Rookie Review – Round 14

Looking For The Last Rookie

Carlton, Collingwood, Fremantle and Hawthorn all have the bye this week.

That means many coaches will be looking at players such as Jack Ison, Chris Scerri, Bodie Ryan, Bailey Macdonald, Cameron Nairn and a handful of other rookies as potential trade-outs.

The challenge is deciding whether they’re actually ready to go. Most still have a bit of cash left to make. Some might provide useful cover during the remaining bye rounds. And as we’ve learnt over the past month, having a rookie who actually gets selected can sometimes be more valuable than squeezing out another $20,000.

The good news is we’re still playing Best 18.

The bad news is we don’t exactly have a huge crop of rookie options to choose from.

At this stage of the season most coaches aren’t looking for the next cash cow. They’re looking for the last cash cow. A rookie that will play. A rookie that might make another $80k-$100k. And a rookie that hopefully isn’t a dead red dot two weeks after you bring them in. If they can score 60 occasionally as well, even better.

Rookie Targets

Hugo Hall-Kahan – Buy

The standout rookie this week wasn’t even on an AFL list a fortnight ago.

Hall-Kahan was selected in the Mid-Season Draft and found himself making his AFL debut just five days later. That tells us Adelaide didn’t recruit him as a long-term project.

The mature-aged defender looked right at home against AFL opposition, scoring 72 points while using the ball superbly. His kicking stood out all game and he finished with 100% disposal efficiency. More importantly, he looked comfortable. There was no panic, no deer-in-the-headlights moments and no obvious signs that the pace of AFL football was too much for him.

Isaac Cumming’s injury should help his short-term job security and the DEF/MID DPP is extremely handy.

At $99,100 he’s easily the most interesting rookie available this week.

And let’s be honest, after the rookie scores we’ve been dealing with lately, seeing a 72 felt a bit like spotting a unicorn.

Harry Kyle – Buy

Kyle is probably the best of the traditional bubble boys this week.

The MID/DEF status is handy, the break even is attractive and an average of 59 suggests he can at least find enough football to make some money.

The job security isn’t perfect, but very few rookies have perfect job security in June.

At this stage of the season we’re often choosing between rookies with questionable job security and rookies who don’t play at all.


Jasper Alger – Buy

Alger has now played three games and returns from Richmond’s bye.

His scoring hasn’t been spectacular but it has been serviceable.

An average of 47 and a break even of -34 means there is still money to be made.

Richmond’s injury list continues to provide opportunities and his JS looks reasonable enough for now.

If he can make another $80k and help fund your final upgrade, he’ll have done his job.

Campbell Lake – Watch Teams

Lake was another Mid-Season Draft recruit who made an immediate AFL debut.

His score of 45 was perfectly respectable without being particularly exciting.

The MID/FWD DPP is handy and at basement price he doesn’t need to do much to become relevant.

The concern is job security.

St Kilda still have several players expected to return over the coming weeks, particularly in the forward half.

If Lake survives selection again this week, he becomes much more interesting.

For now I’d rather watch than buy.

Charlie Banfield – Watch Teams

Banfield didn’t play last week. That obviously hurts his appeal.

The break even remains attractive and if named he is still worth considering, but we need to see him back in the side first.

We’ve all chased enough rookies this year who looked great on paper but couldn’t hold their spot.

Banfield remains firmly in the watch teams category. Which is SuperCoach code for “I still like him, but I’d like somebody else to test the water first.”

Harrison Oliver – Pass

Oliver had the bye last week but the concerns remain the same.

His selection came as a late replacement and his job security looks shaky.

The break even is attractive, but if the player isn’t in the side regularly it doesn’t matter.

There are enough warning signs here to look elsewhere.

Tom Anastasopoulos – Pass

Anastasopoulos didn’t play last week. That’s generally not a positive sign for job security.

Small forwards already have enough issues from a SuperCoach perspective without adding selection uncertainty to the mix.

Sam Powell-Pepper is due back in the coming weeks and Port Adelaide will continue getting experienced players back into the side.

He may still generate some cash if recalled, but there are better options available.

One To Watch – The Mid-Season Draftees

Hall-Kahan isn’t the only Mid-Season Draft player worth monitoring.

If teams start looking to the future over the second half of the season, a few more names could become relevant very quickly.

Jaxon Artemis (Essendon)

Probably the most talked-about player from the draft.

Artemis is an AFL-ready defender with speed, endurance and excellent ball use. Essendon desperately need better ball movement out of defence and he looks a natural fit.

If named, expect him to be one of the most traded-in players of the week.

Kye Annand (Richmond)

Richmond are rebuilding and have opportunities available.

Annand is an intercept defender and looks the type of player who could slot straight into AFL football.

The Tigers aren’t exactly hiding their desire to get games into young players.

Marcus Herbert (West Coast)

Herbert has arguably been the best performed player in state league football this season.

He provides run and carry, can play through defence or midfield and looks an obvious replacement for the injured Devon Robertson.

I’d be surprised if he doesn’t play AFL football soon.

Joel Fitzgerald (Melbourne)

The SuperCoach favourite. A midfielder averaging 34 disposals per game in the VFL tends to get people’s attention.

The challenge is breaking into Melbourne’s midfield.

If he gets named, expect coaches to get very interested very quickly.

Conclusion

Hall-Kahan looks the standout option this week and Harry Kyle probably leads the traditional bubble boys.

Alger remains a reasonable downgrade target, while Lake and Banfield sit firmly in the watch teams category.

More importantly, the next wave of rookie options may come from the Mid-Season Draft.

If names like Artemis, Annand, Herbert or Fitzgerald appear on a team sheet, pay very close attention.

At this stage of the season we’re not looking for the next premium.

We’re looking for one last rookie that can help get the next premium

And if they can survive team selection for more than two weeks, that’s probably enough to get them onto the shortlist.

thanks ladies & gentlemen