SuperCoach rookie bible: We review every cash cow in Round 8
WILL holding the likes of Andrew Brayshaw, Tom Doedee and Jeremy Finlayson make or break your season? Plus, what should you do with Ben Ronke? Catch up on every SuperCoach rookie ahead of Round 9.
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It can be difficult to take a cautious approach with underperforming rookies, but when trades are at a premium and with the bye rounds looming, holding players such as Andrew Brayshaw, Riley Bonner, Tom Doedee and Jeremy Finlayson could prove a wise decision in the long-term.
Sydney forward Ben Ronke was undoubtedly the rookie of the week with his seven-goal performance resulting in a 120-point score.
BIG BUY: DOES RONKE MAKE A RIGHT?
TOP CALL: PERFECT 9 JACKPOT CLOSER
TEAM FIX: PETRACCA, BILLINGS — WHAT TO DO?
Bayley Fritsch’s owners will have enjoyed his efforts since coming back into the Demons’ side three games ago and Jake Waterman was superb in West Coast’s win over GWS.
Here’s all the information you need to know and some trade tips as you plan your rookie moves this week:
CASH COWS
TRADE NOW
Jeremy Finlayson ($345,300, DEF-MID) — 61 points Breakeven: 85 points
Finlayson lost $12,000 against West Coast on Saturday and hasn’t scored above 65 in the past three weeks. If you have bigger issues elsewhere, you can afford to keep him as defensive or midfield cover and hope he returns to his scoring heights of the first five rounds.
Aaron Naughton ($289,900, DEF) — 0 points Breakeven: 100
After a slow start to his career, Naughton had served his owners well until he copped an ankle injury in the first quarter against the Lions without scoring a point. He lost $13,000 as a result and is only going to fall further with a breakeven of 100. Look for a way to move him on this week if he is named.
Jarrod Garlett ($206,000, FWD-MID) — 35 points Breakeven: 41 points
Garlett has four scores in seven games below this week’s breakeven. Unless you want to hold him for cover, move him on this week.
Bailey Banfield ($266,500, MID) — 47 points Breakeven: 64
It has been three weeks since Banfield scored anything to match his breakeven this week and he lost money for the first time at the weekend. He’s capable of reaching 64 but do you want to risk another drop in value? Trade soon
Paddy Dow ($282,200, MID) — 60 points Breakeven: 36
He might have a few more weeks in your side and could make it to $300,000, but the No.3 draft pick is a player you should be planning to upgrade to bolster your midfield stocks. His last four scores are 59 points or higher.
Riley Bonner ($306,000, DEF) — 60 points Breakeven: 61
Still among the 27,000 teams who have held on to Bonner? He’s only lost $15,000 from his top price and his breakeven of 61 this week if very achievable. Keep him on notice, but don’t push the trade button just yet on the Power defender.
Tom Doedee ($355,300, DEF) — 56 points Breakeven: 90
Only a 15 per cent likelihood Doedee meets his break-even this week, but he has tallied 83 points or more in five of his games this year. Unless you’re flush with trades, hold on to them or deal with other issues for a few weeks yet.
HOLD
Ben Ronke ($214,700, FWD) — 120 points Breakeven: -57
Ronke still has money to make due to his low break-even after his seven-goal, 10-tackle performance against the Hawks on Friday. Are you willing to pay an extra $91,000 than his starting price just for a quick cash grab? If you’re carrying more than 20 trades, it might still be worth the risk.
Zac Langdon ($209,900, FWD) — 50 points Breakeven: 34
Langdon isn’t going to be a huge scorer but he hasn’t gone below 42 in his short career. If he can manage a score of 60-70 in the next few weeks he might even get to $250,000 before you consider downgrading him.
Jake Waterman ($300,700, FWD) — 94 points Breakeven: 41
Waterman produced his best score of the season against the Giants and has four scores above 70 in his eight games. There’s no reason to move him on yet and he’s doing enough to start on field if you’re holding any injured forwards such as Michael Walters or Lance Franklin.
Tom Cole ($259,400, DEF) — 36 points Breakeven: 32
The first down week for Cole, who made a solid profit in his third match after three consecutive scores of 65. It will only take one big score to put him back on track, so don’t be making any hasty moves.
Ed Richards ($246,600, DEF) — 70 points Breakeven: 44
Richards’ score of 70 in the Bulldogs’ win over Brisbane pushed his breakeven back to 44 and there’s no reason to move him on this week.
Cam O’Shea ($202,900, DEF) — 46 points Breakeven: 14
With doubts about the injury status of a few premium defensive selections this week, including Michael Hurley and Jeremy Howe, the 12,600 teams who have O’Shea would be wise to keep him. A score of 45, which is about O’Shea’s average, is better than being a player down.
Bayley Fritsch ($310,100, FWD) — 98 points Breakeven: 24
A move up the ground has resulted in two scores of 90 or more in the past three weeks and after he missed on Anzac Day eve he’s become one of the SuperCoach rookies of the year. With such a low break-even, Fritsch could even push toward $400,000 which would be an outstanding result. Start him with confidence after the past few weeks and make upgrades in other parts of the ground.
Charlie Spargo ($178,700, FWD-MID) — 49 points Breakeven: -19
So you traded Spargo in over Ben Ronke last week? Unfortunately, there’s little you can do about it now. The Demon still has money to make and you can forgive a third-gamer for a score of 49. Few rookies are as consistent as Tim Kelly after all.
Cameron Rayner ($288,200, FWD-MID) — 36 points Breakeven: 65
The No.1 draft pick has experienced a fluctuating first season of SuperCoach scores, which continued against the Bulldogs when he was one of the lowest-scoring players on the ground. He has four scores close to this week’s breakeven and the wise move would be to keep him as forward or midfield cover for now.
