AFL SuperCoach 2018: Review of every rookie from Round 1

WERE your SuperCoach rookies a success or failure over the weekend? Here’s a rundown of how every rookie-priced player performed in Round 1.

Tom Doedee is in more than 50 per cent of teams.

ROOKIES are the difference between a disappointing SuperCoach weekend and a powerhouse rankings surge — just ask everyone who started Aaron Naughton on the field and left Tom Doedee on the bench last weekend.

We don’t want to be making trades this week unless it’s absolutely necessary, but next week is a big week for trading; it’s essential to get the right rookies in (and the wrong ones out) before prices rise following a players’ third matches.

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MARKET WATCH: NIC NAT LEAPS INTO SUPERCOACH FRAME

To give you an idea of who to watch in Round 2 when preparing your trade plans — or deciding which rookies to start on field this weekend — here’s our rundown of every rookie-priced player in Round 1 (and a couple that are slightly more expensive).

Richmond v Carlton

Jack Graham — $268,800 (100 points)

You would be feeling satisfied if you were one of the 7.7 per cent of coaches who paid the elevated price to land the hard-tackling Tiger. Consider Graham as a downgrade target next week if you have a mid-pricer or premium who has underperformed.

Zac Fisher — $263,600 (93 points)

A mid-priced forward only 1.2 per cent of us took a punt on, but which paid off handsomely in Round 1 when he scored 93. Fisher had 21 disposals against the Tigers.

Paddy Dow — $193,800 (35 points)

Dow had some nice moments on debut but a score of 35 points would have disappointed those who paid the elevated price for the No.3 draft pick. Better downgrade options if you need to bank money to trade in a premium such as Patrick Dangerfield.

Jarrod Garlett — $117,300 (61 points)

A promising start from the former Sun. An average of about 60 would elevate his price nicely, remembering he averaged 56.6 in eight games with Gold Coast in 2016. A decent bench option but don’t be relying on him.

Popular rookie Tom Doedee didn’t let his SuperCoaches down. Picture: Dylan Coker

Essendon v Adelaide

Joshua Begley — $209,700 (61 points)

Begley collected 11 possessions, but crucially had five tackles to boost his score against the Crows. That sort of pressure should keep him in Essendon’s team. If he backs it up in Round 2, consider as a downgrade target.

Tom Doedee — $123,900 (86 points)

An eye-catching start from the most popular rookie pick of 2018. Doedee is already in 58.4 per cent of teams and if you don’t have him, you’ll need to burn a trade in the next two weeks before his price skyrockets.

Darcy Fogarty — $153,300 (48 points)

Contested well in attacking 50, but looks likely to be squeezed out when Taylor Walker returns. There are better downgrade options up forward.

Lachlan Murphy — $102,400 (32 points)

Called up for his debut in place of Tom Lynch, Murphy was the lowest-scoring Crow with 32 points. But at D8 in many sides, you don’t need to be too concerned about his job security.

Cameron Rayner made a slow start. Picture: AAP

St Kilda vs Brisbane Lions

Cam Rayner — $202,800 (38 points)

A modest start to his AFL career from last year’s No.1 draft pick. Rayner had eight disposals, two marks and registered his first AFL goal. If you paid the top rookie price, you’ll want his average to climb to at least 60 points per game.

Paddy McCartin — $234,500 (24 points)

The lowest-scoring Saint in Saturday’s win. Some coaches were considering Paddy as an alternative to Allen Christensen or Tom Bell, but you’d be just as well served banking some cash and bringing in a first-year rookie.

Hunter Clark — $175,800 (40 points)

Another high draft pick who posted a low score on debut. His 12 disposals and three marks are decent numbers, but you would want his tackle count (one) to increase to generate more points.

Ben Long — $168,200 (61 points)

Just about the pick of the higher-priced forward rookies in Round 1. Long had 15 disposals, six marks and three tackles. Worth consideration if he posts a similar number in Round 2 before his price jumps.

Expect more SuperCoaches to jump on Riley Bonner. Picture: Sarah Reed

Port Adelaide vs Fremantle

Riley Bonner — $257,300 (119 points)

All aboard. Bonner’s ownership was less than 10 per cent before this monster effort against Fremantle. As The Phantom predicted, Bonner was the No.1 outlet from defence for the Power and his score showed.

Dom Barry — $117,300 (44 points)

Has to be some question marks over whether he holds his spot when Port Adelaide is full strength, but a solid bench option until then.

