2019 Rookies

[Mat0369]

This list won't include the newbies that signed today. I expect most won't play anyway



Backs

Collins - Solid JS but speculative scoring in a Gold Coast team that could win a wooden spoon. Career average of 70 and the Dockers where pretty craphouse when he averaged 75ish in 2016. Probably a must start

Scrimshaw - Had an excellent quarter where he had 12 touches and a goal in one JLT. Was apparently a long way off at the Suns but he is the ideal Birchall replacement. Birchall was a gun. He averaged something crazy like 20 touches a game through his first few years of footy and an 80ish average. Wouldn't say he is a must, but he looks to be a decent pick and prefect fit in the Hawks system. If the job security is good he is worth the risk

Jordan Clark - Seems like he will get games and he was impressive in the JLT game I missed. Teammates are talking him up, however guys in their first year in the system tend to struggle with the pace of the game once it gets to the real stuff. I'd probably want him in that D6/D7 spot where you spot field him against the crap teams that are more his speed.

Duursma - Really struggled in JLT 1 to get involved against the Crows. Will probably play along the wing in chunks but it feels like he is probably the trap of the defensive rookies

McKay - Poor JS. May or may not line up R1 and likely to score really poorly. Hard pass

Watson - Haven't watched the Eagles JLT games so I can't make a call. Saw the mock team and they had him in (although I went back to the AFL site and it looks like I read it wrong). I doubt the JS is good anyway.

Burgess - Should have good JS but the GC forward line is the AFL equivalent of the Factory of Sadness. I'm expecting a mostly trash return with 1 or 2 decent scores.



Mids

Walsh - Lock and load. He is my first picked rookie of the bunch. I mentioned the fact first year guys tend to get caught out by the speed of the game when they get up to AFL level. What impressed me the most with Walsh is that he picked it up after about 5-10 minutes of game time and settled right in.

LDU - Hard one to read. His form last year was that of a first year player that struggled to adjust to the pace and intensity of AFL football. As an inside player he also needs to gain the body strength to bang with the big boys and has guys like Cunnington in the same side. Seemed to be putting together a solid pre-season and Brad Scott has said he does want to ease him in. Probably a pass considering his price, but a 70 average wouldn't shock me.

Chayce Jones - Probably gets a gig round 1 but it feels like his role is not going to be very SC friendly. He won't have great job security with other Crows pushing for spots and he is going to be in mainly for his pressure. Best case scenario he has a Dan Butler type year for a 60 average and a hefty price tag.

Caldwell/Hately - I'll combine these two since you will only start one. I caught the GWS game where all the rookies struggled. Hatley killed it in the first game and Phil Davis said to give Caldwell a 10 year contract today he has looked that good. I'm getting Taranto vibes where I think they will probably get you a mid 60 at best come years end but they are probably going to start slow with the Giants tough early draw.

Constable - Probably my 2nd picked mid after Walsh. His DE is going to be a worry as well as his tank. He should see a bit of the footy and at his price he has to be locked. The fact it's not his first year in the system is another tick as you tend to get more points out of these guys.

Butters - Watched both Port games and he is a really handy player. He has a knack for finding the ball in the right spots and should snag a couple of goals. Probably the pick out of Caldwell/Hatley and himself and I'll pick him

Bailey Scott - Even though I watched both games North played (although the first was half assed and the second I spent more time watching Rocky go off) I didn't really notice him. Looks like he will line up round 1 but I have no idea what his role will be. Super cheap price and if he looks to be playing midfield he is probably a superior pick to Gibbons.

Tom Atkins - Will be the tackle pressure forward in the Geelong forward line. The same role they had for superstars such as James Parsons, Cory Gregson, Sparkle Narkle, Jamaine Jones and a long list of other SC spuds. Mature age is a tick but I'm not expecting much more than a 55 average. It has a bit of Nick Kommer vibe, although Kommer was 102k.

Gibbons - Cheapest mid, will play mostly forward pocket in a bad team and will rely on tackle and goal numbers in a team that hasn't kicked 100 points in 2 years and can't hold the ball in to save their lives. I'm surprised how good our midfield depth has been which has probably hurt him. David Cuningham has also been Carlton's best forward through pre-season. If he wasn't bargain basement I probably wouldn't consider him. In the midfield I'd probably only want one of him or Atkins in a perfect world



Rucks

Clarke - Decent score against us in JLT and probably the only guy to consider at R3 of the possible playing rookies

Fort - That whopping 0.30 PPM in JLT takes all kinds of special to do. Probably a pass.



Forwards

Setters - Pick of the bunch. Lock him and load him. Will play as a high half forward with stints through the guts.

Drew - Looked good and had lots of midfield minutes with no Wines. Probably has to be locked and at worst is a decent bench option

Balta - Sketchy JS but not competing with much for a forward bench spot. Probably lock him in

Parker - Hello 50 average. Again, not enough forward rookies and looks to have good JS so he gets my F8 spot

Petruccelle - Probably Parker with worse JS. Pass


Honourable mentions to James Cousins and Ridley. I have both at the moment but they are both more expensive than Walsh so they don't count for this exercise.

[Mat0369]

which rookies have u got now matt

It depends how I structure up down back. Right now I have Ridley, Collins, Clark, Scrimshaw on field with Duursma and Burgess on the bench (Brodie Smith at D2). Smith will likely move to D3 and one of Duursma/Burgess is out. Ideal scenario I have Smith at D4 with Ridley/Collins at D5/D6 and sit Scrimshaw/Clark on the bench.

