Cyndi Lauper loves Sharrod Wellingham. She doesn’t mind his Collingwood teammate Nathan J. Brown, either. But the 80s pop starlet isn’t a fan of fellow rookies Steven Browne or Garrick Ibbotson. Now, Lauper has a rubbish national ranking, (after all, the girl just wants to have fun), so you can discount most of what she says about Dream Team. But, on this occasion, her affection for blokes like Wellingham and Brown is well placed.
Why does she love them? Well, in their first two games - the precious time DT coaches have to window-shop rookies before their first price rise - we saw their true colours shining through. Wellingham, for example, scored well in his first two games and then, last weekend, added a third impressive outing to his budding playing career. I reckon Eddie’s not even that pissed now that the drink-driving youngster cost the club its $500,000 sponsorship with TAC. Brown might not be a DT star like Wellingham, but you at least knew what you were getting when you picked him up. It’s not like he busted out a couple of big scores and then turned into the 20-point turd he is today. No, Brown has been a turd from day one, unlike his almost-namesake Browne, from Carlton. Steven dropped a couple of 70s in his first two games, enticing thousands of coaches to trade in the Blues backman. True colours? I don’t think so. Since then, Browne has failed to crack the half century, let alone pull another 70-pointer. Essendon defender David Myers and Sydney forward Henry Playfair are others to bomb after impressing in their crucial first two matches. Myers’ record reads 56, 66 and then, bom-bom, 22, while Playfair notched a 63 and 82 before turning in a terrible 19. More like Henry Playunfair.
Guys like Ibbotson are just as bad. The Docker half-forward, who can be selected in your DT defense, debuted with a 42 and followed up with a 57. A lot of coaches passed him up based on those less-than-impressive numbers. Of course, Ibbotson has been a stud since then, racking up an average of 86 points per game, placing him in the top five defenders in the game over that period. So, rookies, for the sanity of us DT coaches, listen to Cyndi. Don’t be afraid, to let us see your true colours.
Read on for the weekly breakdown of rookies by games played.
Chad delivered an awesome update of players’ breakevens earlier this week, so I won’t go into a heap of detail this time round. Just remember the Chook’s Rooks rules: Don’t get too attached to your cash-cow rookies - think of them as Bulgarian backbackers. And beware the “headless chook” rook, who runs around racking up big scores after you give them the chop. Happy trading.
Three or more gamers
It’s usually too late to buy after a rookie has run out three times. There’s an exception this week, with Sharrod Wellingham still a viable option at $130k. Sure, you missed his $58k initial price rise, but he’s due to jump another $40 grand this weekend if he can maintain his 73-point clip. Elsewhere it’s all about keeping or cutting. Peaked or dropping in value are Kurt Tippett, Josh Hill, Ryan Gamble, Kieren Jack, Sam Lonergan, Craig Bird, Darren Pfeiffer and the terminally terrible Nathan J. Brown. Oh, and amazingly, Darcy Daniher doesn’t look to have a lot of growth left after just one price rise. His first ascent was to the tune of, wait for it, $5k, and he’s averaging a measly 26 DTs per game. Yuck. A lot of coaches, including Chopper, are baying for Gamble’s blood after his 20 last weekend. Don’t panic if you’ve got higher priorities. Gamble’s got a breakeven of 67, which is not out of the question for a Geelong player who averages 59 this year and produced a 90 earlier in the season. Along with Wellingham, the clear keepers are Brad Ebert after his Matt Priddis-like 135 points last week, Jake Edwards ($21k expected change), Chris Mayne ($15k exp chg) and Jay Neagle ($14k exp chg).
