CHASING the next group of mid-priced breakouts can be a great strategy if you miraculously nail them all, but more often than not it turns into a trap, so pick them in moderation.

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This year, we, 'The Traders' have created a category of players called Roses (which is basically a fallen premium) in order to differentiate between a genuine mid-pricer and someone who has fallen from the elite price bracket.

So basically the difference between a player labelled 'mid-priced' and a 'Rose' is that Roses have averaged a premium score in the past (e.g. Jarryd Roughead).

Here is a list of players from all categories (barring rookies) that I think are underpriced, and worthy of your consideration.

Defenders

Jackson Thurlow (DEF, $282,000) is returning after missing the entire 2016 season with a knee injury that came on the verge of a likely breakout year. He is coming back to a new-look side with increased responsibility following the retirement of Corey Enright. He overcame a slow first half in his first JLT game to score a respectable 68 from 18 touches.

If you are chasing a breakout, it is hard to say no to Callum Mills (DEF, $441,000) who is fresh off the back of a his well deserved Rising Star award. During the off-season, Mills was touted to receive more midfield time on the back of Tom Mitchell's departure and his first JLT game did nothing to dampen the hype after he dominated with 29 possessions and eight marks for a game-high 110.

Caleb Marchbank (DEF, $205,000) was a huge target for the Blues in their off-season, indicating he is a walk-up for their best 22. Despite only playing seven games to this point, he has been in the system for two years and is coming into his all important breakout year on the back of a great JLT game against the Demons where he took 10 marks on his way to 85.

Curtly Hampton (DEF, $204,000) has spent a lot of the pre season with the midfield group and made the most of his new role in the JLT hitout with the Tigers, playing a well-rounded game with 16 possessions, five marks, five tackles and two goals for 89 points. Coach Don Pyke likes Hampton's versatility and has touted a role between half-forward and half-back.

Brent Stanton (MID, $574,000)* only holds midfield status, but watching him in the JLT suggests he is almost certain to gain defender status. It would be a bold move to purchase him now with the intention of throwing him back, but history suggests he is good enough to increase in price by round six after averaging 100 or more for his past seven seasons.

Midfielders

Jaeger O'Meara (MID, $364,000) is a genuine star of the competition when he is fit, and in his most recent JLT game against the Roos, any form of knee complaint looked a thing of the past. He was absolutely sensational, collecting 22 possessions and kicking a goal on his way to 76 from 80 per cent game time. He is as close to a lock as you can get.

Although he hasn't set the world on fire, David Swallow (MID, $355,000) has ticked enough boxes this pre-season to warrant selection. He looks to be moving freely and collecting plenty of the ball which should equate to a significant price rise during the early weeks of the season.

Jobe Watson (MID, $477,000) hasn't missed a beat this pre season, playing both JLT games to this point and at a level that belies the fact he hasn't played a game in the last 12 months. In his first match following the extended layoff, he had 19 touches and in his most recent hitout he collected 24 possessions and 87 points in just 69 per cent game time. Has a point to prove and I look forward to watching him do it.

Darcy Parish (MID, $466,000) is quietly smashing the JLT Community Series and looks to be a player that will relish having a full-strength Bomber line-up around him as it should allow him to play his natural game. In his first game of the pre season series he scored 85 from just 63 per cent time on ground, only to back that up with 23 touches and 88 against the Suns from only 58 per cent game time. He is a huge breakout contender.

Jack Steven (MID, $630,000) reminded us all as to why he was the highest scoring player in 2015, with some promising form that suggests he is back to his best following an outstanding performance against the Power. Steven had 21 touches, five marks, and four tackles for a score of 80 in just... wait for it... 39 per cent game time. He is a JLT Swine and hopefully his form carries over to the season proper because if so, he could give his career-best average of 112 a nudge.

Fantasy podcast: Steven's stocks on the rise

Lock and load: Jaeger O'Meara is looking good as a Hawk. Picture: AFL Photos

Ruck

I am a fan of the set-and-forget ruck strategy this season, but I believe there is one guy that deserves serious consideration. With many of our star rucks rumoured to be sharing the tap work to start the season, Tigers recruit Toby Nankervis (RUC/FWD, $365,000) is in the mix. Throughout his career, he has always shown an ability to score when given the opportunity and the signs were good that he will flourish if the Tigers give him sole responsibility after scoring 85 despite Ivan Maric playing half a game.

Stefan Martin (RUC, $538,000) finished the season with seven hundreds in his last eight games after battling injury for the majority of the year. He is priced at an average of just 89 after averaging a whopping 114 the previous season, and an uninterrupted pre-season suggest he will be pushing for a return to a triple-figure average. He scored 56 from just 46 per cent game time in his JLT opener and the only concern is whether the Lions name Archie Smith, because Martin is clearly the bigger threat up forward.

Toby Nankervis looks set for a breakout season at his new club. Picture: AFL Photos

Forward

Isaac Heeney (FWD, $$442,000) has been a buzz name over the pre-season and backed it up with an outstanding JLT game with 23 touches and nine tackles for a score of 99 playing between half-forward and the midfield. He scored four hundreds last year and remains on track to break out with a likely average in the 90s, taking full advantage of the extra minutes in the middle.

Prior to missing all of last season, newly appointed Hawk captain Jarryd Roughead (FWD, $373,000) was on a four year streak of averaging 87 or more. During the first two pre-season games, Roughy has proven his worth playing between the forward line and the midfield for scores of 60 and 78, which makes him a lock for me.

Touk Miller (MID/FWD, $493,000) averaged 104 in the last eight weeks of 2016 and he made the most of the extra midfield time that became available. The Suns coaching staff have already flagged their intention to continue to give him a run in there and his pre-season form to date has been solid as a rock with scores of 96 and 75 from 68 per cent game time.

Nathan Hrovat (MID/FWD, $380,000) has embraced the increased opportunities at the Roos after averaging 77 over his four games at the Dogs last season. In his first pre-season game he recorded 17 touches and two goals for a score of 68 from just 63 per cent game time and backed it up by hitting the scoreboard for two more goals and a score of 72 vs the Hawks.

Jack Macrae (MID/FWD, $596,000) After averaging 104 in 2014 and 2015, Macrae dropped slightly to record an average of 99. During the finals series however, we were given a preview of what we can expect this year when he scored 107 and 126. A few coaches have gone cold after he scored just 47 in the opening round of the JLT, but it was only from 56 per cent game time so lock him in.

If you select a few of these guys, it should help you get a well-balanced team on the park.

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