After a lot of young players were drafted early in our league this year, I though the time was right to see how these rookies are tracking a third of the way through their debut seasons.
Cam Rayner – AFL draft pick #1/Ultimate league pick #8 (Rico’s roughnecks)
Average – 50.4
High score – 85
The most highly rated player and clear number 1 selection by the Brisbane Lions was overlooked by coach Bridge in his pursuit of youngsters, and so Adam pounced gleefully at pick 8. So far he hasn’t lit the fantasy world on fire, but has shown glimpses of being a very good AFL player, and hopefully for Adam the fantasy value follows closely.
Andrew Brayshaw – Pick #2/Ultimate pick #1 (Solomon’s Soldiers)
Average – 59.4
High score – 78
Coach Bridge, encouraged by the older brother, told Andrew pre-draft he would be a number 1 selection. This kept the Soldiers youth mantra intact, as would the next few picks, as well as finding players who fit within the team culture well. He hasn’t had any scores above 80 yet, but 3 scores above 70 in his first 7 games shows the promise that some big, and hopefully consistent, scores are in his future.
Paddy Dow – Pick #3/Ultimate pick #17 (Solomon’s Soldiers)
Average – 51.3
High score – 74
How do you judge a player that 5 games into his career was traded in search of greener pastures? Picked up at pick 17 by a surprised coach Bridge (was earmarked a top 12 pick), he quickly developed into a bench project player, but not before repeated trade offers from the reigning premiers. They had scouts at all his pre-draft hit outs, and were carefully waiting for their first pick at number 20 to grab him. This wasn’t to be, so 5 minutes after the draft negotiations opened, and 5 weeks into the season they completed, with Paddy D no longer the best player of that name on his team. He’s shown flashes of talent on the footy field, and time will tell if that translates to solid fantasy production.
Luke Davies-Uniacke – Pick #4/Ultimate pick #5 (Solomon’s Soldiers)
Average – 36.2
High score – 70
Touted as a possible number 1 pick, both in the AFL landscape as well as ultimate, he fell to 4 for the roos, and 5 in ultimate. LDU as he is already known is a ready-made player for AFL, though his fantasy production has left a lot to be desired so far. It’s not that he’s bad, surprisingly it’s not even that the Roos are bad, it’s just he’s not getting hands to the ball for now. Has lived on the bench for coach Bridge, waiting for that important development to come through and make him the player he was born to be.
Adam Cerra – Pick #5/Ultimate pick #58 (Rico’s Roughnecks)
Average – 58
High score – 84
For a young player to slip to pick 58, Adam may have made the second greatest steal of the draft. Cerra alongside Brayshaw are the youth movement sweeping through Freo, and just like his fellow rookie, he’s developing good consistency. A high score of 84 shows he’s not afraid to get the ball, and with how Freo are going he’ll get all the opportunity he needs.
Jaidyn Stephenson – Pick #6/Ultimate pick #49 (Solomon’s Soldiers)
Average – 69.4
High score – 89 (5 goals!!!)
The reason Adam Cerra is only the second greatest steal. With heart problems during 2017, many clubs were not sure on the value of Stephenson – both real and ultimate. This led to Collingwood biting the bullet at pick 6, and coach Bridge laughing all the way to the bank with pick 49 on draft night. Alex was quoted as saying he wasn’t expecting him to be available beyond pick 30, but with the young talent already on his list, he was happy to miss Stephenson. However when he was still on the board at #49, there was no hesitation in nabbing this young star, and what a star he’s looking. His last 4 games have yielded an average of 83.75, and he’s forced his way into a starting role on the Soldiers field. There are big things ahead for this young speedster.
Hunter Clark – pick #7/Ultimate pick #48 (Rico’s Roughnecks)
Average – 46.5
High score – 57
Hunter Clark did enough preseason to get a game for the Saint’s round 1 team, much to the delight of Adam, however as yet, similar to many rookies starting their careers, he hasn’t had regular opportunity as yet to cement that spot. A high score of 57 has him the lowest of the top 10 AFL draftees, however like with most young players, only time will tell just what he’s made of.
Nick Coffield – pick #8/Ultimate pick #13 (Solomon’s Soldiers)
Average – 62.4
High score – 79
This was the pick that had coach Bridge sweating pre-draft. This kid looked amazing preseason, however with picks 1 and 5 already spoken for, it was a nervous wait for whether he would still be on the board at #13. Thankfully he was, then to make it more painful St Kilda overlooked him in their team for the first 2 matches, before he started a run of 5 consecutive matches. One bad score against the Hawks (21) has diminished his average, which would otherwise be sitting at 72.5 – clearly the highest of the rookies to this point. As it is, as a defender with this much upside, coach Bridge is looking towards a long career for this young gun.
