SuperCoach 2016: Which rookies starred and who should we pick after Round 1?
WHO were the top rookie-priced players in Round 1 and who should we pick and punt from our SuperCoach teams? Every cheap player rated
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BEN Kennedy was the best rookie pick of Round 1, a little-known Swan wasn’t far behind and shelling out big bucks for top draft picks is worth the money.
That’s the take-out from Round 1 when it comes to the all-important SuperCoach rookies.
Oh, and the alarm bells are ringing on Essendon’s top-up players.
For our purposes a rookie is any player priced up to the $220,800 of No. 1 draft pick Jacob Weitering.
Former Magpie Kennedy shone in his first game as a Demon with 21 disposals, a goal and 115 points, a huge return for his $187,800 price tag. More than 67,000 SuperCoach players banked his points — hopefully most had him on the field.
In contrast, Tom Papley was picked by 24,000 SuperCoaches after being named for his AFL debut. The Swans goalsneak cost just $109,900 and produced the second-best rookie score of the week (104).
Rookies are vital for building a bank for the trades that will make or break your SuperCoach team all year. You need to have the right cheapies before prices start changing after Round 2. That’s also when private league matches begin for 18-team leagues.
So who should you pick? Scroll down for a full run-down of every rookie-priced player who appeared in Round 1.
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DEFENDERS
No. 1 draft pick Jacob Weitering is a safe bet to start on the field, delivering a healthy 87 points on debut and even backchatting Jack Riewoldt (no extra points for that, unfortunately). Bulldog Marcus Adams was the other standout but there are danger signs on popular Essendon cheapies.
Michael Hartley, who is in 37,000 teams despite missing selection in Round 1, is a chance to come in this week. But Demon Oscar McDonald has been ruled out for Round 2 with an ankle injury.
Jacob Weitering (Carl) $220,800
Round 1 score: 87
Caleb Marchbank (GWS) $215,800
Round 1 score: 93
Matt Dea (Ess) $183,600
Round 1 score: 61
Oscar McDonald (Melb) $155,400
Round 1 score: 32
Clay Cameron (GC) $170,000
Round 1 score: 49
Mitch Brown (Ess) $117,300 def/fwd
Round 1 score: 42
Marcus Adams (WB) $117,300 def/fwd
Round 1 score: 82
Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti (Ess) $102,400 def/fwd
Round 1 score: 50
MIDFIELDERS
The Swans have emerged as an unlikely rookie goldmine this season with midfielders Callum Mills and George Hewett both scoring well — and John Longmire says both (plus Papley) will hold their spots for Round 2. Kennedy was the standout and Sam Kerridge was only denied a triple-figure score by some late clangers. Both can be picked in the midfield and forward line and should be in most sides.
Clayton Oliver and Darcy Parish justified their hefty price tags — Parish had 25 disposals but we need him to kick it more and handball less!
Ryan Davis didn’t set the world on fire but did enough to keep his spot, which is all we need from a bottom-priced bench player.
Callum Mills (Syd) $211,800
Round 1 score: 71
Clayton Oliver (Melb) $207,300
Round 1 score: 75
Lachie Weller (Frem) $206,900
Round 1 score: 43
Ryan Crowley (Ess) $202,800
Round 1 score: 58
Darcy Parish (Ess) $202,800
Round 1 score: 69
Corey Ellis (Rich) $193,400 mid/fwd
Round 1 score: 59
Ben Kennedy (Melb) $187,800 mid/fwd
Round 1 score: 115
Brent Macaffer (Coll) $174,200
Round 1 score: 38
Connor Menadue (Rich) $155,400 mid/fwd
Round 1 score: 80
Jade Gresham (StK) $144,300
Round 1 score: 44
Sam Kerridge (Carl) $137,600 mid/fwd
Round 1 score: 86
George Hewett (Syd) $123,900
Round 1 score: 96
Ryan Davis (GC) $102,400
Round 1 score: 57
RUCKS
Just two rookie-priced rucks took the field in Round 1 and that number is set to be cut in half this week after Pittonet was a surprise late call-up for Easter Monday; expect him to go straight back to the VFL. Based on these scores you’re better off saving the money and going with a $102,400 rookie.
Sam Frost (Melb) $217,600 fwd/ruck
Round 1 score: 17
Marc Pittonet (Haw) $123,900
Round 1 score: 16
FORWARDS
Papley came from nowhere to be a great selection. Keeping up that kind of scoring isn’t easy for small forwards — see how he goes against the Blues before committing. Not many other great scores in this part of the ground although Lincoln McCarthy was perhaps unlucky after doing some very nice things against the Hawks.
The best options to start on the field are dual-position players like Kerridge, Kennedy and Menadue.
Jonathan Freeman (BL) $218,500
Round 1 score: 27
Josh Schache (BL) $216,300
Round 1 score: 59
Corey Gault (Coll) $215,800
Round 1 score: 16
Jed Lamb (Carl) $189,900
Round 1 score: 46
Eli Templeton (StK) $196,100
Round 1 score: 41
Callum Ah Chee (GC) $189,300
Round 1 score: 58
Kyle Langford (Ess) $188,200
Round 1 score: 41
Wayne Milera (Adel) $175,800
Round 1 score: 40
Daniel Rioli (Rich) $157,800
Round 1 score: 39
Lincoln McCarthy (Geel) $139,400
Round 1 score: 43
Mitch McGovern (Adel) $123,900
Round 1 score: 41
Tom Papley (Syd) $109,900
Round 1 score: 104
Originally published as SuperCoach 2016: Which rookies starred and who should we pick after Round 1?
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