It's been a big two weeks of football. Plenty of rookies have been given a crack, while other fringe(ish) players have raised their hand and said: Me too!



Let's take a lightning quick look over the first 9 games of football.



Friday, 15th February



Essendon vs Western

Results: Essendon by 26 points



I wish it was fantasy relevant, but I simply have to open this article with a mention of the 43 year old, Dustin Fletcher out there, doing his part, in the middle of February. Someone must have slipped something very good into his OJ I reckon!



Anyways, for the game, it was a fairly one sided even, with Essendon scoring heavily at the end of both halves. Hoping to see that continued through to the season proper with the Bombers inability to run out games a big factor in the second half of last years.



Plenty of statistics went the Bombers way, with a lot of short accurate kicks promising to deliver a lot of fantasy value next year.



Leading the charge was Dempsey who managed 12 touches and 57DT points off just 79% game time. Fantastic number and a real option if he can pick up how he started last year.



I know I said he wasn't relevant, but he certainly was prevalent, with Fletcher picking up 10 disposals across the backline for an exceptional 53DT.



HEPPELL collected 9 touches, however should be noted that 8 of those were picked up in the second half. He'll be one to ignore at your peril.



Meanwhile HIBBERD and Goddard were both solid in what they put out with 11 and 13 touches respectively. So far, looking like Goddard will fit right in.



Kommer was the stand out rookie for the night, getting a fiar bit of it, however his disposal wasn't great, hitting his target just 50% of the time.



Stanton and Ryder we both well in pre-season mode, so don't worry here.



On the Dogs side, Boyd was vintage Boyd, racking up a ton (16) of possessions, with a 58DT in just 75% TOG.



Lower picked up the ball a lot, but man, a 40% efficiency rate will hurt his SC. 57DT though for his 15 touches is definitely worth a look as we see just how he fits in at the dogs.



Goodes had his first hitout at the dogs, and it wasn't bad at all. 6 touches at 100% efficiency, was good for a 32DT (and I reckon higher SC). Definitely one to have high on the watch list.



Hero's: Dempsey Fletcher HEPPELL

Villians: Stanton Ryder

Players to watch: Kommer Goodes



Western vs Collingwood

Results: Collingwood by 18 points



A better match for the Dogs I thought, but one that got away from them with the Pies closing out the match with 4 unanswered goals.



Clay Smith top scored for the Dogs with 14 disposals and 49DT. Once again Goodes top scored out of the rookies with 7 touches at 85%DE and 31DT points. A solid return.



Jong was hot on his heals with 11 touches and 28DT points, but I feel opportunities will be limited for the fella.



Lower got a lot less of it this game, just 6 disposals, however he also only played 44% of gametime and still looms as one to keep a close eye on.



A lot of cheapies out an about for the Pies this match, and none more cheap that Kyle Martin, who picked up a tidy 7 disposals and 36DT. Not a bad return for the mature aged MID, however, one must be careful- it's a tough Collingwood midfield to crack into.



Macaffer looked pretty good out there, with 5 touches and a goal netting him 28DT points. Not too much more you could have asked for for the price.



Dwyer, @Frost and Witts were all out there, but they did tend to track towards the bottom end of the statistical ladder.



Hero's: Lower Cloke

Villians:

Players to watch: Goodes Martin Macaffer



Collingwood vs Essendon

Results: Collingwood by 2 points



Two goals in the final two minutes is what it took. And a bloody silly silly free kick give to Cloke on the death.



New recruits, RUSSELL and YOUNG both did well, the former wound up with 7 touches, for a 34DT, while the later 6 touches and 32DT.



Macaffer furthered his cause for selection picking up 6 touches and 30DT off just 58% game time.



JOLLY sat out this game, with Hudson coming in. End result was a slightly better result for Witts, but that was really just due to a couple of extra tackles.



Three names stood up again for the Dons. Dempsey with 13 touches and 55DT, Goddard with 10 touches and 55DT and HIBBERD once again impressing with 10 touches and 44DT.



Stanton got a lot more of it this game, as did Ryder.



Kavanagh had his first crack out for the year, restricted to just 65% TOG, and picked up 21DT off 5 touces.



Kommer couldn't follow up his first game efforts, managing just 2 touches in 61% TOG for only 6DT.



Hero's: Dempsey, Goddard

Villians: Sidebottom

Players to watch: Macaffer



Saturday, 16th February



West Coast vs Geelong

Results: Geelong by 2 points



A cracker of a match, finishing with Selwood kicking a SuperGoal in the final minute to secure the win. That'll massively inflate his SC score, for sure!



With Cox and Naitanui both on the sidelines, and a well undermanned rucking division at the Cats, it was a field day for both LYCETT, with 5 touches, 4 hitouts and 38DT and Rookie DPP option, Sinclair, who picked up 6 touches, 5 hitouts and 33DT. Al beit, at a 33% Disposal efficiency, which will hurt him when SC comes out in the wash.



NitNat will be missing games ealy in the season, but unless there is some terrible luck for Cox, I'd be waiting to see more from these guys. Particularly Sinclair and his 59% TOG.



LeCras looked ok in his first game back. Moved well, and picked up 5 touches and a goal.



Not too much to report on the Cats side. PODSIADLY top scored with 9 disposals and a couple of goals for a 42DT. Varcoe looked alright, running out the full game, with 5 touches and a couple of shots on goal. Looking a fine option for his price.



Meanwhile, new recruit, Josh CADDY only managed 2 touches for the game.



Hero's: LYCETT, PODSIADLY

Villians:

Players to watch: LYCETT, Sinclair



Fremantle vs Geelong

Results: Fremantle by 18 points



Two injuries to the Dockers as they streamed home to a 3 goal win. Mayne and Sandilands both went down, the latter is looking like a 2 month injury- so cross him off your lists peoples!



