James Rowbottom (Sydney) $337,600 FWD-MID 2019 avg: 62.6 Marsh Series scores: 51, 76
Yet another player forecast to spend more time in the engine room as Sydney looks to surround Luke Parker and Josh Kennedy with its future midfield guns. Rowbottom showed promise after his opening three matches last year, managing six scores of 70 or more and a season-best of 99.
Tim Michell’s verdict: A player with huge promise but after five scores of 47 or less last year, it’s a no for SuperCoach. His awkward price only serves to confirm this.
Jon Patton (Hawthorn) $337,000 RUC-FWD 2019 avg: N/A Marsh Series scores: 74, 40
Hawthorn fans are right to be excited about the presence the former No. 1 draft pick will bring to their forward line. You’d have to be a supreme optimist to pick a player who last featured in Round 15, 2018, in SuperCoach though.
Tim Michell’s verdict: No thanks. Ceglar is the man if you’re intent on having RUC-FWD swing.
Devon Smith (Essendon) $335,800 FWD-MID 2019 avg: 68.7 Marsh Series scores: 87, 117
Playing injured last season before being sidelined, Smith didn’t get close to the lofty heights of his 2018 campaign, where he averaged 22 touches, 8.4 tackles (ranked first in the competition) and 97.9 points. While he started slow in his first pre-season game, the tackle machine finished with a more than respectable score of 87.
Dan Batten’s verdict: A potential top-six forwards at this price? Sign me up. Tim Michell considers him a must-have and I couldn’t agree more.
Josh Kennedy (West Coast) $335,600 FWD 2019 avg: 61.8 Marsh Series scores: 122, 29
After three consecutive seasons where he averaged 92 or more, Kennedy hasn’t been a SuperCoach factor in the past two years. He kicked five (105 SuperCoach), six (122) and seven (129) goals in the matches where he posted triple figures in the past two years and it’s dangerous to be reliant on a player who needs to kick a bag to score well.
Tim Michell’s verdict: Encouraging signs in the first game of the Marsh Series but he’s been too hit-and-miss in the past two years to consider.
Ben Long (St Kilda) $283,100 FWD 2019 avg: 52.1 Marsh Series scores: 64, 85
A move to defence has put Saints dasher Long into the SuperCoach frame. He was solid across halfback, scoring 64 points from 11 disposals in the Marsh Series against Hawthorn. However, this was without Dylan Roberton, who is set to return to St Kilda’s back-six.
Dan Batten’s verdict: With Hunter Clark already playing as a defensive runner, it’s difficult to see Long scoring consistently.
Chayce Jones (Adelaide) $271,500 FWD 2019 avg: 50 Marsh Series scores: 74, 34
New Crows coach Matthew Nicks is clearly a fan of the first-round draftee, who played eight matches in his first AFL campaign. The Tasmanian didn’t have a great impact as a pressure forward but impressed in Round 23 when he scored 86 playing predominantly as an on-baller. Nicks wants him in the middle more often this year which is a great sign.
Tim Michell’s verdict: If only he was a bit cheaper. You’re in no-man’s land picking a player at that price as he’s not going to be a keeper and needs to score more than other rookies to make money. His role is a question mark too and he didn’t fire as KFC SuperCoaches had hoped in pre-season.
Joe Daniher (Essendon) $270,400 FWD 2019 avg: 62.3 Marsh Series scores: DNP
Daniher has managed just 11 games in the past two seasons due to his troublesome groin and there is no guarantee we will see the Bomber spearhead in the first half of this season. The 25-year-old averaged 86 points per game in his last full season in 2017.
Dan Batten’s verdict: Don’t. Even. Think. About. It.
Brett Bewley (Fremantle) $252,700 FWD 2019 avg: 51.7 Marsh Series scores: 93, 58
A mature-age recruit from the VFL, Bewley played seven games in 2019 with a top score of 68. It’s a worry that was his only total of more than 60 and four of his games were below 50. But the Dockers have been singing his praises all off-season and his Marsh Series 93 was one of the best scores of those close to the top echelon of the rookie price bracket.
Tim Michell’s verdict: Only if you’re desperate not to field a forward rookie. It’s likely Izak Rankine or Curtis Taylor could score similar numbers anyway.
Cameron Rayner (Brisbane Lions) $251,800 FWD 2019 avg: 46.4 Marsh Series scores: 60, 61
Rayner drew comparisons to Dustin Martin when he was the first name read out in the 2017 draft. However, the young Lion averages 21 points per game less than Martin after 23 games. This is largely due to the 20-year-old’s role as a small forward, an undesirable position for KFC SuperCoach. Rayner averaged a whopping 120 points per game at the under-18 carnival in his draft year as a damaging forward-mid, so it’s a matter of if, not when, he gets more centre-bounce action.
Dan Batten’s verdict: Until the Lions move Rayner into the midfield he cannot be considered, and it’s a tough midfield to break into.
Aaron vandenBerg (Melbourne) $248,000 FWD-MID 2019 avg: N/A Marsh Series scores: 100, 9
Aaron vandenBerg had a positive return to the Demons side in their Marsh Series hitout against Adelaide, having played just seven games in three seasons due to a recurring foot injury. The big-bodied Demon finished with 19 disposals, five tackles and raised the bat for a SuperCoach ton. He’s likely to be used up forward with short stints in the guts if he overcomes his injury woes.
