2018 AFL SuperCoach: Our panel of experts rule over nine of the game’s biggest names

SUPERCOACH JURY: TO GARY or not to Gary, that is the question. From riches to rags, what should we do with popular cash cows and should we trust ‘the Bont’ to bounce back?

WILL you be picking Gary Ablett in SuperCoach this year?

From riches to rags, what should we do with cash cows put out to pasture and can we trust “The Bont” to bounce back in 2018?

The SuperCoach Jury has convened again to run a rule over nine of the most popular players in the game.

Missed the first instalment? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered HERE.

STRATEGY SPECIAL: FIVE WAYS TO BUILD YOUR TEAM

HOW TO WIN: THE SUPERCOACH 10 COMMANDMENTS

ADAM COONEY: DON’T REPEAT MY SUPERCOACH MISTAKES

GARY ABLETT (GEEL) $631,100 MID

Gilbert Gardiner (@gilbertgardiner): Last I checked it’s 2018 not 2014. Thanks for the memories, Gaz.

Al Paton (@al_superfooty): Won’t surprise me at all me if he goes on a run averaging 130-plus but the odds of him playing every game are just way too low. Latest injury concern makes it a much easier decision. Sorry, Gaz.

Daniel Begala (@danbegala): The little maestro will undoubtedly tear a few games to shreds this season, but with the growing string of soft tissue complaints, I will instead be opting for the next brigade of SuperCoach stars.

Paul Dunn (@pkd73): A pass for me, I can’t see him playing 22 games and when you are picking up a player at his price you don’t want to be burning a trade by sideways trading him during the year. Will score well when he plays, but that just won’t be often enough.

The Phantom (@ThePhantomSC): He’s tempted The Phantom all summer but the hamstring setback has forced me to rule him out completely. Thankfully.

Ben Higgins (@ben_higgins84): He’s not on my starting radar but there’s nothing wrong with making him an upgrade option. We can’t pick every gun for Round 1, so if Ablett does explode, bring him in. If he bombs you’ve dodged the bullet.

Kate Salemme (@katesalemme): Gaz is one of the best SuperCoach players ever but it’s a no from me at the start of 2018. Another pre-season hamstring issue is a worry but I also want to see how the big three — Ablett, Dangerfield, Selwood — go before locking one into my team.

TOM MITCHELL (HAW) $653,500 MID

GG: The chicken parmigiana of SuperCoach. Nine out of 10 times he delivers and on the odd occasion — think dry snitzel, watery tomato sauce or cheap cheese — the average games are still good enough to whet your appetite.

AP: Picked him the day SuperCoach opened and hasn’t moved from my side. Can’t see a situation where he’s not one of the top three or four scorers for the year.

DB: The midfield magnet will go toe-to-toe with Matt Crouch for possession honours, but I’m steadfast that Dustin Martin looms as the more attractive tenant of the M2 position in The Begala Brigade.

PD: When you get the footy as often as he does you are generally going to end up with a fantastic score. Nearly half of his touches last year were contested, perfect for Supercoach. Mitchell is a Supercoach gun and should be in every side by the end of the season.

TP: A safe-as-houses selection and should be in everyone’s team come year’s end. Still prefer Danger, Dusty and Kelly ahead of him, though.

BH: Has taken over from Scott Pendlebury as the most dependable SuperCoach scorer. While he might not score 160s, he also won’t score 70s or worse. Lock him in and relax.

KS: Mitchell brings is own footy to just about every game he plays. His pre-season form has been good after dominating an intra-club and then scoring 123 points against the Dogs. A lock in my team — looks set for another big year.

MARCUS BONTEMPELLI (WB) $577,800 MID

GG: Pendlebury v. 2.0 — slick, clean and composed, the Bulldogs ball magnet makes the game look easy. Locked in — for the next decade.

AP: Has the potential to go to another level but has plateaued around the 105 mark. Not a bad pick but I’ve got too many other mids ahead of him.

DB: The Bont is a must, and if you had any hesitation, refer to JLT 1. He’s the future of the game, underpriced and will terrorise opposition defenders with major stints up forward.

