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Opinion

2022 AFL pre-season stock market

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Roar Rookie
10th March, 2022
17

Here is my buy, hold and sell from each team going into the new season.

Adelaide

Buy: Josh Rachele
I absolutely love what I have seen from Rachele. He looks super comfortable at the level and has already solidified a position in the best 22. He can be a difference maker at only 18.

Hold: Darcy Fogarty
With Taylor Walker suspended for the start of the season it feels like Fogarty’s last big chance to prove himself. He didn’t stand out during the pre-season and I am not ready to buy in.

Sell: Jordan Dawson
He came over from Sydney during the off-season and I have some concerns. The fact he missed the game with calf tightness is a massive red flag. He hasn’t played with the Crows yet and his role is still unknown.

Jordan Dawson celebrates kick a goal.

(Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Brisbane

Buy: Lachie Neale
He had a very patchy 2021 after dominating the competition in his Brownlow year, however, he is back. He dominated the Dogs with 30 disposals and a goal and looks ready.

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Hold: Nakia Cockatoo
I am really barracking for Cockatoo this year. He had 13 disposals and a goal in the pre-season game, but until he can put some consistent games together, I’m not willing to buy in.

Sell: Mitch Robinson
With young kids in the wings, Robinson is holding up a spot. He is the heart and soul and a loveable character, but I think he is stunting some growth.

Carlton

Buy: Patrick Cripps
He is back. Cripps dominated Melbourne with a 30-disposal, eight-tackle and four-goal performance. He looks as fit and lean as he has looked in years and he should be in for a big season.

Patrick Cripps of the Blues smiles after victory

(Photo by Graham Denholm/AFL Photos via Getty Images )

Hold: Mitch McGovern
I liked what I saw. But just because of his last name, he isn’t automatically a great defender. For every flashy intercept mark there was a blown defensive coverage. It will be an interesting watch this year, for sure.

Sell: Jack Martin
For someone on a contract like his, he does not do anywhere near enough for Carlton. His skills have been underwhelming and his defensive pressure isn’t up to standard.

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Collingwood

Buy: Nick Daicos
I know it’s the obvious choice but come on, Daicos led the Pies in disposals against the Giants with 31 and seeing him live in Morwell against the Hawks, he is the real deal.

Hold: Steele Sidebottom
He has been on a downward trajectory the last two seasons but I don’t think his career is over. He hasn’t set the world on fire over the pre-season, but I’m not ready to give up on Sidebottom.

Sell: Will Hoskin-Elliot
He is in a really weird position in his career. He is 28, turning 29 before the end of the season, and with a youth movement and new coach I think he won’t be a Pie next year.

Essendon

Buy: Jordan Ridley
He has already been a best and fairest winner but I think 2022 will be Ridley’s best. He is in year five now and with Jake Kelly coming in to play lockdown, we can see Ridley at full flight.

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Hold: Dyson Heppell
He had a fantastic year at half back in 2021, but the Bombers have moved Andrew McGrath there this year. How will this affect Heppell’s form? He is also about to turn 30.

Dyson Heppell of the Bombers in action

(Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Sell: Devon Smith
He has proven to me he will never get back to the best and fairest form of 2018. He looks a step off the pace now and with young Bombers pushing for spots, he might find himself on the outer.

Fremantle

Buy: Andrew Brayshaw
I’m not sure I could name a player I am more excited about in 2022. Brayshaw has torn apart the pre-season and could genuinely explode this season.

Hold: Michael Walters
As a fan of Walters, I was really disappointed with his 2021. It has been teased that he will become an impact midfielder this year, going through in bursts, but I need to see it work.

Sell: Nathan Wilson
With Hayden Young and Heath Chapman looking like the half back flank duo of the next decade, Wilson looks the one to get pushed out.

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Geelong

Buy: Sam De Koning
Sam and his brother Tom (Carlton) could be the most exciting pair of brothers in the AFL right now. Sam had 19 disposals against the Gold Coast, not bad for a man standing 204 centimetres.

Hold: Jeremy Cameron
We know his talent, but there are concerns. His body fails him and he never got the chance to settle in his role last year. He could either win the Coleman or be the most talked about player of next off-season.

Jeremy Cameron of the Cats (R) celebrates a goal with Tom Hawkins

(Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

Sell: Luke Dahlhaus
I really don’t know what purpose he serves the Cats. Tyson Stengle is the offensive danger, Bradley Close is the defensive hustle and Gary Rohan is the in-between type.

Gold Coast

Buy: Matt Rowell
After an injury-plagued 18 months, all we need to see Rowell do was get through. He did that and way more with 27 disposals and seven tackles against the Cats.

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Hold: Jack Lukosius
I love him as a player, but we all know he isn’t a key forward. Despite kicking three against Geelong, he is way better flowing off half back and using his skills.

Sell: Izak Rankine
I have been holding out hope, but I am jumping off. His defensive pressure for a forward isn’t up to standard and he goes missing way too often throughout games.

GWS

Buy: Stephen Coniglio
We all know Coniglio hasn’t been at his best over the last two years, but this pre-season has been promising. He had 27 touches against Collingwood. That holds him in a good spot for a bounce-back season.

Stephen Coniglio

(Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Hold: Lachie Ash
It looked like 2021 would be his breakout but he fell off as the year went on. He hasn’t been impressive this pre-season so I will be watching him closely to start the year.

