Sam Docherty was coming off a cancer scare in preseason, always a big worry with AFLK players quite apart from their worth in fantasy competitions. Like Jarryd Roughead before him fantasy coaches have tended to stay away from players in this precarious position, but Docherty has carried on much as if he was never sick in the first place, so much so that he is topping the averages for fantasy defenders in 2022. He must be a priority trade-in target over the bye periods because he's not likely to get any cheaper as the season plays out.
Sam Docherty was coming off a cancer scare in preseason, always a big worry with AFLK players quite apart from their worth in fantasy competitions. Like Jarryd Roughead before him fantasy coaches have tended to stay away from players in this precarious position, but Docherty has carried on much as if he was never sick in the first place, so much so that he is topping the averages for fantasy defenders in 2022. He must be a priority trade-in target over the bye periods because he's not likely to get any cheaper as the season plays out.
Sam Docherty has been somewhat on the backburner in fantasy football discussions this preseason, as a lot of the goodwill from his best seasons has ebbed away with his less than dominant return after successive ACL reconstructions. Doc has a solid history of premium scoring before that, and the absence of the retired Kade Simpson and injured Nic Newman should mean there are no obstacles to him regaining his old prowess... apart from his own body. Can Doc have an Indian summer, or do you even have faith that he can go better in 2021?
Sam Docherty came into the 2020 AFL season with significant price discounts in salary cap fantasy formats, and also a discount in average draft position in private draft leagues as he was coming off two consecutive missed seasons with ACL ruptures. So far, he has been an essential buy as he has performed up to and beyond his previous exploits off a half back flank, acting as if the previous injuries had never occurred. It's not too late to bring him in, and he probably won't be this cheap again... unless the injury curse strikes again.
Future in the Doch?
Not since August 26th, 2017 has Sam Docherty taken the field, with two consecutive ACL tears sidelining the fantasy jet for what felt like an eternity. The former rebounding king was once a lock in any fantasy back line, with a two-year average of 108 leading up to injury. Coming into preseason, Docherty has shed the kilos to rid unneeded stress from his knee, while taking a cautious approach to make sure he's ripe to go in round 1. Docherty was a first-round pick without hesitation in his heyday but after such a long hiatus, it's unrealistic to expect the former Lion to produce anything near his illustrious 115+ ceiling of 2017. The Blues co-captain is a lock in salary cap formats with a discount, although he carries a little more risk in draft leagues where another LTI would be a disaster. A middle-round pick who could push toward the top end if he lights up in the preseason.
Double Docherty tragedy
For the second year running, Sam Docherty will miss the entire campaign after another early preseason ACL rupture. Keeper league owners will almost have to cut bait on Docherty at this point, as there are no guarantees he will come back the same player.
Tragedy for Docherty
An awesome 2017 for Sam Docherty turned to horror in November when he ruptured the ACL in his left knee at training. Docherty will miss all of the coming AFL season, and the absence of the All-Australian will be keenly felt.
