Rookie Review – Round 17
This week we’ve got a handful of genuine downgrade options and, for once, they’re actually pretty easy to rank.
Marcus Herbert is the clear number one target. Joel Fitzgerald isn’t far behind, while Mitch Podhajski remains interesting if he’s recalled after a week in the VFL.
Outside of those three, Sam Swadling and Beau Addinsall have shown enough to stay on the radar, Campbell Lake remains the best forward rookie with DPP, and Kye Annand is still probably the safest defensive option despite already making a bit of cash.
One player who has gone very quiet is Jaxon Artemis. Most of us expected him to walk straight into Essendon’s side after Archie Roberts was injured, but Jacob Farrow has grabbed that opportunity instead. To make matters worse, Artemis managed just 46 SuperCoach points in the VFL last week, so an AFL debut doesn’t look imminent.
Let’s get into the players that can actually help us this week.
| Player | Pos | Price | Avg | BE | Games | JS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marcus Herbert | MID | $99,100 | 78 | -94 | 2 | Excellent |
| Joel Fitzgerald | MID | $99,100 | 67 | -72 | 2 | Good |
| Sam Swadling | MID | $113,500 | 60 | -50 | 2 | Fair |
| Beau Addinsall | MID | $127,000 | 60 | -41 | 2 | Good |
| Mitch Podhajski | FWD | $99,100 | 49 | -36 | 2 | Fair |
| Campbell Lake | MID/FWD | $137,400 | 49 | -17 | 3 | Fair |
| Kye Annand | DEF | $145,200 | 55 | -11 | 3 | Good |
| Luke Kennedy | MID | $119,900 | 40 | -5 | 2 | Fair |
| Mitch Zadow | FWD | $99,100 | 27 | 7 | 2 | Fair |
Marcus Herbert
Herbert is the clear standout this week.
Two games, an average of 78, a break even of -94 and excellent job security make him the number one downgrade target.
What has impressed me most is his role. He’s playing as a genuine defender, has taken Josh Lindsay’s spot in the side and is already trusted with kick-in duties.
That’s exactly the type of role SuperCoach coaches love.
West Coast look committed to giving him games and, at basement price, he should be one of the most popular rookies this week.
Joel Fitzgerald
Fitzgerald remains one of my favourite rookie options.
The scoring has been good, the role looks solid and Melbourne appear committed to giving him opportunities.
A break even of -72 means the cash generation should come quickly.
If you missed Hall-Kahan a few weeks ago, Fitzgerald might be the next best thing.
Mitch Podhajski
Podhajski is becoming a little trickier to assess.
His second AFL game wasn’t particularly convincing and he looked just a fraction off AFL pace before being omitted last week.
The good news is he responded in exactly the right way. Playing in the VFL, he kicked 5 goals 4 behinds, reminding everyone why Collingwood drafted him in the first place.
Whether that’s enough to earn an immediate recall remains to be seen.
If he’s named this week he’s still worth considering, but I’m not quite as confident as I was a fortnight ago.
Sam Swadling
Swadling exploded onto the scene with an excellent debut, but his second game wasn’t nearly as convincing.
He spent less than 60% time-on-ground and never really looked as influential.
The concern is selection. With Angus Anderson pressing for a recall, Swadling could easily be the player who makes way.
The break even of -50 is still attractive, but I’d be watching team selection very closely.
Beau Addinsall
Addinsall is another who has impressed.
His running power really stands out and he probably did enough to hold his place in the short term.
The concern is what happens over the next few weeks. The Suns are expecting Weller, Graham and Davies to return, which will put pressure on spots.
For now he’s worth considering, but his longer-term job security isn’t as strong as some of the others.
Campbell Lake
Lake had the bye last week and remains the best forward rookie option if you’re looking for DPP flexibility.
The scoring won’t blow anyone away, but small forwards rarely do.
If he’s named again, he’s certainly worth considering.
Kye Annand
Annand has already played three games and has had a price rise.
He’s no longer the bargain he was a fortnight ago, but he’s still probably the best defensive downgrade available.
If you need a defender, he’s still the safest option.
Luke Kennedy
Kennedy hasn’t done a great deal to excite SuperCoach coaches.
His scoring has been modest and he’s only spent around 60% time-on-ground in each of his first two games.
There are simply better midfield rookie options available this week.
Mitch Zadow
Zadow just misses the main list this week.
The basement price is appealing, but an average of 27 and a break even of 7 don’t exactly scream cash generation.
Port Adelaide also have plenty of competition for spots, making his job security questionable.
Unless you’re desperate for a $99k forward, there are simply better rookie options available this week.
Jaxon Artemis
It’s probably time to cool the jets on Artemis.
Most of us expected him to come straight into Essendon’s side after Archie Roberts went down injured.
Instead, Jacob Farrow has grabbed that opportunity and hasn’t given it back.
Artemis also didn’t do himself any favours in the VFL last week, managing just 46 SuperCoach points.
He’s still a talented player and I’m sure he’ll debut at some stage, but it no longer looks imminent.
Conclusion
This week feels pretty straightforward.
Marcus Herbert is the clear number one rookie target and should be at the top of every coach’s shopping list.
Joel Fitzgerald isn’t far behind and should continue making money quickly.
If Podhajski is recalled, he’s still worth considering, but he’s no longer the lock he looked a fortnight ago.
After that, Sam Swadling is worth considering if he survives team selection, while Campbell Lake remains the best forward rookie with handy MID/FWD flexibility.
If you need a defender, Kye Annand is still probably your safest option, even after his early price rise.
thanks fellas