The 10 rookie-price players to start in your SuperCoach team and the ones to put on the field

With the Round 1 teams in, and the first game run and won, The Phantom names the top-10 rookie-price players to start in your SuperCoach team and the ones to put on the field.

• REVEALED: The Phantom’s final team
• The Hipster’s team revealed
• Mr. SuperCoach’s team revealed
• Ultimate SuperCoach Cheat Sheet
• The must-have player on every line

With the Round 1 teams in, The Phantom names the top-10 rookie-price players to start in your SuperCoach team.

Just pick Sam Walsh in SuperCoach!

1. Sam Walsh (Carl)

$207,300, Mid

The No. 1 draft pick, who averaged 142 SuperCoach points per game at the under 18 championships last year, has lived up to the hype. The 18-year-old ranked first at Calrton for inside 50s and second for contested possessions and disposals in the JLT Series. Despite the top-end price tag, Walsh’s scoring should still see him become the best cash cow of 2019.

Walsh tallied 24 disposals, six marks and 68 points in Round 1 - six clangers hurt his score.

2. Will Setterfield (Carl)

$144,900, Fwd/Mid

The former Giant, who was the only midfielder in the TAC Cup to rank elite for goals, score assists and tackles per game in his draft year of 2016, is the best option under $200k in the forward line this season. And by some margin after showing his scoring potential with a SuperCoach ton in the JLT Series opener.

Setterfield recorded 69 points, on the back of 24 disposals and eight contested possesions against the Tigers.

3. Zak Butters (Port)

$157,800, Mid

The kid has it all. Courage, skill and an elite footy-IQ. And the 18-year-old, who averaged 110 SuperCoach points per game at TAC Cup level last season, is already a favourite of coach Ken Hinkley. If his slight body holds up, expect Butters to, not only play majority of games in his debut season, but have an impact. His scoring in the JLT Series suggests he’ll make money quickly, too.

Charlie Constable in action for Geelong in the VFL last season.

4. Charlie Constable (Geel)

$123,900, Mid

Geelong’s midfield is a tough one to break into but, at 191cm, expect the tall midfielder to add another element to the engine room in 2019. After just missing out on an Round 1 debut last year, Constable put together an impressive first season against men in the VFL, averaging 24 disposals, 10 contested possessions and four tackles per game. And, with two pre-seasons under his belt, he’ll be ready to withstand the rigours of senior footy better than most first-year draftees.

5. Jordan Clark (Geel)

$144,300, Def

While it’s not yet official, like Constable, the 18-year-old is set to debut against the Magpies on Friday night. The composed Clark, whose speed off half-back has been a highlight over the pre-season, ranked fifth at the Cats for intercepts in the JLT Series and was the No. 1 player for metres gained at last year’s Under-18 championships. Geelong aren’t afraid to give the kids a real crack.

6. Sam Collins (GC)

$188,900, Def

Don’t worry about the concern over Collins spending more time deep in defence after the injury to Rory Thompson, he’s still likely to score well enough to justify the elevated price tag. And the 24-year-old, who took 110 intercept marks in the VFL last season – the most ever recorded by Champion Data in a single season – appears to have the best job security of any rookie-price option under $200k.

7. Bailey Scott (NM)

$117,300, Mid

He’s been the cash cow bolter of the pre-season after being taken at pick No. 59 in last year’s national draft as a father-son selection. The 18-year-old, who averaged 102 points at the Under-18 championships last year all-but confirmed his place in the Kangaroos’ Round 1 side with 19 disposals, two goals and 89 points in the second week of the JLT Series. He can win the ball on the inside and the outside but it’s his work ethic and second-efforts that would’ve pleased coach Brad Scott the most.

8. Michael Gibbons (Carl)

$102,400, Mid

In the final five games in the VFL last season, Gibbons, a dual J.J Listen Medallist as the competition’s best player, posted scores of 128, 125, 171, 135 and 118. While we can’t expect these numbers in a small-forward role he will play for the Blues in the season opener on Thursday night, at the bottom-price, Gibbons is a must for your bench.

As expected not a big score from Gibbons on Thursday night, posting just 35 points but his role is clear.

Power draftee Xavier Duursma, tackles Adelaide’s Chayce Jones in the pre-season practice match.

9. Xavier Duursma (Port)

$130,800, Def/Mid

Duursma, who breaks the lines and can play in multiple positions, was the only midfielder in the TAC Cup last year to rank elite for intercept possessions, score involvements and goals. And it’s that flexibility that is likely to keep the 18-year-old, who averaged 23 disposals and 124 points last year, in Port Adelaide’s side when a number of first-choice players return. After 24 disposals, 11 marks and 78 points in the second week of the JLT Series and the confirmation of his Round 1 debut, The Phantom will be starting on field this week.

10. Darcy Moore (Coll)

$239,400, Def/Fwd

At the price, Moore’s scoring will need to be substantially greater than the rookie-price options available for $100k less. And, after an impressive pre-season, which saw the intercept-defender take the most kick-ins of any player in the JLT Series, the 23-year-old is likely to do so.

**11. Jack Scrimshaw (Haw)

$149,800, Def

I know this is a top-10 list but after the neat-kicking left-footer was named for the Hawks, despite Alastair Clarkson’s mid-week comments about his conditioning, he has to make the list. The Phantom will be sticking with Duursman but, after tallying 12 disposals and 52 points in the first quarter of the second JLT Series match, Scrimshaw’s scoring potential is, arguably, greater.

Unlucky to miss

Jack Petruccelle, Matthew Parker, Willem Drew, Marty Hore, Tom Atkins

Others to consider

Chris Burgess, Noah Balta, Jackson Hately, Luke Davies-Uniacke, Bailey Smith, Chayce Jones

WHO TO START?

You’ve picked them but now it’s time to decide to who makes the starting line-up While Round 1 on-field selection is always the most difficult, here’s The Phantom’s top-5 in each position.

DEFENCE

1. Jordan Clark

2. Sam Collins

3. Xavier Duursma

4. Jack Scrimshaw

5. Marty Hore

MIDFIELD

1. Sam Walsh

2. Zak Butters

3. Charlie Constable

4. Bailey Scott

5. Jackson Hately

RUCK

No.

FORWARD

1. Darcy Moore

2. Will Setterfield

3. Willem Drew

4. Matthew Parker

5. Jack Petruccelle

Originally published as The 10 rookie-price players to start in your SuperCoach team and the ones to put on the field