Bailey Banfield — $123,400 (51 points)

Better suited as a bench option. We need to see more of him at the top level to be convinced he can be a starter in midfield.

Andrew Brayshaw — $198,300 (58 points)

The No.2 pick started strongly and looked capable of producing a debut to match his huge JLT Series numbers, but faded during the second half. Still worth trusting him as an on-field option for now.

Luke Davies-Uniacke had a tough night in atrocious conditions. Picture: AAP

Gold Coast v North Melbourne

Nick Holman — $102,400 (96 points)

A brilliant start to the former Carlton defender’s second coming. He relished the wet slog in Cairns with 13 disposals and 13 tackles. Ignore him at your peril.

Darcy MacPherson — $257,000 (81 points)

MacPherson was the forgotten mid-priced forward in pre-season but seems to be in new coach Stuart Dew’s plans. He had nine tackles which boosted his score.

Luke Davies-Uniacke — $189,300 (25 points)

A tough night for the No.4 draft selection and the 22 per cent of coaches who own him. But he has to be forgiven, considering he could hardly have debuted in worse conditions.

Jaidyn Stephenson was solid for the Magpies. Picture: Nicole Garmston

Hawthorn v Collingwood

Ben Crocker — $190,600 (59 points)

Jagged two goals but also booted three behinds which would have thrust his score above 80 had he converted. On a night where many Magpies lowered their colours, he did enough to hold his forward line spot.

Jaidyn Stephenson — $180,300 (62 points)

Hardly the worst Magpie on a dirty night for Collingwood. With 16 disposals, four marks and three tackles to start his AFL career, Stephenson looks set for plenty of senior action this year.

Sam Murray — $123,900 (72 points)

The ex-Swan is one of the must-have rookies. He didn’t quite hit the heights of his first JLT Series outing but we can’t be disappointed if he averages 75 until he makes enough money to be upgraded or turned into a mid-season rookie debutant.

GWS Giants v Western Bulldogs

Jeremy Finlayson — $123,900 (87 points)

A terrific first outing from the young Giant. Many coaches chose to start him after he was named on a wing and were rewarded with a great score. Start him again with confidence in Round 2.

Zac Giles-Langdon — $117,300 (47 points)

Not the debut we were hoping for from Giles-Langdon in a game where GWS racked up 69 inside-50s. He only had seven disposals and three marks but did tally six tackles. Keep him in your forward line and monitor in coming weeks.

Tim English — $134,700 (83 points)

Promising signs from the developing Bulldogs ruckman. If he keeps playing like this, English is definitely worth consideration before his price rises in Round 3. A total of 13 disposals, six marks and 12 hit outs is a strong return from a rookie ruckman.

Aaron Naughton — $166,800 (25 points)

A few coaches will be worried on the back of this performance from Naughton on debut. But with Murray, Finlayson and Doedee providing safe defensive cover, stick him on your bench and don’t burn a trade this early.

Pick Tim Kelly with confidence. Picture: Getty Images

Melbourne v Geelong

Tim Kelly — $117,300 (118 points)

What a start by the mature-age Geelong recruit. Start Kelly in your midfield with supreme confidence after this superb debut against the Demons.

Zach Guthrie — $194,400 (86 points)

The younger Guthrie sibling produced the best Supercoach performance of his career to date, backing up scores of 75 and 66 in last year’s finals series. An inflated price, but don’t rule him out if he plays well in Round 2 as his job security looks decent.

Lachlan Fogarty — $117,300 (82 points)

A return of 20 disposals, four marks and two tackles on debut for the Western Jets draftee. There’s a lot to like about Fogarty and if he keeps his spot in the Geelong side, you might want to be on board before his price rises.

Bailey Fritsch — $117,300 (60 points)

Fritsch managed about what we can expect his average to be in his first game for the Demons, but is still a solid option to fill the last on-field spot in your forward line.

West Coast Eagles v Sydney

Liam Ryan — $117,300 (38 points)

Daniel Venables — $123,900 (37 points)

Put these two West Coast rookies in the same boat. They don’t appear likely to post big scores and if they do, it will likely be accompanied by a few quieter weeks. Worth a spot on the bench, but start others if possible.

Jake Waterman — $123,900 (51 points)

Josh Kennedy’s ankle is set to keep him out for another 2-3 weeks, so you should get a small price rise out of Waterman. The question mark is whether he can keep his spot when Kennedy returns and he’s probably not worth burning a trade to bring in.