The Best of the Fantasy AFL for Round 20 | Form, Matchups & POD Picks That Could Win You the Round

The Best of the Fantasy AFL for Round 20

Some weeks in AFL GameDay Squad feel like you’re just plugging gaps — only a few positions truly up for debate due to matchups, injuries or byes. Round 20 flips the script entirely. This week, we're blessed with options on every line, and the number of genuinely viable picks could easily fill two full squads. This round won’t be won by who you play — it’ll be won by who you fade.

The player pool is deep, and several 2024 PODs that have been fantasy staples are hitting their stride again. This week’s strategy will be about embracing opportunity, understanding matchups, and taking calculated risks. lets look at The Best of the Fantasy AFL for Round 20.

Due to work, this week’s preview will be short, sharp, and straight to the point — just like we like it.

DEFENDERS – AFL GameDay Squad Round 20 Preview

This line is absolutely stacked. You're going to have to fade 3–4 legitimate premiums, and chances are, one or two of those guys will go 130+. It’s brutal.

Max Holmes and Bailey Dale both have huge ceilings. While they’ve been slightly slowed by taggers in recent weeks, they return to Marvel Stadium this week with strong matchups and should be serious considerations in all formats.

Jordan Clark comes up against West Coast in the Western Derby. While the Eagles aren’t the most favourable matchup for designated kickers, Clark’s recent form suggests he can still post strong numbers regardless.

The DEF Bros:

• The GWS duo have been rolling, but there’s a question mark: could James Jordon or Braeden Campbell apply some heat and reduce one of their scores?

• The St Kilda boys are hard to ignore at home under the roof — they’ve thrived at Marvel in recent weeks.

• North Melbourne’s DEF bros are also hitting form and must be part of the conversation. There's upside here.

POD Watch – Sam Flanders:With Rioli dealing with a fracture, most will turn to Noble as the natural beneficiary, but it could actually be Sam Flanders who goes pig-mode. He looked back to his best last week with Touk Miller out and now faces the Lions at home. This has high ceiling POD play written all over it.

MIDFIELDERS – AFL GameDay Squad Round 20 Preview

Like the defenders, this line is dominated by dynamic duos and thie rmatch ups:

• The Freo pair feast in weaker match ups

• The Daicos brothers 

• The Bulldogs trio could be the top 3 scorers for round 20

But don’t sleep on the solo operators:

• Zach Merrett is back in his midfield role and isn’t likely to cop a tag. He’s been known to explode even when the Bombers get completely blown off the park.

• Zak Butters remains a bright spot for Port. With Connor Rozee under an injury cloud, Butters could go large against an Adelaide side that historically avoids tagging.

• Errol Gulden could be a strong play if the tag heads toward Heeney — expect him to rack it up across the wings.

• Jordan Dawson has previously smashed Port and always lifts at home. He’s a serious midfield play again this week.

RUCKS – AFL GameDay Squad Round 20 Preview

This line might be the least complicated this week, but there are still four legitimate R1 picks:

• Brodie Grundy – rock-solid on form and matchup. Lock him in as R1.

• Max Gawn, Tim English, and Darcy Cameron all remain viable based on form and scoring history.

You could build a case for any of them — Grundy feels like the safest base, while the rest could be rotated depending on your card strength or league matchup.

FORWARDS – AFL GameDay Squad Round 20 Preview

This is a matchup-driven round in the forwards.

Players from Geelong, Fremantle, and the Bulldogs should form the foundation of most forward lines. Beyond that:

• Kysaiah Pickett has an elite matchup and is in sublime form.

• Caleb Daniel has been consistent and efficient.

• Macrae remains one of the top 3 forwards this season — you simply can't leave him out.

The wildcard? Key forwards.

This week could be decided by getting on the right tall. Is it:

• Jeremy Cameron?

• Darcy with a bag

• Riley Thilthorpe against a weakened Port defence?

Some of these guys are going big. Pick the right one, and you might just win your round.

Round 19 POD Review

How did last week’s left-field picks go?

Player	Result
Finn Callaghan	Big tick
Christian Salem	Big tick
Christian Petracca	Fail
Liam Baker	Poor
Riley Thilthorpe	Poor

Top 5 PODs for Round 20

Here are the under-the-radar players we think could make a huge difference this week:

1. Sam Flanders

2. Aaron Naughton

3. Riley Thilthorpe

4. Jack Steele

5. Tom Powell

Final Thoughts – AFL Fantasy Strategy for Round 20

Round 20 is all about matchups, roles, and who you leave out.There are too many strong options to fit them all in, and some serious fantasy scorers will be sitting on benches across the country.

The key to the round? Get your PODs right and nail the right tall forward. The gap between a 70 and a 130 could decide your classic or weekly comp head-to-head or jump you up the ranks.

Keep a close eye on team news, weather updates, and late outs. With finals approaching, every decision counts.

Good luck, coaches — may your cards flip gold and your uniques go boom.