Top 20 Popular Picks

Hawthorn recruit Jaeger O’Meara has rocketed into No. 9 after being outside the top 20 before the JLT Community Series kicked off a fortnight ago.

O’Meara wasn’t even expected to play this pre-season but now looks almost certain to feature in Round 1 after overcoming his well-documented knee injuries.

Meanwhile, the most popular cash cows are starting to make themselves know with Tom Stewart, Brett Eddy, Aaron Black and Mitchell Hibberd entering the top 20.

We were dealt a blow with Essendon’s David Myers suffering a serious finger injury and being placed on the long-term injury list while Lion Jarrod Berry is also hurt.

Injuries have also seen Dayne Beams and Aaron Sandilands fall out of the top 20.

1. Nat Fyfe ($573,500, Mid) Fremantle

Ownership: 50.8%. Previous: 1 (54.4%)

The Dockers superstar remains the No. 1 pick after two rounds of the JLT Community Series. Fyfe posted a promising 93 in his first hit-out in 84 per cent ground time against West Coast.

 

2. Patrick Dangerfield ($716,900, Mid) Geelong

Ownership: 49.0%. Previous: 3 (48.9%)

The Brownlow Medallist moves up one position after a strong start to his pre-season campaign, scoring 117 in 82 per cent time on ground in Week 1.

3. Max Gawn ($645,000, Ruck) Melbourne

Ownership: 47.0%. Previous: 4 (45.7%)

Gawn has been sharing ruck duties with Jake Spencer during the JLT Series, seeing him underwhelm with scores of 94 and 78. We don’t expect that to continue come Round 1.

4. Luke Dahlhaus ($520,700, Fwd-Mid) W. Bulldogs

Ownership: 40.6%. Previous: 8 (38.5%)

The most popular forward after a massive 143 in his only pre-season appearance so far. A SuperCoach gun that can win possessions, loves to tackle and kicks goals.

5. David Swallow ($280,200, Mid) Gold Coast

Ownership: 39.5%. Previous: 7 (39.0%)

Early signs are positive for Swallow with scores of 80 (53 per cent game time) and 82 (70% TOG) in his two JLT games. Due to a lack of obvious midfield cash cows, he looms as a must-have.

6. Hugh McCluggage ($202,800, Mid-Fwd) Brisbane

Ownership: 38.3%. Previous: 6 (41.2%)

The No. 3 draft pick has had one game this pre-season, scoring 67, which is enough to suggest he’s firmly in the frame for Round 1. That price tag is off-putting but midfield cash cows look hard to find at this point.

7. Jarryd Roughead ($367,100, Fwd) Hawthorn

Ownership: 39.7%. Previous: 11 (32.0%)

The new Hawks skipper looks back to his best after scores of 63 in 83 per cent time on ground and 95 (85% TOG)

8. Sam Powell-Pepper ($135,300, Mid) Port Adelaide

Ownership: 36.4%. Previous: 12 (31.8%)

Port’s top draft pick’s first outing was full of promising moments. In his 67 per cent game time, SPP managed 56 points. We’ll hopefully have two more looks at him before Round 1.

9. Jaeger O’Meara ($318,900, Mid) Hawthorn

Ownership: 33.4%. Previous: N/A

The boom Hawks recruit has certainly made a splash in his two games and has rocketed into the top 10 most popular picks. Has posted 44 (47 per cent game time) and 90 (81% TOG).

10. Andrew McGrath ($211,800, Def-Mid) Essendon

Ownership: 32.5%. Previous: 5 (43.6%)

The No. 1 draft pick has dropped sharply in popularity after two pre-season games. Perhaps due to his price or the rise of cheaper cash cow options. Scores of 35 and 54.

11. Taylor Adams ($527,800, Def-Mid) Collingwood

Ownership: 31.3%. Previous 10 (32.2%)

12. Luke Ryan ($117,300, Def) Fremantle

Ownership: 29.6%. Previous: 9 (34.5%)

13. Heath Shaw ($576,500, Def) GWS Giants

Ownership: 28.7%. Previous: 17 (30.1%)

14. Isaac Heeney ($433,400, Fwd) Sydney

Ownership: 28.1%. Previous: 18 (28.5%)

15. Mitchell Hibberd ($123,900, Def-Mid) North Melbourne

Ownership: 27.4%. Previous: N/A

16. Tom Stewart ($117,300, Def) Geelong

Ownership: 26.3%. Previous: N/A

17. Brett Eddy ($102,400, Fwd) Port Adelaide

Ownership: 25.7%. Previous: N/A

18. Jarrod Pickett ($123,900, Mid-Fwd) Carlton

Ownership: 25.4%. Previous: 20 (26.9%)

19. Nathan Freeman ($123,900, Mid) St Kilda

Ownership: 24.8%. Previous: 15 (30.5%)

20. Aaron Black ($137,100, Fwd) Geelong

Ownership: 24.3%. Previous: N/A

INS: Jaeger O’Meara (9), Mitchell Hibberd (15), Tom Stewart (16), Brett Eddy (17), Aaron Black (20)

OUTS: David Myers (2), Jarrod Berry (13), Dayne Beams (14), Aaron Sandilands (16), Sam Docherty (19)

(Written by Ben Higgins, originally appeared on heraldsun.com.au on 28/2/17)

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