The Final Check Before Round 0: Fantasy AFL Chaos and Opportunity the Round 0 Preview
- Cash Money
- Mar 4
- 7 min read
Updated: Mar 11
Bring on The Footy
The long wait is finally over – the AFL season officially kicks off on Thursday, March 6th. Or does it? In a shocking turn of events, both of Queensland's opening matches have been postponed, leading to massive shifts in how coaches should approach Round 0. With only four teams taking the field, this opens exciting Fantasy AFL Chaos and Opportunity to play some unexpected players and trade cards whose values will skyrocket.
Typically we would talk you through the round, the match ups, players to consider and we consider factors such as weather that will impact player selections. All of which we will cover now and in the future. Today we are gonna start with weather as never before has anything as significantly impacted our teams in GameDay Squad history.
What's Happening This Round?
Round 0 was already shaping up to be a tough one, with only 8 teams competing in the first week. But with the Queensland matches postponed, due to Cyclone Alfred we’re left with just 2 games and 4 teams: Hawthorn, Sydney, Collingwood, and GWS. This creates a completely different dynamic, requiring coaches to rethink their strategies and adapt quickly.
GameDay Squad important points
Full cash prizes are on offer for Round 0
Round 0 wont count for full season standings
Starter: 1st: 100 GDS Pack Credit
Classic: 1st: 500 GDS Funds 2nd: 50 GDS Funds 3rd: 25 GDS Funds
Challenger: 1st: 750 GDS Funds 2nd: 150 GDS Funds 3rd: 75 GDS Funds
Champion: 1st: 1000 GDS Funds + 9 Player Unique Pack 2nd: 500 GDS Funds + 9 Player Unique Pack 3rd: 250 GDS Funds + 9 Player Unique Pack
Injury Carnage Ahead of Round 0
Before the news of the postponed games, Round 0 had already thrown a curveball to fantasy coaches for the season ahead with the most injuries in a preseason to stars I can recall.
However, the most significant blow for Round 0 teams is the injury to Errol Gulden. Alongside him, the list of injuries includes Jake Stringer, Jesse Hogan, Callum Mills, and Tom Green—further complicating the puzzle of picking the perfect team.
Carnage Brings Fantasy AFL Chaos and Opportunity
The chaos leading up to Round 0 might have thrown off many coaches who thought they had their teams locked in. With the fantasy gods and unpredictable weather wreaking havoc on our best-laid plans, we're all scrambling to assemble a competitive squad in these final days.
But while this might feel like a disaster, it’s also a huge opportunity. Many coaches may have stashed away cards for just such a moment—cards that are now more valuable than ever. These unanticipated changes could allow savvy coaches to make moves and secure hidden gems that could pay off big.
Players to Consider for Round 0
In the wake of all these changes, let’s look at some players who might offer excellent value for Round 0. We wont cover the stars here, and focus rather on the PODS that will win you the $1K prize money.
Unprecedented weather means we will take an unprecedented deeper look at multiple options. Whether you're looking to take a chance or fill gaps in your team, these players could make all the difference:
Forwards:
This line is super thin so we are going to discuss players i never would have dreamed of discussing in a GameDay squad article on who to play.
Check our season long ranks
Toby Bedford - has a prime midfield role but he will cotninue his role and lock down Nick Dacios
Patrick Lipinski - Tore up the trial match against.....Richmond free ball for days. GWS is a far harder match up and on 2024 trends were -5.52 AF points per round (the worst in the league) for general forwards. He will play a wing role I believe however, and choices are slim.
Darcy Jones
Daniel McStay
Lachie Schultz
James Jordan - Thinking her is with the injury carnage at the swans and a new choach this bloke could actually be released and be an inside mid wrapped as a low averging forward.
Taylor Adams - We were excited in 2024 were we 12 months to early? the injury crisis provides huge potential for Adam's from fringe player missing. theGF to inside mid. watch this space.
Tom Papley - Great flyer but not sure its this week.
Jack Ginnivan - has a celling in a young team and was good in the trial matches
Midfielders:
We have lost a huge number of the guys I would have locked in here for round 0 without thinking through injury. Now we have to identify the guys that will be the ones to pop.
Check our season long ranks
GWS
At least one of these guys will pop and be a player that goes a long way to a coach wining the round.
Finn Callaghan - The younger big bodied mid, he's unproven but i think this is the year he moves full time into the inside role and provides value. Not for the rest of the year but for Round 0 i'm keen.
Stephen Coniglio - Interrupted preseason, getting older but a proven star of the past. does he get back. to his best.