PD: The Bont is often overlooked, he did have 10 over 100 last year but also 7 under 90 (only two were under 80). He can be hot and cold and if the Dogs show the same form as last year this could be a concern for his ability to post big scores. However, he is on my radar as a potential upgrade target during the season depending on how his form progresses.

TP: There hasn’t been much love for the ‘Bont’ over the pre-season and it’s not right. A 110+ average is coming and it could be this year. Still in my thinking.

BH: As I said about Ablett, you can’t have everyone in Round 1. In my mind, you’ve got a decision to make, Fyfe or Bont or Cripps or Bont. I’m playing it safe early.

KS: Had the Bont last year but after a blistering start he was a bit up and down, much like the Dogs’ season. 125 points against Hawthorn is something to think about and he’s in the mix but not currently in my team.

MICHAEL HIBBERD (ESS) $542,200 DEF

GG: “Marked Lever kicked Hibberd” could be the AFL’s answer to “Caught Marsh bowled Lillee”. If he drifts forward and kicks goals as well then his 99 average last year could spike 10 points a game.

AP: Dees will get better, he should score more. One of the safest selections down back. In my side.

DB: He’s the quarterback of the Demons’ defence, boasts a prodigious kick and will challenge the likes of Yeo, Hurley and Laird for overall scoring honours. He comes at a premium, no doubt, but I’m being frivolous this year and will be shelling out.

PD: All his key statistics improved last year and with no Docherty or Adams in defence this year, he is almost certain to finish as a top 6 defender. If you don’t start with him, you need to have a plan on how to get him in during the season. I will be trying to get him into my starting line-up.

TP: Along with Michael Hurley and Rory Laird, Hibberd is a sure-thing to finish inside the top-6 scoring defenders in 2018. And, at this stage, The Phantom will be starting with all three.

BH: Behind only Rory Laird as a must-have in defence. The Demons quarterback can have his ups and downs but few in backline don’t. Lock him in.

KS: Hibberd is such a reliable defender and the Demons love to get the ball in his hands, which means good things in the SuperCoach world. Averaged 99.2 last year and could get even better this year. A yes from me.

MATTHEW KREUZER (CARL) $603,700 RUC

GG: 103rd rule of SuperCoach. Don’t spend up big on ruckmen.

AP: Coming around to just spending the cash for 100-plus points every week. Question marks on every other ruck option — Goldy (Preuss?), Ryder (bye?), Martin (Archie Smith?), Grundy (Cox?) etc. Argh.

DB: Kreuzer is a competitive beast who represents the heart-and-soul of the Carlton Football Club. All biases aside, however, I anticipate he will challenge Gawn for All-Australian honours in 2018 and will be worth every penny if overall ranking is your main prerogative.

PD: Had his best season in 2017 improving in many areas. However, given this is his highest Supercoach average of his career I am very concerned that he is fully priced at 109. He seems to be a safe pick, but he is just too expensive for me, there are better value options out there.

TP: Reminded us all why he is the most expensive ruckman in SuperCoach with a dominant display against the Saints. But it depends on your structure because you’re not taking him ahead of Max Gawn.

BH: Is Kreuzer finally healthy? He’s played 21 games two years in a row and has Carlton’s No. 1 ruck role to himself. That said, there are cheaper option available that bring just as much scoring power without the risk.

KS: Have to respect the topscoring ruckman from last year but Kreuzer is still a risk in my opinion given his injury history. Wants to kick more goals this year and says he now understands his body better but I’ll still be going for one of the cheaper premium ruck options.

CAM O’SHEA (CARL) $166,000 DEF

GG: What Al (see below) said.

AP: Who? Haven’t seen him. Has been named on the bench for the Blues’ final JLT game, let’s hope he puts in a blinder but can’t see him lining up in Round 1.

DB: Alarm bells aplenty for Cam O’Shea. He’s still yet to feature in any JLT action and it appears that Brendon Bolton’s preference lies in Ciaran Byrne, Aaron Mullett and new draftee, Lochie O’Brien.

PD: Cam seemed an obvious selection down back all preseason, but missing out on JLT1 was a massive blow and tells us that he isn’t quite the lock that we all thought he would be. Unless he gets significant game time in JLT2 and has a great score, I would be staying away from the new Blue / ex-Power defender for now.

TP: He’s in for the final JLT Series game but The Phantom’s still not convinced he’s in the Blues’ best side.

