Near the half way point of the year it’s important to take stock of any potential rookie downgrades that might pop up. Each week that passes the downgrade options are getting thinner and thinner, so at Footy Tragic we’re trying to give you a run down on some guys that are yet to rise is price who could be worth keeping an eye out for.

 

DEFENDERS

 

Sam Docherty DEF/MID (BRIS) $149,600 DT, $141,600 SC

The #12 pick from the 2011 National Draft had a hip operation in the pre-season to clean up an impingement he had as a junior. He’s a talented half back with a very good kick. With Brisbane’s season going the way it is I imagine they’ll be looking to get games into their talented youngsters. He’s played four games in the reserves on return from that hip surgery.

Jeromey Webberley (RICH) $110,800 DT, $114,900 SC

Richmond have had very few injuries this year, but if their depth is tested Webberley would be one of the first to come in, especially if they lose a half back or outside midfielder. He’s been exposed to AFL before having played 10 games in 2010 and five in 2011 (mostly as sub). The issue would be avoiding the sub vest, but he’d be a handy scorer if they had a couple of longer term injuries.

 

Stephen Wrigley (BRIS) $85,800 DT, $94,700 SC

The mature aged rookie from Labrador in Queensland has been super impressive this year. He’s been named in the best players for Brisbane’s reserves in five of the last six games and played for QLD/NT in the rep game on the weekend against NSW/ACT (only AFL rookie listed players were eligible, not senior listed). He’s a rebounding defender as well and according to the Lions reserves coach Nathan Clarke he would’ve already debuted by now if he wasn’t on the rookie list. After Round 11 they can upgrade another rookie, but currently Niall McKeever and Jack Crisp are upgraded for their only two long term injuries Brent Staker and Matthew Leuenberger.

As an interesting tidbit there is a team in the Top 10 for AFL Dream Team who has had Wrigley from Round 1. Did he know something we don’t? Or is his impending debut purely a fluke?

 

Other candidates…

Daniel Talia (ADEL) $149,600 DT, $252,400 SC – More a suggestion for AFL Dream Team, but he’s playing every week and has a very low average (36.1 DT). At that price he could be considered handy back up just to play in case of emergency.

Sam Shaw (ADEL) $104,200 DT, $113,200 SC – I like his scoring potential and in his one game this year scored 59 DT and 71 SC, however he has struggled with soft tissue injuries in his year and a half at the Crows.

David Astbury (RICH) $98,900 DT, $172,400 SC – He’s been out since suffering a nasty knee injury against Sydney last year, but he’s returned to the VFL reserves recently. With Richmond’s depleted key defence stocks (Grimes, Moore) he could be an option. A bit too pricey in SuperCoach, but not so in AFL Dream Team.

 

 

MIDFIELDERS

Stephen Clifton (GWS) $121,800 DT, $130,700 SC

There was a fair bit of pre-season interest in the fantasy community for the mature aged Giant (‘giant’ as a proper known, because he’s actually quite short). Originally from North Ballarat in the VFL he was a prolific clearance player and a bit of a harder body to help the young Giants along in their first year in the AFL (as well as in the NEAFL last year). His season so far has been cruelled by injuries having played only two games about six weeks apart. He missed six weeks with a wrist injury before returning to play one game and subsequently sustain a minor knee injury.

 

Tom Mitchell (SYD) $98,700 DT, $106,600 SC

This guy is a fantasy gold mine waiting to explode. It will get to a certain time of the year where we won’t want him to debut this year so he can still be this cheap in 2013. He’s recently returned from a knee injury that kept him out of the first five weeks of the season. He is a ball magnet of epic proportions and with a pretty mature body for his age I expect him to make a good impact when he eventually gets his chance. In the WAFL U/18 comp he averaged 131 DT points last year and 96 in the U/18 National Championships.

 

Sam Gibson (NM) $85,800 DT, $94,700 SC

Gibson turned 26 during the week and has been lighting it up in the VFL this season. The former Box Hill captain has always been a ball magnet and this season he’s averaged 113.75 AFL Dream Team points for Werribee. He’s scored over a ton in 6/8 games, including a top score of 175 (40 touches, eight marks, eight tackles and three goals). The catch is, the Roos haven’t had a long term injury to be able to upgrade. Hopefully he gets his chance when all clubs can upgrade a rookie, regardless of LTI’s after Round 11.

 

Other candidates…

Tom Sheridan (FREO) $112,200 DT, $121,600 SC – Has been named emergency for Freo a couple of times, so is around the mark. Was a prolific ball winner for the Calder Cannons last year.

Koby Stevens (WC) $104,200 DT, $135,500 SC – Yes, I still hold hope, but it would require long term injuries to other inside mids for me to feel safe with his job security. He’s also a massive sub risk. He’s played two games, so is on the bubble.

