Welcome to this week’s ‘Rookie Watch’, where we take a closer look at rookie players who performed well over the weekend and assess their potential for future AFL Fantasy scoring. As we all know, rookies can be a make or break in AFL Fantasy, and finding those hidden gems early can give you a significant advantage over your competitors. So, without further ado, let’s dive into this week’s players in focus
Angus Sheldrick – Sydney
The Swans haven’t had the bounce-back year they would’ve been hoping for, so they might as well get some games into the youth. It came as a shock to a few when Sydney selected Angus Sheldrick early in the 2021 national draft. Sydney knew they had a competitive on-baller who never backed out of a fight. Sheldrick played just his fifth game on the weekend and showed what he’s capable of when given a crack in his true role. He managed 19 disposals, six marks and three tackles playing a blend of wing and inside midfield. Expect him to be a contested bull once he establishes himself in this Swan’s side, with tackling his main source of points.
Ryan Maric – West Coast
It’s very hard to judge any young player who dons the Eagles guernsey at the moment, let alone someone in their first game. However, Ryan Maric should expect to hold his spot for the next couple of weeks, having kicked two of West Coast’s eight goals. It looks like he has some AFL traits, but like many Eagles, it’s a wait-and-see process at this stage.
George Wardlaw – North Melbourne
How good is Georgey Wardlaw? The man typifies the ‘shinboner spirit’ and is already justifying his early draft selection. Against GWS in Tasmania, Wardlaw kicked a goal, had 22 disposals and took nine marks for a Fantasy score of 97. It’s really refreshing seeing guys like Wardlaw and Sheezel come into the North Melbourne side and make an impact straight away. Although a vastly different style of player from Sheezel, Wardlaw will certainly have his own Fantasy supporters. His tackling will lift his scoring for the time being, but when he’s able to get his hands on the ball more often, Wardlaw will become a premier midfielder of the competition.
