The Keeper League - AFL Fantasy Podcast

The pre-season is officially underway, and we’re kicking things off with a deep dive into AFL Fantasy defenders — through a Keeper League lens.

In this episode of The Keeper League Podcast, we break down the defender pool for 2026, identifying undervalued options, breakout candidates, and draft targets who could shape keeper leagues over the next few seasons.

We run through:
  • Undervalued defenders who could bounce back or jump a tier in 2026
  • Breakout candidates primed for role changes, midfield exposure, or increased responsibility
  • Young defenders and stash options worth targeting in long-term keeper formats
  • How pre-season roles, injuries, and list changes impact defender scoring
  • Listener questions covering role security, rule changes, and defender scoring trends
We also cover a stack of Keeper League Gold Member updates, including improvements to the Mock Draft Simulator and the new Individual Rankings Tool.

This episode is entirely focused on draft and keeper leagues, not salary cap formats — with analysis designed to help you win both now and in the future.

An extended version of this episode is available for Keeper League members, featuring deeper analysis, bonus player breakdowns and more draft discussion.

Existing members can listen here: https://keeperleaguepod.com.au/bonus-episodes

New members can sign up here: https://keeperleaguepod.com.au/keeper-league-membership/

Links
Join our Discord server: https://discord.gg/APjqvT22ze
Join the Keeper Fantasy platform: https://keeperfantasy.com/
Play FootyNumbers: https://footynumbers.com
Play FootyHeads: https://footyheads.com

Creators and Guests

Host
Ryan 'Heff' Gerlach
Co-founder and host of The Keeper League Podcast

What is The Keeper League - AFL Fantasy Podcast?

An AFL Fantasy Podcast that doesn't focus on the superstars. We look at the up-and-comers and the lesser-known players to help you win your draft and keeper leagues.