Catch up with the latest Official A-Leagues Fantasy talking points from the weekend, brought to you by Liberty.
Another weekend of Official A-Leagues Fantasy action is in the books, and several high-scorers caught the eye, creating the big talking points at the end of Round 7 in both the Liberty A-League and Isuzu UTE A-League.
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These are the key takeaways from the seventh round of fantasy football in the A-Leagues, thanks to Liberty.
Mariners back in fashion as horrid opening form takes a turn
Here come the Mariners.
After a disastrous start to their Isuzu UTE A-League defence, Central Coast have steadied the ship under Mark Jackson.
The Mariners lost all four of their league fixtures in 2023-24 as the club dealt with the challenges of a flurry of key off-season departures – including Championship-winning head coach Nick Montgomery – as well as a testing AFC Cup group stage campaign.
But the Mariners have settled of late. They’re unbeaten in four games across all competitions (W3, D1) and on the weekend, notched a statement 4-0 win over the struggling Western United to climb the table into ninth position.
As a result, a number of Mariners are viable fantasy options once again – and no other player is more of a tantalising selection prospect than the brilliant Brazilian, Marco Tulio.
Tulio’s form was patchy early in the season; he scored more than 10 points just once through the first four rounds of the season. But of late he’s caught fire, with a 21-point haul in Round 7 his highest individual score to date this season.
Tulio boasts a three-round scoring average of 14.3; up against his season average of 9.7, that number is indicative of the Brazilian’s resurgence.
And he’s not alone in bumping up his season averages. Mariners teammates Angel Torres and Brian Kaltak both join Tulio in the list of 10 players with the highest three-round scoring average in the league.
The Mariners are still far and away from the complete package, with just two wins and one draw on the board through seven rounds – but all seven of their points to date have come in the past three rounds in a positive sign of things to come.
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Injury fears for undisputed fantasy GOAT
In the Liberty A-League, Canberra United forward Vesna Milivojević is wiping the floor with the competition in fantasy.
But after scoring an impressive hat-trick in a thumping 5-1 win over Brisbane Roar, the 30% of fantasy managers who own the Serbian superstar will be eagerly awaiting an update on Milivojević’s fitness.
Let’s break down the Canberra star’s ridiculous figures. Milivojević has scored 121 points over just five games. The next-best tally is 87. Her average of 24.2 points per game dwarfs the league’s next-best average of 17.4.
If you’ve held off bringing Milivojević into your squad, it may be too late; her price has risen more than $200k to a whopping $684k after Round 7.
Canberra fans and neutrals alike will be praying for a positive prognosis on the knee injury she suffered when attempting to win possession off Brisbane Roar’s Ayesha Norrie on Sunday. One of the favourites for the Julie Dolan Medal and the Golden Boot, Milivojević is one of the stars of the league and a joy to watch week in, week out.
But, should Milivojević be ruled out through injury, managers would be able to spread that $684k in player value across their squads with transfers.
MILIVOJEVIĆ: ‘I hate that we’re here so often with some of the best players in the country’
Pair of on-song strikers rewarding low ownership
Perth Glory striker Millie Farrow is on a tear of form, with her hat-trick in a phenomenal win over Melbourne City helping the West Australian side to the top of the Liberty A-League table at City’s expense.
It also shot Farrow into third place on the total points leaderboard (85). Farrow has put together a healthy scoring run over the past two weeks after a quiet start to the season. The English spearhead has backed up scores of four and three in Rounds 4 and 5 with 15 and 33-point hauls in her last two outings for Perth.
Farrow is joined by Western Sydney Wanderers forward Sophie Harding in flying up the total-point leaderboard on a run of form.
Harding has scored five goals in three games, including a brace in Round 5 and 7, and has a three-round scoring average of 19.7
Harding (6.2% owned) and Farrow (4.7 owned) could prove major fantasy differentials when considering the high ownership of other forwards in the game. Cortnee Vine (33.7% owned) has scored just 20 points through three appearances this season, while Rhianna Pollicina (25.1%) has gone cold after a hot start.
Farrow and Harding both join Milivojević in the Fantasy Team of the Week.
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