SuperCoach rookie watch: Four must-have rookies after Round 2

CHEAPIE BIBLE: FOUR rookies are looking more like SuperCoach premiums after Round 2 and are must-haves for anyone serious about their side. TIM MICHELL takes a look at the best and worst SuperCoach cheapies.

Crow Tom Doedee and Sun Nick Holman have roared out of the block as SuperCoach cheapies in 2018.

THE time has come to make the crucial SuperCoach rookie trades before price rises that could help shape your season.

If you miss the boat on players such as Adelaide’s new defensive star Tom Doedee, Geelong’s Tim Kelly, GWS Giant Jeremy Finlayson or Gold Coast’s Nick Holman, you’ll be left regretting it when their price rises after their third match of the campaign.

SUPERCOACH RAGE TRADES: PLAYERS YOU NEED TO DUMP NOW

But with only two trades up your sleeve, you need to be selective about who you bring in.

Doedee was in 63 per cent of teams before he pumped out 115 against Richmond, mature-age draftee Kelly features in 58 per cent of sides and both Finlayson (49 per cent) and Holman (51 per cent) are popular picks.

If you don’t have this quartet, now is the time to jump on or you will be left behind.

If you don’t have Adelaide’s Tom Doedee, what are you waiting for? Picture: Dylan Coker

ADELAIDE v RICHMOND

Tom Doedee — $123,900 (115 points)

If you’re serious about having a successful Supercoach campaign this year and don’t have Doedee, trade him in this week. Scores of 86 and 115 to start his AFL career have him primed for a steep price rise and he was hugely impressive against the reigning premier with 25 disposals and six marks.

Jack Graham — $268,800 (38 points)

If you forked out the elevated price for Graham, you need scores closer to his Round 1 100 than this week’s offering. Don’t rule a line through him completely just yet and don’t trade him if you already have him. He’s still capable of a nice price rise before being downgraded.

Lachlan Murphy — $102,400 (80 points)

Might be fighting with Darcy Fogarty (44 points) for a spot in the team and did his chances of retaining his place when Tom Lynch returns no harm against the Tigers with 10 disposals and 2.2. Only bring him in if you’re desperate for the extra cash in defence as, like Fogarty, his job security if questionable.

NORTH MELBOURNE v ST KILDA

Luke Davies-Uniacke — $189,300 (77 points)

That’s more like it! After struggling to make his mark in the torrential rain against Gold Coast on debut, LDU had 16 disposals, three marks and five tackles in North Melbourne’s Good Friday win over the Saints. Stick fat if you started with him at the high price, but look elsewhere if downgrading to bring in rookie options on the bubble.

Hunter Clark — $175,800 (26 points)

More than 17,000 coaches picked Clark in their sides but need to be considering whether to bank some extra cash by downgrading him this week. Averaging 33 after two weeks is hardly going to boost his score and he’ll carry those low scores for at least a few weeks. No doubt about his talent, but Clark is going to be a slow Supercoach burn.

Ben Long — $168,200 (51 points)

This is probably about what we can expect from Long most weeks. He’s not going to be a huge possession accumulator but he’ll show flashes of brilliance and kick the odd goal to boost his score. If you’re downgrading a mid-pricer or premium to boost your bank, consider cheaper players than the emerging Saints forward.

Nick Holman has had a pair of blinders for the Suns to begin 2018.

CARLTON v GOLD COAST SUNS

Jarrod Garlett — $117,300 (36 points)

If you have made plans to stick with Garlett throughout the season, you’ll have to put up with a few scores like this. An opening-round 61 was promising, but he doesn’t score 60 or above consistently enough to be a serious downgrade option. Garlett had 11 possessions and three tackles in the Blues’ disappointing loss.

Zac Fisher — $263,600 (110 points)

Take a bow if you were one of the 2211 coaches who had the foresight to have Fisher in your team. Scores of 93 and 110 mean he’s about to skyrocket in price and if he keeps this sort of scoring up, you’ve got a player you can eventually turn into a premium scorer. He’s got more popular choices in the same price range like Tom Bell and Allen Christensen covered after a few rounds.

