Port Adelaide AFL Fantasy Preview

This series of ‘club preview’ posts are written by DT TALK regular contributors choosing their 5 players they have on their watchlist from the respective club. These aren’t who we think will be the top 5 highest scoring players… and are not necessarily in order. They are just our opinions of the 5 players who we have on our watchlist heading into the 2013 season.

DUNNY’S FIVE FROM THE POWER

 1. Hamish Hartlett – $421,400 Defender / Midfield

Hartlett was taken at pick #4 in the 2008 national draft.  There is a reason why Port used such a high draft pick on this guy and that is that he is a gun in the making.  However, one thing that has plagued him across his career is soft tissue injuries.  So why do I recommend him then you ask?  Well it seems as though he has gotten on top of these injury concerns.  Hartlett is a penetrating kick and has a big engine.  He can run through the midfield and often rotates across half back.  With Danyle Pearce having Pearced Off this year this leaves that rebounding defender role open and it is one that Hartlett will certainly play when not on the ball.  He has averaged 66, 79, 88 and 82 over his past 4 seasons with games tallys of 11, 4, 16 and 15 and with a new coach and game plan this year this should be his breakout season.  With so much time in the midfield at his disposal he should be a lock for your backline.  Definitely consider.

2. Ollie Wines – $156,700 – Midfield

Talk about a ready made footballer.  This kid is nicknamed Quadzilla at the club, when you see him in person you will understand why, trees wish they had legs like his!  To go with his massive quads, he has massive courage and ball winning ability.  Taken at pick 7 in the 2012 NAB Draft he is priced higher than a regular rookie simply because he was taken in the top 10.  However, I think that he is certainly worth the premium.  His stats alone from the game v Melbourne show you this (however, remember there was no Boak or Brad Ebert playing).  He had 10 of Ports 21 clearances on the day to go along with his 15 contested possessions (out of 21 total)!  He gets his own ball and from all accounts knows how to use it.  Oh, and did I forget to mention he loves a tackle.  He racked up 6 frees for which shows you he is getting to the ball first.  He ended up with 76 DT points from the game.  His tally from the TAC cup last year was an average of 114 DT points!!   This was the highest of anyone taken in the 2012 NAB Draft! I am not sure what else to tell you about this kid apart from he is in my team and I can’t see him dropping out!  Lock!

 3. Kane Mitchell – $119,300 – Midfield

The Dark Knight, as he is known on this site, is a mature aged rookie.  However, the key word there is Rookie.  He is on the rookie list and as such needs to be upgraded.  At the start of the season, this isn’t an issue as Nick Salter is on the LTI list.  However, if he comes back and the Power don’t have any room then he will have to go back to the rookie list.

Having said all of that, there is no doubt that this guy can play.  I mean you don’t win a Sandover and equal the highest number of votes ever by being ordinary.  His 58 votes equalled Matt Priddis’ record from 2006 and included 7 best on ground performances.  During 2012 with Claremont (he has played 77 WAFL games) he averaged 25 disposals and 4 tackles a game and kicked 30 goals for the season.  Most importantly he played 22 games.  So he has some durability.

As soon as he gets elevated he should be most definitely in your side.  He will play and will spend time in the midfield or off half forward.  Based on this I can see an average in at least the 70’s for this guy which will see him make you some nice cash.  Lock when elevated.

4. Matthew Broadbent – $413,100 – Midfield

Broadbent emerged as a real talent in the Power midfield last year and if he can continue that he would be primed to be a real breakout candidate.  I am sure he is someone that you may not have considered for your team but he could be a very nice unique pick if you are into having POD’sin your team.  His DT points over the last few years have been 55, 61, 64 and then 80.  Last year he lifted his disposals by an average of 5 to 19.8 and kicked 21 goals up from his previous best of 4.  He also played all 22 games.

The most difficult thing about him is his very awkward price.  However, I see him taking the next step this year like Brad Ebert did last year and really lifting his game.  He has the confidence now and should build on that I and I see an average of 90-95 not being out of reach.  He is one for the gamblers, but certainly keep an eye on him.

5. Jasper Pittard – $132,600 – Defender

Jasper was pick 16 in the 2009 draft but has had body issues since he began.  He managed 13 games in 2011 and then only the one in 2012 and in that one he went off very early indeed, I remember watching and couldn’t believe it.  Jasper has talent, there is no doubting that.  His 56 average in his first season where he averaged 15 disposals a game showed that he has a lot of promise.  He was charged with the responsibility of kicking out from full back in his first season which shows the trust that the club has in his ability so early on.  I see his role as being to skirt the packs around Carlisle and Trengove and pick up the crumbs and be the link up player, with Hartlett, off the backlines.  This should see plenty of cheap possessions.

He has bulked up over the last 3 years with some hard work in the gym and it is set to pay off.  He is quite a cheap option for your defence and is going to play every game as long as he is fit and that is the key, someone that cheap that is going to play every game is often difficult to find.  He will average somewhere near 75 I think, if he can do that he will certainly make you some very healthy funds.  At that price in the backline with job security he is a Lock for me.

 

Other guys to consider

There have been a couple of great recruits for the Power down back.  These guys will provide excellent value as they are likely to be playing every week.  Campbell Heath was picked up from Sydney where he played 2 games in 2010.  He is likely to be a regular down in defence and at $108,500 he is rookie priced in a part of the field where we often struggle.  Another $108,500 defender is Lewis Stevenson.  He has come across from West Coast.  He has been knocking on the door but couldn’t break in.  He is another that should play most games so worth a look.

Jake Neade is also $108,500 and is someone that there has been a lot of talk about.  he has played in the TAC cup last year and averaged 12.4 posessions a game.  My main concern with him is that he is a fairly slight guy who may struggle around the bigger bodies.  Certainly keep watching him.  Lastly Brad Ebert ($511,900) is likely to continue his great form from last year.

Josh’s Pick

Not only is this guy Josh’s favourite player, he has been a favourite of DT players of years gone past.  He fell out of favour with the coach in 2011 and only averaged 79.  Last year he bounced back with 92 last year.  Kane Cornes won the B&F and was very often the link up guy across the wing and half back.  He was the “get out of trouble” kick or handball.  Josh’s main reason for suggesting you consider Kane is that after his year on the outer he has worked his way back into the midfield and into the new coach’s good books.  At $473,000 he is priced fairly high but if he continues the role from last year he could be a unique point of difference for you.  The risk is that he is getting older and with Monfries and Wines coming on board he may lose some TOG.

For the first year in a while Port have become a very fantasy relevant team with the amount of youngsters who will play plenty of games.

Remember to follow me on twitter @pkd73 for heaps of fantasy chat and plenty of fun banter.