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

Essendon might just have the two SuperCoach steals of the season. Zach Merrett and Dylan Shiel are hugely under-priced given their talent but who else should you be considering from Bomberland?

Essendon might just have the two SuperCoach steals of the season.

Midfielders Zach Merrett and Dylan Shiel are hugely under-priced given the talent we know they possess but who else should you be considering from Bomberland?

We’ve analysed the Bombers’ 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

Zach Merrett ($544,800, Mid)

Could be the midfield steal of 2019. Fell out of favour in SuperCoach land when he copped a concussion in Round 1 and then struggled to cope with some close attention from taggers, which meant most weren’t paying attention when he averaged 114 over the final 11 rounds. Will have Dylan Shiel to help him out (and maybe take some of that opposition heat) this season, the Bombers will be better and he has missed one game in the past three years.

Zach Merrett is available at a discount this season.

Devon Smith was a SuperCoach must-have in 2019.

Devon Smith ($531,300, Mid-Fwd)

One of the buys of last season, averaging 98 to reward coaches who took advantage of his $439k starting price. He costs a bit more this year but his combination of smart ball use, nouse around goals and manic tackling (ranked No.1 in the AFL last year) should ensure consistent good returns.

MID-PRICE RISKS

Dylan Shiel ($487,000, Mid)

The man Bomber fans hope will transform their midfield surprisingly averaged under 90 last year, his lowest return in five seasons. Champion Data loved him as a junior but he hasn’t been able to produce those numbers at AFL level yet, at least on a consistent basis. Is this the year?

Joe Daniher ($277,800, Fwd)

Joe is the kind of selection that makes SuperCoach fun … and infuriating. Hard-nosed coaches won’t go near him after a disastrous 2018 when he scored over 70 once in seven games. But those with a sense of adventure will take a punt at a hugely discounted price and cross their fingers we get the high-marking, straight-kicking Daniher who scored over 90 12 times in 2017, when he wasn’t restricted by injury. There will be head-scratching moments, no doubt, but if he goes bang at the right time it could be a season-defining move. Of note: the Bombers play St Kilda and Brisbane in the first four rounds.

Aaron Francis ($350,900, Def)

After struggling to break into the best 22 for three seasons Francis cemented his spot with a fantastic finish to 2018. He played the last five games and got better every week, finishing with SuperCoach scores of 94 and 104 in the last two rounds. Plays a SuperCoach-friendly game built around intercept marking and the No.6 pick in the 2015 draft should only get better. Awkward price, though.

Aaron Francis and Jake Stringer fight for the ball. Picture: Michael Klein

Andrew McGrath ($384,300, Def-Mid)

A hot breakout tip last year but it didn’t happen but then it usually doesn’t in a player’s second season. Now coming into his third year, can he reproduce the form of his last TAC Cup season when he averaged 145 SuperCoach points a game? Risky.

Marty Gleeson ($264,400, Def)

Forgotten defender who missed all of 2018 with an ankle injury. Has never been a high-scorer but scored 103 in the last two games he played in 2017. An option if backline rookie stocks are thin.

ROOKIES

Zac Clarke ($142,600, Ruck)

Joined Essendon under new AFL rookie rules to provide ruck support for Tom Bellchambers. Numbers in the WAFL were excellent after being delisted by the Dockers at the end of 2016; 17 disposals and 50 hitouts in this year’s grand final and 29 touches and four goals in a game against East Fremantle late in the season are cause for optimism. But will he get games at the Bombers and, if he does, where will he play? Add to the watch list.

NO-GO ZONE

Irving Mosquito ($117,300, Mid-Fwd)

Has the best name in the AFL and seems like a ripping kid, but definitely a long-term prospect.

Shaun McKernan ($400,600, Fwd)

For a week or two every year - like when he scored 94 and 114 after coming into the team in Round 8 last year - there is a band of SuperCoach players who get excited about McKernan’s SuperCoach potential. Then they cop a 48 in his third game. It’s never going to happen.

David Zaharakis and Dyson Heppell grapple at pre-season training. Picture: Alan Barber

DRAFT SMOKIES

Dyson Heppell (Midfield)

Has missed one game in four years and in that time his lowest season average is 99.5. His highest is 106 so you know what you’re going to get.

Michael Hurley (Defence)

Was considered a genuine premium this time last year but some injury niggles and an uncertain role mean he’s too risky to start in SuperCoach classic. You could do a lot worse in draft.

David Zaharakis (Midfield)

Another solid midfield option who will give you a 90-plus score most weeks and has the potential to score a lot bigger.

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