I am pretty much sold on Setters and Drew with Balta and Parker on the bench in the forward line. That probably won't change at all.

Midfield I have Cousins, Walsh, Butters and Constable locked with one of Constable/Butters on field at M8. Bench spots I am undecided on what to do. Probably too much cash to grab LDU/Hately/Caldwell, I'm not sure on Bailey Scott since I know F all about him and then it's Atkins/Gibbons. I feel you may not get a lot of cash generation starting both so I might have to go back and watch some games or try and figure out a way to get a mid premo in to my team.

Rucks I have Fort for cash right now but he is likely to become Clarke. If he gets named R1 that is probably a lock. I am still hesitant to go two premium rucks so I will keep looking at Pierce and Mummy for R2 (assuming Clarke gets named or I'm screwed for coverage.

[kilbluff1985]

thanks matt

one you forgot was Hind tho interested to see ur thoughts on him

[Mat0369]

Hore, Hind and  Blakey were all left out. Hore is probably the only one I'd consider over Burgess, but it's probably a nay

[Mat0369]

Also Joyce and potentially Wilkie for the Saints as well

[bkimm32]

Also Joyce and potentially Wilkie for the Saints as well

Wilkie won't be debuting any time soon imo

[hawkboy80]

Geelong: "He's got to the point where he'll be hard to push out (of the Round 1 team)" Chris Scott on Jordan Clark via @WhateleySEN

Sounding positive for Clark

Just what I wanted to hear - feel quite comfortable going light down back with Collins at D4 now

+1 for me, have given it a lot of thought and think I've made peace with myself now

[Bones Bombers]

which rookies have u got now matt

It depends how I structure up down back. Right now I have Ridley, Collins, Clark, Scrimshaw on field with Duursma and Burgess on the bench (Brodie Smith at D2). Smith will likely move to D3 and one of Duursma/Burgess is out. Ideal scenario I have Smith at D4 with Ridley/Collins at D5/D6 and sit Scrimshaw/Clark on the bench.

I am pretty much sold on Setters and Drew with Balta and Parker on the bench in the forward line. That probably won't change at all.

Midfield I have Cousins, Walsh, Butters and Constable locked with one of Constable/Butters on field at M8. Bench spots I am undecided on what to do. Probably too much cash to grab LDU/Hately/Caldwell, I'm not sure on Bailey Scott since I know F all about him and then it's Atkins/Gibbons. I feel you may not get a lot of cash generation starting both so I might have to go back and watch some games or try and figure out a way to get a mid premo in to my team.

Rucks I have Fort for cash right now but he is likely to become Clarke. If he gets named R1 that is probably a lock. I am still hesitant to go two premium rucks so I will keep looking at Pierce and Mummy for R2 (assuming Clarke gets named or I'm screwed for coverage.

Almost exactly the same rookie lineup for me.
In defense I have Ridley, Scrimshaw, Clark and Duursma. You had me looking again at Collins with a 70 average but need to remember he is likely to be playing a lockdown defender role with Thompson out for the season.
Mids are the same with Scott in over Gibbons at the moment.
Bines at R3 but could still become Clarke.
Same forwards.

[JBs-Hawks]

Is anyone looking at Cuming in defense?

[fanTCfool]

Is anyone looking at Cuming in defense?

If named, definitely worth considering. My concern about Cumming would be he only really got a look in for JLT1 when Williams was spending bulk time off the ground with an injury. Likewise in JLT2, Cumming spent more time on ground, but Williams was out. Personally, I don't think he and Williams will be picked in the same side for Round 1, hoping to be wrong.

[LaHug]

I want Burgess for DPP with Moore so which three would you pick of Collins, Scrimshaw, Clark, Duursma? Two on the field, one on the bench.

Or I can get Ridley if I go Ridley, Clark, Duursma, Burgess. Leaves me with no cash and miss Collins...

[RaisyDaisy]

I want Burgess for DPP with Moore so which three would you pick of Collins, Scrimshaw, Clark, Duursma? Two on the field, one on the bench.

Or I can get Ridley if I go Ridley, Clark, Duursma, Burgess. Leaves me with no cash and miss Collins...

Most people are going to be forced to make a decision like this

At this point, I think we just have to wait for teams and then decide. Who knows, maybe one of them doesn't get picked, making the decision much easier

If they all get picked, and you're adamant on keeping Burgess then I think it's just a case of flipping a coin

[Mat0369]

Wilkie won't be debuting any time soon imo

Saints defense is looking thin right now. They might throw a couple to the wolves but I wouldn't be picking him anyway

Almost exactly the same rookie lineup for me.
In defense I have Ridley, Scrimshaw, Clark and Duursma. You had me looking again at Collins with a 70 average but need to remember he is likely to be playing a lockdown defender role with Thompson out for the season.
Mids are the same with Scott in over Gibbons at the moment.
Bines at R3 but could still become Clarke.
Same forwards.

They also got Hombsch although he can't take the bigger key forwards. The sample size isn't that big on Collins, but worst case you can use the correction trade to turn him into whichever of the defensive rookies stand out.

Is anyone looking at Cuming in defense?

Not sure how he will score and considering the price it's probably not worth starting him. He would be one to look at if you trade Collins out if he flops

[enzedder]

Is anyone looking at Cuming in defense?

He doesn’t get me that excited.

[TommyC]

Is anyone looking at Cuming in defense?

He doesn’t get me that excited.

*Defense doesn't get me that excited  ::)