David Mundy, Michael Barlow and Nat Fyfe all have something in common – they’re all ball magnets who form the nucleus of Fremantle’s midfield.
But if you had to choose just one for your NAB AFL Dream Team in 2013, who should it be?
We’re going to break down the Freo trio’s fantasy facts to help make your decision a little bit easier.
2012
Mundy – Started the year with a whisper but finished it making as much noise as any premium midfielder in the AFL. Mundy missed rounds 1 and 2 and came on as a sub in round 3. He only scored more than 100 once in the first 10 rounds. But as his fitness picked up, so too did his fantasy relevance. From round 19 up until the semi-final in Adelaide, Mundy posted scores of 121, 130, 125, 111 and 108, averaging an elite 108 points per game.
Barlow – Barlow returned to his leather-winning best in 2012, averaging 97 points per game. Most encouraging was the fact he didn’t miss a match, appearing in all 22 home and away games and two finals. He was remarkably consistent, too, reaching 100 on 15 occasions.
Fyfe – Injury curtailed much of Fyfe’s 2012 season, but when he did get out on the park, he showed what a fantasy star he could be. The 21-year-old kicked off the season with a dominant 124-point effort against Geelong, but he would miss rounds 6-17 because of a shoulder injury. He returned in round 19 and averaged 92 over seven games to finish the season.
Verdict – Barlow: He didn’t miss a game and posted super consistent scores. Overall, he was Freo’s best fantasy player in 2012.
2013 Value (Dane Swan is the most expensive midfielder at $688,100)
Mundy ($451,800) – Mundy’s early season struggles in 2012 meant his average score at the end of the year was not reflective of his point-scoring ability. That’s seen the star midfielder open up at a dirt-cheap price in 2013. Expect his average to be closer to 100, which means some easy money can be made on Mundy.
Barlow ($495,300) – The most expensive of the trio, but that’s what you get for playing every game and scoring consistently well throughout last season. Barlow is still relatively cheap compared to the top echelon of fantasy midfielders. And there’s no reason to suggest he isn’t a premium himself, which makes him very well priced.
Fyfe ($458,500) – After a massive 2011 season, Fyfe’s value has plummeted thanks to his limited participation in 2012. The young star is more than capable of returning to his best, and that would make his current price look like peanuts. The only downside is Fyfe has lost his status as a dual-position (fwd) player and is purely a midfielder now.
Verdict – Fyfe: While all three are very well priced, you can’t look past what Fyfe could potentially do. At just $458,500, he’s monster value.
Stats
David Mundy ($451,800)
2012 average – 88.6
2011 average – 95.9
2010 average – 90.6
Career average – 76.6
2012 highest score – 130 – round 21 2012 v Richmond, Patersons Stadium
Career highest score – 134 – round 2 2011 v Geelong, Patersons Stadium
Michael Barlow ($495,300)
2012 average – 97.2
2011 average – 85.9
2010 average – 109.8
Career average – 98.5
2012 highest score – 127 – Elimination Final 2012 v Geelong, MCG
Career highest score – 146 – Round 8 2010 v Collingwood, Patersons Stadium
Nat Fyfe ($458,500)
2012 average – 85.9
2011 average – 98.4
2010 average – 70.4
Career average – 85.6
2012 highest score – 124 - round 1 2012 v Geelong, Patersons Stadium
Career highest score – 137 - round 4 2011 v North Melbourne, Patersons Stadium
The Final Word – Nat Fyfe
You can’t go wrong with whichever Freo midfield star you decide to put into your Dream Team in 2013. But if you had to choose only one, our recommendation is Nat Fyfe. While you know what you are going to get with Barlow and Mundy, Fyfe’s ceiling is higher. No one knows just how good this emerging star could become. Put Nat in to bat for your Dream Team and enjoy the ride.
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