SuperCoach 2015: top rookies and value picks tough to find in defence this season
SUPERCOACH 2015: Defence looms as the most difficult position to pick in 2015. Rookies and value picks will be crucial.
SuperCoach
Don't miss out on the headlines from SuperCoach. Followed categories will be added to My News.
DEFENCE looms as possibly the most difficult of positions to pick in terms of rookies and value picks ahead of the NAB Challenge.
SuperCoach season 2015 looms as a lean year for the humble rookie-priced defender, with not much on offer at first look.
FORWARDS: THE ROOKIES YOU NEED TO CONSIDER
MIDFIELD: IT’S ALL ABOUT VALUE FOR MONEY
SUPERCOACH IS RICHER THAN EVER. DON’T MISS OUT, JOIN NOW
Recently drafted backmen Jake Lever, Brayden Maynard and Hugh Goddard have all had rave
reports from club insiders, while second-year Swan Zak Jones has put his hand as a candidate to
take over Nick Malceski’s role.
Old heads Beau Waters, Brendon Whitecross and Nathan Brown provide some relief if they can avoid injury but which rookies are best ahead of 2015?
BRAYDEN MAYNARD (Collingwood) $117,300
Collingwood are still revelling in the fact they were able to secure former Sandringham Dragon,
Brayden Maynard in November’s draft at pick 30, after being tipped to go as early as 14 to Adelaide in the lead up.
Nonetheless, Maynard was picked on the basis that he could play an immediate role as early as Round 1, and the defender with a Matthew Suckling-esque left foot could find himself stationed on Collingwood’s half back in 2015.
At the Under-18 National Championships, Maynard averaged 85 SuperCoach points playing off half back and half forward, and averaged a huge 126 SuperCoach points at TAC Cup level playing mostly as a utility.
JAKE LEVER (Adelaide) $157,300
A knee injury put a line through Jake Lever’s 2014 campaign with the Calder Cannons and Vic Metro, but it’s not going to stop his 2015 assault
If early murmurs are to be believed the prodigious talent has just about picked himself for Adelaide’s Round 1 opener should he continue to stay fit and tick all the boxes.
Not many players can play a key position post down back and still manage to rack up loads of the footy.
The 193cm defender reads the play exceptionally well, and ranked elite for intercept marks, rebound 50’s, disposal efficiency and disposals by position in his last full season in 2013.
In that season, Lever averaged 18 touches, three intercept marks and 95 SuperCoach points for the Cannons - ridiculous numbers for a player who identifies as a key defender.
HUGH GODDARD (St Kilda) $122,300
Anyone that has watched Hugh Goddard at a junior level would know that if he’s played as a
defender, his impact on a match is certainly felt.
Goddard’s switch from as forward in 2013 to a defender in 2014 exposed a skill set that made him an above-average disposal winner by position and also rated elite for intercept marks, while running at a disposal efficiency of 73 per cent.
The cousin of former Saint, Brendon Goddard, averaged a whopping 93 SuperCoach points when played as defender last year, and averaged five spoils, 2.7 intercept marks losing just three of his 13 one-on-one contests.
The No.21 draft pick looms as a Round 1 starter, and will be a popular backline option or conversely can be picked up as a forward.
BEAU WATERS (West Coast) $267,200
Don’t get me wrong, everybody loves Beau – but us SuperCoach folk have been burned, put out, lured back in, and burned again.
And another setback for the Eagles defender will no doubt put plenty of people off for good.
However, Adam Simpson is desperate to get him on the field in 2015 and if he plays he must be considered.
He’s played 111 out of a possible 220 home and away games since being drafted, but if we hark back to the year he was All Australian in 2012, and was a must-have defender, averaging 100.3 SuperCoach Points … well then yes, GRAB HIM!
He is a bargain this year, and just about everyone will be on him … a bit like they were last year with perennial burn-man, Shaun Higgins and that didn’t work out so bad, did it?
The upside is too good to refuse.
NATHAN BROWN (Collingwood) $146,900
I have never once advocated SuperCoach folk to pick Nathan Brown, nor am I ready to become his cheerleader.