Aaron Naughton – pick #9/Ultimate pick #396 (Love Sparkles)
Average – 56.6
High score – 67
A young defender who has made his way straight from the draft into the Bulldogs 22, picked up in the final round by Greg, who quickly discarded him when he realised the ball is often going over the heads of the Bulldogs defenders and through the goals themselves. Once he was on the open market, the youngest team in the league went young again, acquiring this defender to watch as a project this year. His future in AFL terms looks very bright, however his fantasy future may well have a limit. Coach Bridge is patient with his youth, but not everyone can be kept.
Lochie O’Brian – pick #10/Ultimate pick 108 (Rico’s Roughnecks)
Average – 51.5
High score – 68
Pick 10 in the AFL draft was another youngster to the rebuilding Carlton. Adam took one look at their list, and decided their young guys would get plenty of opportunity due to there not being anything but young guys at Carlton, so the move was made here. Wasn’t in Carlton’s plans for round 1, but since his debut in round 4 has been solid without being spectacular for a rookie. Might find it hard to keep his spot on the roughnecks list moving forward, but will be given every opportunity.
Darcy Fogarty – pick #12/Ultimate pick #40 (Puttanesca Chiefs)
Average – 48
High score – 63
The Fog! What more can you say. Mid 2017 was touted potential number 1 pick, yet by the time of the draft he fell to the Crows at #12 (and the fact he’s a SA boy makes it all the sweeter). The day of the draft he kicked 3 goals in a half in the TAC showdown, and so every crows fan coach was salivating at the thought of having him – so he went to the one Geelong fan. He has shown signs of being an elite AFL up and comer; however is yet to translate that into fantasy production. Was the trade bait offered for Paddy Dow right from the end of the draft, and 5 rounds in found his new home with a Crows fanatic coach as a tag along with Bontempelli.
Zac Bailey – pick #15/Ultimate pick #188 (Rico’s Roughecks)
Average – 49.3
High score – 67
We’re starting to get into some rookies that will struggle to hold their spots now. Bailey looks serviceable, and has improved in each of his 4 games so far, however with scores in the 60’s being his best, he’ll want to see some improvement soon if his fantasy future is to continue.
Ed Richards – pick #16/Ultimate undrafted
Average – 53.8
High score – 85
He was the first of this year’s rookies to have been undrafted and picked off the waivers – twice in the case of Ed Richards. He had a home with the Defenestrators for 9 days, then Paul ruthlessly cut him to make way for more firepower which we all feel the heat from, and so Adam pounced on another rookie – trying to compete with the Soldiers in the baby brigade. One big score of 80 keeps his average above terrible, however that can’t mask the next highest in 6 outings of 60. I expect him to be cut within 2 weeks
Jack Higgins – pick #17/Ultimate pick #78 (Rico’s Roughnecks)
Average – 60.8
High score – 85
The young livewire from Richmond got his start in round 3, and after a week off has played the last 3 weeks. Adam once again went young with his draft selection, and I’ll be really interested how many of these young players, Higgins especially, go at list culling time early next year. Has shown that he has the Tiger game plan down with relentless pressure, shown by 6 tackles in his second game, now he’s got to develop the ability to gain the ball and he’ll be another fantasy threat that Chris will ask to trade for.
Lachie Fogarty – Pick #22/Ultimate pick #141 (Solomon’s Soldiers)
Average – 65.9
High score – 96
The second highest single game scorer of all the rookies this year, and at pick 141 this could also be one of the greatest steals of the draft. Has been frustrating as to match these highs there are also scores of 40 mixed in, so you never know which L. Fogarty will turn up. If he develops consistency will be a thing of beauty to watch.
Tim Kelly – pick #24/Ultimate pick #19 (Solomon’s Soldiers)
Average – 83.1
High score – 115
Geelong secured a coup with Fogarty at 22 then Kelly at 24. Being a mature age recruit some coaches saw how Kelly would have immediate upside, and so a top 20 draft position was not unreasonable. In his second game he proved that to be the case with a massive 115, almost pulling the Soldiers across the line against Rico’s Roughnecks (cursed be the name Ablett). This level of production turned a few heads, and so a trade was secured, leaving Kelly to take his talents to Mark’s Chiefs, in exchange for the Bont, while Paddy D, The Fog and some picks also moved around. A best on ground assessment by the 2 AFL coaches for last week’s efforts, this is just the beginning for the 23 year old Kelly.
Honourable mentions
Liam Ryan – pick #26/Ultimate undrafted
Average 73.3, high score 91. A great start to his career before injury struck round 3. Assessment of his year will be taken once more games are under his belt. An investment by Solomon’s Soldiers off the waiver wire.
Bayley Fritsch – pick #31/Ultimate pick #285 (MaherShalalHashBaz)
Average 67.8, high score 91. Picked up by MaherShalalHashBaz after a strong preseason, and then cut after a few bad games. Has responded to that cutting and subsequent pick up by Mark with an 88 and a 91. If that form continues some regrets will start creeping in at the aging Burgess jnr camp.