A new Bomber and an up-and-down Dog headline Jay Clark’s ‘risky’ SuperCoach team

WHICH new Bomber has 2017 Herald Sun SuperCoach office champion Jay Clark slotted into his Round 1 team? And is a certain Western Bulldog ready to get back on track and fulfill his promise? SEE THE TEAM HERE.

AN appetite for risk.

When it comes to SuperCoach, you’ve got to be prepared to swim outside the flags occasionally. There is no upside in playing safe in fantasy land.

So, Jaeger O’Meara, Jake Stringer and Sun Tommy Lynch come on down.

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Stringer has dropped 4kg and has impressed on the track over summer alongside under-the-pump teammate Aaron Francis who knows he has to get fitter to crack into the Essendon team.

Coach John Worsfold also wants to play Stringer in the midfield which means more touches and more points. I’m doing it.

But there is no way I’m paying $750,000 for Patrick Dangerfield now that Gary Ablett is back in town, and I’m also making the big call to leave Dustin Martin out.

Jaeger O'Meara is in his second season with Hawthorn. Picture: Michael Klein

Jake Stringer is set to play midfield for Essendon.

For now, anyway. If his price drops, it will be time to jump back on.

The ruck is easy this year, Nic Naitanui and Max Gawn. Just lock them in.

There are a couple of big guns entering contract years and we know the stars like to turn it on when the big dollars are up for grabs.

Rory Sloane, Lynch and Toby Greene all fit into the contract category and perhaps the arrival of Bryce Gibbs can help ease the tag on Sloane at Adelaide in 2018.

The Crows play a lot at home in the first half of the season.

Jay Clark's first edition SuperCoach defence and midfield.

A couple of Dogs’ midfielders are standouts. This is Marcus Bontempelli’s year to show the competition why he is a Brownlow Medallist in the making.

Have we forgotten how good this guy is?

And his little mate Libba gave Vietnam a miss in the off-season, so hopefully he hits the new season sharp and ready to recapture his 2016 form.

He’s ball magnet in top gear.

There is a strong Sydney flavour in defence. Dane Rampe and Callum Mills are stars back there and read it as well as anyone.

Jay Clark's first edition SuperCoach rucks and forwards

Melbourne’s Christian Salem is the smoky. As I said, I like risk. But there’s also a strong chance Salem will be the biggest beneficiary of Jake Lever’s arrival.

Lever intercepts and hands the ball off to Salem who bursts through the middle. He’s a jet and the Dees need him to step up.

Also Melbourne isn’t running its commando camp so Salem shouldn’t drop a brick on his head. He’s had a horrid run with injuries in all.

That’s the early team in a nutshell.

Just one tip this time of year: be brave.

And good luck.