As the 2019 Toyota AFL Premiership Season draws ever nearer, AFL Fantasy coaches everywhere are busily studying form guides, player trend predictions ahead of Round 1.
And the Saints' best buys could come in perhaps the most unlikely form: the club's newest recruits.
We take a look at each of the Saints' summer signings to find the best value below.
Matt Parker – MID $178,000
Arguably the most likely player to lock into your side for Round 1, Matt Parker has the capacity to make an immediate impact for the Saints, both through the midfield and up forward.
Much like fellow dynamos Jade Gresham and Ben Long, the mature-age recruit boasts an incredible goal sense, alongside brilliant flashes of speed and freakish talent.
READ: Matt Parker's draft dream
27 majors from 20 games in the 2018 WAFL Season only highlight the danger the 23-year-old possesses, as too does his average of 13 disposals a game.
While listed as a pure midfielder for AFL Fantasy, Parker’s dual-capacity talents bear all the hallmarks of a Fantasy gem – and at just $178,000, that’s something you can’t look past.
Robbie Young – FWD $170,000
If grunt, aggression and plenty of contested footy are what your AFL Fantasy side is built around, then look no further than Robbie Young.
Recruited from North Adelaide, Young quickly earned a reputation for being one of the most relentless and aggressive players in the league, with his hunt on the football rivalled only by a few.
A six-goal haul against Norwood served as the best performance for the 23-year-old in the 2018 SANFL Season, as the speedster capped off the year with 19 majors and Grand Final honours to boot.
Despite being restricted to a forward position for AFL Fantasy, Young has the ability to play as an inside midfielder; a position which only heightens his natural attack and physicality.
Perhaps a pairing with Matt Parker (MID $178,000) in your side could generate a great deal of points with minimal spending.
Robbie Young shapes as a valuable asset for an AFL Fantasy side.
Nick Hind – MID $170,000
Having spent the last two and a half seasons with Essendon’s VFL side, Nick Hind is no stranger to the requirements of making it to the top level.
And it was his workhorse-like ethic that landed him at St Kilda at the conclusion of the 2018 season.
Averaging just under 22 disposals per game for the Bombers last year, the 24-year-old’s biggest strength is his lightning speed, which he will aim to inject into the Saints’ midfield come 2019.
WATCH: Pick 54: Nick Hind
Whether it be bursting away from packs, surging up the wing or chasing down the opposition, Hind has the potential to rack up much-needed points for your AFL Fantasy side.
If you’re after a player with the wheels of Jack Steven but without the premium price, the ex-plumber is the perfect option.
Callum Wilkie – DEF $170,000
Defenders traditionally don’t fare too well in the AFL Fantasy world, but Callum Wilkie has the makings of a player to join the few backmen who accumulate points readily.
Joining the Saints from North Adelaide, the reigning best-and-fairest winner has shown glimpses across his four seasons in the SANFL of traits similar to fellow intercepting defender, Jimmy Webster.
WATCH: Callum Wilkie on Saints dream
Adept at reading the flight of the ball, the 22-year-old’s aerial work and subsequent intercept marking are an AFL Fantasy coach’s dream attribute.
Despite being part of St Kilda’s rookie list, that will do little to hamper his shot at slotting into St Kilda’s 22 and gaining those all-important points for your side.
Jack Bytel – MID $190,000
Jack Bytel is a great many things, but unfortunately, injury-free is not one of them.
Had it not been for persistent back injuries last year – which ultimately saw him slide down to pick No. 41 in the 2018 National Draft – Bytel would be a certain lock as an inexpensive midfielder with premium talent.
READ: Saints snare stellar selections
That being said, when in peak form, the ex-Calder Cannons co-captain is nothing short of explosive through the midfield; the big-bodied 18-year-old is dangerous around the contest with eye-catching skills on both sides of the body.
Although hoping to return to training with the main playing group in the coming weeks, the additional price compared to the less expensive and fully-fit likes of Young, Parker and Hind make Bytel a less likely candidate to feature in your AFL Fantasy side come Round 1.
Max King – FWD $264,000
Heralded as a future star of the Saints at just 18 years of age, Max King’s plaudits have been resounding, despite not having a single senior game under his belt.
Such grandeur has reflected in his starting price of $264,000, with last year’s pick No. 4 sitting just $6,000 behind Carlton’s prized pick, Sam Walsh.
READ: King in waiting
At an imposing 202cm and armed with deft skill, endurance and agility, King has been compared to club champion Nick Riewoldt, with the famed No. 12 guernsey passed on to the youngster late last year.
But with the Sandringham Dragons product still working through his rehabilitation program after suffering a season-ending knee injury last April, King would be a major risk to lock into your side for Round 1, especially given his hefty price tag.
Sam Alabakis – RUC $170,000
While his experience in Australian Rules is minimal, Sam Alabakis could serve as a useful pinch-hit ruckman to help accrue some handy points, thanks primarily to his 211cm frame and status as the equal-tallest player in the league.
Although Alabakis is still honing his grasp on the game, his vertical skills are close to unsurpassable thanks to his time spent playing college basketball at the University of Louisiana Monroe.
READ: Sam Alabakis: An unexpected journey
With just the two ruckmen in Billy Longer ($484,000) and Lewis Pierce ($319,000) on hand – and Rowan Marshall ($512,000) classed by AFL Fantasy as only a forward – Alabakis looks a likely candidate to squeeze into the side should one go down through injury.
Should he find himself in the red, white and black in 2019, Alabakis’ sporting background and sheer stature could help your side snare some points as an emergency ruckman.
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