Nick Holman — $102,400 (92 points)

Simple equation with Holman — if you don’t have him, get him. The former Blue is in more than 50 per cent of teams, but if you’re in the minority that doesn’t have him then you are missing out. He’s averaging 94 after two rounds, is bargain basement price and laid another 11 tackles in the Suns’ victory on Saturday. Big pressure generally equates to strong Supercoach scoring.

Paddy Dow — $193,800 (46 points)

A score of 46 would have just beaten Dow’s break-even of 35 for Round 2. The No.3 draft pick is only averaging 40.5 after two games. If you overlooked Holman, Kelly or Finlayson to pick him, the time has come to consider a downgrade ahead of price changes.

You’ll have at least another week to wait for Cam O’Shea — $166,000 — who scored 48 on his Carlton debut.

COLLINGWOOD v GWS GIANTS

Zac Giles-Langdon — $117,300 (65 points)

Giles-Langdon owners would have been cursing nearing halftime on Saturday when he hadn’t touched the footy and had two points. From that point on, he scored another 63 points and kicked two goals to help the Giants hold off a plucky Collingwood. Worth persisting with but would ideally be a bench option.

Jeremy Finlayson — $123,900 (106 points)

He’s got defensive-midfield swing, loves to kick the footy and has already shown his ability to rack up Supercoach points with scores of 87 and 106 to start his AFL career. Put him in the Doedee, Holman and Kelly mould. You simply have to have them and would be comfortable starting Finlayson, especially as a defender.

Sam Murray — $123,900 (58 points)

In 63 per cent of sides, Murray has made a promising enough opening to the campaign with 72 and 58 to average 65 after two rounds. If he continues to score in that range, he’s the perfect bench option and you would be comfortable starting him in the sixth defensive slot for some time yet. A certain hold if he is in your team and worth considering trading in if you already have the higher-scoring rookies ahead of his price jump.

Jaidyn Stephenson — $180,300 (64 points)

A similar score to his 62 on debut for the Magpies. Stephenson is already in 26 per cent of teams and worth persisting with if you have him, but try to add another $60,000 to your bank by choosing a cheaper option if you are downgrading. His match included 13 disposals, two marks and four tackles.

BRISBANE LIONS v MELBOURNE

Bayley Fritsch — $117,300 (60 points)

An average score of about 60 seems likely for Fritsch and he’s posted that exact score in his first two matches. You want tackles and goals from a player filling Fritsch’s role and he managed three tackles and 2.1 against the Lions. Hold him and be happy for him to be your on-field rookie during the early rounds.

Cameron Rayner — $202,800 (20 points)

An average of 29 points after two rounds for the No.1 draft pick. His break-even would have been 35 had prices changed after Round 1 and there’s a chance his original price could fall. Do you downgrade him and bank the extra cash? It needs to be considered.

FREMANTLE v ESSENDON

Andrew Brayshaw — $198,300 (62 points)

Brayshaw is set for a steady price rise is he continues to average around 60, having yet reached the scores he managed during the JLT Series. Nick Holman looks a better on-field option at this point and you’ll need to question whether you are happy with an elevated-priced rookie sitting on your bench.

Bailey Banfield — $123,400 (64 points)

A solid midfield bench pick who did some nice things against Essendon, logging 14 possessions and taking six marks. Let his price rise in your seventh or eighth midfield slot before deciding whether to upgrade him or make some cash from your investment.

Josh Begley — $209,700 (52 points)

The small forward role has not traditionally been the most Supercoach friendly and Begley’s high price is another turn off. The forward rookie positions are the most difficult to nail this year, but Begley doesn’t seem to be the answer. He had 12 possessions and booted 2.1 against the Dockers.

You have at least another week to have a look at first-round draft pick Adam Cerra (61 points, $184,800) and Mitch Crowden (29 points, $117,300).

