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.
Port Adelaide
Lachie Jones (DEF)
SuperCoach price - $139,800
AFL Fantasy price - $240,000
With the stature, and supposed poise, of a veteran, Port's Lachie Jones appears as close to a round one lock as possible.
➡️ ROOKIE BIBLE UPDATE
Lachie Jones is firming for a Round 1 start, and he's not the only youngster flying this pre-season. See @danbatten_'s updated ratings of 60+ KFC #SuperCoach cheapies: https://t.co/UDgKEf7PBa pic.twitter.com/NS0ba3SxOf
— SuperFooty (AFL) (@superfooty) February 15, 2021
The mulleted defender is another draftee from Woodville-West Torrens 2020 Premiership side and averaged a solid 65 Supercoach points throughout the season and boosted this to 93 throughout the finals series.
Despite no official word regarding a round one debut, Jones has been playing in Port's ‘A team' during their pre-season match simulations.
Possessing the potential to take home this season's Rising Star, should you fail to join the 8% that owner the bruising backman on Fantasy, you are likely to be kicking yourself.
Miles Bergman (FWD)
SuperCoach price - $123,900
AFL Fantasy price - $170,000
As another first round draftee whose track work has impressed Ken Hinkley already this pre-season, Miles Bergman is also in line for early selection.
Bergman recently inked a contract that will keep him at Alberton until the completion of 2023, so he is obviously seen as a required commodity.
Although originally selected as a forward, Bergman has been training with Port's defenders over the summer.
Keep an eye on match sim reports and his pre-season form before committing, as it may well prove that he and Jones are competing for the same position.
