Early eye-catchers from the first-ever AFLX tournament

THE whirlwind of AFLX has come and gone, and left us with some valuable information about which players might be part of Round 1 action. Who should be on your SuperCoach radar?

James Aish looked good in the first night of AFLX. Picture: Calum Robertson

The whirlwind of AFLX has come and gone, and left us with some valuable information about which players might be part of Round 1 action.

Draftees, recruits and players returning from injury all took the opportunity to get valuable game time and impress selectors at their clubs, and in SuperCoach.

Which AFLX stars should be on your SuperCoach radar?

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Zac Bailey (Brisbane Lions) $139,800 MID

With no Cam Rayner, Bailey stepped up to jump to the front of the queue of Lions draftees hoping for a Round 1 debut. The smooth runner looked assured with the ball in hand and kicked a couple of beautiful long goals. Was one of Brisbane’s best.

Aaron Naughton marks over Sydney’s Jordan Foote. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Zac Bailey (right) lays an unconventional tackle on Harry Cunningham.

Aaron Naughton (Western Bulldogs) $166,800 DEF

The Bulldogs had a day to forget but the club’s top draft pick from last November gave fans something to smile about. Naughton gained valuable experience playing against senior opposition in the WAFL last year and looked at home in AFL company, hauling in some nice grabs and kicking two goals in his only appearance against the Swans. Looks a very promising prospect for our defence.

Allen Christensen (Brisbane Lions) $267,300 FWD

Playing his first competitive match since Round 11, 2016, Christensen looked like the player who averaged 90-plus in 2013-14. Got in three solid hitouts, kicked a bagful of goals and lifted the trophy as Lions AFLX captain. At that price you can’t go wrong.

Allen Christensen looks ready for a big season.

Bundy 🔒#supercoach

— Al Paton (@al_superfooty) February 17, 2018

Tom McCartin (Sydney) $117,300 FWD

The younger brother of Saint Paddy looked a very bright prospect in the Swans’ first game and commentators were talking up a possible early season debut. The only problem is Sydney has a very talented and settled 22. Could be a mid-season downgrade at some point.

Jack Higgins (Richmond) $130,800 FWD/MID and Nick Holman $102,400 MID

Two very popular bench selections who didn’t exactly cement their spots today. It was only AFLX but a few more kicks and goals would have been nice. Not giving up on them yet but they’ll need to go up a level in the JLT Series.

James Worpel (Hawthorn) $117,300 MID

The No. 45 draft pick is 19 but has the body to play against men and certainly didn’t look out of place on Friday night. Known for his contested work, he laid a couple of big tackles and moved well with the ball, particularly in one passage where he wove through heavy traffic then hit up a teammate with a perfect pass. His strong AFLX tournament followed a two-goal effort in the Hawks’ intraclub game last week. Keep this up and he’ll be hard for Clarko to overlook.

Paddy Dow (Carlton) $193,800 MID

Champion Data’s Twitter SuperCoach expert Fantasy Freako noted that Dow had the highest disposal per minute ratio of any Blues player over their two games. But it wasn’t just his possession numbers that caught the eye. Dow burst into the clear and generally used the ball with precision and looks set for a starting spot in Carlton’s midfield. Very pricey, though.

James Worpel impressed for Hawthorn in AFLX.

Paddy Dow showed why Carlton took him with pick 3 in the draft.

Bayley Fritsch (Melbourne) $117,300 FWD

A mature-age draftee from Casey Scorpions in the VFL, Fritsch did his Round 1 chances no harm with eight disposals and three goals in his sole appearance on Friday night. The Dees need to find more goals — is Fritsch the answer? One to watch.

Paul Ahern (North Melbourne) $123,900 FWD/MID

One of the most popular selections in SuperCoach started both of the Kangaroos’ games on the bench but hopefully that doesn’t mean too much. He was serviceable without starring in either game but veteran Scott Thompson talked him up in the commentary box. Hopefully we’ll see a bit more in the JLT Series.

Hunter Clark (St Kilda) $175,800 MID

Another teenager with the body to compete against the big boys, Clark did some nice things on the field but it was teammate David Armitage’s on-air assessment that really got our attention — he compared Clark to Marcus Bontempelli for his strength in the contest and ability to get a handball away. Armitage said both Clark and Nick Coffield ($171,300 MID) were likely to feature early in the season.

Tom Doedee (Adelaide) $123,900 DEF

There are high expectations on the third-year defender touted as Jake Lever’s replacement, and he showed on Thursday night he could be ready to step up with seven disposals (at 100 per cent kicking efficiency) in the final against Geelong. He recorded a game-high three intercept possessions in the opening game against the Magpies.

Adelaide could fill the defensive void left by Jake Lever. Picture: AAP

Cam Ellis-Yolmen (Adelaide) $263,900 MID

Redrafted as a rookie last November after missing the entire 2017 season with a knee injury, Ellis-Yolmen immediately pushed his case for an upgrade to the senior list with 11 disposals, six marks and two goals (including a “Zooper” goal) against West Coast. Would be very attractive if he was a bit cheaper.

James Aish (Collingwood) $312,700 MID

Aish hasn’t been known as a big disposal winner during his AFL career to date, but the 22-year-old shone with 10 disposals, two goals (one Zooper) and three score assists in the Magpies’ first match on Thursday night playing as a forward. Awkward price, though.

Michael Walters (Fremantle) $478,300 MID/FWD

A PCL injury ended Walters’ season prematurely last year but the exciting forward was brilliant against Port Adelaide with 10 disposals, many of them in midfield, after he was rested from the opening game. He has dual-position eligibility this year which makes him an enticing option in the forward line.

Michael Walters starred in Freo’s second game. Picture: AAP

Stefan Giro (Fremantle) $102,400 MID

No many would have heard of Giro before Thursday night, but the Dockers rookie emerged as a SuperCoach bolter against Geelong with 13 disposals and a Zooper goal. His long blonde hair will soon make him a fan favourite.

Tim Kelly (Geelong) $117,300 MID

Mature-aged recruit Kelly, who was runner-up in the Sandover Medal last year, was outstanding in the decider against the Crows with six disposals and a Zooper goal. Kelly has already earned high praise from Cat coach Chris Scott and is shaping as a likely Round 1 starter. Lock him in.

Riley Bonner (Port Adelaide) $257,300 DEF

The exciting halfback made an early impression with 13 disposals and nine marks in the first AFLX match. Bonner also kicked the very first Zooper goal. In his third AFL season, Bonner will be striving to be a regular in Power’s 22 after playing the last three games of the 2017 season, including Port’s elimination final loss.

Riley Bonner will be hoping to break into Port’s senior side for Round 1. Picture: Calum Robertson

Jack Petruccelle (West Coast) $117,300 FWD/MID

The Victorian teenager, picked up by the Eagles with pick 38 on draft night, has speed to burn as well as an eye for goal, booting five of them across both games. Still very skinny.

Hamish Brayshaw (West Coast) $117,300 MID

The brother of No. 2 pick Andrew, the brothers both played on the opening night but it was Hamish, the 68th pick in last year’s draft, who stood out more with nine disposals and three inside-40s against Collingwood. Docker Andrew picked up seven touches and a Zooper goal against the Power — but he is priced at almost $80,000 dearer.