Two gamers
As always, this is the key bracket for rookie hunters. Kangaroo centre Matt Riggio (defender in DT) is yet to show his true colours, having followed his eye-catching 73 (round 8 ) with a vomit-inducing 36 (round 9). He’s in the high-risk, high-reward category, especially playing under the ruthless (read stupid) Dean Laidley. Rookie-list issues surround Melbourne’s Shane Valenti, who has knocked up a couple of circa 60 scores. The bloke who could demote him, Jack Grimes, looks at least four weeks away, so Valenti could provide a short-term option at worst. Fellow $72k forward Ryan Davis couldn’t break 40 in his first two hit-outs, so I’d look elsewhere. Richmond’s no.2 draft pick, Trent Cotchin, hasn’t lit up the scoreboard (66 and 49 so far), but he should see regular action and average at least 50. His price is inflated, but you could do worse if you’re looking to offload a Bird or Jack, for example. Other two gamers to consider if they break back into their respective sides include Matthew Spangher, Jamie McNamara, Scott Selwood and Clayton Hinkley.
One gamers
West Coast is blooding a bloody lot of kids this year, including another two last week. Defender Tim Houlihan surprised with a stand-out 74, while teammate Beau Wilkes nabbed a nifty 53. Hawthorn also had a couple of newbies in 50-point territory; Josh P. Kennedy ran up 58 DTs, while Jarryd Morton managed 57. If they play this week, both should benefit from the wide expanses of Launceston’s Aurora Stadium (couldn’t resist finishing with a hometown plug).
Chook, what is the word on Valentis rookie status? Is he on the senior list for the remanider of the season?
Can any Melbourne supporters shed any light?
I guess Im in a similar position to many…looking to pick up Valenti but also want someone who will be a healthy emergency should one of my big boys get injured/suspended. Also, this time of year trades becoming precious so dont want to waste any on underperforming cash cows.
I have the same questions as Mick but about Houlihan. I know he has an extra week before the price rise but I have Symes sitting on my bench doing sweet FA and I could use the extra cash to upgrade in another position.
I’m also curious about the Valenti quandry, but I thought that maybe Neitz retiring meant he stayed on the list? Is this correct?
I need to sell up to get some cash. Who do you reckon the better buy would be - Wellingham or Valenti?
Sorry - I meant: Who do you reckon the better buy would be: Wellingham or Cotchin?
Chook, love your work, but you lost me when you whipped out the Cyndi Lauper reference. Disgraceful.
It’s there in black and white guys. Valenti will be demoted when Grimes returns from long-term injury (optimistic 3-4 weeks).
Unless they demote Wonaeamirri instead of Valenti, which probably won’t happen looking at Wona’s form of late, then he will have to head back to Sandy… until there is another long term injury at Melbourne.
What Cam said. Having said that, I know a lot of Melbourne supporters (and DT coaches) are pretty keen to take a crowbar to any number of under-performing Dees in the MCG carpark to keep Valenti up.
Roddy Piper: Does it count that I had to Google the True Colour lyrics? It’s not like I’m a Lauper fan club member who knows the song off the top of their head or anything!
I reckon Cotchin ahead of Wellingham, just for the fact that Cotchin should see more action than Wellingham. Collingwood are a Dream Team lover’s dream this year, however.
Hey, do you guys have any opinions on Sausage Rioli? Has he peaked and is looking to head downward or should I just keep him in the side forever and ever?
I was planning to downgrade Rioli to Valenti and K Jack to Gablett or Tippett to Valenti and Gamble to JBrown. Now I’m not so sure if Valenti is only a short term thingo. I’ve still got J Riewoldt on the bench so maybe it doesn’t matter anyway.
surely if melbourne drop the next four, they will look to shift a veteran they no longer want onto the long term injury list and keep playing valenti - a la the saints and Gehrig. if Gehrig’s application is accepted by the AFL, the opportunity to claim a struggling veteran with a mild ailment has a “long term injury” opens up. very interesting to see what the AFL says on that one. (I say all this as a valenti owner!)
Rickaby - the Eagles have Hansen, Waters, LeCras, Hunter, Kerr, Hurn, Butler and McNamara to come back into their side as well. I don’t like the chance of many of their rookies getting regular games.
I would stay away from Eagles rookies if you want people on the pine who can actually sub in for injured players.
