A little like Calvin’s Captains but way worse, Chook’s Rooks is your weekly update of how the AFL’s freshest faces are faring in the big league. A quick disclaimer: the term “rookie” has been used loosely to also include second and third-year players making their debuts in 2008 - or those with only a handful of games up their collective sleeve - and share a similar price to their first-year counterparts. Like Sam Lonergan, Lachlan Hansen and Josh Hill, for example. It’s important to note, though, that the definition does not extend to players like Simon Prestigia-comb-over, who is only priced like a rookie because he is a terminally shithouse DT player. Man, that guy is DT poison.

Adelaide, Brisbane, Carlton, Collingwood

After a starring role in the NAB Cup, Crows forward Kurt Tippett was one of the top five most-picked players. He didn’t disappoint his 50,000 owners with a respectable 51 points. Rookie teammate David Mackay was only a tackle and kick behind him. Excellent pre-season form and the fact that he can be selected as a back meant Lions midfielder Albert Proud was picked by 11,000 coaches in round 1. Unfortunately for them, Brisbane coach Lethal Leigh Matthews wasn’t one of them. Look for Proud to be named tonight if 2007 favourite Jed Adcock fails to feature. The Blues went in to battle without young guns Matthew Kreuzer and Darren Pfeiffer, but had solid performances from Jake Edwards (65) and Adam Hartlett (46). Of course, a big brain fart by Hartlett means he’ll miss two weeks (and might struggle to break back into the side when his suspension expires), but someone had to make way for fit-again Kreuzer. Hang ten if you’ve got Pfeiffer, too; he can’t be far away. The only rookie-priced player to debut for the Pies, former basketballer Nathan J. Brown, did enough to suggest he’ll play 20 games this year, but not enough to suggest he’ll be a decent DT player, scoring just 35 points.

Essendon, Fremantle, Geelong, Hawthorn

At more than $130,000, Dons dasher Courtney Dempsey is less of a budget buy, but will be worth the extra outlay if he can consistently replicate his round 1 score of 82. Just a mark and handball behind Dempsey was pistachio (small, hard-nut) Sam Lonergan, whose 77 points would’ve made your Monday if you had the guts to pick him. Fremantle copped a lot of flak for fielding a bunch of old foggies, which could improve the chances of fledgling Docker ball-carriers Rhys Palmer and Garrick Ibbotson being named tonight. Be aware, though, that these boys are priced around the $100k mark, so you’ll need a bit extra in the bank to upgrade from a stock-standard rookie. Geelong’s rookie ruckman Trent West managed just 37 points in round 1, but he’ll continue to get games as long as first choice Brad Ottens stays injured and back-up Mark Blake keeps scoring mid-20s. Fellow Cat first-timer Ryan Gamble scored 48 points, while Harry Taylor will continue to wait in the wings with Max Rooke back this week. The Hawks were well served by a bevy of youngsters in their big win; Cyril Rioli, Cameron Stokes and Travis Tuck all scored 50+ DT points. Rioli seems set to play a key role in the Hawks forward line this season, but Tuck and Stokes’ places in the team will come under pressure as its big guns return from suspension.

North Melbourne, Melbourne, Port Adelaide, Richmond

The Kangaroos’ only debutant, Scott D. Thompson (37 points), is never going to produce DT numbers like his Adelaide namesake, but he at least looks certain to get a game most weeks. Lachlan Hansen and Gavin Urquhart are the next rooks in line if another Roo goes down. Melbourne’s Colin Garland (63 points) and Cale Morton (47) should back-up for the hapless Dees this week, although Isack Weetra (32) will stuggle with Colin Sylvia to return. Port looks to have unearthed another bolter with Paul Stewart nabbing 62 points on debut, while Richmond’s only rookie of note, Trent Cotchin, is yet to feature in round 1.

St Kilda, Sydney, West Coast, Western Bulldogs

If Jarryn Geary can keep his spot ahead of Shane Birss, David Armitage and the like, the St Kilda youngster looms as one of this season’s best cash cows. He snared 77 points against Sydney, making Swans rookie Craig Bird (16 points) look rather silly in the process. As Warnie mentioned, if he keeps that up, he’ll actually drop in value from $83,500! The better pick of the cygnets was Kieren Jack, who more than doubled Adam Goodes’ score with a tasty 81 points. I wonder what the odds of that happening were, Kieren? There’s a spot up for grabs at West Coast, with Mark LeCras out for several weeks, but whether that goes to Scott Selwood, Jamie MacNamara, Brad Ebert or Chris Masten is anyone’s guess. Of course, forward Josh Kennedy could quite easily usurp them all. The Bulldogs had just one player in the rookie-priced category, but, oh boy, what a player. Josh Hill outdid DT legend Daniel Cross en route to 86 big ones, ensuring his place in the side for at least a month, if not the season.

Rookie of the round: Hill. Not only was he the highest-scoring youngster, but, along with Rioli, he looks set to be one of the few who’ll play the best part of the season.

One to watch: Bird. If the kid fails to fire again this week, Paul Roos will feel vindicated by his decision to not play rookies in round 1. So, on behalf of DT coaches everywhere who want more rookies to choose from in 2009, here’s hoping Bird racks ‘em up this week. I know the 15,000 coaches who thought Craig was a gimme cash cow are praying extra hard - I’m one of them.