Round 18 of the Isuzu UTE A-League season kicks off on Friday night – and with the start of a new round comes fresh possibilities for you and your Official A-Leagues Fantasy team!
Consider these five fantasy options heading into Round 18, thanks to neds.
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Jamie Maclaren – Melbourne CIty
- Price: $465K
- Average: 12.6
- Ownership: 46%
He’s both the second-highest points scorer and most-owned player in the game – and due to a minor form slump, Jamie Maclaren’s price tag has shrunk to an affordable number for those who missed the boat on selecting the Golden Boot leader early in the season.
Maclaren began the season priced at a measly $365K; that number ballooned out to $645K by Round 7 as the City spearhead scored goal after goal in a blistering start to the campaign.
He’s gone goalless in his last two appearances, resulting in his price dropping to just $465K. There are now seven players priced higher in the game – but Maclaren has not gone more than two games without finding the back of the net this season, and with Jason Cummings creeping up toward him in the Golden Boot race, expect the City marksman to hit his stride once more as we head toward the final stages of the season.
At his roaring best, Maclaren was too expensive for those without him in their squads to find a way to fit him in. Now, an opportunity has arisen for those who don’t own City’s number nine to rectify that early-season mishap.
Salim Khelifi – Perth Glory
- Price: $326K
- Ownership: 0%
- Average points: 7.0
A foot injury was set to keep Salim Khelifi sidelined for an extended period of time, but after less than one month on the sidelines, the Tunisian was back in purple and gold, producing a roaring return to form with a 25-point haul in Round 17.
Khelifi at his best is one of the most dangerous players in the Isuzu UTE A-League this season. Utilised at right wing-back by Ruben Zadkovich, Khelifi bombs forward as a vital contributor to Glory’s attacking output. He bagged a brace against the Mariners last time out, firing the first home from a sumptuous free-kick before converting his second from the penalty spot.
Hiroshi Ibusuki – Adelaide United
- Price: $219K
- Ownership: 3%
- Average points: 6.2
Is Adelaide United’s “Hiro” about to roar back into form?
The towering number nine ended a 10-game scoreless run in Round 17 with a brace, sparked by a special moment between both he and Reds captain Craig Goodwin in which the latter welcomed the former to take penalty duties in order to break his barren run.
The gesture instilled confidence in the Japanese striker to score another in the second half with a signature header.
Ibusuki’s three goals prior came in three consecutive games between Rounds 4-6; he scored 46 fantasy points across those three rounds. Ibusuki scored 22 points in Round 17, his season-high. One of his five goals for the season came against this weekend’s opponents Melbourne Victory in Round 6.
Ibusuki’s value is projected to increase by more than $50,000 after Round 18.
Bozhidar Kraev – Wellington Phoenix
- Price: $325K
- Ownership: 8%
- Average points: 8.1
Wellington’s in-form number 10 put together one of the complete attacking performances of the season league-wide last weekend, playing a hand in all three of his side’s goals in a 3-0 rout of the champions in Tasmania.
Kraev assisted Yan Sasse’s first-half opener, before putting the second on the board himself with the long-range curler which would go on to earn Goal of the Week honours.
He then drew a foul in the box which led to Oskar Zawada’s penalty as the Phoenix responded to a flat run of form in style. Kraev has a three-round fantasy average of 14.7, putting a mid-season slump behind him.
Beka Mikeltadze – Newcastle Jets
- Price: $364K
- Ownership: 6%
- Average: 5.3
Beka Mikeltadze could not reprobate his rampant form streak last time out, putting four points on the board after averaging 14 points across the three games prior. But, this weekend the Jets play host to a porous Western United, who were dismantled by Wellington Phoenix in Round 17.
The Jets have been explosive of late and, on a six-game unbeaten run, appear to have turned a corner in terms of performing on a consistent basis. We’ve seen Arthur Papas’ side perform brilliantly in the past, but not for long enough spells. If consistency is key to the back end of the season for the Jets, expect Mikeltadze’s form to benefit as he leads the line for the resurgent side. If the Jets pile on the goals against Western, expect the Georgian to be in the thick of the action.
