2026 AFL Value Stash Options

It’s February.

Holidays, family time, and Test cricket have once again scratched that ever-present itch for those of us desperate to dive headfirst into preseason footy hype. We’re talking X highlight clips, training-camp position switches, and breaking news re hamstrings that clearly enjoyed a slightly longer Christmas break. So, for those of us who are way to keen to get the season underway and likely haven’t felt a woman’s touch in a while, let’s get stuck into some way-too-early GDS chat and fill a few emotional voids along the way.

The sweaty nerds who are reading this so early on are more than likely to know all about the Daicos’, Sheezel’s and Smith’s of the world. So I wanted to cast a look back to the 2025 season and note some potential breakouts that you should be keeping a pulse on… and probably looking to the transfer market for to stash! Let’s get right into it.

Elijah Tsatas (Essendon)

The perpetual “just give him a proper run” candidate. Tsatas finally started flashing why he was taken at pick 5 late last season, attending more centre bounces and looking far less like a man chasing cardio records. If the Bombers commit to him inside early, this could be the year the breakout actually arrives and preseason buzz merchants will be all over it. The elephant in the room here is Zach Merrett. We’ve already seen the fallout off the field from his off-season antics, but how deep does it cut on-field? If we see a drop of form or even a position change, I fancy Tsatas will be the major beneficiary.

Last 5 game average: 59.8 GDS fantasy points

Tom Cole (West Coast)

Tom Cole is the definition of a player who becomes relevant purely because someone has to get the ball… and West Coast are very much in that phase. With the Eagles still rebuilding and desperate for reliable ball users down back, Cole’s second-half role quietly shifted toward being a safe, trusted outlet rather than just a lockdown body. He’s not flashy, won’t be lighting up preseason highlight reels, but if he’s allowed to rack up cheap touches and play the “give it to Cole and reset” game, he’s the exact kind of unsexy fantasy option that could stack up nicely.

Last 5 game average: 91.6 GDS fantasy points

Jai Culley (Melbourne)

Culley suddenly finds himself in the kind of midfield vacancy that sends February footy sickos into a spiral. With the departures of Petracca and Oliver blowing Melbourne’s engine room wide open, opportunity has gone from theoretical to very real. Culley’s late-season exposure showed a player comfortable around the contest, willing to tackle first and ask questions later, and exactly the sort of bull the Dees may need minutes into sooner rather than later. If preseason reports start whispering about centre-bounce reps (they are), expect the “I’ve always liked Culley” crowd to grow rapidly, and not quietly

Last 5 game average: 68.75 GDS fantasy points

Bodhi Uwland (Gold Coast)

Uwland is the kind of player that only preseason tragics and Suns fans’ group chats truly appreciate. After a stop-start year that flirted heavily with soft-tissue awareness, his second half showed exactly why the Suns rate him so highly, calm ball use, intercept instincts, and a role that screams fantasy relevance if the body finally behaves. Gold Coast love the ball in his hands exiting defensive 50, and if he’s fit and trusted to play freely rather than conservatively, Uwland shapes as the sort of sneaky stash that rewards those already refreshing social media for training footage this early.

Last 5 game average: 85.8 GDS fantasy points

Max Hall (St Kilda)

Hall is already firmly on the radar of those who’ve been squinting at VFL box scores and pretending it’s casual behaviour. The Saints gave him a proper taste late last season and the appeal was obvious: clean hands, strong work rate, and a knack for finding space where fantasy points quietly accumulate. St Kilda’s midfield mix still feels very much in flux, and if Hall earns consistent minutes through the middle rather than being parked in a thankless half-forward role, he’s exactly the type of second-half breakout that preseason degenerates will convince themselves they saw coming months ago.

Last 5 game average: 83.6 GDS fantasy points