With the deadline gone for elevating rookies under the veterans rule, time to look for fantasy buys.
Those of you who were on the ball with the rookie rules would have loaded this post up a few times, as I did, to remind yourself about which teams had spots open for rookie elevations under the rule allowing clubs to elevate up to two rookies if they had zero veterans outside their list (VOL) – a rule ensuring that clubs were allowed a list of 40 players from which to select senior teams. (Note that I made a mistake with the previous post – I thought you qualified to elevate one rookie if you had only one veteran outside your list, but it turns out you need zero veterans to promote any.) The deadline for nominating rookies under this rule has now passed, with all eligible spots filled. In addition, some teams have already moved players to the long term injury (LTI) list, meaning that a rookie can be nominated at any time within the minimum 8 week period that the LTI player is ineligible to be selected for any team.
Adelaide: 2 VOL, 0 LTI.
Brisbane: 2 VOL, 0 LTI.
Carlton: 0 VOL, 1 LTI (Robert Warnock). Elevated Sam Jacobs and Aaron Joseph. 1 spot open until at least R7.
Collingwood: 2 VOL, 0 LTI.
Essendon: 2 VOL, 0 LTI. Could put Andrew Welsh on LTI.
Fremantle: 2 VOL, 0 LTI. Elevated Greg Broughton and Matt DeBoer.
Geelong: 2 VOL, 0 LTI. Could put Matthew Egan, Josh Hunt and Tom Harley on LTI.
Hawthorn: 2 VOL, 0 LTI. Elevated Cameron Stokes and Matt Suckling.
Melbourne: 2 VOL, 1 LTI (Mark Jamar). Elevated Jake Spencer until at least R7.
North Melbourne: 2 VOL, 0 LTI.
Port Adelaide: 2 VOL, 1 LTI (Jackson Trengove). 1 spot open until at least R4.
Richmond: 2 VOL, 1 LTI (Kayne Pettifer). Could put Graham Polak on LTI. 1 spot open until at least R3.
St Kilda: 1 VOL, 0 LTI. Could put Jarryd Allen on LTI.
Sydney: 2 VOL, 1 LTI (Leo Barry). Could put Patrick Veszpremi on LTI. 1 spot open until at least R5.
West Coast: 2 VOL, 1 LTI (Beau Waters). 1 spot open (Waters’ LTI is season-ending).
Western Bulldogs: 1 VOL, 0 LTI.
So we have a number of spots left open: Carlton, Port, Richmond, Sydney and West Coast. It has been strongly foreshadowed in the media already that St Kilda are going to elevate Zac Dawson to play at full back in round 1, and it’s almost a lay down misere at this point that Wade Thompson will fill the Power slot. Sydney is still toying with Mike Pyke instead of Jesse White as #2 ruck, while there’s still an outside chance of Robin Nahas nicking a forward spot for the first three rounds. West Coast are probably choosing between Ryan Davis and Adam Cockie, but they seem relaxed about it, while Carlton will likely leave their third rookie spot open unless they cop some injuries that could be replaced by a Darren Pfeiffer or Greg Bentley.
Of the already elevated rookies, it looks to me like Stokes will get a game for the Hawks, at least for the first round or two, while Spencer has the inside running to support Paul Johnson in the Melbourne ruck division instead of John Meesen. At Carlton, Jacobs is probably not fantasy-relevant even if he does play, while Joseph has a fair few players in front of him. Broughton, DeBoer and Suckling are iffier prospects, with Broughton probably the only serious candidate at this stage I think. Both DeBoer (foot soreness) and Suckling (hamstring strain) picked up knocks in the NAB, and so may very well be held back for a while, though Broughton is one of those mature age players who could jump ahead of some very ordinary list cloggers at the Dockers for a round 1 berth.
It’s always tempting to save that extra ten grand or so and buy rookies instead of regular draftees, especially for your #4 ruck. It would be a brave fantasy coach who gambled their #9 back spot on a Broughton or Dawson. What’s your strategy on dealing with rookies this year, especially with a view to the extra elevation spot available to all clubs after round 10? Tell me in the comments.
peppers
March 22, 2009 at 8:34 pm
It’s either Jacobs or spencer for my 4th ruck. But whom? Who will return from injury first out of warnock or jamar?
wal
March 22, 2009 at 8:42 pm
i don’t see how jacobs is not fantasy relevant for the #4 ruck spot. he played all the pre-season games and averaged around 20pts a game more than spencer
bluebaggas
March 22, 2009 at 8:43 pm
will jacobs even get a game?
kreuzer cloke hampson are surely in front of him
also when trengrove comes of the LTI (in round 4??) does that mean, if wade thompson does get promoted, he is demoted
bluebaggas
March 22, 2009 at 8:46 pm
anyone gonna take broughton over suban?
m0nty
March 22, 2009 at 8:57 pm
bluebaggas: That is my concern also. Kreuzer played the last two NAB games, Hampson is doing okay. Cloke may play CHF but Jacobs will struggle to get a look in. Depth player only IMO.
m0nty
March 22, 2009 at 8:58 pm
Also, the rule is that the LTI period has to last a minimum of eight weeks, but it can be extended.
wal
March 22, 2009 at 9:08 pm
i like broughton over suban – hope he plays.
hampson struggled around the ground last year, cloke will be permanent forward if others can cover in ruck.
i see jacobs getting some games early, maybe in rotation with hampson. if he performs he could hold his spot.
kreuzer may also be played more as a forward so i guess all four could play against the right team.
hard to say what will happen when warnock’s fit but there doesn’t seem to be much urgency to rush him back & i think having a look at jacobs in a few games may be one reason for that.
