Bailey Smith in action during Geelong’s clash against Hawthorn in round four, 2026. Picture: AFL Photos<\/p>\n
GATHER Round is here but don’t get too excited – 45 per cent of AFL Fantasy coaches have another forced trade. With some coaches asking, “will this ever end?”<\/p>\n
Tim English (RUCK, $1,051,000) is the latest big-name player to join the list after he injured his knee against the Bombers and is now set to miss the next few weeks.<\/p>\n
This week, the Fantasy community has been divided by the simplest question … “Do we replace English with Gawn or Grundy?”<\/p>\n
Based on form the answer appears crystal clear: It’s Max Gawn (RUCK, $1,209,000).<\/p>\n
FANTASY\u00a0LATEST Tips, strategy, draft, podcasts, more<\/a><\/p>\n Gawn is averaging 125 this season and hasn’t put a foot wrong. He has some great match-ups approaching but there’s one issue – he’s so expensive. In fact, he’s $210,000 more than Brodie Grundy (RUCK, $999,000) who finds himself coming off a great score of 137.<\/p>\n Grundy is now $123,000 under his staring price and in a game where we are constantly hunting for value, Grundy could be the answer that gives you $210,000 in your pocket to improve your team in other areas.<\/p>\n Whether you are Team Gawn or Team Grundy – the decision is all yours.<\/p>\n Listen to the AFL Fantasy Podcast with The Traders at Apple Podcasts<\/a>, Spotify<\/a> and Google Podcasts<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Trap or treat?<\/p>\n Here are some of the traps to avoid and some treats worth considering for the round ahead.<\/p>\n Max Holmes (MID, $1,104,000) – TRAP Finn Callaghan (MID, $1,020,000) \u2013 TRAP Kysaiah Pickett (MID\/FWD, $949,000) – TREAT Tom Sparrow (FWD, $701,000) – TREAT Keidean Coleman (DEF, $669,000) \u2013 TREAT Keidean Coleman marks the ball during the match between Brisbane and Collingwood at the Gabba in round four, 2026. Picture: AFL Photos<\/p>\n Most traded in<\/p>\n Jacob Farrow (DEF\/MID, $415,000) After scoring an impressive 101 last week from 12 marks, it’s no surprise to see Jacob Farrow (DEF\/MID, $415,000) as the most traded in player for round five. Farrow now has a breakeven of -22 and could be worth nearly half a million dollars next week.<\/p>\n Most traded out<\/p>\n Tim English (RUCK, $1,051,000) There are two Bombers on the chopping block. As Essendon\u2019s No.1 ruckman, Lachie Blakiston (DEF, $448,000) hasn’t produced the goods, only averaging 49 across his first four games.<\/p>\n Some coaches were hoping that Darcy Parish (MID, $720,000) could return to the good old days and average a solid 90-plus this year. This hasn’t been the case, and the 28-year-old has now dropped in price from where he started. With an average of 68 next to his name, now is the time to trade.<\/p>\n Finally, hold Nick Daicos (MID, $1,204,000). After being a late out last week, Collingwood is very confident he’ll be right for his Friday night clash against the Dockers.<\/p>\n Scott Pendlebury and Nick Daicos chat during a Collingwood training session at Olympic Park Oval on April 8, 2026. Picture: Getty Images\/AFL Photos<\/p>\n Draft: One-week wonders<\/p>\n A strategy in draft is to find one-week streaming options. This means, finding a player who has low ownership (most likely in the free agents) and an option for a one-week play. You may require a player like this to fill any holes in your team while you wait for an injured player to return or for one of your players to gain dual-position status.<\/p>\n Here are some players with low ownership that might be worth a punt on for this week.<\/p>\n Aliir Aliir (DEF) v Collingwood \u2013 Collingwood rates as the easiest team for defenders to score against this season and Aliir has already shown his ceiling hitting 121 in round two. Get on board!