Josh Kelly - I think he could be a great pick and he could return to his best whilst green is injured.
Callan Ward - Ever green and rarely misses but I think he's set for a wing rile that will damage scoring
Hawthorn
These guys are all a huge consideration despite what I say next, Collingwood in 2024 was a friendly inside midfielder match up. does Harry Perryman change that in 2025?
Jai Newcombe - Think he's the M1 but has yet to match the scoring.
Will Day - If he returns to his best that would be great but even his previous best might not be enough to play his here.
James Worpel - Has had huge games and can score well on his day
Massimo D’Ambrosio - Was a big breakout in 2024, has some big games and would be a huge POD.
Collingwood
This is Nick Daicos midfield the rest in midfield roles have shown huge scoring abilities, lucky they aren't all playing midfield.
Jack Crisp - Still playing an inside midfield role, will still be average.
Josh Daicos - Im excited, half back role ✅ , No Houston round 0 ✅ all the marks. of a good pick.
Sydney
Playing the hawks is a big deal for inside mids at -9.28 over the last 10. big watch.
Chad Warner - Hugely damaging midfielder in a midfield lacking 2 stars. But if the GF and games in 2024 showed us anything he's a bit of a downhill Specialist. this might not be the game for him.
Braeden Campbell - Playing HFF, Pass
Angus Sheldrick - Not sure where he's playing or if he's playing, assume he is, and assume its a wing for gulden. The nugget looks fit when I watched him live v GWS.
Rucks: (Limited Options, but still choices!)
Check our season long ranks
Brodie Grundy - Is a test for the game, im not sure i can handle that stress incase hes a late out, but with rolling lockouts and the 1st of 2 games gives you lots of options.
Kieren Briggs - Team ate Toby Greene said he came back fat in 2024, looks fit in 2024 at could be a great scorer, comes up against one of the more difficult ruck match up for points.
Lloyd Meek - He has the second worst match up for rucks, If grundy plays, If he's fit. Should it be ladhams load up.
Darcy Cameron - Has a great ability to score and a middle of the pack ruck match up. He's a good option.
Defenders:
Check our season long ranks
Harry Perryman - He's hard to get and think for round 0 he could be an option with an inside mid role.
Isaac Quaynor - he has put up some big games but has low floor and could. beasked to lock down more than he runs and guns.
Lachie Ash - I always felt like this guy should be a great scorer, maybe this is the year.
Harry Himmelberg - Loves an intercept and is a very solid option.
Josh Battle - He was average/good in the saints high scoring defence, I think he's at the Hawks more in a lockdown role than in a fantasy scoring role to help free up James Siciliy, so for mine I wont be playing him.
Jarman Impey - Options are slim and i think he is one we have to consider.
Oliver Florent - Pass, feel he's too high risk
Jake Lloyd - Can this bloke return his glory days? feel he will be more on a wing, with Gulden out there could be a lot more ball on offer.
Nick Blakey - The Lizard, he provides the Swans dash and has been known to put up big ceiling scores.
Buying or Holding Cards?
As the dust settles on these unexpected changes, the next big question for coaches is: should I buy, sell, or hold my cards? The coaches participating in the Starter and Classic competitions. My advice is that the stakes aren’t as high here, as you can typically trade your extra cards away to other teams and don’t need to spend money on bronze cards so doesn’t break the bank.
However, for those competing in Challenger and Champion leagues, it’s a different story. With every coach now scrambling to secure the best possible squad for the season, the transfer market is about to get intense. Prices for key players will surge, and the once-available random unique players could quickly become rare—and expensive.
So, what should you do? If you're in Starter or Classic, feel free to be strategic, but don’t overcommit. For Challenger and Champion, you’ll want to make sure you’re trading with precision and might consider spending a bit more to fill gaps in your squad.
Cash Money's Starter team
My starter team at the moment is missing a couple must plays in Roberts and Perryman but I don’t have them, as they are currently impossible to packs, see here for all players in bronze packs. Follow our starter guide here.
The Goal Practitioner's Classic team
I came 1st in Classic in 2024, but like cash Money Im missing Key players. here is my current team (pending more injuries). My Classic guide can. be found here
Conclusion: Embrace the Chaos
While this Round 0 chaos is certainly a curveball, it’s also an exciting opportunity. Coaches who stay on top of the latest news, injuries, and market shifts could see big rewards, especially in the short term. As always, flexibility and adaptability will be your best tools—embrace the chaos, and you might just come out on top this season.
Good luck, and happy trading!
Cash Money and Goal Practitoner.
Comments