To buy, to hold or to sell? That is the question facing managers ahead of a new round of Official A-Leagues Fantasy football!
The A-Leagues Fantasy Show debated long and hard on this week’s episode over which players to transfer in and out ahead of the weekend’s action – with a star Newcastle Jets duo proving all the rage ahead of the Liberty A-League’s return from international break.
Read on as aleagues.com.au takes you through the players to consider buying, holding or selling in the Isuzu UTE A-League and Liberty A-League fantasy this weekend.
Isuzu UTE A-League Ins & Outs: Wanderers captain survives injury scare as Victory regain key trio
Liberty A-League Ins & Outs: Young Matildas defender to return from injury, Reds regain attacking star
MOST TRADED OUT & IN – ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE
| Traded out | Traded in |
| Marcelo (Western Sydney) | Scott Wootton (Wellington) |
| Zinedine Machach (Melbourne Victory) | Finn Surman (Wellington) |
| Nick Ansell (Adelaide) | Matt Millar (Macarthur) |
| Jason Geria (Melbourne Victory) | Bruno Fornaroli (Melbourne Victory) |
| Florin Berenguer (Brisbane Roar) | Giuseppe Bovalina (Adelaide United) |
| Anthony Caceres (Sydney FC) | Tim Payne (Wellington) |
| Tate Russell (Western Sydney) | Nestory Irankunda (Adelaide) |
| Fabio Gomes (Sydney FC) | Angel Torres (Central Coast) |
| Apostolos Stamatelopoulos (Newcastle) | Ulises Davila (Macarthur) |
| Brandon Borrello (Western Sydney) | Tolgay Arslan (Melbourne City) |
Projected price rise (after Round 7)
- Ulises Davila (Macarthur FC) $84k
- Guiseppe Bovalina (Adelaide United): $69k
- Jaiden Kucharski (Sydney FC): $66k
- Alex Paulsen (Wellington): $62k
- Angel Torres (Central Coast): $61k
- Nestory Irankunda (Adelaide United): $54k
- Matthew Millar (Macarthur): $52k
- Zach Clough (Adelaide): $52k
- Nishan Velupillay (Melbourne Victory): $44k
- Ben Halloran (Adelaide): $42k
Projected price drop (after Round 7)
- Oskar Zawada (Wellington): $80k
- Adama Traore (Melbourne Victory): $70k
- Jamie Maclaren (Melbourne City): $67k
- Oliver Sail (Perth Glory): $57k
- Daniel De Silva (Macarthur): $51k
- Aaron McEneff (Perth Glory): $47k
- Josh Risdon (Western United): $45k
- Brandon Borrello (Western Sydney): $41k
- Corey Brown (Brisbane Roar): $41k
- Lachlan Rose (Macarthur FC): $39k
Buy
Zach Clough (Adelaide United)
- Position: MID
- Price: $564k
- Ownership: 15%
At $564k and climbing, Adelaide United creator Zach Clough is flying into fantasy teams around the Isuzu UTE A-League – and if you haven’t done so yet, now is the time to loosen the purse strings.
His premium price tag is only set to rise from here, with another $52k expected to be added to his value by the end of Round 7. Clough is yet to score under 12 in a single round this season, and heads into Round 7 off the back of a 32-point haul against Macarthur last time out.
Hold
Marcelo (Western Sydney Wanderers)
- Position: DEF
- Price: $457k
- Ownership: 22%
When Western Sydney captain Marcelo was substituted in the first half of his side’s Round 6-clash with Brisbane Roar, 22% of fantasy managers with the big Brazilian among their ranks held their collective breath.
There were fears for a long-term injury when head coach Marko Rudan revealed Marcelo had suffered an Achilles tendon issue – but fear not; the 36-year-old is named in Western Sydney’s squad for this week, and if he doesn’t start against Melbourne Victory on Sunday, Rudan expects Marcelo to be back among the starters next weekend.
The eighth-best fantasy asset after six rounds, Marcelo has 73 points to his name to date. He may not haul in Round 7, but playing the patient game could save you two transfers: one to drop the Wanderers defender, and one to bring him back in when he’s fit and firing in no time at all.