Sell: Matt De Boar
I don’t think there is a place in the modern AFL for a pure tagger and that’s what De Boar is. The Giants have some exciting kids and he is keeping one of them out of the side.

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Hawthorn

Buy: Josh Ward
Like Daicos, Ward led the Hawks in disposals against the Tigers, amassing 29, five more than the next Hawk. As a Hawks fan I wasn’t sold on the pick seven, but he has converted me now.

Hold: Finn Maginness
Hawthorn fans have been hyping him up all pre-season and I’m just not seeing it at the moment. He is still young and has the physical attributes of an AFL player, but I need more.

Sell: Liam Shiels
He is a triple premiership player but his time is up. With young midfielders coming through, he needs to step aside.

Melbourne

Buy: Clayton Oliver
This will be Oliver’s career year. He looks in scary form going off pre-season and with teammate Christian Petracca being the focus of coaches, watch out for Oliver.

Hold: Angus Brayshaw
He had a great finals series as a wingman, so why have they put him to a half back flank? I am in no position to question Simon Goodwin, but I am very curious to see how it goes.

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Angus Brayshaw of the Demons kicks on goal

(Photo by Will Russell/AFL Photos/Getty Images)

Sell: Jayden Hunt
He didn’t play in the grand final and considering the man in the hold section has been taken away from a wing to play the vacant half back role, it doesn’t bode well for Hunt.

North Melbourne

Buy: Hugh Greenwood
Everyone was confused regarding the way he got to North, but with Ben Cunnington likely to miss a chunk of the season, Greenwood has a huge role to play – one he can play well.

Hold: Luke Davies-Uniacke
Every man and their dog has told me to jump on the Davies-Uniacke train, but what has he consistently done to persuade me? He looked good in the pre-season but I want to see multiple big games.

Sell: Luke McDonald
They have found Jack Ziebell and Aaron Hall to play half back and with a good young midfield group, where does McDonald sit in the group?

Port Adelaide

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Buy: Zak Butters
Port needed some youth and excitement in the midfield and Butters proved during the pre-season he was the man. I can’t wait to see him unleashed.

Zak Butters

(Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos/Getty Images)

Hold: Todd Marshall
The Power brought in Jeremy Finlayson during the off-season so does that leave Marshall as the fourth tall? It will be an interesting forward dynamic this season, that’s for sure.

Sell: Trent McKenzie
He missed the game against Adelaide and boy did Port’s back line look good. Riley Bonner and Ryan Burton played amazing games and could keep the cannon on the sidelines.

Richmond

Buy: Jayden Short
Just like Jordan Ridley earlier, Short is a best and fairest winner who I expect to go to another level in 2022. With no Bachar Houli, he should dominate out of the defensive half.

Hold: Dion Prestia
He is a very talented player and his 24 disposals against the Hawks were all class, but his body has been against him for the last few years. Hoping he can get a good run

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Sell: Tom Lynch
This is a bold call, but with his age he should really be the key point of the forward line, but it still looks to be Jack Riewoldt. Noah Balta also looked much more dangerous as a tall forward against Hawthorn.

St Kilda

Buy: Rowan Marshall
I absolutely love his talent and he proved what he can do with the number one ruck role against Essendon with a huge 24 disposals. I can’t wait to see what 2022 has in store for him.

Rowan Marshall

(Photo by Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Hold: Brad Crouch
He was a very good player at Adelaide but hasn’t lived up to that tag yet at the Saints. He is very one paced and lacks x-factor, something the Saints need. Can he get to his best in 2022?

Sell: Jack Billings
This is a sad one because he has been treated harshly throughout his career due to where he was drafted. But Billings’ body is already failing him this year, which isn’t what you want.

Sydney

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Buy: Justin McInerney
He could genuinely be one of the next great wingmen in the league. McInerney has it all from offensive flair and pace to defensive-minded running and one-on-one wins. I love his game.

Hold: Paddy McCartin
I am so happy to see McCartin back on the field and I wish nothing but luck to him. But this hold is for the media and fan hype, let’s just let him play before expecting him to be a star.

Sell: Sam Reid
Lance Franklin is the big ticket but I like Logan McDonald and Hayden McLean’s future prospects so Sam Reid will end up being the forgotten tall forward this year.

West Coast

Buy: Andrew Gaff
He had a lean season by his lofty standards in 2021. With the injury crisis out west, he must stand up for his club and get back to his best and I think he will.

Andrew Gaff

(Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

Hold: Nic Naitanui
He played all 22 games last year for the first time in forever and considering the weight he is going to be forced to carry this year, I am concerned for Naitanui’s body.

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Sell: Sam Petrevski-Seton
He never showed enough at Carlton and with the chance for a bigger role at the Eagles, he had only eight disposals in four quarters in their pre-season game.

Western Bulldogs

Buy: Josh Dunkley
He dominated before dislocating his shoulder last year and looks back to that form. He adds such a beautiful balance to the Dogs’ midfield and is set for a massive year.

Hold: Tim English
Is he the number one ruck? Is he a tall forward? Is he a Bulldog next year? There are so many questions around this guy and I have no idea about them so I can’t buy or sell yet.

Sell: Lachie Hunter
He is getting pushed further and further out of the midfield rotation by the season and doesn’t look good as a permanent half forward flanker. He has been a good player for the club but I am not sure where he stands.

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