AFL GameDay Squad Round 12 Preview | Best Matchups, PODs & Key Trends

Round 12 is upon us being the first of 5 (yes 5!) weeks of bye rounds. This is always an interesting time for Gameday Squad coaches as each week there is usually a few premiums on a bye, meaning coaches will need to take a punt on some less consistent options. Coaches who can get it right will leapfrog the leaderboards as the points differences can be huge between the final few players on each line.

Let’s take a look at options for AFL GameDay Squad Round 12 Preview!

Don’t forget - use our exclusive code BOBAFL at sign-up to unlock free packs and kickstart your squad. Let’s get into the AFL GameDay Squad Round 12 Preview and identify the must-have players for the week!

AFL GameDay Squad Round 12 Preview - DEFENDERS

TOP 7 BASED ON AVERAGE (excluding bye players)

Player	Average	Quick thoughts…
Dayne Zorko	134	Lock vs Essendon
Lachie Whitfield	130	Lock vs Richmond – however went forward last week. Risky but high upside fade if you get it right
Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera	127	Lock based on form
Jack Sinclair	124	Lock based on form
Nic Martin	123	Tougher match up this week and will likely get more attention. Potential a fade but a very good player (sitting on the fence with this one)
Lachie Ash	121	Lock based on form
Angus Clarke	118	Avoid

OTHERS TO CONSIDERJohn Noble (118) – Very thirsty defender, has been reliable

Max Holmes (112) – Great match up vs West Coast and should dominate

Christian Salem (112) – Spending some time in the midfield and should be solid against St Kilda

Karl Amon (110) – Fairly consistent this year and coming off a nice 131

Defenders have been incredible so far this season and outside of Sheezel and Dale, we are not missing too many options this week. There are some great match ups for premiums this week, Lachie Whitfield (130AV) and Lachie Ash (121AV) both come up against Richmond who have been a dream for defenders. NWM (127AV) and Jack Sinclair (124AV) come up against Melbourne who have conceded plenty of points to designated kickers. Outside of the top 7, Max Holmes (112AV) should be too classy for West Coast. Jack Bowey (109AV) got his first taste of a tag last week, meaning I would probably go for Christian Salem (112AV) instead who was getting a run through the midfield.

AFL GameDay Squad Round 12 Preview - MIDFIELDERS

TOP 6 BASED ON AVERAGE (excluding bye players)

Player	Average	Quick thoughts…
Jordan Dawson	134	Lock based on form, however not as good away from home
Zach Merrett	129	Lock based on form, tougher match up this week
Josh Dunkley	123	Going under the radar a bit but gets the job done. Hard to ignore this week against a weaker Essendon lineup
Nick Daicos	121	Was having a lean patch but bounced back last week. Hawthorn not an easy match up but many coaches will back him in
Andrew Brayshaw	118	Slowing down a bit after a hot start. Still a decent option.
Tom Green	118	Big last week and should be picked vs Richmond this week

OTHERS TO CONSIDER

Noah Anderson (117) – Big last week. Returns home this round and should be decent

Hugh McLuggage (117) – Love the match up this week. He has been very consistent this year and should put in a good score tonight

Will Setterfield (115) – Not a sexy name but a decent option for value

Jai Newcombe (114) – Tough matchup against the Pies

Christian Petracca (111) – Been better of late

An injury depleted Essendon should mean that Lions midfielders can cash in tonight. Josh Dunkley (123AV) will be in a lot of coaches sides. Hugh McLuggage (117AV) will most likely be making his debut for a few coaches too and I really like him as an option. Midfielders have had success against Gold Coast lately meaning Andrew Brayshaw (118AV) should hopefully return to form. Quite a few decent midfielders out with the bye this week so it is hard to go outside the top 7 averages but there are a couple of options there. Jack Steele (109AV) is a bit further down on averages but hasn’t gone under 100 since round 6 and has been amazing in the last 5 weeks.

AFL GameDay Squad Round 12 Preview - RUCKS

TOP 2 BASED ON AVERAGE (excluding bye players)

Player	Average	Quick thoughts…
Max Gawn	129	Keeps getting it done, hard to ignore
Darcy Cameron	118	Quiet last couple of weeks compared to normal. Still an option

OTHERS TO CONSIDER

Rowan Marshall (111) – Had a tough game last week against

Witts. Surprised he isn’t averaging more and comes up against

Max Gawn this week which is not an easy match up

Toby Nankervis (107) – Went huge last game and coming off a rest, but still not been amazing compared to other premiums. Might have to play this week

We are missing Tristan Xerri and Tim English this week with byes meaning less reliable rucks to choose from. Max Gawn (129AV) has been sensational this year and is hard to fade in any conditions or match up. The second ruck is a tougher choice. Darcy Cameron (118AV) should be okay against Hawthorn but it isn’t an easy match up. Same with Rowan Marshall (111AV) against Max Gawn. I think they are still the main options this week unless coaches want to risk it on Jarrad Witts (98AV). Kieren Briggs (73AV) has been quite a let down and I wouldn’t take the chance. I don’t mind Toby Nankervis (107AV) against him after a week off.

