Doctor SuperCoach: Pistol’s ultimate 2024 rookie review, plus full premium dossier

*Yearly reminder that JS = Job Security and SP = Scoring Potential.

*Only reviewing players cheaper than No.1 draft pick Harley Reid $207,300

*DOCTOR SUPERCOACH PREMIUM INTEL DOSSIER*

Ultimate starting team cheat sheet

Our biggest bye round heroes revealed

Mid-price madness picks: Defenders and mids

Mid-price madness picks: Forwards

How to survive scary new fixture tweaks

DEFENDERS

Jase Burgoyne $179,700 – Jase will get first crack at a wing role for Port. He can fade in and out of games, but unless he has a long period of poor games, he should have solid JS and average SP.

Daniel Curtin $175,800 – In many SuperCoach teams, but not in the Crows’ best 22. Downgrade option later in the season. Don’t start him.

Josh Gibcus $150,700 – Entrenched in the Tigers best 22, expect Gibcus to get more usage with Richmond poor. Key defenders don’t usually score too well, but with his intercept marking and spoiling game a strength, he becomes a great selection. Scored 76 SuperCoach points in Round 0. Very high JS and good SP.

Nick Coffield $123,900 – As a medium-sized defender, Coffield’s strength is in his defensive work rather than accumulation. He should still score well enough in a high-possession side like the Bulldogs. Competing with a few but he’s talented. JS is OK, as is his SP.

Zach Reid $123,900 – Locked in to play as a key tall for Essendon. Can take an intercept mark. JS is rock solid, SP is average.

Blake Howes $123,900 – Looked good in Round 0 and with Jake Bowey injured, Howes should have solid JS moving forward. Coming off a 91, just pick him for that quick cash generation. SP is seemingly good too.

Toby Pink $123,900 – A strong on-field leader, Pink should play as one of North’s key defensive posts. There are many who could come in if his form dips but he should get the first start. SP is very low, JS is shaky.

Arie Schoenmaker $117,300 – With Webster suspended and Howard injured, could a spot open up for Schoenmaker? Has all the makings of a solid scorer but the JS is quite questionable.

Ethan Phillips $102,400 – Will have to play as a key defender in the Hawks side to free up Sicily. Will he get the nod ahead of Frost? Frost, Scrimshaw, Weddle, Sicily AND Phillips is probably a bit too tall, so the JS is shaky and SP is average. Unless they drop Frost!

Best of the rest: Leek Aleer, Tom Brown, Marty Hore, Oscar McDonald, Kallan Dawson, Charlie Dean, Bodhi Uwland, Connor O’Sullivan all have a combination of either poor JS or SP, so it’s a pass.

DEFENDER ROOKIE RANKINGS

1. Josh Gibcus – 76 Points R0

2. Blake Howes – 91 Points R0

3. Zach Reid

4. Nick Coffield

5. Jase Burgoyne

6. Ethan Phillips

There are other options, such as Zac Williams and Massimo D’Ambrosio, not considered as they are higher priced than Harley Reid.

MIDFIELDERS

Colby McKercher $202,800 – Playing down back for North Melbourne should guarantee some ball. Might have usage issues with Harry Sheezel and Zac Fisher being used the main distributors. JS is extremely high, SP is high.

Ryley Sanders $184,800 – An absolute no-brainer for a starting field position. Accumulator and good user, Ryley had around 30 touches in both of his practice and match simulations. He even got tagged, such was his dominance. JS and SP are extremely high.

Henry Hustwaite $184,800 – A good user of the ball, Henry has filled in for Will Day in the Hawks’ centre-bounce squad. He can score well, but will he remain in a SuperCoach-friendly role when Day returns? As of Round 1, his SP is very high and his JS is above average.

Matt Roberts $156,800 – Swans have moved Lloyd higher up the ground to accommodate Roberts into their backline. That tells us all we need to know! Took some kick-ins on his way to 76 points in Round 0. SP is high and JS is seemingly solid.

Jhye Clark $123,900 – Lock him on to your midfield benches. SP and JS are good. Cats need him in their midfield rotation.

Jeremy Sharp $123,900 – Should get a start in Round 1 on a wing, but with Nathan O’Driscoll and Heath Chapman meant to return before Round 3, Sharp will need to play well to keep his spot in the side. JS is below average and SP is average.

Jacob Wehr $123,900 – With Finn Callaghan, Harry Perryman and Isaac Cumming on track to return next week, Wehr is likely going to be one that falls out of the best 22. SP is low, as is his JS.

Jack Carroll $123,900 – The super-sub came into the game for the injured Sam Docherty and scored around 60 points in the third quarter alone! Finishing with 65, Carroll was the X-factor in Round 0 and could find himself in the best 22 next week. The impending Sam Walsh return may derail the Carroll excitement, but he could be worth a bench slot selection. SP is good, JS is below average.

Best of the rest: Campbell Chesser and Josh Sinn both have a combination of either poor JS or SP, so it’s a pass.

MIDFIELDER ROOKIE RANKINGS

1. Ryley Sanders

2. Matt Roberts – 76 Points R0

3. Jhye Clark

4. Colby McKercher

5. Henry Hustwaite

6. Forward DPP player

There really isn’t much too much to play around with here, to fill the bench may require selection of DPP rookies.

