With salary caps set at $10 million and $13 million across the SuperCoach and AFL Fantasy platforms respectively, filling every position with a premium player is simply not possible.
In order to field a team that both keeps you under the cap and allows you to be competitive, selecting a smattering of rookies is essential.
Obviously, these young names won't make up the bulk of your weekly totals, but should you select the right ones early, your bottom line and your win/loss column will look healthy.
Although we don't know whether any of these names will break through the banner in round one just yet, their pre-season track work has piqued our interest.
These are each club's rated rookies that look primed for early debuts.
North Melbourne
Tom Powell (MID)
SuperCoach price - $153,300
AFL Fantasy price - $246,000
After an off-season of list upheaval and the hiring of a new coach, North Melbourne's best 22 is well and truly a mystery at this stage.
What is known is that should Tom Powell win a place in the lineup, he is likely to deliver in spades.
After a 15-game season spent at SANFL under-18s level, Powell averaged a mouthwatering 118.5 Fantasy points per game. This figure only rose on the Supercoach platform, with the ready-made mid finishing with a mean of 154.
Not long now until the draft!
Check out or analysis of Tom Powell's fantasy numbers. https://t.co/yPzdU3RZJu
— The Keeper League - AFL Fantasy Podcast (@keeperleaguepod) December 1, 2020
These averages were sky high due to the South Australian's pair of double tonne scores.
If Powell is named for round one, you best join the 21% of Fantasy coaches that already have the precocious rookie in their lineup.
Phoenix Spicer (MID/FWD)
SuperCoach price - $117,300
AFL Fantasy price - $188,000
Spicer bolted into contention for round one selection after his pair of goals in North's match simulation last week.
Phoenix Spicer 👀 https://t.co/PaEJ4cdJGQ
— Patch (@PatchToTheMax) February 16, 2021
If the Western Australian can replicate his 72-point Supercoach average from last season, his worth as a cash cow could come quickly.
With dual position status, the man with the best name in football is a flexible option for your squad.
Will Phillips (MID)
SuperCoach price - $198,300
AFL Fantasy price - $266,000
Despite the smattering of busts taken early in past drafts, if you are taken at pick three, it is usually a fair indication that you can play a bit.
The same can be said about North's prize recruit, Will Phillips.
Even though he shared a midfield with former first round picks Matt Rowell and Noah Anderson in 2019, the former Oakleigh Charger averaged 103 Supercoach points and 77 on the Fantasy platform.
Although Phillips has the ability to become this season's dominant first year player, there are suggestions that his body may need bulking before he truly turns on the after burners.
