I usually try to go with:
Waluigi: Very fast, helps for stealing the ball or hitting people who are about to take a shot. Also can wall yourself off for the megastrike, no more "cheap" in my opinion than surrounding yourself in a fart cloud or slamming the ground to knock people away first.
Hammer Bros - really only using him for his skill shot, he's too slow for much else.
Birdo - Good long range shot and moderately quick.
Dry Bones - Fast enough to stop the opponents from shooting, decent skill shot but not great.
Waluigi: Very fast, helps for stealing the ball or hitting people who are about to take a shot. Also can wall yourself off for the megastrike, no more "cheap" in my opinion than surrounding yourself in a fart cloud or slamming the ground to knock people away first.
Hammer Bros - really only using him for his skill shot, he's too slow for much else.
Birdo - Good long range shot and moderately quick.
Dry Bones - Fast enough to stop the opponents from shooting, decent skill shot but not great.