However, given we are seriously struggling for cheap options in defence with serious job security we might all have to reconsider.
When fit, Brown is well entrenched in Collingwood’s best 22, however in SuperCoach terms he is a ‘in case of emergency, break glass’ kind of player to keep firmly stationed on our bench until his ceiling falls out, which in essence could be only 50k more than what he is currently priced.
The upside of picking Brown on your bench is that he’ll regularly play each week, the downside, well – he’s averaged just 41.3 SuperCoach points throughout the past three years.
I’m not playing funny buggers, but I would not be surprised if Brown indeed dropped in price!
Starting with him means an automatic trade within the opening six rounds, anyway. Willing be proven wrong though.
DANIEL McKENZIE (St Kilda) $117,300
McKenzie had somewhat of a yoyo year in terms of his disposal consistency, averaging 14
disposals a game for Oakleigh in the TAC Cup, and only passing the 20 disposal mark on three
occasions.
McKenzie is quick, he’s an elite mark overhead, and has some fantastic defensive qualities.
His kicking weights perfectly for those leading into space, but his inconsistency may mean he isn’t in the frame for Round 1.
The Saints will use him off half back, and at the very least I would expect him to debut. I’m just not so sure on his job security at the moment, watch his preseason closely.
DILLON VIOJO-RAINBOW (Carlton) $117,300
Some … where …. Dillon Viojo-Rainbow!
Can the man with the best name in the AFL (sorry, Steele) become the Wizard of Carlton?
Puns aside, Viojo-Rainbow has already been a popular choice among SuperCoaches early this preseason, particularly because of his price point.
He is in the mould of a Shannon Hurn, with a thumping left peg and a willingness to run and carry the ball, ‘DVR’ is an exciting player but his inconsistencies throughout his junior career have meant there is a colossal gap between his best and worst football.
As a rebounding defender at the Western Jets, he averaged 17 disposals, rating elite for intercept marks and inside 50’s at TAC Cup level.
He has been exposed defensively one-on-one, which is why I believe he’ll serve a bit of time in the VFL first before Mick Malthouse allows him to make the step up in pressure and intensity.
BRENDON WHITECROSS (Hawthorn) $198,700
Since rupturing his ACL in the 2013 preliminary final, Brendon Whitecross is on the comeback from his second knee reconstruction.
If he can regain a spot as a Round 1 starter, it’ll be to the delight of SuperCoaches looking for defensive reinforcements.
He played the entire season in 2012, averaging 85 SuperCoach points and at 25, his best footy is still ahead of him.
The only question is whether or not he can regain his spot in Hawthorn’s best 22 back. One would suggest so, but Hawthorn’s All-Star team mean competition for spots are hot.
Monitor his preseason games, if selected early – you’d be mad not to jump on for a good little money earner.
ZAK JONES (Sydney) $182,800
Famous for laying six tackles in 41 minutes during his debut last year, Jones is about to cannon
himself into the Swans’ best 22 on his defensive side alone.
He ranked third at the Swans for tackling efficiency, however in the NEAFL he found plenty of the ball, averaging 22 disposals of which 14 were uncontested, including five tackles and three inside 50’s per game.
The question mark is whether or not Jones can hold his spot in the side.
Nick Malceski’s departure means Dane Rampe might step into the vacant role, Gary Rohan looked comfortable off half back late last year also and Isaac Heeney could arguably start his career off half back, such is the strength of Sydney’s midfield.
Track his preseason closely.
Paige Cardona is a SuperCoach blogger. Follow her on Twitter @SuperCoachPaige and get more SuperCoach tips at scpaige.com.au
Originally published as SuperCoach 2015: top rookies and value picks tough to find in defence this season
The AFL trades set to deliver big SuperCoach bargains
Bailey Smith and Clayton Oliver could be huge SuperCoach steals at a new club in 2025. Which other names should be on the watch list? Here are the moves to watch.
AFL obsession to NBL addiction: How SuperCoach hooked me on hoops
I hadn’t watch the NBL since the Andrew Gaze and Shane Heal days. Now I’m taking my son to United games and watching Phoenix on Kayo because of one reason.