HAWTHORN forward Paul Puopolo looks destined to spend more time in the midfield this season after spending time in the middle against the Cats on Easter Monday.
A regular in the Hawks’ forward line in 2012, it seems the 26 year old has worked hard on his endurance and his work up the ground over the summer and will be added to the rotations in the midfield in 2013.
Puopolo was not overawed by the occasion on Easter Monday, nor the opposition he found himself against in the Geelong midfield, proving to be one of Hawthorn’s best in the 7-point loss to the Cats.
He gathered 28 disposals, laid five tackles and even won five free kicks in the opening round.
Those numbers translated to 98 Dream Team points in one of the surprises of Round 1.
A $267,000 forward, Puopolo’s performance in the opening round would have pleased the 3,792 coaches that have selected him in their side.
He averaged just 51.8 points in 2012, a quiet season for a player who burst onto the AFL and Dream Team scene with an average of 71.9 points in 2011 – one of the most popular cash cow choices in his debut year.
He is one player to watch in the next two weeks. If he plays in the midfield against the Eagles on Sunday and scores well, he is worth the punt for Round 3 before his price will undoubtedly rise.
Mitchell hot in opener
Another player to impress, though it wasn’t unexpected was Sam Mitchell in the midfield.
Mitchell gathered 37 disposals against the Cats on Monday to unquestionably be Hawthorn’s best in the loss.
He was as slick and as hard to catch as ever despite his lack of leg speed, notching 128 Dream Team points in the opening round.
Owned by 13,627 coaches, Mitchell was the fifth best scorer of Round 1 and looks set for another stellar year on field for Hawthorn and in the world of AFL Fantasy football.
Hill worth selection
Youngster Bradley Hill started the season on fire with 10 disposals in the opening quarter of Monday’s clash with the Cats and was arguably best on ground at half time of the blockbuster.
A player we predicted last week as a possible cash cow who has the ability to net great scores for a low price, Hill looks set for a big season at Hawthorn.
He ran out of steam, however, in the second half finishing with just 14 disposals and 58 Dream Team points before being subbed out mid-way through the third term with cramp.
He has had an excellent pre-season and, after gaining invaluable experience on the big stage and, from running out of puff in the second half, look for Hill to better adjust to the conditions of AFL in the coming weeks.
At $191,700, he is worth selecting as he looks set to play a lot of football in the brown and gold in 2013.
Slow start for Buddy
One player who did have a disappointing start to the Dream Team season was superstar full forward, Lance Franklin.
The most expensive forward in the game at $521,300, Franklin didn’t deliver for his 88,932 coaches scoring just 73 points in the opening round.
Franklin gathered 14 possessions against the Cats on Easter Monday, despite spending time on the wing in an attempt to provide his team with a spark in the second half.
He also only took five marks.
He takes on two very good defensive sides in the next two weeks in West Coast and Collingwood, and the games are likely to be close, low scoring battles. Will be crack the ton in either? Or, is he headed for a price drop after Round 3?
