AFL GameDay Squad Round 16 Preview | Best Matchups, PODs & Key Trends

The AFL GameDay Squad Round 16 Preview is here, bringing you the latest insights to help you dominate this week’s matchups.

We’ve finally come to the last week of the byes! It’s been a long month of navigating outs, bye planning, and scraping together teams—but this is the final hurdle. This week, we lose plenty of meta must-play guys like Bailey Smith, Max Holmes, Gryan Miers, Dayne Zorko, Lachie Ash, Lachie Whitfield, Nic Martin, and probably a good thing—Zach Merrett. Missing that many premium players will definitely force coaches into playing some riskier PODs and really test the depth of squads across all competitions. It's the round where some bold calls might just pay off big.

DEFENDERS - AFL GameDay Squad Round 16 Preview

Last week was an uncharacteristically bad week for defenders, with the likes of Holmes, Martin, Sinclair, and Whitfield all struggling to find the ball or dealing with injury-affected games. Having already lost a bit of faith in so-called premium defenders, this week doesn’t make it any easier as we also lose Ash, Whitfield, Holmes, Martin, and Zorko to the byes. So now we’re left rolling the dice on some different looks down back and hoping they can pick up the slack.

We’ll need to lock in NWM, Sinclair, and Clark, all in the same game, and then the next four picks will get interesting.

Could this be the week to bring back a couple of Swans defenders? Callum Mills (104.67 GDS) and Matt Roberts (108.54) both look like they have decent ceilings against the Doggies? They play a head to head style and will back themselves. Or you could go for a bit more of a POD in Mitchell Hinge or Josh Worrell (both averaging 87 GDS) in the juicy matchup. Personally,

I’m leaning towards locking in John Noble (109 GDS). Even with his bad form of late, he’s due for a bounce back against Melbourne, and I think this is the week he hits triple figures again.

MIDFIELDERS - AFL GameDay Squad Round 16 Preview

First thing you look at when setting mids is who’s playing Richmond and West Coast—that hasn’t changed. This week there are some clear-cut locks starting with Jordan Dawson (130 GDS), who’s now the highest averaging mid after Rozee’s poor showing last week. The matchup is ideal, so you just have to play Dawson. Rory Laird (105 GDS) is also tempting—he’ll collect heaps of cheap ball across half-back—and if Richmond are flat, Jake Soligo (100 GDS) could pop off as well.

Collingwood take on West Coast, and this could get really ugly for the Eagles. I really like the Daicos brothers—Nick (122 GDS) and Josh (113 GDS)—this week. Neither should attract a heavy tag, and if Collingwood get rolling, there could be stacks of uncontested possessions.

I also like Port Adelaide v Carlton, but keep in mind Cincotta will likely tag again. He’s already taken out Caleb Daniel, so either Rozee or Butters could cop it. Noah Anderson (118 GDS) looks solid again against Melbourne, but he could get tagged by Langdon, so just keep that in mind.

I’ll be locking in Andy Brayshaw (122 GDS) because I’m expecting Windhager to go straight to Caleb Serong. A sneaky POD play this week is Clayton Oliver (104 GDS). Gold Coast is a good matchup considering what Tom Green did last week, and I think there’s a good amount of fantasy scoring in that game overall.

RUCKS -AFL GameDay Squad Round 16 Preview

This week we finally get access to most of the top rucks after weeks of juggling bye absences. That said, the top 4–5 rucks are starting to even out now, making the decisions even trickier.

First guy off the list is Max Gawn (130 GDS). He comes up against Witts and only scored 95 last time they met. Compared to what other rucks have been putting up, that’s not going to cut it—fade.

Just Lock away Cameron

English (123 GDS) and Grundy (110 GDS) face off and are both in great form, so tough to play both, but you’ll probably need at least one. Xerri (114 GDS) takes on Meek, but his form has dipped a bit, so I’m less confident there. Lastly, Rowan Marshall (114 GDS) goes up against Luke Jackson in the final game of the round. He should be decent, but if Sean Darcy returns, it does complicate things a bit.

