Josh Caddy is one of a number of young B-rotation midfielders at Richmond who haven't quite come into fantasy calculations as yet in a team which doesn't worry much about ball retention and stat inflation, though in the changing footy world anything is possible in 2020.
Josh Caddy is one of a number of young B-rotation midfielders at Richmond who haven't quite come into fantasy calculations as yet in a team which doesn't worry much about ball retention and stat inflation, though in the changing footy world anything is possible in 2020.
Caddy turns garbologist
Richmond's reversion to a more traditional forward structure centred around new recruit Tom J. Lynch eventually meant that Josh Caddy spent some time in the VFL, as he was surplus to requirements in his old role as undersized target forward. He eventually returned in a new role starting on a wing then drifting behind the ball on sweeper duties, a position made popular by the new 6-6-6 rules. His scoring was variable but decent in a sample size of seven, including a fantasy ton in the grand final. Perhaps we can give Caddy a mulligan for the fact that he didn't hit 20 disposals in any of those quarterbacking games (enough sporting analogies!). It's a role that coaches are still experimenting with to gauge what body type is best suited, with big-bodied mids like Caddy most often chosen so far but other clubs trying mobile talls. Caddy is one to keep an eye and ear on in preseason, as his role will dictate his scoring ceiling and there's no guarantee he will stay in a lucrative enough position.
Josh Caddy has come back into the Richmond side after a long stint in the VFL rediscovering his old role of midfielder, with the Tigers forward line recast in a more traditional structure following the arrival of Tom J. Lynch. His form in the three games since returning has been poor to middling, making one wonder if he will even survive the cut going into September in a all-ground defensive team that can't afford any weak links. It has been six games since he topped 20 disposals with two out of the last three not even at 15. He needs to lift.
Caddy attacks the flag
A shift to more permanent forward work by Josh Caddy resulted in a big spike in goal production, including five bags of four plus six against the Saints, to finish with a highly accurate 44.13 for the home & away season, with his only scoreless game coming in the losing prelim. He hit 20 disposals only once after round 10, in a smashing of the hapless Suns. A setback after post-season ankle surgery means he is doubtful for round 1. Caddy's role has become more and more like that of a key forward as time has gone on, including a fantasy scoring trend that is so reliant on goalkicking that it can be the difference between a good day and bad. This makes him a difficult start despite the seemingly impressive average, as variability makes the start/sit decision a bit of a nightmare. Leave him to others, especially if you want to burst out of the gates.
Josh Caddy has become one of the most important players in the Richmond team, not necessarily due to his own output though he can have the odd big day out. His presence as effectively a third key forward gives Dustin Martin the freedom to move forward when interchanging with Caddy in midfield, which helps the team by giving opposition defenders a lot more to think about. His fantasy scoring is highly variable like a key forward, too dependent on events up the ground to be useful in salary cap competitions, and annoyingly unreliable in draft leagues.
Hole in one by Caddy
In the new small-focused Tiger forward line, Josh Caddy started as third key forward in his first year at the club, rotating in midfield with the resting A-grade mids. He went at less than a goal per game himself, dropping four disposals off the rate from his last year at Geelong with a tackle rate at his worst since 2013. In the Hardwick system, Caddy can be well pleased with his contribution to the team as measured by intangibles other than what he does with the pigskin. This limits his value for fantasy coaches, who would have to wait for mass injuries in midfield for him to be moved out of his spot to justify more than a late-round pick.