Sell
Adama Traore (Melbourne Victory)
- Position: DEF
- Price: $286k
- Ownership: 9%
With his early-season form curtailed by suspension and injury, Victory defender Adama Traore is expected to suffer a value decrease of $70k on current form after Sunday’s road clash with Western Sydney Wanderers.
Now could be the time to shift Traore out of your squad to avoid another value hit, with the option of bringing him back in at cut price when the full-back puts together a consistent run of minutes and form.
MOST TRADED OUT & IN LIBERTY A-LEAGUE
| Traded out | Traded in |
| Chelsea Blissett (Brisbane) | Emily van Egmond (Newcastle) |
| Kirsty Fenton (Sydney FC) | Millie Farrow (Perth Glory) |
| Holly McNamara (Melbourne City) | Charlotte Mclean (Sydney FC) |
| Hannah Blake (Adelaide) | Vesna Milivojevic (Canberra) |
| Macey Fraser (Wellington) | Rhianna Pollicina (Melbourne City) |
| Hannah Wilkinson (Melbourne City) | Sophie Harding (Western Sydney) |
| Cortnee Vine (Sydney FC) | Daniela Galic (Melbourne City) |
| Grace Jale (Perth Glory) | Michaela Foster (Wellington) |
| Chloe Logarzo (Western United) | Leah Scarpelli (Brisbane Roar) |
| Susan Phonsongkahm (Perth Glory) | Hope Breslin (Wellington) |
Projected price rise (after Round 7)
- Emily van Egmond (Newcastle Jets): $128k
- Daniela Galic (Melbourne City): $63k
- Sophie Harding (Western Sydney): $62k
- Emma Checker (Melbourne Victory): $58k
- Kirsty Fenton (Sydney FC): $55k
- Vesna Milivojevic (Canberra United): $52k
- Hope Breslin (Wellington Phoenix): $51k
- Fiona Worts (Sydney FC): $46k
- Hana Lowry (Perth Glory): $45k
- Julia Grosso (Melbourne City): $45k
Projected price drop (after Round 7)
- Isabella Foletta (Perth Glory): $65k
- Rhianna Pollicina (Melbourne City): $57k
- Emily Gielnik (Melbourne Victory): $57k
- Cortnee Vine (Sydney FC): $52k
- Grace Jale (Perth Glory): $51k
- Chloe Lincoln (Canberra): $44k
- Chloe Logarzo (Western United): $40k
- Isobel Dalton (Perth Glory): $38k
- Rebecca Kirkup (Brisbane): $38k
- Emily Condon (Adelaide): $37k
Buy
Sarina Bolden (Newcastle Jets)
- Position: MID
- Price: $188k
- Ownership: 1%
One of the absolute no-brainer decisions of the Liberty A-League fantasy season to date: get Newcastle Jets signing Sarina Bolden in your team – and fast.
The Philippines international is a striker, but is listed as a midfielder after her recent arrival at the club. Bolden scored two goals on Jets debut and looks set to relish her role in the heart of a thriving Newcastle attack.
With just 1% ownership before Round 7, act fast while Bolden remains a fantasy differential.
Hold
Kirsty Fenton (Sydney FC)
- Position: DEF
- Price: $324k
- Ownership: 23%
Only one player has been transferred out of fantasy teams more than Sydney FC full-back Kirsty Fenton ahead of Round 7 – but her return to the extended squad bodes well for the 23% of managers who have kept the faith with the young full-back averaging 16.5 points across her first two appearances this season.
Fenton has missed Rounds 3-6 due to Sydney’s AFC Cub Championship commitments and injury, but is back in the mix for a road trip to face the Jets. Fenton’s not only a player managers are moving out of their fantasy squads – she’s also a player expected to increase in value after Round 7 (+ $55k).
Sell
Jada Whyman (Sydney FC)
- Position: GKP
- Price: $269k
- Ownership: 19%
With Sydney FC coming up against free-scoring Newcastle in Round 7, and goalkeeper Jada Whyman’s fantasy value predicted to drop a further $34k by the end of the weekend, now could be the time to shift a player of high ownership in favour of some lower-priced goalkeepers in the fantasy market.
Western United’s Hillary Beall looks a terrific option at just $176k to bring into your team for Round 7. Western face Adelaide United, who have scored just eight goals this season, and Beall – last season’s Goalkeeper of the Year award winner – should put together a more settled performance after a jittery first appearance back in green and black in Round 6.
