Rookies are a little like holiday romances. No, Uncle Chop Chop, I don’t mean that girl you got with on
I’ve gone all out this week. Not only have I whacked together a brand-new logo, I’ve grouped Chook’s Rooks on whether they’ve played three or more games, two games, one game or none.
Three-or-more gamers
These are the guys that have already enjoyed a price rise or five, so are generally pretty unattractive as pick-up options. If you’re really squeezed down back, you could still consider Garrick Ibbotson and Austin Wonaeamirri, who are priced between $190k-$180k, with expected changes of $40k and $30k, respectively. But they’re Bulgarian backpackers by now; you’d have to be very desperate to go there.
For most coaches, the decision here is whether to stick with the three-plus gamers or give them the shove. Other than Ibbo (-43) and Wona (-19), others with negative or get-able breakevens include Kurt Tippett (-18), Scott D. Thompson (-17), Brad Ebert (-8), Albert Proud (1), Kieren Jack (3) Lachlan Henderson (5), David Armitage (10), Chris Masten (11), David Mackay (14), Ryan Gamble (20), Craig Bird (22), Harry Taylor (34), Tim Callan (36), logo poster boys Rhys Palmer and Matthew Kreuzer (both 44) and Cyril Rioli (53). Stick with them for now, if they’re named this afternoon. Amazingly, Nathan J. Brown has already peaked at $123,600, with a breakeven of 36 and an average of 32. While he hasn’t made enough dough to be worth trading, now is the time to cash in on Josh Hill ($213,700) and Cale Morton ($216,500), if you haven’t already done so. Hill has a breakeven of 73, with an average of 66 (including those early 90-point games), while Morton, who averages a touch under 60, has a breakeven of 76.
Two gamers
Of all the rookies mentioned herein, the name you need to take away is Steven Browne. The Carlton two-gamer has impressed media commentators and the club’s fans alike, suggesting he’ll rack up enough games and DT points to qualify as a genuine cash cow. If he produces another 70-point performance this weekend – he had 79 and 72 in his first two outings - he’ll add almost $60,000 to his price tag by Monday morning. If you’re downgrading Hill, one option is Collingwood forward Ryan Cook, although he’s fairly expensive at $129,700. Other two gamers neither injured or out of favour include Sam Newman’s own Jarrhan Jacky (b/e -9, avg 36), West Coast midfielder Jamie McNamara (b/e -21, avg 58) and
One gamers
You’ve got an extra week to window-shop these guys before their prices leap, but if you need to downgrade and don’t like the look of any of the two-gamers above (you must already have Browne), then you’ll want to know more about last round’s debutants, Adelaide forward James Sellar, Carlton centre David Ellard and Essendon trio Jarrod Atkinson, Darcy Daniher and David Myers. Well, Sellar’s decent pre-season form failed to resurface and the big guy netted 7 points. That makes his actual worth a measly $27,800. Um, no thanks. Ellard faired a little better, but only a little, scoring 25 DTs. You’ve got to take personal tragedy and his bargain-basement price into the equation, but he’s still far too risky at this stage. Myers was the pick of the Windy Hill mob, scoring 52, but he’s also the most expensive. His early selection in last year’s draft has him priced at $103,500, but the ability to choose him in the backline and in the centre makes him one to watch.
No gamers (yet)
Warnie mate you are a legend. Bloody brilliant!!!!!!!!!! My only concern is Cookie. Dont know if he has the strength to keep a spot.
Give Chook from stat attack the credit not Warnie…
Warnie is not clever enough to put together a literary classic such as Chook’s Rooks!
my apologies.
Ha, ha, thanks Maggot. I had trouble getting on to DT Talk for some reason this morning so emailed Warnie with this week’s Rooks post. Cheers, Warnie!
Am keen to see the teams this week to see which rooks do get a go. Cotchin seems a big chance.
For the record, it is as yet unknown whether Chopper unmasked himself during that dalliance with the Bulgarian.
Ha ha - you’re all correct
Chook - stop using words I don’t know
No sweat, Jonathon. Best of luck getting that top spot back, mate.
Touche, Calvin, touche.
A great read chook!
i’m tossing up who to pick up for Hill this week. Injuries have stopped me getting rid of him up until now but I’m glad I should come out if it with $100k in the sky rocket to add to my bank account
awesome chook. just fixed up the ‘author’ post…
don’t give me any credit - if anything has more than 5 letters it’s a big word - i’m with ya calvin… haha…
ha bloody awsum segment chook!plenty of laughs
Chook - its pronounced tooshai
I reckon you might have forgotten a bloke who is a decent downgrade option for hill. Hes a bit more expensive at the 121k mark but a proven ball magnet at VFL level. I speak of Henry Playfair, ill be waiting till net week and then possibly getting on him. He had 4 shots at goal last week for 1 goal three so i reckon he could get some decent scores if he keeps getting a game.
