Chook’s Rooks – Round 21

When this year’s rookies get together at the end of the season to share a soft drink or two, New Found Glory’s Hit And Miss will be the first track that DJ Warnie spins. It might be an oldie, but what would be more appropriate for a group capable of such chest-thumping highs and wrist-slitting lows? The hit-and-miss nature of our rookies was never more evident than in round 21, the first week of DT finals, when we had three hundreds but a bunch of others who failed to muster up more than 40 points, including one popular pick who couldn’t even get to a dozen. Zac and Isaac Smith are a case in point. I haven’t seen the Brangelina movie, but I’m pretty sure both the Smiths kicked arse in that. Not so in DT this week, with gangly Isaac a definite all-action hero with a round-topping 115 (taking his three-game average to a tidy 100), while rangy Zac flopped with a 34, despite earning a lead role in many a team due to Drew Petrie’s bye. Isaac’s big hundred would’ve come in handy if you were covering Petrie or his North Melbourne skipper Brent Harvey, although you wouldn’t have had much to complain about if you opted instead for Fremantle mid-fwd Tendai Mzungu, who knocked out a 105. You and your team might’ve been upset, however, if you backed in Andrew Krakouer following his solid scoring in recent weeks, as the  Collingwood mid-fwd managed just 55 against St Kilda. In defence, plenty of coaches played Fremantle’s Nick Lower on their field with confidence, given a season record that boasts two huge hundreds and a 96 as recently as last week, but the Docker let them down in a big way, producing just 11 points in a forward role before being subbed out.

If you’re in a semi-final this week, then there’s every chance you’ll be fielding some more rooks with plenty of coaches having one (well planned), two (manageable), three (risky) or four (Molly, what were you thinking?) of popular Geelong players Corey Enright, Joel Selwood, Jimmy Bartel, Stevie Johnson and Paul Chapman in their line-ups. Time to pray to the rookie gods, then, that the kids you choose are more hit than miss.

Two gamers

From round 5 to 15, or thereabouts, getting the lowdown on the fresh meat available was one of the most important parts of your DT week, as you downgraded your way to a team bursting with premium goodness. Now, this segment is about as useful as a trophy cabinet down at Demonland, but it’s hard to kick a habit.

While Melbourne suffered yet another demoralising defeat in round 21, its second-game midfielder Sam Blease did okay, scoring 66 points against West Coast on Sunday. Maybe the red boots meant he caught the eye more than most, but his 20 possesions were more than high-profile teammates Tom Scully, Jack Trengove and Colin Sylvia collected and if he can add the odd tackle to his game (he had one against the Eagles) he might feature in our future squads. Yeah, really selling it.

One gamers

Like the Dees, Port’s ladder position means blooding new players is one of the few reasons to run out each week. The Power handed two players a bow in round 21: forward John Butcher and defender Thomas Jonas. Butcher had a goal in his 58-point effort, while Jonas happened upon 39 points while running around after Hawthorn captain Luke Hodge. Peter Faulks, the skinny Freo defender done out of a round-one start by Nick Lower, finally got a gig this week, but he seems far from the DT type, scrounging 39 points in a solely defensive role.

Start thinking about the rooks who’ve done you proud this season. It’s almost time to vote for the annual All-Rookie Team.