The infamous rookie roulette wheel played a big part in scoring this round, as some of the less popular freshmen posted incredible numbers. We’re well and truly into culling season now, so the hard decisions have to be made. Do you hang onto a cow and hope they can put in that one score that can kickstart their cash generation? Or is it time to cut all ties and wave goodbye? As always, check out Father Dougal’s insights in Cow Talk later in the week for all the answers to these questions…
Here’s a review of the rookie performances from Round 7. Players “on the bubble” are marked with an asterisk.
DEFENDERS
| Player | Club | Price | Score (avg) | BE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Martin FREDERICK* | PTA | $123 900 | 74 (81) | -88 |
| Nicholas MURRAY* | ADE | $102 400 | 59 (50) | -39 |
| Nathan MURPHY* | COL | $123 900 | 55 (51) | -28 |
| Jacob KOSCHITZKE | HAW | $250 200 (+$49.5K) | 66 (58) | -21 |
| Mark KEANE* | COL | $158 000 | 59 (54) | -13 |
| Luke PARKS | CAR | $133 600 (+$31.2K) | 58 (44) | -1 |
| Jaxon PRIOR | BRL | $190 500 (+$37.9K) | 62 (50) | 2 |
| Rhyan MANSELL | RIC | $158 300 (+$24.2K) | 46 (45) | 9 |
| Connor MENADUE | NTH | $230 500 (+$29K) | 32 (62) | 13 |
| Liam STOCKER* | CAR | $186 500 | 56 (43) | 26 |
| Darragh JOYCE* | STK | $177 300 | 40 (38) | 31 |
| Jordon BUTTS | ADE | $298 700 (+$29.2K) | 88 (64) | 32 |
| Nikolas COX (FWD) | ESS | $287 000 (-$13.9K) | 49 (59) | 62 |
| Lachie YOUNG (MID) | NTH | $310 900 (+$0.4K) | 49 (68) | 72 |
| Heath CHAPMAN | FRE | $250 500 (-$18.7K) | 28 (56) | 85 |
| James MADDEN (FWD) | BRL | $123 900 | 47 (47) | N/A |
| Harry EDWARDS | WCE | $123 900 | 61 (61) | N/A |
Goodbye for now: Lewis Young, De Koning, Reid
THE GOOD: Despite playing in a heavy loss, Martin Frederick produced his second outstanding effort in as many games. 16 disposals at 87% efficiency and only 2 clangers in damp conditions will make him the popular downgrade option this week. Butts had plenty of work to do in the besieged Crows backline and performed admirably once again, recording 16 possessions at 93% and 5 one percenters. Koschitzke was the best of the Hawks’ super-tall forward line, kicking a couple of majors and generally looking a threat on the few occasions that Hawthorn went forward.
THE BAD: Joyce actually played okay, but that’s bad news for all those who are still waiting for Highmore to make his return – over 86,000 of us!
THE UGLY: Disaster for Chapman as he dislocated his shoulder early in the first quarter. He bravely battled on to record 11 possessions, but was in obvious discomfort throughout the game and must be in extreme doubt for next weekend.
MIDFIELDERS
| Player | Club | Price | Score (avg) | BE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| James JORDON | MEL | $287 800 (+$46.2K) | 91 (69) | -1 |
| Tom POWELL | NTH | $357 700 (+$32K) | 97 (78) | 20 |
| Lachlan MCNEIL | WBD | $195 400 | DNP (45) | 22 |
| Charlie LAZZARO | NTH | $159 100 (+$7.2K) | 43 (33) | 23 |
| Will PHILLIPS | NTH | $208 700 (+$4K) | 53 (43) | 34 |
| Sam BERRY | ADE | $212 300 (-$0.9K) | 43 (52) | 53 |
| Errol GULDEN | SYD | $297 800 (-$11.7K) | 54 (82) | 86 |
| Jay RANTALL | COL | $123 900 | DNP (25) | N/A |
| Riley COLLIER-DAWKINS | RIC | $123 900 | 76 (76) | N/A |
| Ryan BYRNES | STK | $123 900 | 52 (52) | N/A |
Goodbye for now: Bruhn
THE GOOD: Jordon and Powell continue to be the mainstays of our rookie collective this season, with both players turning in excellent performances down in Hobart. Powell recovered from a Fritsch fend to rack up 23 touches and a goal, while Jordon had 20 possessions of his own to go with seven tackles and a goal. Collier-Dawkins finally made his long-awaited debut and didn’t disappoint, with the midfield bull totalling 14 possessions (11 contested) and five tackles in the Tigers’ stunning comeback win. With Cotchin a confirmed out for the foreseeable future, RCD may be a legitimate trade-in option after his next game.
THE BAD: Those who held on to Berry were not rewarded, as he posted a modest score and lost cash this week. Time to trade.
THE UGLY: Gulden didn’t get near it in the first quarter, was brilliant in the second, and then struggled through the rest of the game. He’s bleeding cash now and must be moved on.
