AFL SuperCoach 2025: The Phantom’s rookie rankings in every position

A lot of names are being thrown around – but who are the SuperCoach rookies you need to pick? The Phantom ranks the best cheapies in every position.

The Phantom

5 min read

February 20, 2025 - 9:53AM

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The key to success in SuperCoach is nailing your rookie-price selections.

To help you sort the good from the bad, I’ve ranked the best cheapies in every position – with scoring potential, job security and price taken into account.

See full details of every 2025 cheapie in the Rookie Bible.

DEFENDERS

1. Tobie Travaglia (StK) $172,000, Def-Mid

Ross Lyon backed Darcy Wilson in from the outset last year and it might be a similar story for the draftee, who posted a SuperCoach ton in every Coates League game in 2024. Like Wilson, Travalgia’s running ability should ensure he sees plenty of footy in his debut season. Takes the No.1 spot despite his top-end price, given the uncertainty around some of the cheaper names.

2. James Leake (GWS) $119,900

The Giants have confirmed Tom Green will miss the start of the season, so Leake might really get that chance in the midfield. He arrived at the club as a versatile utility, but the 188cm Leake has been working with the midfield group this summer after averaging 27 disposals, 13 contested possessions, seven tackles, five clearances and 113 in an impressive, six-game VFL stretch onball last year. Looming as a great bench pick.

Running machine Tobie Travaglia should play early for St Kilda. Picture: Mark Stewart

3. Bo Allan (WC) $136,600, Def-Mid

After impressing at WAFL level last season, and as he proved in the practice match against Richmond, the big-bodied teenager is ready to slot straight into West Coast’s backline – and probably onto our SuperCoach benches, too.

4. Kaleb Smith (Rich) $121,200

There are spots up for grabs all over the ground at the Tigers, but, in particular, there are some obvious holes in defence after the departures of Daniel Rioli and Liam Baker. Smith started as the sub in two of his four matches last season but, after some nice moments against West Coast, more opportunity beckons in 2025.

5. Zach Reid (Ess) $119,900

We’ve been here before, I know, but if the Essendon defender is fit, he has to be in the top five. And he is at the moment, featuring in the practice match against the Bulldogs. The 22-year-old, a terrific ball user for his size, lasted just 33 per cent of the season opener in 2024, but tallied a combined 47 disposals and 22 intercepts in his first two VFL games on return.

Next in line: Saad El-Hawli, Connor O’Sullivan, Riley Bice

El-Hawli is ready to go and will move up this list if it looks like Brad Scott is going to pick him, while second-year Cat O’Sullivan had some great moments in the air against the Hawks.

MIDFIELDERS

1. Jagga Smith (Carl) $194,500

Dazzled in the Coates League (154 SuperCoach points per game), the national under-18 carnival (135) and in the VFL (103) during his draft year. And he’s dazzled on the track over summer, too. Lock.

Jagga Smith is firmly in Michael Voss’s round 1 plans. Picture: David Crosling

2. Elijah Tsatas (Ess) $191,200

The 20-year-old has come with a bullet, ticking a lot of boxes during his third pre-season. After some standout work during match sim, Tsatas attended a team-high 19 centre bounces and had the ball on a string against the Bulldogs in last Saturday’s practice match. Averaged 31 disposals and 108 SuperCoach points in 12 VFL games last year, but made just seven senior appearances, four of them sub-affected. Forget his kicking – for now. On my field.

3. Neil Erasmus (Freo) $119,900, Mid-Fwd

Dominated the WAFL last season, averaging more SuperCoach points than any other midfielder in the league and finishing the season with tallies of 167, 172 and 181 in the finals. The young West Australian was Fremantle’s seventh-highest SuperCoach scorer (74) against the Indigenous All Stars after attending 13 centre bounces. Could be one of 2025’s best cash cows, if picked.

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4. Mitch Knevitt (Geel $149,800)

My fellow SuperCoach rookie enthusiast Dan Batten has talked about this guy all summer. He’s even raised it with Knevitt himself. “Hopefully I can make them (owners) a bit of cash,” the 22-year-old said in response. And, after what we saw against the Hawks, when the tall midfielder attended more centre bounces than any other Cat, he might just do that. Gets in at No.4 ahead of a few highly-rated draftees, given his price.

5. Ed Allan (Coll $194,000)

“His potential is unbelievable … I think he can be an absolute superstar.” I still can’t get Nick Daicos’s comment about Allan out of my head. Or his 21-disposal, 10 contested-possession, six-tackle, 94-point performance on a wet night against the Demons in round 24 last year, either.

Mitch Knevitt is ready to take his chance this year. Picture: Mark Wilson

Next in line: Nathan O’Driscoll, Levi Ashcroft, Sid Draper

It’s difficult to split Allan and O’Driscoll – and I might yet start both. NOD was the highest-scoring Docker against the Indigenous All Stars, and he’s done it before. Ashcroft and Draper are very close, too, especially after Crows star Taylor Walker said the club’s prized draftee is a “very good chance” to debut in round 1. I might yet pick them all.

Others to watch: Josh Smillie, Harvey Langford, Finn O’Sullivan, Max Hall

RUCKS

1. Harry Boyd (StK) $99,100

2. Liam Reidy (Freo) $132,600

3. Harry Barnett (WC) $119,900

As I’ve stated before, Boyd is almost the bench lock of the century if Rowan Marshall misses the start of the season. And with Sean Darcy already ruled out of the opening few rounds at Fremantle, Reidy is fast-becoming an interesting option, too.

FORWARDS

1. Elijah Hewett (WC) $122,800 Fwd-Mid

“He’s had a really strong pre-season … he loves the contest, I’m glad he’s on my team this year,” new teammate Jack Graham said of Hewett after the 20-year-old’s performance through the midfield against the Tigers. A third-year breakout – of sorts – looms for Hewett, who missed all of 2024 through injury.

2. Sam Davidson (WB) $113,500

With uncertainty still surrounding Jamarra Ugle-Hagan’s immediate playing future, and Cody Weightman ruled out for three months, Davidson looks as close to a round 1 lock as any SuperCoach cheapie this year. The Fothergill-Round-Mitchell medallist – the VFL award popular cash Sam Clohesy won in 2023 – featured on a wing against Bombers, and his ability to win the ball in the air and on the ground gives coach Luke Beverdige options forward of centre.

Dan Curtin can play anywhere on the field. Picture: Dean Martin

3. Tom Lynch (Rich) $183,200

If he’s playing, can you leave the Richmond star out at that price? In his last full season – well, 18 home-and-away games – in 2022, Lynch booted 60 goals and averaged 94 points. Sure, the Tigers made the finals that year, but he’s also $183k. Will probably squeeze him back into my side – he doesn’t need to play every game.

4. Dan Curtin (Adel) $158,600

The second-year Crow said having a crack in the midfield during pre-season was “really exciting” in December. But, in mid-February, he was one of Adelaide’s better players in the club’s internal trial playing as a forward, working up the ground, in the ‘A’ team. Of course, SuperCoaches would prefer him in the midfield, but he looks on track for round 1 in his new role.

5. Joe Berry (Port) $140,500

Joe Berry or Isaac Kako? It’s the question SuperCoaches might be asking themselves after the community series. Both are first-year small forwards with plenty of tricks, who should see early-season action. But with Berry already drawing some comparisons to club legend Robbie Gray – the man who helped recruit him – I’m going with pick 15 from last year’s draft for now.