AROUND THE GROUNDS Round 21

There’s only 2 weeks left in our Supercoach seasons, it just flies by doesn’t it? If you’ve still got some trades left, then you may be doing better than me, with my zero trades left in the bank, and if you’ve still got a semi-respectable overall ranking then you’re also doing better than me!

We’re gonna continue our 2019 preview and we’re heading back to the AFL this week, this time we’re going to take a look at a few potential bench ruck options next year. These guys likely won’t be starting picks unless you like living dangerously, but they could be cheap bench options that score decently and generate some cash on the off-chance they get a game next year.

The first ruckman we’ll take a look at this week is Darcy Cameron from the Sydney Swans. He actually made his debut this year in Round 18, but only scored the 25 SCPoints, which will mean assuming he doesn’t play again, his starting price won’t be impacted much. But his place here is for a simple reason, he’s been torching it in the NEAFL all year and I wouldn’t be surprised if a team flagged their interest in Cameron.

As you can see from his stats, he’s been doing it all in the NEAFL, averaging 20 disposals, 8 marks, 4 tackles, 1.4 goals and 37 hitouts a game. He could be a nice potential ruck/fwd swing for a team, which means he could also be useful as either a first ruck or as a forward who takes the backup minutes. We hoped he’d be a nice bench option for us this year, which he wasn’t, but we can maybe hope that he provides us with those backup points for 2019.

The second ruckman we’ll take a look at is Tom Campbell from the Western Bulldogs. He’s missed a bit of time over the last few weeks with a plantar fasciitis injury, but had some solid form in the VFL prior to that as part of a rotating ruck force for Footscray.

He’s never been a constant fixture for the Bulldogs over his time there, having played 42 games over 7 years and never managing to play more than 9 in a year, but he’s a mature and experienced player and could definitely find a new home next year if the Bulldogs are finished with him. He came into this year costing $344,200 which is based from his 7 games in 2017 where he averaged 69.6 SCPoints

Third on the list is a young ruckman from the Bombers in Sam Draper. Draper was actually a soccer player growing up after having spent part of his childhood going up in East Sussex in England and then was playing soccer with South Adelaide before making the switch to Aussie rules football in 2016, first playing with Reynella and then with South Adelaide in the SANFL, which then saw Essendon pick him up in the rookie draft.

It was Draper’s 2nd year in the VFL and you can really start to see the progression he made as a player, especially in the 2nd half of the year where his hitout and possession numbers really start to grow. He’s still behind a few at Essendon, with the Bombers having Tom Bellchambers and Matthew Leuenberger on this list, along with their Category B rookie in Luke Lavender. Draper would be more of a long-shot coming into 2019, but if Bellchambers went down then the Bombers could certainly consider putting Draper in his place.

Around the Grounds

Victoria

Carlton

The Northern Blues had their 5th win of the season, defeating bottom of the ladder Coburg 96-80. Zac Fisher led the way for the Blues with 30 disposals, 3 marks, 4 tackles and 2 goals while Aaron Mullet had 21 disposals, 4 marks, 7 tackles and 3 goals. Pat Kerr kicked 1.2 with 12 disposals and 7 marks.

Collingwood

Collingwood had a close 70-68 win over Port Melbourne. Sam McLarty had 16 disposals, 6 marks, 4 tackles, 8 hitouts and kicked 2 behinds, while Alex Woodward continued to re-establish his football career with 22 disposals, 4 marks and 5 tackles.

Essendon

The Bombers lost to Geelong in a low scoring affair, going down 58-30. Trent Mynott had 25 disposals and 4 tackles, Kobe Mutch had 24 disposals, 2 marks and 4 tackles and Dylan Clarke had 20 disposals, and 5 tackles.

Geelong

Geelong had a 28 point win on the weekend, defeating Essendon 58-30. Jordan Murdoch had 21 disposals, 6 marks, 6 tackles and booted 3 goals while Jackson Thurlow had a team high 25 disposals with 5 marks.

Hawthorn

The Box Hill Hawks lost to Werribee 95-81 in the VFL with James Cousins finishing with 30 disposals, 4 marks and 6 tackles and David Mirra recorded 21 disposals, 10 marks, 6 tackles and booted 4.2.

