Splash the cash or big men on a budget? Our three SuperCoach ruck strategies to consider

In SuperCoach 2019, no position is more important than the ruck. Will you splash the cash on Brodie Grundy and Max Gawn or look for a more budget-friendly alternative? Ben Higgins walks you through three key strategies.

In SuperCoach 2019, no position is more important than the ruck.

With Brodie Grundy and Max Gawn two of the most expensive players in the game, are you prepared to invest or look for a cheaper option?

Here are three ruck strategies when picking your team.

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PLAN A

Splash the cash. It’s as simple as locking Brodie Grundy and Max Gawn in now, then just sit back and relax.

Grundy and Gawn were two of the top three scorers from last season and - barring disaster - loom as the top two ruckmen again in 2019.

In fact, so dominant were they, the next best ruckman, Brisbane’s Stef Martin, averaged a staggering 22 points fewer points per game.

Brodie Grundy at Collingwood training.

Max Gawn at Melbourne training.

The only reason you’re not picking the set-and-forget combination is money.

Grundy is the top-priced player in SuperCoach 2019 at $708,200 and Gawn isn’t far behind at $692,100.

That’s an eye-watering $1.4 million, more than 10 per cent of your starting $10 million salary cap on two out of 30 players.

However, the rewards are clear to see.

If you pick both, based on last year’s scoring, you’d finish the season with 500 points more than a team that picked the third best ruckman.

Tier 1

Player	Price	2018 Average
Brodie Grundy	$708,200	130.4
Max Gawn	$692,100	127.5

PLAN B

Want to spend more money in the midfield? Then this is the plan for you.

Pick one of Brodie Grundy and Max Gawn, then a second tier big man.

We’ve mentioned Stef Martin ($573,700, BL) already, he was the third best ruckman in 2018, averaging 105 SuperCoach points across 22 games.

Port Adelaide swingman Justin Westhoff ($549,500, PA) is a new addition to the ruck department this season and adds important flexibility with dual position status as a forward.

While he won’t be in the ruck often, we expect Westhoff to play on a wing or drift across half-back taking intercept marks, a role that can be very SuperCoach friendly.

North Melbourne ruckman Todd Goldstein. Picture: Jay Town

In SuperCoach finding a fallen premium who can return to form is crucial to success.

Todd Goldstein ($548,000, NM) is a former No.1 SuperCoach ruckman and while his season-long average was 101, he came home with a wet sail in 2018, averaging 110 after the bye.

Also improving the Kangaroos star’s case is the fact he’s shed 5kg in the off-season and Brayden Preuss has left to shadow Max Gawn at Melbourne.

A little further down the price list are Matthew Kreuzer ($432,900, Carl), who is just a season off being the top-scoring big man, and Shane Mumford ($320,200, GWS) who has returned to the Giants this season and should walk into the No.1 role come Round 1.

Tier 2

Player	Price	2018 Average
Stefan Martin	$573,700	105.7
Justin Westhoff	$549,500	101.2
Todd Goldstein	$548,000	101.0
Toby Nankervis	$533,000	98.2
Matthew Kreuzer	$432,900	79.8
Shane Mumford	$320,200	N/A

PLAN C

One for the risk-takers and not one we’d strictly advise.

However, injuries can strike without warning and a big pre-season could put even the most unknown draftee in the selection frame.

Cut-price options such as Jordan Sweet ($102,400, WB), Darcy Fort ($117,300 Geel), Zac Clarke ($142,600, Ess) and Sam Naismith ($251,400, Syd) are in Round 1 calculations but it would take an extremely brave SuperCoach to start them on the field.

While their scoring potential to price differential might be appealing, job security is the main threat to the bottom-priced ruckman.

If your chosen big man does get dropped it leaves you with a potential donut on the field and a huge upgrade bill to replace him.

The likes of Sweet, Fort and Clarke would need to skyrocket in price to be worth the risk, allowing you to quickly upgrade to a proven premium.

Tier 3

Player	Price	2018 Average
Tim English	$310,600	63.6
Sam Naismith	$251,400	N/A
Zac Clarke	$142,600	N/A
Darcy Fort	$117,300	N/A
Jordan Sweet	$102,400	N/A

Originally published as Splash the cash or big men on a budget? Our three SuperCoach ruck strategies to consider