Oscar McInerney ($179,900, RUCK) — 81 points Breakeven: -38
History tells us two ruckmen struggle to score well at the Brisbane Lions. McInerney proved that theory wrong on the weekend with 81 points as he combined with Stefan Martin for a total of 193 points. He had 13 disposals, four marks and 12 hit outs and also kicked two goals. His price is rising so you need to jump on this week if you’re interested.
Andrew Brayshaw ($268,400, MID) — 58 points Breakeven: 42
The definition of a slow burn, but Brayshaw is doing enough to stay on your midfield bench and keep his break-even at an achievable mark. Let him make another $20,000-$30,000 before cashing in.
Taylin Duman ($185,900, DEF) — 46 points Breakeven: 27
Don’t expect big scores from Duman, but he should stay in your side as defensive back up for now. His owners would love to see a return to the scoring heights of his debut, when he posted 85.
Mitch Crowden ($222,600, FWD-MID) — 38 points Breakeven: 55
Crowden could be in the gun this week if you were desperate to upgrade an under-performing forward, but a score of 50 from him should be enough to stay on your bench until Fremantle’s Round 14 bye.
Nick Coffield ($238,600, DEF-MID) — 64 points Breakeven: 21
Coffield has managed to push his breakeven back to 21 and will continue to make money as a result. He’s another player with the dreaded Round 14 bye but if you can hold onto him as cover until then, you should be well served. Be mindful of only having three trades per week during the byes and plan your moves carefully in case you need to part with him in Round 13.
Jaidyn Stephenson ($324,900, FWD-MID) — 49 points Breakeven: 63
One of Stephenson’s quieter games, but we have seen his breakeven get into this territory before and tumble in the next few weeks thanks to a couple of big scores. He’s a 50-50 proposition to trade this week but I would be leaning towards holding on.
Jack Henry ($278,000, FWD) — 35 points Breakeven: 18
It was always going to be a tough ask for Henry to back up the first hundred of his career and the owners who relied on him in the last game of the round would have been left a little flat. Geelong plays on Saturday this week, so try to loophole his score from your bench if possible.
Tim Kelly ($432,500, MID) — 91 points Breakeven: 55
No need to make any hasty calls on Geelong’s mature-age star this week, but in a couple of weeks’ time he might be at the same price as Brownlow Medallist Dustin Martin. A straight swap would be pretty hard to resist despite Dusty’s indifferent form of late.
Jack Higgins ($273,300, FWD-MID) — 51 points Breakeven: 36
Higgins posted his lowest score of 2018 against North Melbourne but there’s no need to part with him yet, unless you are caught short up forward if Damien Hardwick makes a few moves at the selection table this week and he finds himself on the outer.
BUBBLE BOYS
Lachlan Keefe ($123,900, DEF-FWD) — 57 points Breakeven: -33
If you want cover in defence or up forward, you have to bring Keefe in this week. He’s not going to be a big scorer but appeals as he will allow you to swing James Sicily between defence and attack if you have him at the opposite end. He’s scored 51 and 57 in his two matches for the Giants.
Brad Scheer ($159,400, FWD) — 61 points Breakeven: -34
Scores of 69 and 61 have been promising, but the history this year suggests paying elevated prices for rookies doesn’t work out. Are you willing to bet Scheer bucks that trend?
Matt Eagles ($123,900, DEF) — 42 points Breakeven: -15
Eagles is a great story, graduating from reality television show The Recruit to the big time, but his first two scores would indicate your trades are better used elsewhere.
Brayden Crossley ($117,300, RUCK) — 53 points Breakeven: -47
If the past few weeks of forward, ruck and now defensive carnage have taught us anything, it’s the value of decent cover. If you have enough trades up your sleeve or are holding a ruckman such as Tim English, the week has arrived to bring Crossley in as ruck cover.
Charlie Ballard ($117,300, Mid) — 42 points Breakeven: -4
The Suns youngster hasn’t scored the way we would have liked after a bit of pre-season hype. A 42 last week and just 33 on debut, leave him with a breakeven of only -4, which for a $117k rookie presents little to no value.
ROOKIES TO WATCH
Isaac Cumming ($123,900, DEF) — 64 points Breakeven: -53
The signs were positive from Cumming on his GWS debut after he came close to pushing his way into the team in Round 1. Tom Doedee and Jeremy Finlayson have made about as much money as they will, so if Cumming stays in the side for at least another two weeks he could be a decent downgrade.
Brayden Ainsworth ($117,300, MID) — 66 points Breakeven: -61
Ainsworth has only played one match, but considering midfield picks such as Dom Barry, Andrew Brayshaw and Nick Coffield are still popular selections, he’s worth monitoring if he can hold his place in the Eagles’ side.
Ed Phillips ($123,900, MID) — 87 points Breakeven: — 99
There haven’t been many positives for Saints fans this year, but debutant Phillips would have given them reason to smile at the weekend. He’s firmly on the watch list and could be considered this week if you are desperate to downgrade a player in midfield. Ideally, hold off another week and see if he can back up his 24-disposal debut.
Pass
Tom McCartin ($117,300, FWD) — 27 points Breakeven: 17
McCartin’s job security has to be a question mark with Buddy Franklin still waiting in the wings and Sam Reid also out injured. He might stay in the team for a few weeks, but can you afford to carry another donut up forward if he ends up out the side? You’ve got another week to have a look at him.
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Originally published as SuperCoach rookie bible: We review every cash cow in Round 8