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.
St. Kilda
Tom Highmore (DEF)
SuperCoach price - $117,300
AFL Fantasy price - $182,000
We are sensing a trend here – mature-aged defenders appear best placed to debut early this season.
In the case of former South Adelaide defender Tom Highmore, nothing has changed.
Some interesting notes here from the Saints' intraclub match including Thomas Highmore (DEF, $182k) playing in the 'A' team. #AFLFantasy https://t.co/QNcUmHQBGH
— AFL Fantasy (@AFLFantasy) February 18, 2021
Likened to another former SANFL backman and current teammate, Callum Wilkie, Highmore has impressed coach Brett Ratten with his pre-season track work.
"He kicks the ball well, he's brave, he's a good size… so whether he's a second-tall defender or third he's sort of in that category,” Ratten said.
Dual broken legs to fellow defenders Ben Paton and co-captain Jarryn Geary have left the Saints scrambling for replacements and in Highmore, they have the perfect replacement.
With things as they are, locking and loading the high marking Highmore appears a must.
