The Under 5% Club
by Nate
In this article we will have a look at some good Point Of Difference (POD) for most lines that could be a major difference maker in your team.
All selections at time of writing will have 5% of less ownership.
DEFENDERS
The big two selections in down back are currently Connor Rozee 57% and Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera 56%.
Worth noting though that Rozee is priced at $568,500 while in 2025 his maximum price all year was $563,700 in round 17. Is he starting overpriced?
NAS $622,300 really got on a run to end ’25. Will he start ’26 on the same tear? Priced at 115 which was his average last year but pre bye his price last year, which started at 543k, dropped $36K to 507k. Could we see a nice price drop again from him?
Nick Blakey $548,700 (1%)
Comes in just under $550K. Last year at times he had to play as a tell defender and this may have limited his run off ability. Average of 101 last year, 12 games over 100. Starts vs Brisbane, hawthorn, west coast this year where he scored 128, 122, 115 last year.
Changkuoth Jiath $358,400 (4%), Trent Rivers $446,100 (2%), Caleb Windsor $283,300 (2%), Christiam Salem $494,100 (1%)
As we are all aware Melbourne has had a massive clean out. What will the new midfield mix look like? Does Rivers get full time midfield? Windsor on the wing? CJ run and gun? Salem freedom? We probably need to see how it looks like it will play out during the Community Series but surely there is someone on this Melbourne team who will take the opportunity.
MIDFIELDERS
Isn’t Zak Butters and Marcus Bontempelli expensive this year? Other popular selections Nick Daicos & Errol Gulden play round 0, you get a free look but it’s 1 less game for our teams.
Hugh McCluggage $646,300 (5%), Josh Dunkley $621,100 (2%)
#1 & #4 for total points in the midfield last season, respectively. Enough said.
Brayden Fiorini $515,100 (1%)
Moved from GC to Ess this year. Priced at 95, and post bye last year he had 8/10 games scoring 100+. Could this be the year where he gets a consistent run with a lucrative role and we see his scores go up?
Andrew Brayshaw $616,400 (5%)
#6 last year for total points in the midfield, no early bye and only 5 scores under 100. None under 80.
RUCKS
There’s probably a very good reason why most people have a combination of Gawn, Xerri or Jackson in this spot.. but
Darcy Cameron $602,300 (4%)
The Pies ruckmen is $85K cheaper then Xerri and Gawn, and hasn’t missed a game for two years. Averaged 111 last year. Notably athletic. No reason the new ruck rules don’t benefit him.
FORWARDS
Harry Sheezel and Sam Flanders will probably rule the forward line this year, but who else can we look at?
Riley Thilthorpe $525,400 (2%)
97 avg last year. Of selectable forwards, he scored the 2nd most points last year. Don’t let the beard fool you, he’s still only 23 and if Adelaide get rolling this man could end up top 6.
Nick Watson $351,100 (1%)
We all know Hawthorn went hard for Zach Merrett in the trade period and missed him. Will Day is injured again. How does Hawthorn improve their perceived weakness? Late last year he started seeing some CBA action which saw some 85+ games. High impact player with a ceiling of 130+ as a spike game.
Cody Weightman $226,700 (1%)
Firstly tough price and probably won’t be a keeper, and also battling knee surgeries and injury in a race to be ready for round 1. There is upside here though. Priced at 42 but capable of a 65 average. If he’s fit enough for round 1, we could look at him as a higher priced cash cow that can also let you assess options when DPP hits in round 6.
