2012 AFL Dream Team Cash Cows - Midfielders

One of the keys to doing well in AFL Dream Team, AFL SuperCoach and other similar fantasy football games is being able to select the right cash cows (high growth players under $150,000 that can either be kept on the bench as emergencies or fill final starting spots) that have the potential to rise appreciably in value and in some cases may even be worth keeping till the end of the season.

Last year it was first pick David Swallow and mature aged recruit Andrew Krakouer that proved the best options from round 1 - who will it be this year?

Here are some of the 2012 defenders with the most exciting potential:

Clifton is a mature aged recruit selected with the first pick of the 2010 AFL Rookie Draft, Clifton was a 3 time premiership player with North Ballarat in the VFL and won the 2010 VFL B&F as well as North Ballarat's B&F. He will turn 25 years of age this year and it is likely GWS will need his experienced head and developed body in the centre of the park.

Stevens has spent a couple of years on West Coast's list without getting much opportunity, but always looking good at the level below. He has been one of West Coast's most impressive players on the training track over the pre-season and looks set to push hard for a place in a team that looks to be going places. He is a strong bodied inside midfielder that can push forward and kick goals and as an added bonus he is strong overhead and a ferocious tackler, which can allow him to be effective as a medium forward too.

Shiel is one of the most highly rated young players on the GWS list, recruited as part of their 12x 17 year old allowance in 2010. Whilst he is only turns 19 years of age at the start of the season, he is physically strong and has class and poise beyond his years. He should get plenty of games and game time as he is likely to be a key player in GWS' future and also has the extra pre-season with the club under his belt compared to the 2011 recruits.

Horsley is a 24 year old mature aged recruit from Subiaco FC in the WAFL who won the club's B&F and finished 2nd in the Sandover Medal (WAFL B&F). He has a big body and uses it well, as a strong contested ball winner who plays a similar style to Matthew Priddis - albeit with a much more penetrating kick than the Eagles midfielder. He is on Gold Coast's rookie list, so he will need to be promoted in the pre-season if he is to be a worthwhile selection for the start of the season

Bartlett is a talented young midfielder who hasn't had a lot of luck. Injuring his ACL in his draft year (2009)and again the following year, as well as his first year on Brisbane's list (2010), he came back towards the end of 2012, performed well in Brisbane's reserves and has been able to get through the 2012 pre-season unscathed. With Luke Power leaving the club in the off-season, there should be an open spot for him in round 1 if he can impress enough during the pre-season competition.

McDonald has surprised many with his comeback to AFL with the GWS, after retiring in 2010 from a 251 game career with Melbourne. He has proven a more than solid dream teamer over the years with an average of 94.7 in his last season with Melbourne. Not much to lose if he can find a place in the team for round 1 and get through without mishap.

I will be posting my top potential cash cows for rucks and forwards - so keep an eye out for them in the next few days.

For further information I would recommend checking out the 2012 AFL Prospectus, which is full of invaluable information for the avid fantasy footballer.

My other AFL Dream Team hubs:

AFL Dream Team - Tips and Advice

2012 AFL Dream Team Cash Cows - Defenders