Week 3 of the finals series for the 2022 AFL Premiership Season gets underway this Friday night with the first of two Preliminary Finals between Geelong and Brisbane at the MCG. Geelong have looked like the team to beat across the back half of the season, while Brisbane will attempt to defy the odds for the third straight time with the winner getting a spot in the Grand Final.

Draftstars continue to deliver for the finals series offering a massive six figure main contest with a $100K prize pool, as well as a wide array of other options: 

  • AFL $100,000+  Cats vs Lions at Draftstars
  • AFL $10,000+ Cats vs Lions High Roller ($150 Entry) at Draftstars
  • AFL $5,000+ Cats vs Lions Fiver at Draftstars 
  • AFL $5,000+ Cats vs Lions Mini ($2 Entry) at Draftstars

 

 

In addition to previews for each and every slate this season, Daily Fantasy Rankings will continue with our AFL Resources page. This section provides you all the data you need to build your best line-ups. It includes daily cheat sheets for Draftstars, Player Correlation tables, Player Out tables, Scores Against tables, Tagging information, statistical breakdowns and much more!
 

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS OUR CHEAT SHEET FOR TONIGHT
 


Smatho and Roody took a look at this match-up on last night's Episode of the Draftstars AFL Show. Check it out now!

 

Betting Odds

Geelong vs Brisbane at the MCG (GEE -22.5, 158.5) - Bet now at Ladbrokes!


Weather


 

Melbourne is expecting some rain primarily through the morning of game day. Given the drainage of the MCG it really shouldn’t be enough to impact the game but as always keep an eye on the conditions as the first bounce approaches particuarly with the potential afternoon thunderstorms.
 

Where to Attack?



It is no surprise that a preliminary final doesn’t present many gaps to attack from a fantasy perspective as we are dealing with the best teams in the league. Therefore, it is down to finding the smallest of edges and considering the game script. While Brisbane have conceded one of the lowest number of disposals across the board this season, Geelong have given up one of the higher numbers of uncontested possessions and marks in the league, while at the same time choking the opposition in contested play. As a result, I would be looking for Lions players that rack up uncontested ball, which brings us to the back line.



Geelong have given up over 1 point per player above league average to defenders this season. This number has jumped significantly over the last four weeks where they have conceded 73 points per player and a massive 96 points to the top three scoring opposition defenders. The designated kicker and wings who float back has stood out as the bigger scorers against the Cats. Therefore I would be looking to stack up the Lions backline and building line-ups that include Geelong forwards with the Cats over 20 point favourites in this matchup.

Game Script – Brisbane backs, Geelong forwards


VALUE PLAY

Darcy Wilmot ($6,410) has been the revelation of the finals series thus far. Debuting in the first round he has provided plenty of celebratory highlights through this run by the Lions, both during and post-game. But his play has also lived up to the celebrations. Looking very at home across the half back fantasy scores of 61 and 51 through his two finals, which will be solid returns for the near minimum price in a single game preliminary final slate. As noted above this is positive matchup for Lions players relying on uncontested football across the half-back line.


MID-PRICE PLAYS

Daniel Rich ($11,810)… building on the Wilmot case is the Lions designated kicker, Daniel Rich. I will be stacking up the Lions backs and Rich and Wilmot are my first picks in that strategy. Rich is fresh off a 108 point game against the Demons at the MCG and I expect this game to have a similar flow with the Lions accumulated uncontested possession across the half back line, particularly if the Cats are on top early. Geelong has given up over 4 points per game above league average to the designated kicker this season.

Jarrod Berry ($11,090) was unleashed into the midfield during the second half of last weeks stunning victory against the Demons. He went to Clayton Oliver and absolutely decimated him to help secure the comeback win. My expectation is that strategy will continue from the first bounce this week and Berry’s 59% centre bounce attendance from last week will only increase.

Patrick Dangerfield ($11,510) is ready for this finals series. We locked him in for the first final and he delivered with a return of 93 fantasy points, which is a great value return in a single slate matchup like this when you are priced in the $11K range. I believe you will need to get exposure to the Cats through the middle with them being favoured to win the game and Danger would be first picked. There is some risk that he will be the target for the Lions tagger in Berry or Robertson, however, as the game goes on I’d expect Dangerfield to get on top of the tag if it comes.


PREMIUM PLAY

Lachie Neale ($15,300) as we said last week, it is finals time. Lachie Neale lock and load. Say no more.  Neale has gone over 100 in both finals games so far despite getting reasonable attention from the opposition. There is no dedicated tagger in the Cats line-up right now and anytime that is the case Neale is just a lock for me, especially given his price has only just inched over the $15K mark. Neale hasn’t had a score under 100 points at the MCG since 2017 and even that was a solid 96 point outing. Geelong have restricted contested players this year to some degree, but in a huge final I say fade Neale at your own risk.


Suggested Draftstars Team

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