DVP Target Guide | Who to Play Your AFL Fantasy Cards Against (And Who to Avoid)

Alright legends — time to get tactical. We’ve crunched the latest DVP stats (that’s Defense vs Position) to reveal the teams that are bleeding points — and those turning your fantasy studs into duds.

No names today. Just cold, hard match-up intel. Let’s go line by line and look at Who to Play Your AFL Fantasy Cards Against.

Key Forwards (KEY FWD)

Teams to Target:

• West Coast are letting key forwards do as they please — averaging +7.75 with 62% of players beating their average.

• North Melbourne are also swinging the door wide open with +5.57 and a juicy 71% hit rate.

• Richmond aren’t even pretending to defend this role right now — a plump +5.48 and 74% clip.

Teams to Avoid:

• Adelaide and Collingwood are the Bermuda Triangle for key forwards: -8.76 and -5.10 respectively. Enter at your own risk.

📌 Verdict: Roll out your tall timber against WCE or North. If they’re facing Crows or Pies? Bench, burn, or pray.

General Forwards (GEN FWD)

Teams to Target:

• North Melbourne again — +6.10 and over 58% of players clearing par.

• St Kilda are sneakily soft here too (+5.89, 52%).

• Richmond keep the generosity going (+4.36, 54%).

Teams to Avoid:

• Adelaide are allergic to conceding here (-9.46, only 33% hitting average).

• Geelong and Brisbane also lock it down — both below -3.5.

📌 Verdict: If your forward is playing the Roos, go for it. Playing the Crows? Run.

Inside Mids (INS MID)

Teams to Target:

• North Melbourne again (sensing a trend?) with a monster +11.17 and 88% hit rate.

• Gold Coast are equally leaky — +10.52, with 76% beating their average.

• Essendon clock in at a handy +5.36.

Teams to Avoid:

• Adelaide, Brisbane, and Port Adelaide are absolute no-go zones here.

  • Port: -5.29, only 35% over average.

  • Crows: -6.67, 39%.

  • Lions: -5.39, 36%.

📌 Verdict: Midfielders v Roos = fantasy gold. Midfielders v Lions or Crows = weekend killer.

Rucks

Teams to Target:

• West Coast have officially opened the buffet — +12.72, and even 60% of rucks cashing in.

• Port offer similar value at +12.01 and 88%, possibly inflated by combo ruck disasters.

• Geelong and Richmond are also giving them up: +11.94 and +11.19 respectively.

Teams to Avoid:

• Gold Coast have locked down rucks tighter than your mate’s Netflix password — -17.40, just 29% success rate.

• Melbourne (-10.34) and Carlton (-10.11) are equally rough matchups.

📌 Verdict: Rucks vs WCE or Port? Light it up. Anyone vs Gawn or Witts? Hard pass.

Wing/Attacking Defenders (WNG DEF)

Teams to Target:

• Richmond just can’t deal with run — a whopping +12.95, 65% of players going large.

• Melbourne are giving up +8.84, and Sydney allow +6.89 — good news for overlap runners.

• Essendon again a sneaky green light (+4.48).

Teams to Avoid:

• Port absolutely suffocate this role (-11.56, only 10% hitting average).

• GWS, St Kilda, and Fremantle are all in the red here too.

📌 Verdict: Target the Tigers and Demons. Avoid anyone against Port. Seriously. Don’t even think about it.

General Defenders (GEN DEF)

Teams to Target:

• Fremantle strangely leak in this category — +7.45, 78% hitting form.

• Richmond, Essendon, and Geelong all have positive trends.

Teams to Avoid:

• GWS (-8.17) and Brisbane (-6.83) are brick walls.

• Collingwood and Carlton also keep defenders quiet.

📌 Verdict: If your guy’s playing Freo, there’s upside. Giants? Bench it and walk away.

Designated Kickers (DES KCK)

Teams to Target:

• Richmond again! An eye-watering +21.12 with 86% of DKs hitting their average.

• Essendon and Melbourne also show great scoring potential here.

Teams to Avoid:

• GWS and Port shut it down hard (-8.23 and -6.44).

• Collingwood and Fremantle also bring the pain.

📌 Verdict: Playing a DK against Richmond? That’s Christmas. Against the Giants? That’s punishment.

Final Say - Who to Play Your AFL Fantasy Cards Against

Don’t go in blind this week — form and matchups matter more than names.The Roos, Eagles, Tigers, and Suns are giving out points like it’s a fantasy clearance sale, while the Crows, Lions, Giants, and Power are killing dreams across the board.

Play smart, dodge the traps, and may your PODs score big while your rivals rage at red lines on their team sheets.

Good luck, coaches!