Dan Batten’s verdict: He’s copped another foot injury which puts a line through him as a KFC SuperCoach option.
Yet another player forecast to spend more time in the engine room as Sydney looks to surround Luke Parker and Josh Kennedy with its future midfield guns. Rowbottom showed promise after his opening three matches last year, managing six scores of 70 or more and a season-best of 99.
Tim Michell’s verdict: A player with huge promise but after five scores of 47 or less last year, it’s a no for SuperCoach. His awkward price only serves to confirm this.
Jon Patton (Hawthorn) $337,000 RUC-FWD 2019 avg: N/A Marsh Series scores: 74, 40
Hawthorn fans are right to be excited about the presence the former No. 1 draft pick will bring to their forward line. You’d have to be a supreme optimist to pick a player who last featured in Round 15, 2018, in SuperCoach though.
Tim Michell’s verdict: No thanks. Ceglar is the man if you’re intent on having RUC-FWD swing.
Devon Smith (Essendon) $335,800 FWD-MID 2019 avg: 68.7 Marsh Series scores: 87, 117
Playing injured last season before being sidelined, Smith didn’t get close to the lofty heights of his 2018 campaign, where he averaged 22 touches, 8.4 tackles (ranked first in the competition) and 97.9 points. While he started slow in his first pre-season game, the tackle machine finished with a more than respectable score of 87.
Dan Batten’s verdict: A potential top-six forwards at this price? Sign me up. Tim Michell considers him a must-have and I couldn’t agree more.
Josh Kennedy (West Coast) $335,600 FWD 2019 avg: 61.8 Marsh Series scores: 122, 29
After three consecutive seasons where he averaged 92 or more, Kennedy hasn’t been a SuperCoach factor in the past two years. He kicked five (105 SuperCoach), six (122) and seven (129) goals in the matches where he posted triple figures in the past two years and it’s dangerous to be reliant on a player who needs to kick a bag to score well.
Tim Michell’s verdict: Encouraging signs in the first game of the Marsh Series but he’s been too hit-and-miss in the past two years to consider.
Ben Long (St Kilda) $283,100 FWD 2019 avg: 52.1 Marsh Series scores: 64, 85
A move to defence has put Saints dasher Long into the SuperCoach frame. He was solid across halfback, scoring 64 points from 11 disposals in the Marsh Series against Hawthorn. However, this was without Dylan Roberton, who is set to return to St Kilda’s back-six.
Dan Batten’s verdict: With Hunter Clark already playing as a defensive runner, it’s difficult to see Long scoring consistently.
Chayce Jones (Adelaide) $271,500 FWD 2019 avg: 50 Marsh Series scores: 74, 34
New Crows coach Matthew Nicks is clearly a fan of the first-round draftee, who played eight matches in his first AFL campaign. The Tasmanian didn’t have a great impact as a pressure forward but impressed in Round 23 when he scored 86 playing predominantly as an on-baller. Nicks wants him in the middle more often this year which is a great sign.
Tim Michell’s verdict: If only he was a bit cheaper. You’re in no-man’s land picking a player at that price as he’s not going to be a keeper and needs to score more than other rookies to make money. His role is a question mark too and he didn’t fire as KFC SuperCoaches had hoped in pre-season.
Joe Daniher (Essendon) $270,400 FWD 2019 avg: 62.3 Marsh Series scores: DNP
Daniher has managed just 11 games in the past two seasons due to his troublesome groin and there is no guarantee we will see the Bomber spearhead in the first half of this season. The 25-year-old averaged 86 points per game in his last full season in 2017.
Dan Batten’s verdict: Don’t. Even. Think. About. It.
Brett Bewley (Fremantle) $252,700 FWD 2019 avg: 51.7 Marsh Series scores: 93, 58
A mature-age recruit from the VFL, Bewley played seven games in 2019 with a top score of 68. It’s a worry that was his only total of more than 60 and four of his games were below 50. But the Dockers have been singing his praises all off-season and his Marsh Series 93 was one of the best scores of those close to the top echelon of the rookie price bracket.
Tim Michell’s verdict: Only if you’re desperate not to field a forward rookie. It’s likely Izak Rankine or Curtis Taylor could score similar numbers anyway.
Cameron Rayner (Brisbane Lions) $251,800 FWD 2019 avg: 46.4 Marsh Series scores: 60, 61
Rayner drew comparisons to Dustin Martin when he was the first name read out in the 2017 draft. However, the young Lion averages 21 points per game less than Martin after 23 games. This is largely due to the 20-year-old’s role as a small forward, an undesirable position for KFC SuperCoach. Rayner averaged a whopping 120 points per game at the under-18 carnival in his draft year as a damaging forward-mid, so it’s a matter of if, not when, he gets more centre-bounce action.
Dan Batten’s verdict: Until the Lions move Rayner into the midfield he cannot be considered, and it’s a tough midfield to break into.
Aaron vandenBerg (Melbourne) $248,000 FWD-MID 2019 avg: N/A Marsh Series scores: 100, 9
Aaron vandenBerg had a positive return to the Demons side in their Marsh Series hitout against Adelaide, having played just seven games in three seasons due to a recurring foot injury. The big-bodied Demon finished with 19 disposals, five tackles and raised the bat for a SuperCoach ton. He’s likely to be used up forward with short stints in the guts if he overcomes his injury woes.
Dan Batten’s verdict: He’s copped another foot injury which puts a line through him as a KFC SuperCoach option.
