Catch up with the latest Official A-Leagues Fantasy talking points from the weekend’s action.
It’s plain and simple – Craig Goodwin is having a monster campaign for Adelaide United.
Not only is he getting it done on the pitch with 10 goals and nine assists for the campaign, but he’s also closing in on an incredible milestone in A-Leagues Fantasy – off the back of yet another sensational points tally in the Reds’ 5-1 demolition of Wellington Phoenix.
The Socceroos winger was the highest-scoring midfielder of the week, registering a whopping 25 points, which took his overall points tally to 315 (87 better than second placed Jamie Maclaren), along with a three round average of 26.7 and five round average of 19.6
As a result of an incredible three-round run that has seen him register scores of 22, 33 and 25, Goodwin’s price has gone from $610.2K all the way up to an astonishing $782.1K – which is $236.7K more than the second most expensive player in the game: Melbourne City’s Richard Van der Venne ($545.4K).
READ: Can anyone stop the rampant Reds? Why the reigning premiers will be ‘looking over their shoulder’
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If that wasn’t incredible enough, this isn’t even his most expensive price this season, having reached $796.2K in Round 7.
Now, the question remains if he can break the $800K threshold which would make him the first to do so in A-League Men’s Fantasy this season.
If you don’t have him in your fantasy squad, do all you can to somehow make room but if you do – whack the captaincy on him when action resumes after the international break.
Reds young gun’s hot-streak continues
Katie Bowler is on some run of form at the moment.
The Adelaide United youngster continued her purple patch in the Liberty A-League over the last three weeks, scoring in their 2-2 draw with Newcastle Jets on Friday night – making it a combined two goals and assist throughout this solid period.
Incredibly, these three games have been her only starts this season, rewarding the faith coach Adrian Stenta has shown in her with a string of eye-catching performances that had A-Leagues legend Teresa Polias calling for the Reds hierarchy to get a long-term contract in-front of the scholarship player.
“If you’re Adelaide, you’re signing her now – multi-year deal,” Polias said.
Her performance against Newcastle yielded 17 points, the equal-second most among midfielders in A-League Women’s Fantasy alongside Melbourne City’s Kaitlyn Torpey – taking her three game average to 13.7.
At $276.8K, Bowler shapes as an intriguing option for coaches looking to turbocharge their midfields during semi-final week – where Adelaide, Sydney, Wellington and Perth Glory players will have the opportunity to claim double points due to mid-week fixtures.
Layouni’s monster score headlines A-League Men’s Fantasy TOTW
What an incredible week for Amor Layouni.
Fresh off a recall to the Tunisian national team, Layouni starred in Western Sydney Wanderers’ Derby demolition of Sydney FC, helping himself to two goals and an assist in what was by far his best showing since making the move in February.
READ: 2,353 days and counting – Derby revenge mission that shows why the Wanderers are deep in title race
His performance was also reflected in his A-Leagues Fantasy score, tallying his highest score in five rounds so far – a whopping 30 points – which was also the most of any player in Round 21.
Since scoring 22 in an electrifying debut against Adelaide United in Round 17, Layouni’s points tally had somewhat tapered off – resisting scores of four, two and four – before roaring back to life on Saturday night.
However, in the last five weeks, only his teammate Brandon Borrello has averaged more in the last five weeks (13.6) among all attackers and as we enter the business end of the Isuzu UTE A-League season, he is certainly one to consider as a forward option.
Especially, given his cheap price ($308.3K) and the swagger of top quality attackers either injured or out of scoring touch including Melbourne City duo Mathew Leckie and Jamie Maclaren (playing with a broken toe).
In this week’s Team of the Week, Layouni was joined by four Wanderers teammates; Milos Ninkovic (17), Calem Nieuwenhof (20), Marcelo (15) and Lawrence Thomas (17) – off the back of their Derby triumph.
Some of the others to earn their spot included Perth Glory’s goalscoring duo Ryan Williams (19) and Trent Ostler (18), Brisbane Roar match-winner Jay O’Shea (19) and Melbourne Victory defender Roderick Miranda (20).
Jets star in this round’s A-League Women’s TOTW
After an enthralling 2-2 draw with Adelaide, three of Newcastle’s top performers were among the best in A-League Women’s Fantasy this week.
Lauren Allen (18), Emily Garnier (15) and Lucy Johnson (15) were all in this week’s TOTW, with the former being the highest score of any midfielder in the entire competition.
READ: Liberty A-League Round 18 Talking Points – ‘Really special moment’ to farewell an A-Leagues legend
Allen has been a consistent performer all season round, averaging 8.6 for the season, but 10.0 in her last five games – ranking ninth among all midfielders in the competition.
This week’s top scorer, however, was Bethany Gordon whose first two Liberty A-League goals yielded a weekend high 26 points, while her teammates Amy Harrison (15) and Clare Hunt (17) also made the team.
