging 79.8 from 13 total games. Caddy could be Jacob van Rooyen 2.0 and help throughout the first portion of the season as long as he’s playing early.

Clay Hall, $200K, MID, Eagles – Sitting in 13% of teams, Clay Hall is a popular bench pick for coaches filling out their squad with the hopes that he’ll line up for the Eagles early. Mixed in with his U-18 tenure, Hall averaged 18.9 disposals in nine games as a Pell Thunder league player in the WAFL and he’s bound to be a fantasy factor whenever he plays in 2024.

Chris Burgess, $200K, FWD, Crows – It may be a trap, but at this point of the season it’s fine to throw Chris Burgess at F7 or F8. The fact that Adelaide traded for him gives me hope that he’ll play in their best-22, although he hasn’t had a great track record of scoring well.

Jack Delean, $200K, FWD, Dockers – It might be my Freo bias, but this bloke is giving me Noah Long vibes. Maybe it’s because the Dockers traded for him with the 60th pick a few months ago, however there is an opening in Freo’s forward line and Delean averaged two goals in every competition he played in.

Billy Wilson, $201K, DEF/MID, Blues – Boasting 22% ownership at this point of the preseason, I’m not completely sold on Billy Wilson. The half-back seems more like a long-term option for the Blues as there’s plenty of competition for a spot as a rebounding defender for Carlton.

Caleb Windsor, $282K, MID/FWD, Demons – I can’t see Caleb Windsor replacing Ed Langdon or Lachie Hunter as Melbourne’s preferred outside specialist in 2024, although there’s a world where the Dees give him a chance. Watch this space but it’s a no for me right now. 

Ethan Read, $276K, RUC, Suns – Those coaches playing in keeper leagues might be keen on Read and he’s a fine, cheaper option if Gold Coast give him a berth. Drafted to one day become Jarrod Witts’ successor, this doesn’t seem like the season Read will be a fantasy factor.

Nick Watson, $288K, MID/FWD, Hawks – I’m excited to see how the Wizard and Ginny pair up inside Hawthorn’s forward 50 this season and Watson is bound to attract attention from coaches if Sam Mitchell picks him. It’s important to remember that small forwards don’t score at rapid rates – and yet Watson may very well buck the trend and flourish as a cash cow.

Marty Hore, $307K, DEF, Demons – Let’s hope it’s second time luck for Marty Hore. A familiar cash cow from the 2019 season, Melbourne signed Hore again in the offseason after he spent three years at VFL level playing for North Melbourne and Williamstown. He averaged 61.9 in his 14 previous AFL games – does he squeeze into their team though? Probably not.

Image from codesports.com.au

Kane McAuliffe, $200K, MID, Tigers – With Adem Yze set to enter as Richmond’s new head coach there’s a possibility we see big-bodied MID Kane McAuliffe break through for an AFL debut next season. He performed well as a SANFL reserves player, but let’s observe his preseason progress before seriously considering him.

Jake Rogers, $261K, MID, Suns – Labelled a Touk Miller clone, keeper league fans will have a sharp eye on Jake Rogers come draft day. The arrival of Damian Hardwick means that magnets are bound to fly and changes will be made to their team, although Rogers will probably commence his career as a forward before he’s given noteworthy MID minutes.

Matt Roberts, $282K, MID/FWD, Swans – With another preseason under his belt, maybe Matt Roberts finds a regular spot for Sydney this year – I just can’t see it happening. To be fair, he has battled his fair share of injuries in the past few seasons since he was drafted back in 2021. If you ask me, Roberts is poised to start the season on the outside looking in.

Jed Walter, $294K, FWD, Suns – Behemoth key forward Jed Walter looks set to become a game-changing target for the Suns over the next decade. Following 18 goals in four games as a member of Gold Coast’s academy we can expect Walter to feature heavily this season – there just isn’t enough scoring upside to warrant picking him at this stage.

Archie Roberts, $200K, DEF, Bombers – Another potential draft smokey, it surprised me to see Archie Roberts slide so far on draft night. He consistently scored in the 70’s for Sandringham and Vic Metro last season and I’m hoping he can crack Essendon’s best-22 later in the season – emerging as a popular downgrade choice in the process.

Jakob Ryan, $200K, DEF, Magpies – While I would love to see Ryan play regular AFL games, it’s difficult to find room for him at Collingwood. A second season of development in the two’s seems like the most likely outcome, but the smooth-moving defender is worth keeping an eye on.

Josh Fahey, $277K, MID, Giants – Fahey’s VFL numbers wowed fantasy coaches a year ago, as he battled hard to crack GWS’ rotation. An average of 110.8 from his 11 state league games proves that the speedster can score – I’m just not convinced the Giants will play him regularly in 2024.

Jaxon Binns, $200K, MID, Blues – Similar to Fahey, Jaxon Binns torched the VFL last season to the tune of 116.6 points fuelled by 29.1 touches a game. It’s handy that he failed to play for Carlton’s senior team in 2023 so that he enters this year as a $200K option, however he needs a lot of things to break right if he wants to make his debut in the upcoming campaign.

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