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The wait is over! Round 1 of the 2019 AFL season is finally here, which means that AFL Daily Fantasy is back in our lives. As is now customary the season will kick off on Thursday night with the traditional matchup between Carlton and Richmond and we are here to break down this slate.

There are major tournaments across the platforms for opening night, including:

• AFL $100,000+ Blues v Tigers at Draftstars
• AFL $10,000 Carlton v Richmond at Moneyball

In addition to previews for each an every slate this season, Daily Fantasy Rankings has also unveiled our AFL Resources page. This section provides you all the data you need to build your best lineups. It includes daily cheat sheets for both Draftstars and Moneyball, Player Correlation tables, Player Out tables, Scores Against tables, Tagging information, statistical breakdowns and much more!

Smatho & Hef also spoke extensively about this match on this week's DFS Down Under episode:

Finally we have also provided a daily fantasy based preview for each and every team ahead of the 2019 season to ensure you are best prepared come round 1. In conjunction with this preview please ensure you read the previews for the teams in play on this slate:

Carlton

Richmond

Lets hit the game!

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS OUR CHEAT SHEET FOR THIS MATCH

Where to Attack

It was no surprise to see Carlton conceded the third most fantasy points in the league in 2018 given they took home the spoon. Meanwhile, Richmond gave up the seventh most points despite finishing on top of the ladder.

Through the midfield was the best place to attack the Blues as they gave up the second most points in the league to the position. The Tigers were also vulnerable to the oppositions best midfielders, giving up the 5th highest amount to their opponent's best three scorers last year.

The best area to attack the Tigers was through the ruck where Toby Nankervis gave up the second most points to the oppositions number 1 ruck at 99 points per game.

Team Stack

With the Tigers favoured to win this game by 36.5 points and Carlton giving up the third most fantasy points in the league in 2018, stacking Richmond players is going to a be a popular play and rightfully so. Get the advantage on the competition with your teama and games stacks by using our Correlations tool.

My favourite players to link on this slate include Nick Vlastuin DEF (DS $11,320, MB $5,600) and Bachar Houli DEF (DS $12,160, MB $6,600) across the back line who had a massive positive 0.8 correlation in 2018, while also adding Jack Higgins FWD (DS $10,350, MB $5,500) and Kane Lambert FWD (DS $13,840, MB $7,100) who held a positive 0.7 correlation. All four players correlate well together and at their price points allow you flexibility across the remaining positions.

VALUE PLAYS

Remember to review the teams when they are named to identify new value that opens up.

Will Setterfield MID (DS $9,000, MB $4,200) will be playing his first game in over 12 months after an ACL injury put his career on hold. The good news is Setterfield is expected to slot right into the Blues midfield rotation. He played this role in both games of the JLT averaging 76 fantasy points from 72% game time. This makes him far too cheap to start the season and a lock and load value play.

Jason Castagna FWD (DS $7,430, MB $4,300) is my sneaky low ownership play on this slate. He scored 79 points in this game last season and went over 80 points in four games with a season high of 99, giving him GPP winning capability at this price point. He is in an elite matchup on this slate with the Tigers favoured by 36.5 points and the Blues giving up the third most points to forwards last season. (Ruled out with an ankle injury)

MID-PRICED PLAYS

Jack Higgins FWD (DS $10,350, MB $5,500) is another player expected to rotate through the midfield more this season while still starting forward. During the JLT he was dominant averaging 95 fantasy points and he benefits from the same elite matchup as Castagna above.

Andrew Phillips RK (DS $10,030, MB $4,700) is expected to take the number one ruck role with Matthew Kreuzer being injured. As noted in the game breakdown above Toby Nankervis conceded the second most points to opposition number one rucks in 2018 and as a result Phillips is underpriced on this slate.

PREMIUM PLAYS

Patrick Cripps MID (DS $18,270, MB $10,100) has established him as one of the top fantasy players in the game, and this season he might go to the top. Over the last 10 games of 2018 he only went under 100 points one time with a 96. The Tigers also did not tag once in 2018 meaning Cripps will be free to play his own game, which resulted in 130 fantasy points in the same game last year.

FADE

Ed Curnow MID (DS $13,490, MB $8,100) is this slates fade of the day after it it appears he has taken on a new role at the club. With the Blues now blooding their players of the future through the midfield Curnow looks to have moved to the half forward line where his defensive pressure will be utilised. Through two JLT games he played in this position and averaged just 71.5 fantasy points.

Data for this preview is sourced from the Daily Fantasy Rankings AFL Resources page.

The Daily Fantasy Rankings "Dragon" has scoured the Australian sports betting markets and found some great value picks for these games. Check out his picks for the day below and click on the links to follow his betting plays!

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