Rookie bible: AFL draft picks who could be SuperCoach bargains
The 2018 draft is chock full of potential fairytale stories — and SuperCoach bargains. A host of mature-age players get their chance at AFL level. Who should we be watching?
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Everyone loves a bargain at the AFL draft — and in SuperCoach.
And this year there is a long list of potential fairytale stories, with eight players recruited from the VFL and other second-tier comps in the national draft, plus another 10 mature-age lifelines in the rookie draft — not counting players redrafted by their own clubs.
All of those players are ready to play from Round 1, giving them a headstart on juniors recruited straight out of the under-18 competition.
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They were also late draft picks, which means they won’t cost us much in SuperCoach.
We’ve heard a lot about the top-end picks, although the hype doesn’t always translate to on-field performance in year one.
Sam Walsh could be the exception to the rule after averaging 158 in the TAC Cup and 141 in the under-18 championships. But we’ll have to fork out more than $200,000 to add him to our squads.
Pay top dollar and pick the kid! #SuperCoach #2019AFLProspectus https://t.co/sTufpPxjK3
— Fantasy Freako (@FantasyFreako) November 22, 2018
The players listed below are all a lot cheaper, and bring immeasurable feel-good factor. Here’s who we’ll be keeping a close eye on over the next four months in the countdown to Round 1.
CASH COW ALERT
BEN CAVARRA (WESTERN BULLDOGS, PICK 45)
Recruited from: Williamstown VFL
Estimated 2019 SuperCoach starting price: $117,300
2018 SuperCoach average: 97
Cavarra was overlooked in multiple drafts due to his size (175cm). He kicked 34 goals for Williamstown this year playing as a pressure forward, but has enough strings to his bow to average a very healthy 97 SuperCoach points a game. Don’t forget he won the 2013 Morrish Medal and two Frankston Dolphins best-and-fairests as a midfielder. Likely to start on the bench in a lot of SuperCoach teams.
MATTHEW PARKER (ST KILDA, PICK 47)
Recruited from: South Fremantle, WAFL
Estimated 2019 SuperCoach starting price: $117,300
2018 SuperCoach average: 76
The explosive forward — who you can’t miss with his neck tattoos — could be our best bet for an early price spike as he hits the AFL physically ready and mentally determined to make an impact. Inspired by Geelong star and SuperCoach sensation Tim Kelly, Parker kicked 27 goals — and laid 84 tackles — in the WAFL this year, and Saints coach Alan Richardson believes his speed and power will suit Marvel Stadium. “(I was) just sitting there watching the draft and the Saints pick came around ... they said my name and I didn’t believe it,” Parker told the West Australian. I burst into tears ... to think that me of all people gets this opportunity. My job is now to go after it, 110 per cent.”
This pair mean business. pic.twitter.com/HlW7Xnfv2Y
— St Kilda FC (@stkildafc) November 27, 2018
DARCY FORT (GEELONG, PICK 65)
Recruited from: Central District, SANFL
Estimated 2019 SuperCoach starting price: $117,300
2018 SuperCoach average: 123
Mark him down as a sneaky bench option — and he could be a lot more. The Cats need a ruckman and the 205cm 25-year-old could be the man. He has to overtake the inconsistent Zac Smith, injury-prone Rhys Stanley and fellow mature-ager Ryan Abbott, but his numbers stack up. The former Geelong junior averaged 16 disposals and 42 hitouts (including a crazy 72 in one game) in the SANFL. According to his player profile, his nickname is Plow and his favourite hobby outside footy is “fighting corruption”. Should be fun to watch.
NICK HIND (ST KILDA, PICK 54)
Recruited from: Essendon VFL
Estimated 2019 SuperCoach starting price: $117,300
2018 SuperCoach average: 87
St Kilda needs some dash out of the backline and that’s exactly what Hind brings. The 24-year-old is ready to slot straight into the best 22 after averaging 22 disposals and four marks a game for Essendon’s VFL team in 2018. Ranked fourth in the VFL this year for score assists.
BRETT BEWLEY (FREMANTLE, PICK 59)
Recruited from: Williamstown VFL
Estimated 2019 SuperCoach starting price: $117,300
2018 SuperCoach average: 103
When his VFL club likens him to Tom Scully, we take notice. Bewley ranked No.1 in the VFL for effective long kicks last season and averaged 25 disposals a game. “He’s ready-made to go as far as we would be concerned and I dare say obviously Fremantle think the same if they’ve looked at him through the national draft,” Williamstown footy manager Stephen Soulsby told the West Australian. “I would imagine they would like to see him play as an outside mid initially and then potentially throw him inside over time.”
CALLUM WILKIE (ST KILDA ROOKIE)
Recruited from: North Adelaide SANFL (age 22)
Estimated 2019 SuperCoach starting price: $126,400
2018 SuperCoach average: 99
SuperCoach players love a ball-winning backman and Wilkie ticks all the right boxes after starring as an intercept and playmaking defender for North Adelaide in its stunning SANFL premiership triumph. A big ball-winner as a junior, he now has four years of senior footy under his belt culminating in a best-and-fairest this year after an outstanding season in which he averaged 26 disposals and nine marks.
