2018 AFL SuperCoach: Predictions for the top six scorers in each position

LET’S talk about six. Identifying the SuperCoach players who finish the season in the top six in their position is crucial when picking your starting side. We predict the ‘super six’.

LET’S talk about six. The “super six”.

Identifying the players who will finish the season ranked in the top-six in their position — and acquiring them early — is crucial to SuperCoach success.

In defence and up forward, landing the right premiums at the start of the season and rookie players to turn into fallen premiums will define your season.

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The closer you come to finishing the season with the top-six players in each position will define whether you achieve league success or strive for the ultimate SuperCoach prize (Note we are talking about total points, not averages, so durability is vital).

Here are the players you should be considering if you want to end 2018 boasting “the super six”.

Michael Hurley practices his ball skills at training. Picture: Ian Currie

DEFENDERS

Hard to look past Adelaide’s Rory Laird, who has averaged 93 or above in the past three seasons and pushed his average from 96.8 points per game to 100.2 last season. With Sam Docherty sidelined, Laird will be a popular choice with a price tag of $550,800. He was the third-best ranked defender last season and is likely to jump up the rankings.

Michael Hibberd was a revelation in his first season with Melbourne, averaging 99.2 points, and should take his game to another level in his second campaign with the Demons. He scored 100-plus 10 times last year and was 21st for points-scored among backmen after a delayed start, but made the top six on averages. If he plays a full season in 2018, he should repeat that.

Docherty’s knee injury and Zac Williams’ achilles tear rule out two of the leading options. Michael Hurley and Jeremy McGovern should be on your radar for the points obtained from intercept marking, while Jeremy Howe and Kade Simpson should score well.

Pearce Hanley is the smoky to finish as a top-six defender at season’s end, but it is worth monitoring how a proposed midfield role impacts his scoring.

Keep an eye on Elliot Yeo’s role at West Coast. He traditionally scores higher numbers in defence than midfield.

Predicted 2018 super six — Laird, Hibberd, Hurley, McGovern, Simpson, Howe

Last year’s top six — Docherty, Adams, Laird, Yeo, Simpson, Hurley

MIDFIELDERS

The best players in the game command the highest prices for a reason. Lock in Patrick Dangerfield and Dustin Martin, while Tom Mitchell’s huge possession numbers mean he will be around the mark again.

Nat Fyfe is ready to return to the elite scoring bracket after a down year in 2017. He still averaged 108.8 points per game despite being below his best and posted consecutive 120-plus seasons in 2014 and 2015. The Fremantle superstar appears ready to assert himself again as a top-liner and could challenge Dangerfield and Martin.

Adelaide pair Rory Sloane and Matt Crouch proved they can score big numbers in the same side last season, both averaging more than 110.

Gary Ablett’s average last season (114.1) in a struggling Gold Coast must be considered, but you have to wonder how many matches the “Little Master” will play and how being part of a powerful midfield trio with Dangerfield and Joel Selwood will impact his scoring.

Marcus Bontempelli is my bolter. He was 18th on midfield averages last year but is capable of huge numbers when on song. It is easy to forget the smooth-moving Bulldog posted 120, 140 and 133 to start 2017 and went above 120 on six other occasions. I’m preparing for ‘The Bont’ to take the AFL — and SuperCoach — by storm this year.

The super six — Dangerfield, Martin, Fyfe, Sloane, Bontempelli, M. Crouch

Last year’s top six — Dangerfield, Martin, Mitchell, Oliver, M. Crouch, Sloane

Lynden Dunn (left) and Brodie Grundy jostle for position. Picture: Getty

RUCKS

You can’t afford to miss on a couple of the top-six scoring ruckman, with the likelihood your two selections will fall in this group.

Patrick Ryder and Max Gawn are obvious choices, with the big Demon ready to elevate himself back into the scoring territory which made him a popular selection in 2016 when he averaged 118.5 — a figure worthy of some of the game’s elite midfielders.

Stefan Martin rebounded from a below-par 2016 to be the third-best SuperCoach ruck option last season.

Toby Nankervis was a popular selection last year as a ruck-forward option and the big question about the mobile Tigers tall this year is whether he will get through a full season. If he does, he wins enough of his own ball and tackles often, so looms as a top-six ruckman.

Kreuzer is an intriguing option. After a career-best 2017 and an average of 109.8, can you trust a traditionally injury-prone big man to deliver again?

The mix between Brodie Grundy and Mason Cox could impact Grundy’s scoring ability, while Todd Goldstein’s output has been hampered by partnerships with Majak Daw and Braydon Preuss in recent seasons.

Nic Naitanui will be a popular pick, but whether he returns at full capacity from a season off due to a knee injury will determine whether he hits his scoring heights of previous years.

The super six — Gawn, Ryder, Kreuzer, Nankervis, Martin, Grundy

Last year’s top six — Kreuzer, Ryder, Martin, Jacobs, McEvoy, Mumford

Isaac Heeney in action for the Swans. Picture: Getty

FORWARDS

Sydney duo Isaac Heeney and Lance Franklin should be locks to finish among the top six forwards. Buddy can post huge numbers at his best — remember his 183 against Carlton in Round 23 last year? Heeney would have started 2017 in more teams had it not been for a delayed start due to a bout of glandular fever yet took his average from 79.7 in 2016 to 97.6. He’s a big chance to end 2018 with an average above 100.

Jack Billings and Toby Greene will be popular selections for a reason, with the young Saint enjoying a breakout season last year and the Giant a prover scorer.

The smokies in this position are Devon Smith and James Sicily. The versatile Hawk finished 2017 with four scores of 97 or better, relishing his role across half-back. Smith has been slated for more midfield minutes at Essendon than he played at GWS, one of the reasons he landed at Tullamarine despite having other suitors in the trade period.

Kane Lambert enjoyed a brilliant finish to 2017 for premier Richmond and has been on fire during the JLT Series. While he won’t kick four goals every week like he did against North Melbourne, he has the potential to average close to 95 for the campaign and push into the top six.

The super six — Heeney, Franklin, Greene, Billings, D. Smith, Lambert

Last year’s top six — Macrae, Franklin, Billings, Dixon, Dahlhaus, Westhoff

Follow Tim Michell on Twitter @tim_michell