Pre-season footy lies about results and tells the truth about roles. Nobody remembers who won a practice match, but who attended centre bounce, who took the kick-ins and who played 39 per cent of the game: that is Round 1 gold. Here is what the practice rounds and match simulations told us.
Roles changed, positions did not
On GameDay Squad every player is locked to one position (DEF, MID, RUK or FWD) for the whole season, so when a real-life role changes, the fantasy value moves. Three that matter:
- Mikayla Bowen (Geelong, FWD-listed) played full-time midfield: 40 disposals in the practice match. Forward slot, midfield output. That is the best kind of mismatch.
- Georja Davies (Gold Coast, RUK-listed) played as a defender, and well. Fascinating, but a ruck pick who is not rucking is a risk until we see it work in a real round.
- Tilly Lucas-Rodd (DEF-listed) changed clubs in the off-season and the new club has them playing forward. Second-best defender average last season (99.6), but the role says wait a round.
Form worth believing
- Lily Quigley (Gold Coast, MID): drove the Suns' transition off the wing with 17 disposals and two goals.
- Chloe Bown (Adelaide): two goals as a half-forward at pick 5. The draft class is real.
- Alyce Parker (GWS): 21 disposals and a goal in the practice match, back from an almost completely lost 2025. With Zarlie Goldsworthy's status unclear, Parker is the Giants' engine again.
The role watch
Zoe Wakfer (West Coast, DEF) played backline general in the practice match: 22 disposals, 8 marks, 15 intercept possessions. The catch: last season's average was just 31.5. If the new role sticks, that is the value find of the year; if not, the average already warned you. Round 1 will tell.
The medical room
- Grace Beasley (Melbourne) suffered an ACL injury and misses the season.
- Lauren Pearce (Melbourne) is six to seven weeks away, making Georgia Campbell the likely Round 1 ruck.
- Matilda Argus (Collingwood) is on the inactive list (ACL); VFLW captain Dom Carbone was elevated as the replacement.
- Imogen Trengove (Collingwood) played limited minutes in the practice round. Low time on ground is the single most reliable predictor of low fantasy scores.
Dates for your fridge
The season opens Sunday 9 August, St Kilda v Carlton at Marvel Stadium, with the rest of Round 1 spread across 13 to 16 August. GameDay Squad runs a rolling lockout, so you can keep swapping players right up until each one's own game starts. Use that: set your team early, then react to team news without penalty.