Anthony Miles (GWS) $104,200 DT, $113,200 SC – He’s an inside midfielder who gets to good spots, but gets a lot of meaningless possessions. That’s not such a bad thing for his fantasy prospects, but I’d be reluctant to trade in a GWS player who has been fit pretty much all year. It suggests he’s not high in the pecking order to me. In his one appearance this year he scored 89 DT and 74 SC.

Jonathan Simpkin (GEEL) $104,200 DT, $113,200 SC – Upgraded off the rookie list last week and debuted as the sub for Geelong. A tough inside midfielder with a strong body at 24 years of age. With their struggles in the contested ball this year they could look to him as an extra hard body around stoppages.

Elliot Yeo (BRIS) $98,700 DT, $106,600 SC – Another one who debuted last week, Yeo is a lightly framed outside midfielder from WA. His kicking isn’t fantastic, but he adds a bit of dash that Brisbane have been lacking. I feel he’s in the team for a short time though.

Daniel Pearce (WB) $98,700 DT, $106,600 SC – There were plenty of debuts in the midfield last week, and even though he’s more of a small defender he’s listed as a MID for AFL Dream Team and SuperCoach. He scored 36 in DT and 35 SC and isn’t really a massive accumulator of possessions.

Matthew Arnot (RICH) $98,700 DT, $106,600 SC – Arnot is a hard bodied midfielder with massive guns and has been named emergency for Richmond a few times this year. Considering their lack of injuries he might not be too far away if they start copping a couple. Not a huge ball winner, but can rack up tackle numbers.

Marley Williams (COLL) $85,800 DT, $94,700 SC – Williams debuted for Collingwood last week after being promoted off the rookie list. He’s another really tough midfielder and scored 39 DT and 46 SC on debut. You’d have to worry about him losing his spot to Dane Swan in a couple of weeks though.

 

 

RUCKS

Tom Campbell (WB) $85,800 DT, $94,700 SC

The mature aged rookie who was picked up from Bendigo has been playing some really good footy for Williamstown. He first sparked a bit of interest in his only NAB Cup game with a four goal haul against North Melbourne. There doesn’t look to be much on the horizon for a potential ruck downgrade. Like Stephen Wrigley and Sam Gibson, he’s just biding his time waiting for Round 11 as the Dogs don’t currently have a spare LTI spot (Mark Austin was upgraded for Tom Williams).

 

 

FORWARDS

Aaron Black (NM) $150,400 DT, $178,900 SC

He was impressive in his first game of the year, albeit against Brisbane. His one game last year blew his price out, which is a bit annoying, but he’s a strong marking high leaping forward, who is a very bright prospect for the Roos. He’s struggled with injury in his time on their list, but has had plenty of continuity in his game this year. I’m thinking he’s more of a SuperCoach option because he’s not likely to win heaps of the ball, but his contested marking and conversion (effective kicks) will help his SC score.

 

Tom Schneider (HAW) $104,200 DT, $113,200 SC

Still on the Hawks rookie list, Schneider has been having a fantastic season and will be in the mix for an upgrade after Round 11. He’s averaged 113.4 AFL Dream Team points this season with 6/8 games topping the ton. His best effort was 141 points. He’s averaging 30 touches and almost five tackles per game.

Tom Couch MID/FWD (MELB) $85,800 DT, $94,700 SC

I know we’ve had a bit to say about Couch on Twitter and our show, so we’re not his biggest fans. With that said, it does seem a bit weird that Melbourne promoted him to their senior list only for him to get named in the best players in 5/6 games and not get called up. He’s averaged 100.5 in AFL Dream Team for Casey Scorpions this year, however he hasn’t played for a few weeks. He missed one game (not sure why), then Casey had a bye and then it was the VFL rep game, which didn’t include any AFL listed players. If he does get named for debut his MID/FWD eligibility will be handy and there’s no doubting his ability to get his hands on the ball. We’re not about to call him the “next Barlow” as another fantasy site did to Wayde Twomey last year.

 

Other candidates…

Jamie Elliott (COLL) $98,700 DT, $106,600 SC – He debuted for the Pies as the sub last week. He’s a livewire small forward who likes to tackle and harass. He’s in the team, so keep an eye on him, but I’m not expecting him to be a high scorer at this stage of his career if he is able to keep his spot.

Hayden Crozier MID/FWD (FREO) $98,700 DT, $106,600 SC – Lightly framed and classy outside midfielder, who was named on an extended bench for Freo last week. Some fears that his body is still a bit light for consistent AFL action, but he’s a chance to debut in the coming weeks.