AFL GameDay Squad Round 12 Preview - FORWARDS

TOP 7 BASED ON AVERAGE (excluding bye players)

Player	Average	Quick thoughts…
Bailey Smith	143	Fade him…everyone fade him (so I win)
Kysiah Pickett	114	Was amazing last week, lock him in
Izak Rankine	112	Plenty of midfield time in his current role and very consistent
Peter Wright	105	I really don’t want to play him but might have to. Seems to keep clunking marks and kicking goals
Shaun Mannagh	104	Keeps getting it done. I like him a lot vs West Coast
Luke Jackson	102	Apparently Sean Darcy is back in this week. If so, play with caution as he is much worse as a deep forward
Gryan Miers	102	Looked on last week and hopefully has some thirst against West Coast

OTHERS TO CONSIDER

Toby Greene (101) – Spending time in the midfield and I think is better than some of the above

Jeremy Cameron (101) – Kicks goals for fun and should dominate this week

Riley Thilthorpe (96) – Could have gone even bigger last week. Been okay but on the risky side if he doesn’t kick goals. Not in the best form before last weeks’ easy matchup

Jack Graham (95) – Has a low floor and seems to keep putting in consistent performances. Might be the perfect final forward this week

To many coaches surprise, the forwards went huge last week resulting in some big overall scores for coaches. We lose the reliable Matthew Kennedy this week and will be without some other frequent options due to byes and injuries. Toby Greene (101AV) should be great again spending more time in the midfield. Forwards have been solid against West Coast meaning all the top forwards they have should be solid picks. I wouldn’t be against a forward line with Smith, Mannagh, Miers and Cameron this week. As another fringe option, Jack Graham (95AV) should do well at home against Geelong. For a spicy pick, Jesse Hogan (93AV) loves to kick bags against bad teams and should put a few away against Richmond.

Last weeks’ POD picks review:POD Picks – Round 11

1. Mason Redman – 66 GDS – Massive fail, ruined my Champion team very early

2. Matt Roberts – 110 GDS – Decent enough without being amazing

3. Jack Steele – 141 GDS – Great pick, doing well without Macrae

4. Tom DeKoning – 82 GDS – Bad pick, not going near him anytime soon

5. Peter Wright – 127 GDS – Great pick for those who backed him in

POD Picks – Round 12

1. Hugh McLuggage

2. Toby Nankervis

3. Jack Steele

4. Jesse Hogan

5. Jack Graham

   
   
   
   

Weather for Round 12

Thursday, May 29

• Brisbane Lions vs. Essendon at The Gabba, 7:30pm AEST (7:00pm ACST)

  • Weather: Brisbane forecast for May 29 shows partly cloudy conditions, 15–22°C, with a 20% chance of light showers in the evening. Winds light, around 10–15 km/h. (Source: BOM)

Friday, May 30

• Collingwood vs. Hawthorn at MCG, 7:40pm AEST (7:10pm ACST)

  • Weather: Melbourne forecast indicates cool and mostly cloudy conditions, 10–14°C, with a 40% chance of light showers or drizzle in the evening. Winds SE at 15–20 km/h. (Source: BOM)

Saturday, May 31

• Gold Coast Suns vs. Fremantle at People First Stadium, 1:20pm AEST (12:50pm ACST)

  • Weather: Gold Coast forecast suggests mostly sunny conditions, 18–24°C, with a 10% chance of showers. Light winds, 10–15 km/h. (Source: BOM)

• GWS Giants vs. Richmond at ENGIE Stadium, 4:15pm AEST (3:45pm ACST)

  • Weather: Canberra forecast shows partly cloudy skies, 8–13°C, with a 30% chance of light rain in the afternoon. Winds NW at 15–25 km/h. (Source: BOM)

• Sydney Swans vs. Adelaide Crows at SCG, 7:35pm AEST (7:05pm ACST)

  • Weather: Sydney forecast indicates partly cloudy conditions, 12–17°C, with a 25% chance of evening showers. Winds S at 10–20 km/h. (Source: BOM)

Sunday, June 1

• Melbourne vs. St Kilda at TIO Traeger Park, 3:20pm AEST (2:50pm ACST)

  • Weather: Alice Springs forecast predicts sunny and dry conditions, 16–23°C, with no significant chance of rain. Light winds, 5–10 km/h. (Source: BOM)

• West Coast Eagles vs. Geelong Cats at Optus Stadium, 7:20pm AEST (5:20pm AWST, 6:50pm ACST)

  • Weather: Perth forecast suggests partly cloudy skies, 12–18°C, with a 50% chance of light showers in the evening. Winds SW at 15–25 km/h. (Source: BOM)

Round 12 Styrat Team from BOBs

Thanks for reading! Feel free to drop a comment or ask any questions about this weeks’ games 😊 Good luck with the byes!