WESTERN BULLDOGS v WEST COAST

Tim English — $134,700 (33 points)

Not the return most would have been hoping for who traded English in after Matthew Kreuzer and Paddy Ryder were ruled out after he scored 83 points in Round 1. He’s still the best of the rookie-priced ruckmen but your trades are better used elsewhere.

Aaron Naughton — $166,800 (48 points)

Crunch time for those who started with Naughton. After 25 and 48 in his opening two games, do you keep the faith or turn him into another defender with a higher ceiling?

Billy Gowers — $117,400 (57 points)

The former Blue is playing the pressure forward role for the Bulldogs and doing a decent job, but it’s never been a position which has commanded high scores. An average of between 50-60 looms and Gowers should be a reliable enough money maker on your bench.

Liam Ryan — $117,300 (115 points)

The revelation of Round 2. After an opening-round 38, it would have been understandable if you left Ryan on your bench. If you didn’t, or he replaced Toby Greene after he was a late withdrawal, then you were repaid in spades. 14 disposals, six marks and 3.3 was a brilliant return for the excitement machine.

Jake Waterman — $123,900 (78 points)

Waterman should be a fixture in the Eagles’ side as long as Josh Kennedy is sidelined. 13 possessions, four marks and two goals resulted in a strong return of 78 points, but his long-term job security is still a worry.

Dan Venables — $123,900 (59 points)

Venables booted 3.1 from 12 disposals and managed 59 points, a 22-point increase on his Round 1 total of 37. He looks a decent bet for a bench spot in the forward line and should continue to rise in price through the first half of 2018.

Ed Richards ($135,300, 49 points) and Willie Rioli ($123,900, 31 points) won’t rise in value until at least Round 4 and are worth another look.

SYDNEY SWANS v PORT ADELAIDE

Todd Marshall — $194,300 (93 points)

You would have been laughed out of Sydney if you had suggested Marshall would outscore Lance Franklin in this fixture. Three goals helped boost his total and he was in only 813 teams before this round. At least worth consideration if a mid-pricer hasn’t worked out as he seems to be in Ken Hinkely’s plans for the revamped Port forward line.

Riley Bonner — $257,300 (76 points)

A more solid than spectacular outing for Bonner after his 119 last week, but he’s set for a hefty price rise if he delivers a similar score in Round 3. Plenty of coaches are already weighing up downgrading an underperforming premium such as Michael Hibberd to fit Bonner into their back six. He’s a higher price, but having only played five games he’s still worth considering as a rookie.

Tim Kelly leads the race for SuperCoach rookie of the year. Picture: Daniel Wilkins

GEELONG v HAWTHORN

Tim Kelly — $117,300 (117 points)

No matter who it forces you to overlook for a week or two, get Kelly in this week if he’s not already a starting fixture in your team. His price is projected to rise by $127,000 after Round 3 after scores of 118 and 117 in his first two matches for the Cats. He is scoring like a premium midfielder and it was heartening to see his lofty Round 1 score wasn’t impacted by the return of Patrick Dangerfield.

Lachlan Fogarty — $117,300 (47 points)

Not a must-have rookie, but if he plays in Round 3 and maintains his average of about 60 points he should earn another $50,000 at a minimum. If you are intent on downgrading in your midfield and have most of the rookies set to skyrocket in price, then consider Fogarty for a bench spot.

Jack Henry — $123,900 (27 points)

Henry was only in 263 teams before making his Geelong debut and probably won’t be added to many after a quiet start to his career. Forward rookie options are difficult to come by this year though, so his progress is worth monitoring.

Mark O’Connor — $123,900 (62 points)

O’Connor was a late inclusion to the Geelong side but performed admirably with 12 possessions and seven marks. He’s only on the fringes of the side at the moment, but watch to see if he can maintain his spot. Ideally, he could become a mid-season downgrade to bank some cash when your starting rookies have matured in value.