BH: Our pre-season great white cash cow hope doesn’t look like he’s going to fulfil our hopes. After missing out on JLT 1, we can only hope he gets a go in JLT 2 and dominates. Fingers crossed.

KS: Hasn’t played for the Blues so far in the pre-season, which is a major worry. I’ll still have him in my team right up until Round 1 selection.

PAUL AHERN $123,900 (NM) MID/FWD

GG: (What Al said before).

AP: See above. Hopefully we’ll be able to downgrade to him at some stage.

DB: He’s been pumped up all pre-season, a la O’Shea, but the prospect of Paul Ahern lining up in Round One has dwindled to a whimper. I’ve turned my attention to Bailey Fritsch, Liam Ryan and James Rose as potential replacements.

PD: Pass. Didn’t play in either JLT. Even if named in round 1 there just isn’t enough data to go on that would justify selecting him. Hopefully he spends a few weeks in the VFL before making his debut which would see him as a great downgrade target early in the season.

TP: Downgrade alert. When he gets a chance, Ahern will score well. But, unfortunately, the chance might not come straight away.

BH: Another pre-season cash cow favourite. However, the news is worse here as Ahern has missed JLT 1 and now hasn’t been named for JLT 2. That said, we’re not going to complain if he becomes a mid-season downgrade.

KS: Where is he?! Will have to have a word with Brad Scott because surely this former top-10 pick gets a run. Huge red flag that he wasn’t picked in the pre-season but he may need game time in the VFL after his serious knee injury. Like O’Shea, will have Ahern in my side right up until Round 1 selection.

JACK REDDEN $437,900 (WCE) MID

GG: Pencilled in, but want to see another strong showing against Fremantle on Sunday. That being said, leaning towards Stephen Coniglio for the mid-priced madness midfielder as the Giants will be stronger for longer in 2018.

AP: Actually picked him once as a Lion and he wasn’t too bad, but his form since joining the Eagles has been horrible. Too risky to start, if he turns out to be the new Priddis I’ll try to pick him up during the year.

DB: Fantastic in JLT 1 and destined for some chunky midfield minutes in the absence of Priddis and Mitchell. He’s currently duelling with Stephen Coniglio for a berth in my engine room.

PD: We should have all seen this coming with the retirement of some of the Eagles key midfielders at the end of last season. Redden was massive against a nearly full strength Power side in JLT1. Another solid score in JLT2 and I will be looking for a way to squeeze him into my midfield, and I don’t think I will be alone in trying to get him in.

TP: Proven scorer who needs to step up in the Eagles’ midfield this season and, if his JLT Series form is anything to go by, he will. Just can’t fit him in with Stephen Coniglio in the side.

BH: Incredibly tempting at his price. Do you sacrifice a premium gun to save money? That’s a no for me. So, you plug him in at M6? A good point-of-difference but I’m struggling to fit him in.

KS: One big score doesn’t make a SuperCoach season. Notched up 162 points against the Power in JLT1 but can’t see him reaching those heights in the season proper after averaging only 64.1 and 79.6 in his last two seasons. Too risky at his price, would rather spend more money on a recent proven scorer.

JAKE STRINGER $356,000 (ESS) FWD

GG: Want to pick him but truth be told his haircuts, tattoos and 20-odd points in JLT one is making it very difficult. Return to sender.

AP: No. In his All-Australian year he averaged 79. Apparently he’s going to transform into a clearance machine inside midfielder this year. I’ll believe it when I see it.

DB: “Take (the JLT) with a grain of salt” say the experts. I’m going to dispel that myth, however, because the short snippet of Stringer in JLT1 was enough for me to swiftly cross “The Package” off my wish list.

PD: Just 46 per cent game time in JLT1 meant we didn’t get to see exactly what his role is due to the head cut he copped. I don’t think that he will find his way into my team. He is an unknown quantity at Essendon, he posted just two scores over 100 last year with the Dogs and presents just too much risk for me this year.

TP: Who?

BH: Call it a Bulldogs fan bias. No.

KS: Stringer has never been a massive SuperCoach scorer and until I see him perform consistently well and producing scores of 80-90-plus on a weekly basis, he won’t be in my team.