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.
Sydney
Will Gould (DEF)
SuperCoach price - $123,900
AFL Fantasy price - $170,000
Although widely tipped by many Fantasy punters and Super coaches to debut last year, Will Gould is still yet to open his games account with the Bloods.
With his form on the track catching eyes and the Swans' back line thinned after the exit of Aliir Aliir, a debut for the former pick 26 is well and truly on the horizon.
Coach John Longmire indicated earlier this month that Gould is more than good to go.
Most selected #AFLFantasy Fantasy Classic players... 22/1
Matt Rowell 51%
Zac Williams 40%
Braydon Preuss 38%
Will Gould 37%
Will Phillips 34%
Lachie Whitfield 33%
Brodie Grundy 33%
Jake Lloyd 30%
Tom Mitchell 27%
Patrick Dangerfield 26% pic.twitter.com/LinKPei5L8— AFL Fantasy (@AFLFantasy) January 22, 2021
“He's had a terrific pre-season so far, he works really hard and that will give him the best chance this year,” Longmire told The Herald Sun.
“He's learnt a bit more about bodywork, foot work, a bit of a different role than what he played at SANFL level, and also what's required at AFL level.
“He's another one that we think can play that intercept marking role or give us some punch off half-back, or being able to play on those third talls at that size, that's an option for him in our team.”
With just 59% of Fantasy coaches failing to select the defender, it appears that punters have lapped up the words from Horses' mouth.
Braeden Campbell (MID/FWD)
SuperCoach price - $189,300
AFL Fantasy price - $262,000
As yet another highly touted Cygnet, Braeden Campbell is sure to be at the forefront of selector's minds on the eve of round one.
Taken with the fifty pick of last year's draft, Campbell is a dual position player that averaged 91 Fantasy and a seismic 123 Supercoach points across his 2019 NAB League season.
Seen as an attacking forward option, Campbell should well and truly make your shortlist for rookie picks this season.
FWD CASH COWS 💰🐮 @CalTwomey suggests Finlay Macrae (MID/FWD, $234k) and Braeden Campbell (MID/FWD, $262k) are a good shout for round one.
Hear Cal's extensive review of the draftees and a few other players who are yet to debut on the podcast.https://t.co/Q4i8qi2WZc pic.twitter.com/c9vaS9ixbW
— AFL Fantasy (@AFLFantasy) February 22, 2021
Logan McDonald (FWD)
SuperCoach price - $193,800
AFL Fantasy price - $264,000
As mentioned previously, tall forwards rarely score well across both fantasy platforms. This applies doubly to rookie talls.
Although unlikely to run up a cricket score for your side, due to Lance Franklin's latest setback, the Swans could be forced to blood pick four Logan McDonald early.
Despite averaging 52.6 Fantasy points, 97 on Supercoach and 2.3 goals a game in the west last season, there are better options for your side.
