SuperCoach: Top 15 midfield rookie picks

PICKING the right cheap midfielders is the key to SuperCoach success. These are the names that should be in your squad.

Essendon training at Tullamarine Darcy Parish & Martin Gleeson Picture:Wayne Ludbey

GETTING your cheap midfielders right can make or break your SuperCoach season.

You get to pick more of them than any other position and they usually score more points — and make more money — than bench players in other parts of the ground.

So who should we be picking in these crucial spots this season?

Under-18 expert and SuperCoach nerd Paige Cardona predicts the top 15 midfield rookies for 2016 (in no particular order — but you really should pick the first guy).

Christian Petracca (Melb) $123,900 mid/fwd

Will we or won’t we see Petracca during the NAB Challenge? That is the question. After a faultless pre-season returning from a season-ending knee injury last year, the gun midfielder suffered a broken toe playing muck-around basketball, which ruled him out for at least four weeks. It means Petracca could have a delayed start to the AFL season, but you’ll struggle to find anybody who isn’t willing to start with the DPP-status gun.

Jarrad Jansen (BL) $123,900

After failing to break through for an AFL game in two seasons at Geelong, Jansen joined Brisbane in the hope of more opportunities. Standing 192cm, the big-bodied midfielder will be a welcome addition to Brisbane’s midfield, with the likes of Lewis Taylor, Dayne Zorko, Allen Christensen, Daniel Rich and Tom Rockliff all under 185cm. He’s a gun tackler, laying six in his NAB Challenge debut.

James Polkinghorne (Ess) $123,900

Winning Essendon’s VFL best-and-fairest last year, the former Lion looks ready to resume midfield duties in a depleted Bomber line-up. After averaging 20 disposals and kicking 14 goals at VFL level, Polkinghorn will be a walk-up start for Essendon which will welcome his hardness around the contest will be welcomed. Pop him on your bench, he’s a cheap ride to a premium player later down the line.

Jacob Hopper (GWS) $193,800

A ready-made beast whose game is made for SuperCoach, the GWS academy product looms as an instant Adam Treloar replacement. Hopper is a big-time accumulator, efficient by foot, rates highly at the clearances and has an impact on games with the ability to push forward to hit the scoreboard — he averaged 157 SuperCoach points at the under-18 championships and 2.2 goals a game in the TAC Cup. Hopper isn’t cheap, but should his job security match his price, lock him up and throw away the key.

Jacob Hopper is ready step straight into the GWS midfield. Picture: Mark Evans

David Cuningham (Carl) $121,800

The smooth-moving midfielder has been Carlton’s standout first-year player on the track this summer, moving with ease around the packs, impressing in running sessions and showing his deadeye for goal. The speedster offers composure and class, something that’s been found wanting in Carlton’s midfield in recent times. The Blues’ hopes won’t be lumped on Cunningham, but expect him to be given opportunity in Carlton’s midfield early in the season.

Darcy Parish (Ess) $202,800

The Bombers were stoked to see Parish slip past Melbourne and into their hands at pick 5 in last year’s draft, and with the bans in place for 12 current Bombers, expect Parish to lap up the opportunity to play early senior footy. The blond bombshell cracks in hard to win his own footy, but has the polish and nous around goals to become a headache for the opposition. If you can afford him, he’s worth it.

Jade Gresham (StK) $144,300

The pint-sized midfielder looks ready to burst his way into the Saints best 22, with a 71-point showing in NAB1. Gresham finds the footy, can kick goals, and cracks in hard to win contested possessions. The prime mover is known for his clutch moments, too. He had 42 disposals in a TAC Cup game late last year — enough said.

Dean Gore (Adel) $123,900

If Jack Crisp taught us anything, it’s that players involved as streak knives in big-name player moves aren’t to be taken lightly. Gore has slotted seamlessly into life at the Crows, and that was reflected in his 85-point game against West Coast. There are spots open in Adelaide’s midfield, with Gore expected to grab one of them.

Rhys Mathieson (BL) $117,300

The wrecking ball midfielder slipped massively on draft night, right into the lap of the Lions. His appetite to hunt the ball was on show in his first NAB Challenge appearance, racking up plenty of free kicks for getting first to the footy. There were questions on his endurance (12.5 beep at the NAB AFL Combine), but those were put to bed with a four-quarter performance against the Suns. He averaged 122 SuperCoach pints in the TAC Cup. Lock him in if named in Round 1.

Rhys Mathieson has a point to prove at the Lions.

Callum Mills (Syd) $211,800

A princely price for a first-year rookie, but the academy prodigy looms as a walk-up start to Sydney’s best 22. The retirement of Rhyce Shaw has created an opening at half-back, a position Mills dominated against Port Adelaide. If you can find the cash, get on board.

Ryan Clarke (NM) $117,300

So impressive has Clarke been this pre-season, the Roos gave the former Eastern Ranges midfielder a contract extension without having played a game. That was justified in Clarke’s first hit out, finishing with 83 SuperCoach points and showing class, poise and serious confidence in North’s win against the Saints. The Kangaroos team is a hard one to break into but Clarke adds an extra dimension to the midfield and could play from Round 1.

Ben Keays (BL) $117,300

A goalkicking midfielder with a knack for finding the footy, Keays comes in at a basement price after being picked up as an academy selection at pick 24 in last year’s draft. The classy on-baller looks likely to start forward to the Lions, whose midfield is stacked with talent. Might find himself in and out of the side so track closely.

Sam Menegola (Geel) $117,300

Could it be third time lucky? After spending time on the Fremantle and Hawthorn rookie lists, Menegola was drafted by Geelong after averaging 27 disposals for Subiaco in the WAFL last year, winning a flag and coming third overall in the Sandover Medal? He kicks goals, rates strongly at the clearances, and finds the footy thanks to his big endurance capacity. If he gets a start in the new-look Cats midfield he could be a steal.

Brent Macaffer (Coll) $174,200

A fitter, leaner Brent Macaffer has returned from an ACL injury, but won’t resume his customary tagging role. Instead, a return to the forward line is the likely outcome. But is he still in the Magpies’ best 22? He was named in the leadership group having not played a single game in 2015; make of that what you will.

Josh Dunkley (WB) $117,300

The Swans father-son candidate is flying in his first pre-season at the Bulldogs, kicking two goals and being named in the best in an intra-club hitout. Mature for his age, Dunkley played six VFL games for Richmond last year and is ready to go.

AND KEEP AN EYE ON ...

Ryan Davis (GC) $102,400

The Swan Districts star gets a second crack having played 14 games with Eagles before being cut in 2009. The 26-year old rookie averaged 21 disposals, six tackles and bagged 24 goals from the midfield last year. Rodney Eade is a fan, but he’ll need to be upgraded to see any action. He’s also competing with pre-season bolter Darcy Macpherson for a rookie promotion.

Nathan Freeman (StK) $123,900

Continuous soft tissue injuries has plagued the former top-10 draft pick who ripped his tendon off the bone a few years ago in the pre-season competition. A switch to the Saints raised eyebrows, but with Freeman having re-injured his problematic hamstring recently you’re best to hold off until he’s returned to full health. A Luke Shuey clone waits if he can get his body right.

Jack Trengove (Melb) $156,600

Remember this guy? After constant foot injuries over the past 18 months, the former Melbourne captain seems to have turned the corner and could be ready to resume his career. With averages in past seasons ranging from 72 (2015) to 87.7 (2011) Trengove is an easy stepping stone to a premium midfielder midyear.

Paige Cardona is the founder of SuperCoach Paige

and is on Twitter @paigecardona