AFL GameDay Squad Round 2 Preview | Best Matchups, PODs & Key Trends

AFL GameDay Squad Round 2 Preview

G’day coaches. Round 1 is now in the books and the season is underway. It is a long season and there are plenty of opportunities ahead for to take home the weekly prizes.

If you haven’t signed up for AFL GameDay Squad yet, now’s the time! Use our exclusive code BOBAFL at sign-up to unlock free packs and kickstart your squad.

Let’s get into the AFL GameDay Squad Round 2 Preview and identify the must-have players for the week!

Round 2 Matchups – Best players by position

Defenders

·      St. Kilda once again seem to be the team leaking points to defenders with Laird performing well in Round 1 with 119 GDS. This week they come up against Geelong meaning Stewart could certainly be an option.

·      North Melbourne let Dale run around and accumulate a lot of ball in Round 1. If they don’t give any attention to defenders again this week, Salem may be able to replicate this which he showed he could do in Round 1 with a massive 152 GDS.

Midfielders

·      West Coast were dominated by the Gold Coast midfield in Round 1 with Rowell, Anderson and Miller all racking up. This week doesn’t get any easier coming up against Brisbane. Expect Neale to bounce back after a quiet start to the year.

·      Despite losing the game, Cripps and Hewett were able to get a lot of the ball against Richmond recently. I can see Rozee going nuts this week at Adelaide Oval being the main midfielder and captain of a team under pressure.

Rucks

·      Tough week for Rucks with Gawn and Xerri coming up against each other. Marshall has a very easy matchup with Geelong however he looked slow against the Crows and spent a lot of time deep forward. He is a huge risk until he returns to his ruck position.

·      Nankervis had a very impressive start to the year and I see him as a very safe option for coaches unsure about the other match ups.

·      It would take a lot of guts, but Flynn was absolutely dominated by Witts on the weekend meaning Big O could really take him to the cleaners this week at the GABBA.

Forwards

·      Not an easy position this week for match ups and I recommend not taking too many risks here.

·      For those looking to mix it up, Luke Jackson got off to a strong start to the year with 105 GDS and with Darcy out of the side is still getting some ruck time.

·      Simpkin burst out of the blocks with 148 GDS and comes up against Melbourne this round who gave up some midfield points. Could certainly be a high ceiling option that others won’t be rolling with.

AFL GameDay Squad Round 2 Preview - Top 5 PODS for Round 2

1.        Tom Powell – has the dream role at North Melbourne and got plenty of the ball. Plays under the roof at Marvel this week against Melbourne who are unlikely to tag him. Will be getting a run in my side.

2.        Ed Richards – is getting a lot of opportunity with key midfielders out of the team. Scored 116 GDS in Round 1 and could easily produce this again this week against Collingwood.

3.        Christian Salem – hard to call him a POD after Round 1 but nevertheless he was a long way off most coaches starting sides this time last week. For those brave enough to back him in this week, he could put up a monster score.

4.        Darcy Cameron – English typically concedes a lot of points against rucks and Cameron might be a safer option given that Xerri and Gawn might limit each others scoring.

5.        Will Ashcroft – Whilst many coaches will look to Neale or Dunkley this week, Will

Ashcroft is the type of player who loves to cash in against a weaker team. I expect he will crack in hard against the Eagles and put on a show at the GABBA. Coaches might just roll with Ashcroft, Dunkley and Neale!

AFL Trends Noticed by BOBS

BOBS keeps an eye on emerging trends to help GameDay Squad coaches get ahead. Here are the key observations from recent rounds:

• Collingwood Defenders:

  Despite Port Adelaide's Atrocious performance, several defenders still posted solid scores. Collingwood defenders as a streaming option is becoming increasingly viable.

  
  

• West Coast as the Ultimate Streaming Target:

  West Coast continues to be a goldmine for streaming forwards (and every other position). Expect to target players against them heavily in upcoming matchups.

  
  

• Carlton’s Key Forward Concerns:

  After Round 1 and 2, Carlton’s twin towers, Curnow and McKay, are struggling for fitness. Until they show signs of improvement, they are a fade—even in favorable matchups.

AFL GameDay Squad Round 2 Preview - Teams and Their Taggers

This will be an evolving area as trends develop. We’ve covered which teams employed taggers in 2024 [here].

Toby Bedford – The Tagging King

The Giants are fully committed to Bedford tagging all year. In Round 1 vs. Melbourne, he rotated between Petracca and Oliver, affecting both players’ GameDay Squad scoring. In 2025, he’s a player to avoid—luckily, he has the bye this week.

James Jordan – The Sydney Blanket

Jordan shut down Lachie Neale in Round 1, holding him to one of his lowest scores in recent memory. Neale remains highly vulnerable to a tag, and Jordan looked legit in this role. Previously used as a defensive forward under Longmuir, it’ll be interesting to see how Cox utilizes him going forward. Sydney appears committed to tagging this season.

Sam Durham – One to Watch

Durham tagged Will Day in Round 1, and it will be interesting to see if he continues this role in Round 2. If so, Jordan Dawson could be in the hot seat this week. Durham would be an ideal matchup for him.

Weather & Venue Watch – Key Conditions for Round 2

Before locking in your squad, consider these weather and venue factors that could impact fantasy scoring: 

Thursday, March 20

• Carlton vs. Hawthorn at MCG, 7:30 PM AEDT 

  • Forecast: 24°C, potential thunderstorms earlier in the day with a dry spell expected around game time. Rain may return later in the match.

Friday, March 21

• Western Bulldogs vs. Collingwood at MCG, 7:40 PM AEDT 

  • Forecast: 20°C, 70% chance of light showers, mostly cloudy.

Saturday, March 22

• Essendon vs. Adelaide at MCG, 1:20 PM AEDT

  • Forecast: 22°C, partly cloudy, mild conditions.

• Port Adelaide vs. Richmond at Adelaide Oval, 3:45 PM ACDT

  • Forecast: 27°C, sunny, warm conditions.

• St Kilda vs. Geelong at Marvel Stadium, 7:35 PM AEDT

  • Forecast: 22°C, partly cloudy.

Sunday, March 23

• Brisbane vs. West Coast at The Gabba, 1:10 PM AEST

  • Forecast: 28°C, humid, chance of morning showers.

• North Melbourne vs. Melbourne at Marvel Stadium, 3:20 PM AEDT

  • Forecast: 22°C, partly cloudy.

• Fremantle vs. Sydney at Optus Stadium, 4:40 PM AWST

  • Forecast: 33°C, hot and sunny.

Note: Conditions may change, so check for updates closer to game time.

BOBS Early Starter – Team of the Round

Based on matchups, form, and GameDay Squad strategy, here’s an early look at a high-upside squad for Round 2:

Final Thoughts 

Round 2 presents some juicy matchups, high-upside PODs, and key trends to watch. Keep an eye on final team selections and late changes before locking in your squad. Stay tuned for more insights from Blokes on the Ball, and good luck in GameDay Squad Round 2

Cheers,  

The Goal Practitioner and BeastMode