LIKE a good fisherman, every Toyota AFL Dream Team coach has a hard luck story about the one that got away.
You know the kind – the coach who passed up on drafting Shaun Higgins at the start of the season because the young Dog had spent a considerable time out of the game.
Or the one who thought long and hard about selecting Daniel Rich as a first-year player, but didn’t know if the Lion tyro would make an immediate impact in the big league.
History has proven the folly of those decisions and there are plenty more like them – such as the following opportunities that even the most savvy of DT mentors might have missed.
The football world knows all about Jack Grimes after his NAB AFL Rising Star nomination but at the start of the season, he was just another of Melbourne’s inexperienced band of youngsters.
The young midfielder has torn it up since resuming in round seven from a back complaint, averaging almost 90 points per game.
A clever coach could have picked him up for a tick under $190,000 but Grimes will now set you back more than $300,000 after his 143-point effort against West Coast.
He’ll likely be worth even more next week after he drops a 55-point game against Essendon from his three-game rolling average.
At the other end of the experience scale is Swans star Ryan O’Keefe, who has enjoyed a stellar burst of form after a slow start to the season.
He could be had for just $310,200 after the Richmond game in round six – now he’s worth more than $440,000 after revelling in a new midfield role.
Since that day against the Tigers, O’Keefe has missed the ton just twice and both those scores were in the 90s. With an average of almost 120 points per game in the past five rounds, there are fewer hotter players in the league.
Now that the Dream Team analysts have tortured you with thoughts of what might have been, here’s a hot tip.
First-year North Melbourne midfielder Liam Anthony has shown why he was a monty for a round one debut before injury struck.
The Roo midfielder has averaged more than 80 points a game in his two senior matches and at $86,600, his value is set to soar. He’s flourishing under coach Darren Crocker and is set for a big finish to the season.
Speaking of big finishes, Freo’s Greg Broughton has usurped Tiger Andrew Collins as the most improved player after racking up 114 points against Carlton.
Other movers include Richmond’s Robin Nahas (fourth) and Eagles key position player Mitch Brown (10th).
Meanwhile, Lance Franklin continues to mirror the fortunes of his Hawks, remaining atop the list of biggest losers this week.
With just 33 points against the Dogs, Buddy is a good $60,000 clear of second-placed Eagle Brett Jones and looks a monty to stay there for the rest of the year.
Swan midfielder Nick Malceski and Crow ruckman Ivan Maric are the newest arrivals, joining Jones and Franklin after each dropping about $100,000 in value.
Round 14
Top 10 movers
1. Greg Broughton (Fre) $308,100 (+$232,800)
2. Andrew Collins (Rich) $293,600 (+$207,100)
3. Brendan Whitecross (Haw) $292,100 (+$205,500)
4. Robin Nahas (Rich) $272,200 (+$187,900)
5. Brad Dick (Coll) $271,400 (+$184,800)
6. Daniel Rich (BL) $294,200 (+$167,600)
7. Garry Moss (Haw) $237,600 (+$162,300)
8. Zac Dawson (StK) $238,900 (+$159,600)
9. Liam Picken (WB) $228,600 (+$153,300)
10. Mitch Brown (WCE) $238,100 (+$151,500)
Top 10 losers
1. Lance Franklin (Haw) $242,500 (-$185,500)
2. Brett Jones (WC) $190,100 (-$121,400)
3. Luke Hodge (Haw) $311,900 (-$116,900)
4. Steven Salopek (PA) $305,300 (-$110,900)
5. James McDonald (Melb) $249,900 (-$109,700)
6. Brad Miller (Melb) $215,200 (-$101,200)
7. Troy Simmonds (Rich) $269,700 (-$101,200)
8. Nick Malceski (Syd) $197,800 (-$101,000)
9. Matthew Lloyd (Ess) $256,200 (-$99,800)
10. Ivan Maric (Adel) $184,000 (-$99,400)
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.