Finally, the Isuzu UTE A-League is back after a month long break for the FIFA Men’s World Cup – meaning it’s time to get your Official A-League Men’s Fantasy sides up to scratch for the impending return to action.
And if you haven’t got these players already, then it’s time to try find a way to slot in as many as you can in your fantasy squads, thanks to neds.
VISIT: OFFICIAL A-LEAGUES FANTASY HUB
Craig Goodwin – Adelaide United
- Ownership: 35.8%
- Price: $730K
- Average points: 17.0
Who else epitomises ‘must get’ more than Craig Goodwin?
If you can pull a few strings, move a few players around and fit Goodwin in, then it’s quite simply a no brainer. The ‘goals and assists’ king has doubled down as the ‘fantasy king’ in the opening six weeks of the season – scoring more points than anyone else thus far (102). His form heading into the World Cup was second to none, averaging 23.7 points in his last three games which saw his price sky-rocket by over 200K.
And now, after scoring ‘twice’ for the Socceroos in Qatar, Goodwin returns with more momentum than ever. It’s quite simple, the 31-year-old winger is well worth the investment.
Jamie Maclaren – Melbourne City
- Ownership: 46.2%
- Price: $610K
- Average points: 16.7
If you’re going to break the bank for any striker, make sure it’s Jamie Maclaren.
The Melbourne City forward was on a tear before the World Cup break, firing home eight goals in six games, five more than any other player in the entire competition. Along with Goodwin, Maclaren is the only player to break the tonne for total fantasy points (100) so far this season and has scored no less than 12 points in either of those games.
And if that’s enough to convince you, just have a look at his goal-scoring record over the past few seasons. The goals will keep coming.
Joe Lolley – Sydney FC
- Ownership: 13%
- Price: $381K
- Average points: 10.2
He’s been the main man for Sydney FC in the first six games and at only 381K, Joe Lolley is looming as another player to pounce upon after the restart.
The English winger burst out of the gates in the early going, scoring 15 and 20 points in back-to-back games against Western United and Adelaide in rounds two and three. Since then, his scoring has dipped a little bit as he’s failed to hit the scoreboard in his last three games but after a minor-dip in price (27k drop), Lolley is ripe for the picking after the break.
And it’s only a matter of time before he starts scoring big again.
Gabriel Cleur – Western Sydney Wanderers
- Ownership: 16.3%
- Price: $366K
- Average points: 10.7
You could really plug and place any Wanderers defender from the opening six weeks.
Marcelo, Tomislav Mrcela and Gabriel Cleur are the league’s top three highest scoring defenders and either of these three would suffice as solid options, but this time we are going to highlight the latter as he’s a full-back. Cleur has eeked out monster scoring performances of 18 points on two seperate occasions as a result of assists in both of those games.
His proneness to get forward and support the attack makes him a tantalising option, coupled with the fact the Wanderers have the league’s equal-best defence so clean sheets are also set to follow.
And an assist and a clean sheet for a defender is a guaranteed 14 points…
Filip Kurto – Macarthur
- Ownership: 11.4%
- Price: $379K
- Average points: 11.2
He’s the save machine fantasy owners should be looking to bring in as soon as possible.
Filip Kurto has been a brick between the sticks throughout the opening six games, averaging more saves per 90 (6.0) and preventing more goals (4.2) than any other goalkeeper so far this season. As a result, this has translated to solid fantasy outings, only scoring less than ten points in one game this season – which came in their round five loss to Wellington.
As the only keeper averaging more than 10 points a game (11.2), Kurto looms as a must get, if you can find the money spare to upgrade for him given he’s 61K more expensive than the next most pricey keeper.
