By Oliver Walker-Peel (@olliewalkerpeel)
As they say, time flies when you are having fun, and the first month of this A-League Men season has flown by.
So much has changed from our preconceived notions of the campaign four weeks ago, to the point where it has been incredible to watch it all unfold.
Western United’s rocky start to their title defence has caught many off guard, while Western Sydney’s unbeaten start looks to hold them in good stead for the rest of the season.
They saluted on Friday night against the Jets, while there were wins for Central Coast, Sydney FC and Adelaide United across the weekend, as Melbourne City and Wellington, as well as Brisbane and the Victory, shared the spoils between them.
With most teams having stepped across the white line four times this season, we have a fairly good sample size of all the teams in the league.
How does that translate to Fantasy, you ask? Oliver Walker-Peel from the FPL Addicts has a look at three players you should have a look at and two you are better off ignoring.
WATCHLIST
Jamie Maclaren (MCY, FWD)
Price: $344,500; Points: 64; Next three: SYD (h), MAC (h), CCM (a)
It seems like a no-brainer to have Jamie Maclaren in, to the point where it would be somewhat redundant having him here.
He is the highest-owned player in the game, which makes sense given he is the highest-scoring player in the game.
Given his five goals in four games, it came as a shock he is only owned by 45.9% of managers.
A short message to anyone part of the 55.1% not owning him who may be reading this; own him, captain him.
Simple.
Filip Kurto (MAC, GKP)
Price: $368,700; Points: 55; Next three: WEL (a), CCM (h), MVC (h)
Trailing only Maclaren in points scored this campaign, the Polish custodian has been nothing short of a revelation this season.
Averaging 15.8 points in his four games in 2022-23, he is 16 points clear of next-best Lawrence Thomas in terms of goalkeepers.
With 23 saves this season, including a penalty stop against Sydney FC last weekend, Kurto is in-form and primed for a stint in your side.
Giordano Colli (PER, MID)
Price: $243,800; Points: 32; Next three: MCY (a), BRI (h), WUN (h)
The Perth academy graduate has dazzled across the past two weekends, scoring in both.
The 22-year-old truly announced with a belter against Adelaide in the weekend just gone, foxing Joe Gauci with a swerving effort from all of 25 yards.
That game preceded his first price of the season, gaining in value by more than $70,000 after a strong start to the campaign.
With a breakeven of -14, the best chance to bring him in may well be now, as that value looks set to rise exponentially again over the coming weeks.
ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK
Reno Piscopo (NEW, MID)
Price: $250,800; Points: 14; Next three: MVC (a), MCY (h), CCM (a)
A deserved A-Leagues All-Star selection a few months ago, pastures new have not yielded the glittering form we know Piscopo is capable of yet.
Managing only one goal contribution so far this season, the former Italy youth international is yet to play a full 90 minutes in the league this season, brought off in every game.
Newcastle travels to Melbourne to take on the Victory, before hosting Melbourne City next weekend, two games which see the Jets outsiders in both on paper.
Owned by over one in four managers in the game, with only Nani and Craig Goodwin more popular among midfielders, maybe now is the time to explore other options.
Nick D’Agostino (MVC, FWD)
Price: $220,600; Points: 20; Next three: NEW (h), ADL (a), MAC (a)
Melbourne Victory is without a goal in their last three outings, and as a result, goals have been impossible to come by for the lethal marksman.
After scoring a wonderful header against Sydney FC in the Big Blue, the former Perth man has only mustered one shot on target since then, which came in the 2-0 defeat to cross-town rivals Melbourne City.
His drop in form is symptomatic of the Victory’s overall drop in form over that time, and while there is a big chance he returns to good goalscoring form once Tony Popovic’s men start truly ticking.
Currently the fourth-most owned forward in the game behind only Maclaren, Cummings and Arzani, there are better options available at the moment for your frontlines.
Image credit: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images