Melbourne

The Casey Demons had a 75-54 win against Sandringham. Dean Kent had 21 disposals, 5 marks, 6 tackles and kicked 3.3 and Tim Smith had 15 disposals, 8 marks, 4 tackles, 6 hitouts and kicked 1.3. Sam Weideman also hit the scoreboard with 2.1 with 11 disposals, 5 marks and 12 hitouts.

North Melbourne

North Melbourne had a 20 point win against Footscray, defeating the Doggies 111-91. Mitchell Hibberd had a team high 29 disposals with 10 marks, 5 tackles and 5 rebound 50’s and Luke Davis-Uniacke had 27 disposals, 6 marks, 4 tackles and a goal. Nick Larkey booted 3 goals with 13 disposals and 7 marks.

Richmond

Richmond had a 120-76 loss to the Williamstown Seagulls in the VFL last week. Callum Coleman-Jones had 46 hitouts with 9 disposals, 2 marks and 6 tackles.

St Kilda

Sandringham lost to the Casey Demons last Saturday, going down 75-54. Hugh Goddard had 22 disposals, 14 marks and 6 rebound 50’s while Ray Connelan booted 3 goals with 11 disposals and 5 marks.

Western Bulldogs

Footscray had a 20 point loss to North Melbourne, with the final score sitting at 111-91. Mitch Honeychurch had 26 disposals, 3 marks, 11 tackles and 3 goals and Tim English had 15 disposals, 6 marks, 6 tackles and 49 hitouts.

South Australia

Adelaide

Adelaide lost to Woodsville-West Torrens 106-61 in Round 17 of the SANFL season. Patrick Wilson had 28 disposals, 13 marks and 4 tackles, Matthew Signorello had 24 touches, 8 marks and 5 tackles and Myles Poholke kicked 2.3 with 23 disposals, 3 marks and 3 tackles.

Port Adelaide

Port Adelaide had the week off in the SANFL due to the split round.

New South Wales

GWS

The UWS Giants layethed the smacketh down on the Gold Coast Suns in the NEAFL, defeating them 129-59. Daniel Lloyd had a HUGE game with 37 disposals, 6 marks, 6 tackles and 6 goals while Harry Perryman had 43 disposals, 4 marks, 3 tackles and a goal.

Sydney

Sydney had a win against Canberra, defeating the capitals team 68-55. Daniel Robinson led the game with 43 disposals, 4 marks, 2 tackles and a goal while James Rose had 32 disposals, 5 marks, 3 tackles and 3 goals. Darcy Cameron was dominate in the ruck, recording 72 hitouts with 30 disposals, 9 marks and 3 tackles.

Queensland

Brisbane

Brisbane had a bye in the NEAFL last week.

Gold Coast

The Suns lost to the Giants in their Round 19 match in the NEAFL, losing 129-59. Josh Schoenfeld had 41 disposals, 6 marks, 5 tackles, 6 inside 50’s and 4 rebound 50’s while Jacob Dawson had 33 disposals, 4 marks and 3 tackles and Brad Scheer had 28 disposals, 2 marks, 10 tackles and 2 goals.

Top 5 under 200K

DEF

• Mark O’Connor – $123,900 – 62.5 SCPoints

• Lachlan Keefe – $167,300 – 41.6 SCPoints

• Connor Nash – $123,900 – 45 SCPoints

• Kane Farrell – $149,100 – 48 SCPoints

• Ben Patton – $117,300 – 33 SCPoints

MID

• Nathan Freeman – $123,900 – 74 SCPoints

• Jack Magden – $103,200 – 70 SCPoints

• Jordan Dawson – $182,300 – 69.3 SCPoints

• Aiden Bonar – $157,800 – 75.5 SCPoints

• Mark O’Connor – $123,900 – 62.5 SCPoints

RUC

• Lewis Pearce – $125,300 – 97 SCPoints

• Marc Pittonet – $129,700 – 57 SCPoints

FWD

• Aiden Bonar – $157,800 – 75.5 SCPoints

• Jordan Dawson – $182,300 – 69.3 SCPoints

• Samuel Switkowski – $117,300 – 59 SCPoints

• Brandon Starcevich – $126,300 – 50 SCPoints

• Fergus Greene – $154,400 – 48.3 SCPoints

And that’s it from me this week. As usual, you can either leave a comment in the section below, or hit me up on the Twitter @BarronVonCrow. Seeya next week!