Jonathan Brown’s biggest SuperCoach problem is picking between two Richmond superstars

AFL great Jonathan Brown is a leader of the AFL’s key forward mafia and is tossing up between two of the game’s very best for his first draft SuperCoach squad. Who would you pick?

AFL great Jonathan Brown is a leader of the AFL’s key forward mafia and is tossing up between two of the game’s very best for his first draft SuperCoach squad. This is his first exclusive column of the pre-season — he’ll be back soon with more tips and to reveal his final starting squad.

I’m stuck between two Tigers. Do I pick Jack Riewoldt or Tom Lynch for my SuperCoach team?

My theory is, as a key forward, it is always easier to have a wingman.

I had Daniel Bradshaw and Alastair Lynch throughout my career. My timing was impeccable.

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How does it help? It creates one-on-ones and mismatches.

The key forwards live for those one-on-one contests, the opportunity to go head-to-head against your opponent with no drop-off defenders cramping your space.

At Punt Rd over the past couple of years, Jack Riewoldt has bucked this trend.

Richmond spearhead Jack Riewoldt.

Richmond recruit Tom Lynch. Picture: Michael Klein

Or has he? I think he could be even better with the arrival of Lynch.

Jack averaged 92.9 SuperCoach points as the Tigers reached last year’s preliminary final, an extraordinary effort considering the traffic he worked in was busier than Punt Rd in peak hour.

Lynch’s arrival will create more opportunities for Jack to win more possessions and shine in front of the sticks.

Myself, along with several other pundits including Dermott Brereton, rated Lynch as the best player in the game at the end of 2016.

It is easy to forget how talented Lynch is after he was hampered by a serious knee injury during 2017-18, and being off Broadway up on the Gold Coast.

But now, I have a dilemma.

Jonathan Brown in action during his playing days with Brisbane.

Both Riewoldt and Lynch are proven SuperCoach performers in the past, and both have scored well playing as the only key forward target.

Riewoldt averaged a healthy 92.9 points last year and Lynch averaged 93.1 points in 2016, playing in just six wins.

So, who do I pick? Or can I take the punt on both of them?

Now, I know I’m a proud key forward advocate, but even I think it could be a stretch taking two key forwards in SuperCoach.

Riewoldt costs $504,100 and Lynch is just $425,600.

On the balance of it, I’m going to favour Jack.

This is based on his durability over the past few seasons and his knowledge of the Tigers’ system and of his teammates.

I think it’s safe to say he’ll have plenty of silver service once again.

I’m also expecting a big year from Tom.

But there’s always some doubt after a major knee operation.

Eagles spearhead Josh Kennedy at West Coast training.

Tom Hawkins was the top SuperCoach key forward in 2018. Picture: Alison Wynd

I think it’ll take him time to adjust to a new gamestyle and the way his new teammates further up the field like to deliver the Sherrin to him.

I wouldn’t lead the same way to Simon Black as I would to Jason Akermanis and building chemistry with his teammates takes time.

Because of this, Lynch will get better as the season goes on, and that bodes well for another strong September campaign by the Tigers.

There’s only room for one key forward in my team, but Tom Hawkins is the incumbent best key forward in SuperCoach, as the only big fella to average more than 100 points in 2018.

My mail is Adelaide captain Taylor Walker ($343,500) is training really well and so he also appeals.

Surprisingly, a value selection is West Coast’s Josh Kennedy, only costing $397,800, after an interrupted 2018 campaign saw him play only 14 games, including finals.

It is hard to see the Eagles falling with Nic Naitanui, Andrew Gaff and Brad Sheppard to walk into the premiership side.

And with Lynch leaving the Suns, expect Josh Corbett ($123,900), from my old neck of the woods, to saddle up alongside “Two Metre Peter” in the Suns’ forward line.

Enough about him, I’m starting to feel old – I played a cricket grand final against his dad back in Warrnambool in 1997-98.

For the record, we won, and I got a couple of wickets.

Originally published as Jonathan Brown’s biggest SuperCoach problem is picking between two Richmond superstars