Supercoach whispers: Power quartet set to debut, Freo declares Nat Fyfe a certain starter

The JLT Series is done for another year and you’re running out of time to make the calls that will define your SuperCoach season. These whispers will help you lock in your starting sides.

Nathan Fyfe has been declared a certain starter despite not featuring during the JLT Series. Picture: Getty Images.

The JLT Series is done and dusted for another year and we’re running out of time to make the all-important decisions on our starting SuperCoach selections.

If you want to be in contention for league honours or the main prize come the end of the season, you need to nail as many of your premium picks and rookie choices as possible in the next week.

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There’s been good news for the 22 per cent of coaches who have Nathan Fyfe locked into their midfields, with the Dockers declaring their skipper a certainty to line up in Round 1 against North Melbourne.

A Round 1 debut for Sydney’s first-round draftee Nick Blakey is less certain, although there’s promising news from Port Adelaide and Geelong which will boost the number of rookies available early in the season.

Here’s the latest Supercoach whispers you need to know:

Nat Fyfe ($618,100, MID)

No pre-season action for the Dockers captain, but don’t be alarmed. Ross Lyon has assured Dockers fans Fyfe will be available from Round 1 despite limited preparation after elbow surgery.

“There will be a number of players that play with Peel (Thunder) next week. Just to clarify, Nathan won’t be one of those. He’ll just go straight into Round 1,” Lyon said after his side’s JLT Series loss to West Coast.

Nick Blakey ($166,800, FWD)

The lack of quality rookie forwards could be stretched further if Nick Blakey isn’t named to debut for Sydney against the Western Bulldogs. Blakey showed promise in the JLT Series, collecting 10 disposals and kicking two goals against Gold Coast. But Swans coach John Longmire was reluctant to lock the club’s No.10 draft pick in for the opening game of the year.

“We’ll see how we go during the next two weeks. He won’t be playing this weekend in our reserves I wouldn’t think. He’s had a couple of good hit outs. He contests hard. We’re not sure what other boys are coming back,” Longmire said.

Nick Blakey celebrates a goal during the JLT Series. Picture: Getty Images.

Jaeger O’Meara had the ball on a string against Richmond. Picture: Getty Images.

Jaeger O’Meara ($503,200, MID)

The widely-held expectation has been a rookie such as James Cousins will step into the void left by Tom Mitchell in Hawthorn’s midfield. But the last round of the JLT Series suggested O’Meara might be about to take his game to another level. The player Tim Watson once said could the best ever to play AFL had 35 disposals, four marks and kicked a goal against Richmond. There’s no shortage of midfield options but O’Meara looks certain to build on his average of 92.7 points from 2018.

“He’s been around a long period of time, albeit he hasn’t played a lot of footy in the last three or four years. We naturally expect that as long as he’s available he’s going to be able to fill some of that void,” Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson.

Braydon Preuss ($239,900, RUCK)

Bad news for the big Demons recruit who suffered a groin strain playing for Casey Demons at the weekend. Cross him off your list if you were considering the former Roo as a potential cheaper ruck option. His injury could mean Max Gawn rucks solo in Round 1, which only adds weight to the thought of spending big and starting him and Magpie Brodie Grundy.

“We’ll have to get that one assessed during the week. I’m not quite sure how bad that one is,” Demons coach Simon Goodwin.

Max Gawn could start as Melbourne’s sole ruckman after an injury to back-up Braydon Preuss.

Toby Greene ($354,600, FWD)

Injury held back the firebrand small forward last year but the signs were positive in the Giants’ second JLT Series match against Adelaide. Greene kicked the opening goal of the contest and finished with 12 disposals despite limited game time. He might be a player worth monitoring in the early rounds before deciding whether he can recapture the heights of 2017, when he averaged 96.1.

“He will be better for the run. He will be the first to admit his touch was slightly off but that’s what happens when you haven’t played footy for a while.” — Giants assistant coach Matthew Nicks

Toby Greene marks for GWS during the JLT Series. Picture: Lukas Coch.

Chayce Jones pressed his case for an early debut during pre-season. Picture: Getty Images.

Chayce Jones ($171,300, MID)

While there’s no shortage of rookie options in midfield, Adelaide’s No. 9 draft pick looms as the point of difference pick. Jones already has senior football experience in Tasmania and managed nine disposals, five tackles and logged two goals against GWS. Adelaide’s side is hard to predict but Jones is doing everything right to earn an early crack at AFL level.

“He did some really nice things in the pressure stakes. We thought we’d give him an opportunity and see what it looks like for Round 1. He certainly didn’t do (his hopes) any harm tonight.” — Crows coach Don Pyke.

Tom Atkins handballs clear as he is tackled by Essendon captain Dyson Heppell. Picture: Michael Klein

Tom Atkins ($112,900, MID)

Looming as a certainty to debut in Round 1 after an impressive showing playing as a pressure forward for the Cats. Atkins was a tackle machine in the VFL for Geelong and if he can translate those numbers to AFL level he’ll rack up the points. He’s almost impossible to ignore at his price.

“Most of our scores were off the back of attacking mid, either turnovers or stoppages. Really impressive. Guys like Tom Atkins, Luke Dahlhaus and obviously Gary Rohan got on the end of it. All those three guys have been fantastic for us all pre-season and it was really nice to see them play well together.” — Cats assistant coach Nigel Lappin.

Zak Butters has earned a likely Round 1 debut at Port Adelaide. Picture: Sarah Reed.

Willem Drew could help solve our forward line rookie issues. Picture: Sarah Reed.

Connor Rozee ($189,300, DEF-FWD)

Xavier Duursma ($130,800, DEF-MID)

Zak Butters ($157,800, MID)

Willem Drew ($123,900, FWD-MID)

The Power appear set to answer our Supercoach rookie prayers by debuting four players in their Round 1 clash with Melbourne. Midfielder Butters has been the pick of the bunch with Supercoach scores of 82 and 91 in the JLT Series, although Drew (77 and 86), Rozee (44 and 41) and Duursma (40 and 78) have shown promise. Butters, Drew and Duursma will be in most Supercoach sides, with good reason.

“There might be five, there might be six, that are first-game players for Port Adelaide come Round 1.” — Power coach Ken Hinkley

Originally published as Supercoach whispers: Power quartet set to debut, Freo declares Nat Fyfe a certain starter