BARLOW was fantastic for the Dockers, collecting 14 disposals and 44DT, and prior to Sandi going down was a definite DT chance for my squad. His 50% DE though makes that SC team look a fair way away.



Clancee Pearce did very nicely, picking up a goal along with 7 disposals and 36DT.



Newly recruited Daniel Pearce (and the man who screws up my auto-link generator- let's see if they are both linked to Daniel or Clancee), looked to fit in nicely at his new club, picking up 7 disposals, 3 clearances and 21DT.



Selwood once again did well, with 7 disposals, 4 tackles, 2 goals and 48DT. Tough to go wrong with him if you see him playing 22 games.



CADDY got a bit more of the ball this game, with 5 touches- though only 2 of them hit the mark for a 19DT.



Varcoe wasn't quite as prolific this game, but 4 touches and 16DT, though the 100% gametime is promising.



Hero's: BARLOW, Selwood

Villians:

Players to watch:



West Coast vs Fremantle

Results: West Coast by 24.



Well, this game was perhaps the most one-sided stomp of the week with the Eagles getting out to a 30+ lead early, and well- just not giving it up.



A massive effort by Priddis has him scoring himself a big 51DT off of 8 touches, 4 tackles and 2 goals, while Scooter Selwood|WCE also impressed with 10 disposals and 46DT.



Shannon Hurn will be an interesting one, 11 touches and 35DT point. But we all know how well he tends to convert his DT points to SC, so I'm looking forward to seeing the wash.



LYCETT and Sinclair once again headed out for the rucking division, which went alright for LYCETT, 6 touches and 26DT. Sinclair however managed just 3 hitouts for 3DT.



Over on the Dockers side, Duffield did nicely for himself with 9 disposals and 39DT.



Outside of that though, it was a pretty dark game for our friends in the purple.



Hero's: Priddis, Selwood

Villians:

Players to watch:



Sunday, 17th February



Adelaide vs St. Kilda

Results: St. Kilda by 26



It was a big win by the Saints, taking it out easily without Riewoldt or Hayes suiting up.



To be fair though, Adelaide was without THOMPSON, Dangerfield, Walker, Porplyzia and others from their best 22.



WRIGHT top scored for the Crwos, with 9 touches and 46DT points. Definitely one to keep an eye on with his DPP eligibility.



Johncock turned back the clock scoring-wise, with 45DT in just 63% of game time. Came from 3 goals though, which I wouldn't expect every week!



Plenty of rookie options out at Adelaide, but not a huge return. Luke Brown picked up 6 touches for a 16DT, Kerridge made 11DT off 4 touches while the one everyone was watching closely, Crouch, managed a decent 7 touches, but only 17DT. Plenty of potential.



A you'd expect, a lot of big scores from the Saints. Ray, Gwilt, Geary, McEvoy, Maister, Gaertner and Armitage all cracking the 40 mark.



SIPOSS was playing that much hyped 'Brendon Goddard' role across half back, and with 100% DE and 8 touches, you'd expect him to do some more of it.



Rookies Tom Lee and Nathan Wright have certainly got a long way to go to earn back us coaches faith, picking up a touch each and both finishing the game on -4DT.



Hero's: WRIGHT, Ray

Villians:

Players to watch: SIPOSS



Port vs St. Kilda

Results: Port by 50.



FIFTY POINTS. Wow, do I even need to look at the scores. Port players did good. St. Kilda, bad.



A big score from Cornes, with 48DT off 12 touches, but it's the big score from Hartlett that will have coaches rolling the dice on him staying fit again. Only 5 touches for a mighty 40DT.



Meanwhile, there were also plenty of rookies who stood up at the Power. Neade scored 32DT off 7 touches, Wines 30DT off 8, Jasper Pittard 22DT and should be in everyones team, Lewis Stevenson a 20DT, Colquhoun made 19DT and Mitchell picked up 16DT from 6 touches.



Butchered it a bit though.



Not too much to love on the Saints side, but I've got a lot of love for Verrier. managed 9 touches and 40DT from just 56% TOG. ve-niiice.



At the other end of the spectrum, SIPOSS did everything he could to get off your watchlist with just the 1 touch for 2DT.



Hero's: Gaertner, Cornes

Villians: Dal #Santo, SIPOSS

Players to watch: Neade, Wines, Pittard



Adelaide vs Port

Results: Adelaide by 16



An injury to Brodie SMITH tarnished an otherwise good win for the Crows.



RILEY top scored for the Crows with 11 touches and 50DT, while JENKINS certainly improved on last game, with 8 touches, 2 goals 2 and 49DT.



WRIGHT put in a solid performance with 9 touches and 34DT while Crouch was better, picking up 7 touches and 25DT.



Luke Brown and Kerridge were both around again, scoring 19DT and 16DT respectively.



On Ports side, Monfries, in the teal, picked up 11 touches and 43DT. I, as a Bombers fan, would *love* for him to deliver on the potential that he's always promised.



But it's the rookies we want to see, and Kane Mitchell was very good. 11 touches and 34DT to the mature aged rookie will hopefully go part of the way to getting him promoted.



Stevenson did well with 5 touches and 22DT, while Pittard managed just 2 touches and 7DT. BUT, it was from 34% gametime, which goes to help keep his scores to just the dedicated coaches.



Meanwhile Wines managed just 2 touches for 6DT, and Hartlett 3 for a grand total of 0DT.



Hero's: RILEY, Mitchell

Villians: Hartlett

Players to watch: Mitchell





So there we go, it's a week late- but it's certainly bringing things to the table.



What do you think? Who impressed? Who didn't? And who did you move into your squad after readng this?