PUT ON YOUR WATCH LIST
MARTY HORE (MELBOURNE, PICK 56)
Recruited from: Collingwood VFL
Estimated 2019 SuperCoach starting price: $117,300
2018 SuperCoach average: 102
Key defenders are usually a no-go zone in SuperCoach but Hore is worth a look. He ranked first for effective kicks in the VFL this year and second for total marks and intercept possessions (Sam Collins, now at Gold Coast, was No.1 in both categories). The Demons weren’t able to settle on a defensive six in 2017, with Sam Frost and Joel Smith given opportunities and Bayley Fritsch spending time there. Hore will be part of the mix next year, along with star recruit Steven May and returning knee injury victim Jake Lever.
TOM ATKINS (GEELONG ROOKIE)
Recruited from: Geelong VFL (age 23)
Estimated 2019 SuperCoach starting price: $114,400
2018 SuperCoach average: 107
It won’t be easy getting a gig in a star-studded midfield but we know the Cats love a mature-age recruit (think Tim Kelly, Sam Menegola and Co). Atkins averaged 22 disposals and nine tackles for Geelong’s VFL team this year.
WILL HAYES (WESTERN BULLDOGS, PICK 78)
Recruited from: Footscray VFL
Estimated 2019 SuperCoach starting price: $117,300
2018 SuperCoach average: 97
Hayes led Footscray for disposals (26 per game) and contested possessions (10 per game) on the way to winning the best-and-fairest. The 23-year-old son of horse trainer David Hayes is noted for his endurance, finishing third in the comp for inside-50s and second for uncontested possessions.
TOM WILKINSON (NORTH MELBOURNE ROOKIE)
Recruited from: Southport (age 22)
Estimated 2019 SuperCoach starting price: $102,400
2018 SuperCoach average: 93
The small forward was passed over in four drafts before being snagged by the Kangaroos with pick 41 in this year’s rookie draft. He won a best-and-fairest with Sandringham in the VFL, took a year off, returned with Williamstown then jetted to Queensland to play for Southport Sharks in the VFL in 2018, kicking 35 goals. North’s Round 1 team is hard to pick but there could be a spot in the forward pocket, with Wilkinson competing with the likes of Kayne Turner, Jy Simpkin and Tarryn Thomas.
LACHLAN SCHULTZ (FREMANTLE, PICK 57)
Recruited from: Williamstown VFL
Estimated 2019 SuperCoach starting price: $117,300
2018 SuperCoach average: 79
Schultz was on a plumbing job when his boss called to tell him he had been drafted. He is a small (177cm) forward who can push into the midfield, potentially inheriting the role of veteran Hayden Ballantyne. The Dockers hope he can repeat the success of mature-agers Lyke Ryan and Bailey Banfield.
HARRISON WIGG (GOLD COAST ROOKIE)
Recruited from: Gold Coast (age 22)
Estimated 2019 SuperCoach starting price: $123,900
2018 SuperCoach average -
We excluded players redrafted by their own clubs from this list, but Wigg is the exception (unlike most others he comes in at basement price). The former Crow had no luck with injuries in his first season as a sun, breaking his ankle at one of his first training sessions which eventually ruled him out for the season. One to watch if he gets through this pre-season unscathed. Averaged 25 disposals a game in the SANFL in 2017.
BUYER BEWARE
HUGH GODDARD (CARLTON ROOKIE)
Recruited from: St Kilda (age 22)
Estimated 2019 SuperCoach starting price: $123,900
2018 SuperCoach averageprimary comp: 61
Is Goddard the Cam O’Shea of 2019? Could get a game in the Blues backline but has never shown much SuperCoach potential with just two scores above 70 in his 10 AFL appearances over the past four years.
ROBBIE YOUNG (ST KILDA, PICK 67)
Recruited from: North Adelaide, SANFL
Estimated 2019 SuperCoach starting price: $117,300
2018 SuperCoach averageprimary comp: 71
According to the Saints website the 23-year-old can play as an inside midfielder or small forward but he spent most of the SANFL season as the latter, booting 19 goals and averaging just 11 disposals a game, with a 19-disposal, six-goal game against Norwood a clear highlight. He can tackle, laying seven or more four times.
KIERAN STRACHAN (ADELAIDE ROOKIE)
Recruited from: Port Melbourne VFL (age 23)
Estimated 2019 SuperCoach starting price: $120,400
2018 SuperCoach average: 32
A former dual best-and-fairest winner at South Bendigo, the ruckman started 2018 on Essendon’s VFL list but shifted mid-season to Port Melbourne in search of opportunity — then broke his ankle. Seems a fair way down the pecking order behind Sam Jacobs.
JOSH SMITH (WEST COAST ROOKIE)
Recruited from: Collingwood (age 24)
Estimated 2019 SuperCoach starting price: $222,750
2018 SuperCoach average: 74
Delisted Pie gets another chance at the premier. Smith played 18 games in his first season at Collingwood but just one last year. Likely to cop an elevated price tag which rules him out of SuperCoach plans.
Originally published as Rookie bible: AFL draft picks who could be SuperCoach bargains
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