I wouldn’t get Ryan Cook, he’ll probably be dropped this week. Also Mumford is most likely going to get the flick for Ottens.
Top post. The Bulgarian backpacker metaphor seems a little too well-constructed to be a work of pure fiction for mine though…
What about josh smith from north melbourne chook? He didnt even get a mention. I picked him up for hill. Hope he gets another game..
orite fellas in an attempt to muster up a bit of trade talk im thinking of, no…im definately getting rid of the griff dog this week..i have 378500k to spend on him.who would people consider to be my best option..im actually thinking jordan lewis as a roughie at 359k
thoughts?
James Kelly.
cheers ed he was definately one im considering..i just have a feeling he might drop off, but hey you cant argue with an average of 101
He could drop off, but I like his chances more than Lewis. Kelly is the 4th/5th midfielder up for Geelong and he’s racking up those numbers.
Be interesting to see how Josh Smith goes this week against a backline that isn’t Adelaide (Adelaide’s backs always own North). If he can get a decent score against the Toasters he might be a worthy downgrade target next week. Wouldn’t risk him this week, though, unless you’re desperate to downgrade Hill and for some reason didn’t do it in the last two weeks.
Kapoww, don’t know how I missed Smith. I have him in my team too! As Raf says above, it’ll be interesting to see how he goes this weekend.
Ed, I think Ottens is going to miss again this week, meaning time for either Mumford or West.
Michael, err, no comment.
Chook, you forgot Josh Kennedy from West Coast.
Little bit more expensive, but will definitely go up a fair bit in value if picked again.
Hahaha sneaky Chook, sneaky. Keeping some secrets to yourself still, good tactic I like it. Hahaha.
Hey chook, do i get to watch you watching the footy tommrrow night?
Essendon’e Neagle’s had one game aswell
Chook i love the new logo hahaha
palmer just cracks me up
wat about chris masten? his break even is about 7 or something, would he be worht trading for browne (carlton) or keep him for now?
Keep Masten and trade him for Cotchin in a few weeks time.
Time to get on Valenti. Will be elevated tonight and is in squad for this weekend.
Guaranteed!!!!!!
Valenti - FWD/MID - could be some perfect timing… especially if King is out…
(meaning that, i might need to trade this week to cover a donut in the backs, therefore next week can trade out someone else to get some cash in the bank valenti coming in..)
West Coast is playing Ryan Davis for the first time this weekend. He came off the rookie list and has been playing as a link up man in defence. Could do alright (even though they say his form in the WAFL has been patchy).
Sorry, they said his club has had patchy form and he’s played well.
for neitz (long term injury list).
Is in sunday game squad but will play.
the thing about davis… is that he is a defender - but listed as a FWD!! Grr.. i needed a back!! i need to do some work there in a couple of weeks…
http://www.westcoasteagles.com.au/tabid/7155/Default.aspx?newsid=59634
Alex, Josh Kennedy will jump about $35k this week if he can produce another 80 point game, but I haven’t included him in the post because, at $190k, he’s above the starting price for rookies. I know at least one DT Talk member is keen on Kennedy, so take the plunge if you think he’ll hold his spot.
Cheers, Chu. Palmer plays like a chook with his head cut off from time to time, so it’s pretty fitting, I reckon.
True that Chook. I reckon he’d do alright, but my forward line has no space for him.
Have you got any thoughts on Hawkins? Do you reckon he’s peaked yet?
I was looking at flogging him off for BJ, but I think I’ll wait another week to see if BJ really has gotten back into form.
what about getting rid of Nathan Brown (Col) for Steven Browne (Car)
What do we think about Neagle peeps???
ha i saw rhys plamer the other day at garden city (W.A) when i had the day off school.. he was with a bird and she was uglyyy :S hes a gun though.. he didnt look like much of a chicken though.. my 2 cents
Breakevens, actual worth, expected price changes and other vital statistics would have been more accurate if drawn from Walesy’s Too Serious.
No, that wasn’t a plug.
Walesy’s site is good, Braydog, but I prefer to refer to the Genie, the statistician in a bottle. Each to their own I guess. I’m certainly not going to knock Too Serious.
Anyone else pissed that Josh Smith was dropped? Seriously, Laidley is my least favourite coach in the AFL.
Haha. Nah, thats fine, Chook.
I’m now working for Too Serious so yeah, just an excuse to get the name out there. Haha.
Yeah I’m pissed with Laidley the prick, and Lethal for dropping Proud. Will cost me a donut in the backline now.
At least I have Tippett and Quadzilla Dew to bring into the forward line to make up for Rooey and Smith.
Hope Smith gets a few more games though.