<\/p>\n Ed Langdon (MID) v Essendon \u2013 It’s hard to see how Langdon doesn’t score well against the Bombers based on the fact that the Bulldogs had six players over 90 against them last weekend.<\/p>\n Darcy Byrne-Jones (FWD) v St Kilda \u2013 Coming off 107 and 10 marks, DBJ is certainly worth a punt in your forward line against the Saints. He sits in just eight per cent of Draft leagues.<\/p>\n Darcy Byrne-Jones in action during the match between Richmond and Port Adelaide at the MCG in round four, 2026, Picture: Getty Images<\/p>\n Live Teams Show<\/p>\n The Traders will be live from 6.15pm AEDT on Thursday to cover all the important ins and outs as teams are announced. They break down the popular trades, discuss captains and answer all your burning questions. Watch the Live Teams Show every Thursday night via\u00a0AFL.com.au<\/a> and the AFL Live Official App and ask your questions in the comments.<\/p>\n Listen to the AFL Fantasy Podcast with The Traders at\u00a0Apple Podcasts<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Spotify<\/a>.<\/p>\n Calvin’s best captains<\/p>\n No.1 \u2013 Bailey Smith v West Coast @ Norwood Oval, SUN 12pm ACST No.2 \u2013 Max Gawn v Essendon @ Adelaide Oval, SAT 12.45pm ACST No.3 \u2013 Jack Steele v Essendon @ Adelaide Oval, SAT 12.45pm ACST No.4 \u2013 Lachie Ash v Richmond @ Barossa Park, SUN 2.45pm ACST No.5 \u2013 Dayne Zorko v North Melbourne @ Barossa Park, SAT 12.05pm ACST Get expert advice from The Traders during the season in the Fantasy Hub<\/a>. Follow AFL Fantasy on X<\/a> and Instagram<\/a> and ‘like’ the Facebook<\/a> page to join in the conversation.<\/p>\n
He might have a broken finger, but Geelong is still expecting Holmes to play this week against the Eagles. However, buying someone with this price tag and with an injury is too risky.<\/p>\n
We’re big fans of Callaghan but not huge fans of the potential tags on the horizon. After his nice match-up this week he could face the restrictive James Jordon and Finn O’Sullivan.<\/p>\n
Finding a forward is always tough, but here is a star coming off scores of 98 and 134. Pickett meets Essendon, Richmond and West Coast over the next five weeks. A dream run!<\/p>\n
Sparrow is not a forward … he is Melbourne’s newest midfielder. Sparrow has now attended 67 and 72 per cent of their centre-bounces over the last two weeks for scores of 102 and 114.<\/p>\n
Coleman is coming off two nice match-ups where he has cashed in with scores of 109 and 85. The thing is, he is still very cheap for a player capable of averaging 80-plus – it’s time to launch!<\/p>\n
\nMax Gawn (RUCK, $1,209,000)
\nBrodie Grundy (RUCK, $999,000)
\nBailey Smith (MID, $1,202,000)
\nOscar Steene (RUCK\/FWD, $285,000)<\/p>\n
\nLachie Blakiston (DEF, $448,000)
\nDarcy Parish (MID, $720,000)
\nEd Richards (MID, $1,036,000)
\nJack Carroll (MID, $479,000)<\/p>\n
Smith is hungry and his recent scores of 124, 154 and 130 are the areas we can expect him to hit in this match-up. Smith scored 147 last year against the Eagles, a team that gives up plenty.<\/p>\n
Some are calling it the ‘Blakiston curse’ after Tim English (51, injured) and Tristan Xerri (55, suspended) both ‘failed’ against the Bombers. Gawn is in career-best form though, averaging 125 this season.<\/p>\n
We all know the scores that the Bombers have been giving up and now it’s Steele’s turn. He meets them in red-hot form after averaging 118 in his first four games at his new club.<\/p>\n
Ash scored 112 against the Tigers last year and targeting defenders in this match-up has always been a successful play. Leading into his bye, Ash was coming off scores of 104, 137 and 136.<\/p>\n
Stat of the day: Zorko has scored 100-plus in 10 of his last 11 games against the Kangaroos. He even scored a huge 137 against them last year and is coming off a nice 116 from round four.\u00a0<\/p>\n