I have Tippet and Reimers as forward subs and Morton and Bird as mid field subs. With NO cash.
Should I take the risk an get Velenti in forward or centre? to make some cash and hope he plays plenty.
Or will Cotchin be like Palmer and have a huge bunch of games both making himself a great back up (better then Morton or Bird) and making me heaps of cash???
What should I do?
Fry, there is a lot of people excited about Cotchin and think he will definitely rocket in price. I don’t think he’ll be a Palmer, but he should be alright.
As for Valenti vs Tippett, I’m still not sure. Tippett is set to slide, Valenti may only be around for 4 weeks… I guess it comes down to how many forward subs do you need?
Yeah i guess that right, I don’t really need too many forward subs. Reimers is really underated and I reckon he’s 10 points a week from being a Cyril.
hmmm maybe take Cotchin and not make as much money for now, knowing he’ll play all year and should be pretty good.
why get rid of kieren jack just yet..his break evens only 44.definately getable id say
Get on Houlihan from west coast
Eagles supporters say hes a real ball magnet. Misplaced as a defender, should be in the mids they reckon so see how he goes this week if he gets picked and has a reasonable score get on him.
if Valenti is only going to play for short term is there any other cheap player that we could go for that may play a few more games this season?
houlihan had better be the next ibbo because i missed out on him. such a bummer. hopefully proud gets named tonight though. that would save a pointless trade.
i got on cotchin last week over wellingham because hes e cert to be playing every week and even if he doesnt go up as much as wello at this point in the season its too late to get on cash cows. for me at least. im gonna get rid of my current ones in the next couple of weeks and then make some mega upgrades - starting with stanton to bartel. cant wait.
ffgenie puts Jack’s BE at 60 as far as i know.
i’m thinking about -
gamble–>valenti
jack–>cotchin
next week i can go -
kenelly–>shaw
ellis–>ccornes
anyone know of another decent cheap forward, as others, im worried valenti will get dropped or become ineligible.
depending on how he goes this week i reckon jarryd morton could keep his spot in the hawks. he played pretty well on the weekend and had a good pre-season. only thing is that the hawks have crawford and lewis to come into the side. if he gets a game and plays well this week though, i reckon morton might be able to keep a spot in the 22.
I’m thinking of going
Hill - Valenti (bench)
and
Houli - Ablett.
I also have Tippett on the bench but as he is still playing I’d rather keep him.
It all depends on whether Valenti will be on your bench or not. If he will, then I would get him (but not after this week). If he will be in the starting 22 then I wouldn’t go near him.
Wallcob: Lee’s right about Jack’s BE… it’s 60 according to Grimlock’s superb FF Genie (I could wax lyrical about that piece of programming for days).
If that’s accurate, then Jack’s money-making days are numbered. He averages 63. Still, most coaches will have higher priorities than Jack, I’d imagine.
i am trading in gamble this week for a rookie in the forwards. Problem is i do not know who to get. I already have valenti…
Much appreciated, Sparlo. Thanks for that!
Valenti has been dropped
What are you doing Bailey? You’ve ruined my trades this week now.
Might have to get Ryan Davis instead.. not that I want to.
I hear ya Bacon. Valenti out means I don’t know what the fck I’m going to do…
And I was planning on upgrading Gram for H.Shaw with that Valenti cash. I might cry.
valenti was only dropped cos he is playing in state of origin next week for the vics vs S.A he will be back next week
joff
are you serious?
where did you get this info from?
is milburn a good pick up. wat about jake king or jordan mcmahon
a good pickup for u doogs would be alan didak actually……………although u probs cant afford him cos he has risen in price so much u HACK
Have $102K in bank want to:
Idiot Shannan Watt 162K —-> Houlihan 82K or Wilkes 72K
then
Gamble 210K ——-> Johnno Brown 312K
Have seen either Houlihan or Wilkes play, which is mmore likely to survive? Any other options?
wat trades u done boz