POLL: Traps or Treasures – Rookie Edition

Not a huge list given that a poll that includes Jagga, Devon, Marshall, Lombard, Serong and Jaques would likely be heavily in favour of a yes vote anyway, given their current ownership percentage.

The basis of this poll is to sort out some ideas for players originally irrelevant but now gaining traction eg. McAndrew, and to get an estimate of the support for rookies that are not/were not heavily owned, as well as which of the cheap rucks we might prefer now that several have been named.

So let’s kick it off with Tom Blamires (who?), the $99,100 Roo rook mid who took his only game by storm and muscled his way into a bunch of teams as a result. Started this game relatively slowly but his ability to figure it out and work into the game with 24 touches and some tackles for 87 pts is worth noting. But is one game enough intel? I think so having watched the game, and a basement priced rookie Mid could be a treasure in a midfield lacking rookie depth.

Lachie Dovaston F $136,000 – 99 pts. Three goals to boost the score from 14 handy touches. Don’t get a free hit on this guy, so is he worth it?

Willem Duursma M $203,500 – 49 pts. Obviosly very talented, and will play, and will get better, but does that score scream “pick me” at his price?

Zeke Uwland M/D $199,000 – 41 pts. High draft pick rewarded early with a R0 debut. Wing role likely and we know it’s valued less in SC so is he worth it for maybe a DPP option?

Chayce Jones M $119,900 – 34 pts  Only 5 possies for, shall we say, semi veteran Crow wingman is not selling many coaches this week. Chopped up against Port the week before in the same role with 80 odd unofficial SC points and is likely to hold that spot, especially in the absence of Curtin and Hinge. Will he be more reliable than a rookie wingman?

Bailey Laurie F $119,000 – 81 pts. I thought he looked good in the half in Ballarat, and although the score is projected, it’s quite useful for a rookie forward except he’s been around a while now so the extra preseasons may put him in the same boat as Jones. Maybe?

Now we have a few rookie rucks emerging as contenders for round one spots. Bit of an unusual situation as many of us usually have a rookie ruck as our floating donut because of the lack of choice, but now we have some potential cash cows to slot into R3, and some even to R2. Lets have a look at those choices.

Lachlan McAndrew R $119,900 – 90 pts. Crows 210 cm beanpole looks to be the preferred ruck with ROB currently running around in the Magoos. Still raw, as to be expected, but can reach the hit outs and took a few contested grabs against Port but not so much against Freo. However still managed 90 points and has jumped in popularity, currently in 51% of teams. Of those, more than 40,000 coaches have him at R2. Tough as any stretch of six games first up with Cameron, English, Darcy/Jackson, Pittonet and TDK/Marshall to contend with. I think he needs to really perform well in this opening stretch or I see ROB coming back in to either help out or take over. Genuine question as to whether he’s Trap or Treasure.

Liam Reidy R/F $119,900 – 58 pts AAMI and 31 points R0. Hardly set the world on fire in either of these two games, and TBH I didn’t believe he’d make the R0 side, and still don’t think he’ll be long term prospect just yet.  However, is owned by more coaches than McAndrew and does have the handy DPP which has its benefits.

Cooper Duff-Tytler R/F $199,000 – 39 pts. Played 95 minutes of game time for those few points. Is going to be given time to evolve and will have to do it early. Has the useful DPP but is he worth the extra 80k? 18% of coaches think so.

Callum Coleman-Jones R $119,900 – 66 pts. Does not have the DPP but will get it if the role is maintained, but is it likely to? Can supplement his chop out ruck scores with big grabs and the odd snag, but is it enough. Only owned by 1% of coaches.