Carlton SuperCoach profile: premium picks, mid-price risks, cash cows and draft smokies

Carlton might just have two of the best SuperCoach midfielders to own in 2019. And there are potential bargains in the backline and ruck. Which Blues should you pick?

Carlton might just have two of the best SuperCoach midfielders to own in 2019.

Patrick Cripps is a genuine contender for the top scorer while former Giant Will Setterfield has all the hallmarks of a must-have cash cow. And there are potential bargains to be found in defence and the ruck.

We’ve analysed the Blues’ SuperCoach premium picks, mid-price risks and top cash cows ahead of the new season. How many will you be picking?

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PREMIUMS

Patrick Cripps $648,200 MID

Cripps was a must-have pick in 2018, boosting his average from 98 to 119 points a game (No.6 in the comp), and there’s every reason to think he’ll be just as valuable this year, albeit with a heftier price tag. Cripps smashed the record for contested possessions in a season — a prime source of SuperCoach scoring — and led Carlton for disposals, tackles, inside-50s and clearances. He also took 27 contested marks and kicked 11 goals. And he’s still 23.

Patrick Cripps at Carlton training.

Kade Simpson $570,300 DEF

Every pre-season we think this is the year Simpson will slide from the SuperCoach pinnacle but every year he proves us wrong. In fact, Simmo produced the second-best season of his career in 2018 at age 34. His average of 105 SuperCoach points a game was the fifth-best by a defender and with Sam Docherty missing again, he will continue to be the Blues’ main distributor. His elevated starting price will make it easy to pass on him, but write him off at your peril.

MID-PRICE RISKS

Matthew Kreuzer $432,900 RUCK

The No.1 scoring ruckman of 2017 (when he averaged 110 points a game) presented serious value after injuries wrecked his 2018 campaign. But after news he’s going under the knife again — this time for a knee problem — we have to cross him off the list. It’s a shame since he’s $260,000 cheaper than Max Gawn.

Nic Newman $394,100 DEF

Newman was one of the lower-profile trades of 2018 but he could be one of the most productive in SuperCoach. The 25-year-old fell out of favour with John Longmire last year but SuperCoach players have fond memories of his 2017 season when he averaged 83 including five 100-plus scores as a cash cow. The Blues like to keep possession of the footy in the back half which could mean a lot of easy points.

Alex Fasolo $250,000 FWD

Fasolo isn’t exactly a noted SuperCoach scorer (his best season was in 2016 when he averaged 76 points a game) but he’s almost rookie-priced. However, his Australia Day weekend injury will see him miss at least the next month of pre-season training. Who knows, he could be a mid-season downgrade option.

Nic Newman at Carlton training. Picture: Ian Currie

Will Setterfield in action at Carlton training.

ROOKIES

Will Setterfield $144,900 MID-FWD

Only another pre-season injury will stop us selecting Setterfield in either the midfield or forward line. A former No.5 draft pick who is cheap as chips after a shocking run with injuries at GWS, but is likely to be part of Carlton’s starting midfield in Round 1. Showed what he is capable of when he averaged 25 disposals, five clearances and almost eight tackles a game in the NEAFL in 2017 before rupturing his ACL.

Sam Walsh $207,300 MID

Top-priced rookies are a tough call — you’re paying for likely game time, not necessarily big scores, at least if the past few years are anything to go by (Cam Rayner played 22 games in his debut season but averaged 60 and gained just $110,000). But Walsh could break the mould. Champion Data called him the most reliable ball-winner it has seen at junior level, averaging 29 disposals over 41 junior matches and 142 SuperCoach points at the under-18 national championships.

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Liam Stocker $126,300 MID

You can bet Stephen Silvagni has this guy in his team. SOS rated Stocker the sixth-best player in the draft and was so keen on him he pulled off a shock trade with Adelaide to grab him at pick No.19, which means a discount price if he’s right about how good he will be. He already looks like an AFL footballer and finished the year strongly, averaging 25 disposals, 14 contested possessions and six clearances in the final nine TAC Cup games.

Tom Williamson $189,500, DEF

Talk to any Carlton fan and they say you must pick Williamson in SuperCoach. This is somewhat surprising given he averaged just 50 in 15 senior games in 2017 before missing all of last year with a knee injury. But he is very highly rated, has now had three years in the system and should fit in nicely to the Blues’ high-possession style down back. And he’s cheap.

Sam Docherty will miss a second straight year with injury. Picture: Michael Klein

NO-GO ZONE

Sam Docherty $511,300 DEF

Docherty was set to be the most-picked player this year before suffering another heart-breaking knee injury before Christmas. He’ll be an absolute steal next year.

Hugh Goddard $159,600, DEF

The former Saint adds some depth to the Blues backline after playing just 10 games in three years at Moorabbin. He could get games but he would have to see a huge spike in his SuperCoach output to be worth considering — in those 10 matches he scored above 60 only three times.

DRAFT SMOKIES

Ed Curnow (Midfield)

Not as flashy as brother Charlie or midfield partner Cripps but still extremely productive, averaging 102 points a game last year. Could be a great mid-round pick.

Marc Murphy (Midfield)

His days as a front-line SuperCoach star are probably over but free of the burdens of captaincy he should at least match last year’s 92-point average. Injuries are a slight concern at age 31.

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Originally published as Carlton SuperCoach profile: premium picks, mid-price risks, cash cows and draft smokies