Graeme
March 22, 2009 at 9:12 pm
M0nty,
Broughton is a LOCK for Freo.
The guy will play all 22 games if he is fit.
Lock him in to that #9 slot
bluebaggas
March 22, 2009 at 9:13 pm
i think going with spencer/graham is the safest way to play it
white is too much money to have on the bench in for a ruck
The 30 Spartans
March 22, 2009 at 10:08 pm
Wow 3 blogs in one day m0nty, your really spoiling us! Me thinks your working overtime in the lead-up to lock-out?
Anyways keep it up m0nty!
billy
March 22, 2009 at 10:56 pm
Hey, great site. What do u think of my supercoach team, could u give me any advice on the reserve and rookies i have chosen. Second year in supercoach.
Backs: hodge,enright,P.burgoyne,c.cornes,r.houilihan,s.hill (petrenko,s.mckernan)
midfielders:
ablett,bartel,judd,s.burgoyne,kerr,rich (m.robinson,whitecross)
rucks:
cox,a.graham,(j.spencer,m.pyke)
forwards:
pavlich,franklin,chapman,fevola,higgins,skipworth,ziebell (w.thompson,m.brown)
Macca
March 22, 2009 at 11:18 pm
How do I deal with the bench players in the backline?
DT – easy – Presti at $110K is a steal as a stop gap as he’ll play every week then I have Petrenko
SC – not so easy because I’d still want a playing rookie on the bench – Petrenko and Broughton at this stage
given what you said about the rolling zone I am tempted to pick more premiums in the backline and dilute the forward and even rucks abit. This way I’ll have an almost assured backline and plenty of candidates in the forward line to trade and upgrade.
ShrewDext
March 22, 2009 at 11:22 pm
You cant afford Kerr and Fevola unfortunatley Billy. You will have to adjust them both and get a decent #2 Ruck. Your benches are rubbish too IMO.
tez
March 23, 2009 at 12:36 am
suban vs broughton??? for reserve
pascoe
March 23, 2009 at 7:17 am
how bout both? ever thought of that? broughton, suban, rance, petrenko. make ur choice
Chad
March 23, 2009 at 10:23 am
I must be brave, i have broughton as my #9 defender.
Disco (UK)
March 23, 2009 at 10:41 am
Macca – only DT dickheads have Presti. Do you want to be a dickhead? Grab Hill, Suban, Broughton, Dawson instead, you clearly need the extra cash.
As long as Broughton gets 5 plus games then he plus having
Disco (UK)
March 23, 2009 at 10:55 am
fucken netbook!
As long as Broughton gets 5 plus games, add the spare 8k or so he’s worth having. How much will he play thou? anybody?
Preeds85
March 23, 2009 at 12:52 pm
Any tips for my team first Year;
Back – Hodge, Goddard, C.Cornes, Shaw, Newman, Firrito, Raines (Dawson, Hill).
MidField – Ablett, Ball, Judd, Kerr, Haselby, Rich (Dangerfield, Beams)
Ruck – Ottens, Koschitke (Currie, Jacobs)
Forward – Franklin, Fevola, Bradshaw, Thomas, Hentshel, Ziebell, Skipworth (Sidebottom, Gumbleton)
darren
March 23, 2009 at 2:00 pm
will Yarran and Watts start round 1 or are there better rookie prospects in the forward line??
Chad
March 23, 2009 at 2:26 pm
watts wont play till round 7-8
peek
March 23, 2009 at 3:31 pm
Hello im struggling with one choice, in my back line i have 373K to choose a player.. who do you think we be the best, im thinking bock or shaw? any thoughts…
jayz
March 23, 2009 at 4:53 pm
which is better for my no2 ruck? mcintosh or kruezer, if i pick kruezer i will have 50 grand in the kitty for later on.
josh
March 23, 2009 at 5:58 pm
Jayz, go with kruezer, he can kick goals…and averaged 54 as a first year ruckman. and he is some 50 grand cheaper,
Tim
March 23, 2009 at 7:03 pm
Are there any better options than Lucas for around that price?
Brett
March 23, 2009 at 7:25 pm
broughton is a lock end of story. mature body, 3 years of WAFL seniors footy at subiaco. cant believe you wouldnt pick him as your 9th back.
Deano
March 24, 2009 at 5:11 pm
I’ve gone with Broughton on the fact that Freo are terrible and that he is a mature age rookie with a bulked up body. should play (I hope).
I’m thinking of whether to pick Yarran or Sidebottom…I’ve got enough money to upgrade Sidebottom to Yarran but not sure how much yarran will play, and also not sure bout how much sidebottom will also play
T-Lads
March 25, 2009 at 8:07 pm
monty’s a noob…