FORWARDS - AFL GameDay Squad Round 16 Preview

As has been the case all year, it’s our forwards—especially F5 and F6—that really make or break our week. Without the Geelong crew this round, it makes things that much harder.

My first lock is Izak Rankine (106 GDS) against Richmond. After a week off, expect a refreshed and dangerous Rankine to go to work. Another Crow to consider is Reilly Thilthorpe (93 GDS). There’ll be scoring chances for all Adelaide forwards this week, and he could be the one to cash in. Matt Kennedy (122 GDS) is in great form and should keep rolling against the Swans. Jack Macrae (113 GDS) is another one who should get plenty of ball against Freo.

My POD forward for the round is Patrick Lipinski (81 GDS). He’s playing West Coast, so it’s a great matchup, and coming off a massive 143 last week, he could seriously deliver again.

Don’t forget – Bye Teams

Make sure you don’t accidentally have anyone from:

• Brisbane Lions

• Essendon

• Geelong

• GWS

POD Review – Round 15

1. Bailey Dale – 107: Below par, but not a disaster.

2. Luke Jackson – 166: Absolute BOOM. Essential pick.

3. Tom Liberatore – 101: A pass, but wanted more.

4. Sam Darcy – 134: Huge! Firming as a weekly forward lock.

5. Peter Wright – 62: Ugly. Very hard watch.

POD Picks – Round 16

1. Mitch Hinge

2. Clayton Oliver

3. Callum Mills

4. Josh Daicos

5. Patrick Lipinski

TAG WATCH

Here’s who I expect to cop a tag this round:

• Windhager → Serong/Brayshaw

• Langdon → Anderson

• Cincotta → Rozee/Butters

Taggers are more relevant than ever this season, and picking your mids with pressure roles in mind is key. Serong probably gets locked down, but like Daicos, he could still find a way to hit triple digits if his outside game gets going.

Thursday, June 26

Port Adelaide vs. Carlton

• Venue: Adelaide Oval

• Time: 7:00 PM

• Forecast: Cloudy, 7–15°C

• Rain risk: Low – no significant rain expected during game time.

Friday, June 27

Sydney Swans vs. Western Bulldogs

• Venue: SCG

• Time: 7:40 PM

• Forecast: Shower or two, 9–17°C

• Rain risk: Moderate – up to 2mm possible during the evening, around 60% chance.

Saturday, June 28

Gold Coast Suns vs. Melbourne

• Venue: People First Stadium

• Time: 1:20 PM

• Forecast: Shower or two, 10–21°C

• Rain risk: Moderate – 0–4mm expected, could impact ball handling and scoring.

Hawthorn vs. North Melbourne

• Venue: UTAS Stadium

• Time: 4:15 PM

• Forecast: Partly cloudy, 2–15°C

• Rain risk: Low – dry conditions expected.

Collingwood vs. West Coast

• Venue: Marvel Stadium

• Time: 7:35 PM

• Forecast: Indoor venue

• Rain risk: None – no weather impact.

Sunday, June 29

Richmond vs. Adelaide Crows

• Venue: MCG

• Time: 3:20 PM

• Forecast: Mostly sunny, 6–15°C

• Rain risk: Low – clear conditions expected.

Fremantle vs. St Kilda

• Venue: Optus Stadium

• Time: 3:10 PM (local) / 5:10 PM AEST

• Forecast: Clear skies, 7–19°C

• Rain risk: Low – ideal footy conditions.

Last bye round. Let’s finish strong and set ourselves up for a big run home!

Cheers Cash Money

The article has been completed by cash Money and does not reflect the views of all BOB's members (Beast mode and goal practitioners)- All groups need comic relief, anda 3rd banana.

We joke your good at GDS too and this hits on all the points.