RUCKS
| Player | Club | Price | Score (avg) | BE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Riley THILTHORPE* (FWD) | ADE | $202 800 | 55 (73) | -25 |
| Tom CAMPBELL (FWD) | NTH | $193 100 (+$29.1K) | 73 (46) | -8 |
| Matt FLYNN | GWS | $273 000 | DNP (94) | 4 |
| Josh TREACY (FWD) | FRE | $108 000 | DNP (24) | 26 |
| Nick BRYAN | ESS | $123 900 | 51 (51) | N/A |
Goodbye for now: Hunter, Sweet.
Not much news in the ruck department this week, with Flynn left out again and Treacy dropped. Thilthorpe is now on the bubble and with dual position status, looks to be an interesting – albeit expensive – trade option. Campbell played well and included a couple of goals in his score, while Bryan debuted for the Bombers and gave a good account of himself with 19 hitouts and 12 disposals.
FORWARDS
| Player | Club | Price | Score (avg) | BE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jamaine JONES | WCE | $213 500 (+$33.9K) | 119 (56) | -38 |
| Matthew OWIES (MID) | CAR | $123 900 | 67 (67) | -16 |
| Deven ROBERTSON (MID) | BRL | $255 000 (+$29.2K) | 69 (71) | -14 |
| Caleb POULTER (MID) | COL | $117 300 | 52 (52) | -4 |
| Archie PERKINS (MID) | ESS | $242 500 (+$33.1K) | 94 (57) | 1 |
| Harrison JONES | ESS | $191 800 (+$17K) | 79 (43) | 1 |
| Conor STONE | GWS | $162 000 | DNP (42) | 4 |
| Atu BOSENAVULAGI | NTH | $214 400 (+$38.9K) | 59 (64) | 7 |
| Miles BERGMAN | PTA | $225 500 (+$32.6K) | 76 (56) | 7 |
| Beau MCCREERY | COL | $187 800 (+$29.8K) | 57 (55) | 8 |
| Sam FLANDERS | GCS | $199 900 (+$7.6K) | 49 (44) | 8 |
| Anthony SCOTT (MID) | WBD | $232 500 (+$30.7K) | 63 (51) | 10 |
| Finlay MACRAE (MID) | COL | $137 600 (+$11.3K) | 23 (34) | 22 |
| Jy FARRAR | GCS | $217 400 (+$33.1K) | 43 (62) | 28 |
| Mitchell LEWIS | HAW | $269 700 (+$15.6K) | 29 (68) | 49 |
| Michael FREDERICK | FRE | $259 100 (+$9.2K) | 47 (57) | 53 |
| Chad WARNER | SYD | $329 800 (-$7.5K) | 61 (78) | 63 |
| James ROWE | ADE | $234 000 (+$1.4K) | 36 (53) | 77 |
| Will KELLY | COL | $135 400 | DNP (26) | N/A |
| Emerson JEKA | HAW | $123 900 | 26 (26) | N/A |
Goodbye for now: Waterman, McDonald, Ruscoe, Campbell
THE GOOD: Where the hell did that come from? After posting typical small forward numbers in his first four games, Jamaine Jones went BANG in the Derby and notched up an incredible 21 touches to go with a couple of exciting goals. Perkins was late to the party this year but is really starting to live up to the hype, his 18 possessions and six marks providing plenty of interest for Bombers’ fans. Bergman managed a late goal and was solid in an otherwise dirty night for the Power. With 19 disposals and seven marks, he continues to be a sound earner.
THE BAD: Warner dropped some dough, mostly due to 50% disposal efficiency. He’ll probably hover around this cash value now, so feel free to trade if and when you can. Farrar was well down on previous efforts after being one of the most popular trade-in options last week, only managing 13 touches against a notably generous Collingwood side.
THE UGLY: We were hoping a change in venue might help him, but Rowe is officially done. With the imminent returns of Sloane and Crouch, Jimmy might even find himself out of a job shortly. Lewis struggled to impact among all the tall timber in the Hawk’s forward line, only seeing the pill four times for a solitary goal.
Leave a comment / Scroll to bottom
Is Frederick a must get this week?
Most people will say yes given his break even. But then there’s the fallen premium defenders like May and Daniel who are both super cheap. Up or down, it’s a tough decision this week!
Agree. I’m going for premium upgrades this week and will miss Frederick. I’ll aim for Jones return instead.
Defence is the trickiest for me this week. If I bring in Frederick, I’ll have to bench either Jordan or Powell, and have no bench in defence
Which rookie needs to be traded out first?
TU – Chapman
TD – Rowe
Comment – Gulden
Chapman dislocated his shoulder and for those that have had one will understand and he probably misses four weeks- imo
Heath Chapman needs a shoulder reconstruction and expected to miss 3 months.
Surgery was booked for today.
Fowards looking grim this year, thoughts on stringer if he continues to play out of the middle?
TU yes
TD no
Have 430K cash in bank. Am proposing the following trades to use some of this cash:
TU May and Shai Bolton in for Rowe& Chapman. 27k left over
TD Frederick (PA) and one of Walsh/Oliver/Fyfe in for Gulden& Chapman. 240k left
Comment for which one of the three premium mids should I take
Either of Walsh or Oliver. I’d go with Oliver, but I’m the touch of Death this year, so be warned.
Thanks capt
Great article as always Chillo, thanks.
Double downgrade for me this week to save cash for Ridley + dusty next 2 weeks
TU Murray
TD Murphy
Thanks!