Al Paton picks Lance Franklin in his first draft 2020 SuperCoach team

Lance Franklin is burning up the pre-season training track and SuperCoach expert Al Paton is taking a Buddy big risk in 2020. See who else makes his first draft team.

In 2020 it’s time to go back to the future.

After the release of SuperCoach 2020 prices and the team picker I’ve picked my first draft side, and I’ve found room for some old SuperCoach favourites including Dustin Martin, Tom Doedee, Tom Mitchell, Sam Docherty and Jack Steven.

Dusty is a no-brainer after picking up forward status for next season and the others all present serious value returning from injury.

Oh, and there’s another name that hasn’t featured in my SuperCoach side for a few years: Lance Franklin.

Buddy is just $394,200 — the cheapest he’s been since 2007 — following a frustrating 2019 season that yielded just 10 games.

Picking any key forward is a big risk, especially when they’ll turn 32 before Round 1, but Franklin has been a surprisingly consistent SuperCoach scorer, averaging over 90 in nine of 10 seasons from 2010-18, including four years over 100 (most recently in 2018).

Adding to his appeal, the Swans start their 2020 season against Adelaide, Essendon, Gold Coast and Carlton, teasing the possibility of a fast start and rapid price rise.

Lance Franklin returned to pre-season training early. Picture: Phil Hillyard

I’ll be keeping a very close eye on his pre-season and will hit the “abort” button at any sign of injury, but if you believe the Swans he looked in super shape when he returned to training.

Another player I’ll be watching very closely over the next three months is Tom Mitchell. I’m not entirely convinced he’s a must-have given he’s slow recovery from a broken leg, but if he’s fit you have to pick him at $630,900.

My overall approach is to try to pack as much punch into the midfield as possible to take advantage of captain-worth scores produced by the likes of Nat Fyfe, Patrick Cripps and Patrick Dangerfield on a regular basis.

They are backed up by No.1 draft pick Matt Rowell (next year’s Sam Walsh), Tigers premiership hero Marlion Pickett (crazy cheap) and Bombers rookie Mitch Hibberd (solid 2019 VFL form).

Rory Laird presents value next season at $525,800.

With Brodie Grundy and Max Gawn swallowing $1.4 million between them in the ruck and Dusty and Lachie Whitfield up forward, the rest of the team is filled with value picks like Docherty, Doedee, Dylan Roberton and Stephen Hill, who I have never thought about picking in SuperCoach until I saw his $190,600 price tag.

Swan Will Gould, Kangaroo Aiden Bonar and Sun Izak Rankine look like safe rookie picks at this stage, and I’ve picked a couple of fun bench players in Richmond’s Bigoa “Biggy” Nyon (a rare DEF/RUCK DPP) and Giant Tom Hutchesson, a 24-year-old who was plucked from his job as a carpenter in Adelaide — playing for the Crows’ SANFL side on weekends — with pick 65 in the draft.

MORE SUPERCOACH NEWS:

AFL SuperCoach 2020 prices revealed: Brodie Grundy, Max Gawn most-expensive players

The Phantom reveals the first draft of his SuperCoach team for 2020

Rookie Bible review: The best SuperCoach AFL cheapies of 2019

The fun of picking a team now is the ability to take crazy risks. I’m sure more good rookies will emerge, some of these guys will make way and I’ll lose my nerve on others.

But if Buddy kicks 10 in Round 1, you read it here first.

Al Paton's first crack at a 2020 SuperCoach team.

Originally published as Al Paton picks Lance Franklin in his first draft 2020 SuperCoach team