After elevation to the Western Bulldogs' leadership group, Mitch Wallis would have been disappointed to have spent half of 2019 on the sidelines with a bone stress injury in his ankle, the opposite leg to the one fractured in 2016. Besides a career-low tackle average, Wallis' stats were exactly what we've come to expect. Wallis has never played more than 19 games due to injury and form, and 2020 looks to continue that pattern. A strong first-year showing from Bailey Smith and a fit Tom Liberatore likely forces Wallis into fringe territory yet again. FWD eligibility is the only thing keeping him fantasy-relevant, making him a middle-round pick with a lot of risk tied up with that potential reward.
Royal family misses Wallis
After elevation to the Western Bulldogs' leadership group, Mitch Wallis would have been disappointed to have spent half of 2019 on the sidelines with a bone stress injury in his ankle, the opposite leg to the one fractured in 2016. Besides a career-low tackle average, Wallis' stats were exactly what we've come to expect. Wallis has never played more than 19 games due to injury and form, and 2020 looks to continue that pattern. A strong first-year showing from Bailey Smith and a fit Tom Liberatore likely forces Wallis into fringe territory yet again. FWD eligibility is the only thing keeping him fantasy-relevant, making him a middle-round pick with a lot of risk tied up with that potential reward.
Mitch Wallis has had a poor time of it in recent seasons, though of course he's not Robinson Crusoe in that regard at the Western Bulldogs who have struggled since their 2016 flag. Often asked to play defensive roles in midfield or as a small forward for large parts of games, it looks like the Dogs have found a way to release him to midfield for 2019. This promises to unlock a lot of potential for his fantasy owners, making him a POD pick in salary cap comps and a draft league option with plenty of upside.
Wallis is a brick
Featuring as an inside midfielder through much of his junior and senior career, Mitch Wallis spent significant periods forward in 2018, averaging more than a goal a game for the first time. A handball-dominant player, Wallis registered 1.6 handballs for every kick, remaining consistent with his historical average. As numerous Bulldogs enjoyed increased midfield roles, Wallis has become a reliable and rare goalscoring option. Following the departure of Luke Dahlhaus, he will be entrusted once more to hit the scoreboard. A young leader at a youthful club, his fantasy value remained strong with the change of role and he should be considered for selection in middle rounds.
Wallis hits the wall
You can set your watch by the effect that broken legs have on footballers' fantasy output, and so it was with Mitch Wallis who swung his hoof at the footy two less times per match on return from his injury halfway through 2017. That average hides the fact that he started more brightly and faded as the year went on. Wallis obviously lacked endurance from his lack of preseason, something that will hopefully not be the case in 2018. If the Dogs are to have a bounce back season they need a resurgence from players like him, and not just as a defensive forward as he has played at times. Watch him in the JLT with a view to a middle-round reach.