RUCK

Toby Conway $180,000 – Will be competing with Rhys Stanley. Expect Conway to play later in the season. JS is very poor, SP is OK.

Jordan Sweet $158,700 – A chance to play a bit of a ruck/forward role throughout the year, with Finlayson potentially out of favour. The tactical sub this year won’t be his friend. JS is poor, SP could be equally poor.

Sam Naismith $123,900 – Played Round 0 for a score of 93. Nankervis should be fit for Round 1. Can they play Naismith alongside Nankervis? It is seemingly unlikely but possible. JS is poor and SP will be bad if playing second ruck.

Coen Livingstone/Finnbar Maley $102,400 – Won’t play, but have ruck/forward status which makes them a great loophole option.

RUCK ROOKIE RANKINGS

1. Cheap loophole if going for Luke Jackson

2. Sam Naismith – 93 Points R0

Best not to overthink it and go with the cheap loophole option, unless you think Naismith can stay in the side.

FORWARDS

Harley Reid $207,300 – Playing a combination of inside mid and half back, Reid should make enough money to be a worthy selection. JS is extremely high, SP is high.

Jackson Mead $199,800 – Playing in the Sam Powell-Pepper role, Mead has good job security and scoring potential in the immediate short term. After the first four weeks, who knows what will become of his place in the side or the role. SP and JS are high for the first four weeks, changing to low afterwards.

Zane Duursma $193,800 – Playing forward for North. JS is very high but SP is poor.

Nick Watson $189,300 – Playing small forward for Hawks. JS is very high but SP is poor.

Tom Emmett $182,200 – Filling the Lachie Schultz hole for Fremantle. JS is high but SP is average.

Charlie Lazzaro $181,100 – North Melbourne are giving him some time on ball, when not playing half forward. JS is good and SP should be above average.

Caleb Windsor $180,300 – The winger scored 58 SuperCoach points in round 0. JS is high but there is a chance of being a sub/subbed out, and his SP is average.

Orazio Fantasia $175,900 – Small forward for Carlton, with 35 SuperCoach points scored in Round 0. Pass. JS is OK but SP is bad.

Thomas Berry $163,500 – Just does his role in the Gold Coast forward line. Won’t be a big scorer but did score 62 SuperCoach points in Round 0 in just 60% time-on-ground. JS is average and SP is below average.

Lachie McNeil $159,100 – Was used as a sub many times last season but after a strong pre-season, should find himself inside the best 22. When Caleb Daniel subbed into the game last week, McNeil got pushed from wing into a small forward role and barely touched it. On a wing he has good SP, but as a small forward we are back in low SP and low JS territory.

Kai Lohmann $150,900 – The sub for Lions in round 0. JS is not there, so not worth a pick. SP is OK.

Oliver Dempsey $148,400 – Played extremely well in the practice match. Will need to survive Oliver Henry and Gary Rohan returning to stay in the side. If he does, he will be a great cash cow. SP is good, JS is questionable.

Alex Sexton $133,400 – This pick doesn’t require much thought. Playing half back for the Suns, lock him in. Good JS and great SP.

Darcy Wilson $130,800 – Another absolute lock – got plenty of the ball in the practice match and looks ready for AFL football. Great SP and JS.

Chris Burgess $129,100 – With Riley Thilthorpe out for half the season, expect Burgess to play the forward/back-up ruck role for the Crows. JS should be quite good but the SP will be poor.

Aaron Cadman $127,600 – The No. 1 draft pick from 2022 has put on some size and looks ready to impact games. Despite a 55 against the Pies in Round 0, Cadman looks an important player for team structure. The JS is high and the SP is low. Bench option only.

Bigoa Nyuon $123,900 – Scored well in the practice match but with Aidan Corr returning, would be surprised if he gets the nod over Toby Pink. JS and SP is low.

Buku Khamis $123,900 – James O’Donnell will return for the Dogs and with Liam Jones the other key defender, Buku would be in direct competition with someone like Nick Coffield for the third defender spot. His spot in the side will likely be match-up dependent, competing with teams with many talls up front would require Buku in the Dogs’ best 22. His SP is good but his JS is shaky.

Seth Campell $123,900 – Scored 70 in Round 0 as a small forward for Richmond. The Tigers will need to play some youth this season so his JS in the short term looks to be OK. SP would be considered low despite a good Round 0 score.

Harvey Thomas $117,300 – Despite scoring just 40 SuperCoach in Round 0, Thomas looked good on the eye-test. Unfortunately, with three key giants in line to return in the next fortnight, Thomas may not survive the changes. SP is OK, JS is shaky.

Best of the rest: Bailey Laurie, Darcy Jones, Shaun Mannagh, Finlay Macrae, Cooper Simpson, Patrick Voss, Corey Warner, Josh Schache, Sam Darcy, Nate Caddy, Toby McMullin all have a combination of either poor JS or SP, so it’s a pass.

FORWARD ROOKIE RANKINGS

1. Alex Sexton – 73 Points R0

2. Darcy Wilson

3. Harley Reid

4. Charlie Lazzaro

5. Caleb Windsor – 58 Points R0

*****

That brings the rookie guide to a conclusion. If you made it this far, you’re a legend. Feel free to give me positive feedback on Twitter @Pistol_DRSC and negative feedback to @JB_DRSC

Did I just use the same joke three years in a row? Yes.

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