Dream Team builder: Kyal Horsley

2012 position: midfielder
2012 price: $119,800
Bye: round 13

Four reasons to have him in your team

1) He's a rookie on-baller who looks certain to get game time. Having played under Scott Watters at Subiaco, Horsley was rumoured to be headed to Victoria to join Watters at St Kilda. Instead, Gold Coast swooped for him with pick no.2 in last year's rookie draft, and his arrival at the Suns spells good news for Dream Teamers.

2) Here's a short, non-definitive list of mature-aged recruits who have gladdened the hearts of Toyota Dream Team coaches in recent seasons: Greg Broughton, Michael Barlow, James Podsiadly, Nick Lower, Tendai Mzungu, Nick Duigan. Horsley, 24, arrives at the Suns with 91 WAFL games under his belt, and early signs suggest he is every bit as level headed as the players in the mature-age DT roll of honour. He was working on a reticulation job for an irrigation firm when a mate rang to tell him he had been drafted by the Suns. Before downing tools to begin life as a professional footballer, Horsley opted to finish the job.

3) A tough nut who is hard to knock off the Sherrin, he was a ball-winner at Subiaco. He averaged 24 disposals on his way to a best and fairest for the Perth club, and finished runner-up in the 2011 Sandover Medal. Tackles should add a dozen or so points to his fantasy score each week, and he will win his share of the contested ball.

4) Count the savings. High ranking draftees will make up a large portion of DT rookie selections, and this year the likes of Jonathon Patton, Stephen Coniglio and Dom Tyson all come priced upwards of $150,000. The cool $40,000 or so you'll pocket by opting for Horsley could be the difference between, say, settling for Cyril Rioli ($429,700) in your forward line and upgrading to Travis Cloke ($473,500).

The downside?

Zac Smith and David Swallow were the only young Suns to play 20 games or more in 2011. High rotation is a fact of life at Metricon Stadium so long as coach Guy McKenna has an extended list to play with, and for Horsley owners this could prove a double-edged sword. Although Horsley's age all but guarantees him an AFL debut in 2012, there are no certainties as to when McKenna will play him, or how long he will remain in the team once picked.

Horsley also has competition for his place. Thanks to their draft concessions the Suns have talent to burn, and Horsley must force his way into a midfield which already boasts the likes of Gary Ablett and Michael Rischitelli, plus star youngsters Swallow, Harley Bennell, Trent McKenzie and Sam Iles.

Risk rating: Picking the right midfield rookies can be critical to Dream Team success, and Horsley's mature age and solid record at WAFL level are two factors in his favour. Smart coaches will keep an eye on pre-season form and be wary if he fails to make an early impact. Two Alan Didaks.

Sign up for Toyota AFL Dream Team Assistant Coach and get the full player list, including positions, prices and the 2012 Team Picker. Register your interest here: dreamteam.afl.com.au.

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