Doctor SuperCoach examines some of the mid-price defenders that could prove gold in 2019

Nailing your starting defenders in SuperCoach is a key to hitting the ground running but the backline is also a great position to try your hand at some mid-price risks. Dr SuperCoach pinpoints three high reward options.

Nailing your starting defenders in SuperCoach is a key to hitting the ground running.

Too many times have we seen a top-line defender from one year, suddenly drop their average by a considerable amount in the following season.

Therefore sometimes the backline is a great position to try your hand at some mid-price options instead.

The expert team at Doctor SuperCoach cast their eye over some of the most contentious mid-price options for 2019.

FREAKO: BREAKING DOWN THE SC RUCK DILEMMA

DR ORDERS: MID-PRICE FORWARD BARGAINS

MOVE: TRADED PLAYERS COULD BE SUPERCOACH GOLD

RYAN BURTON ($356,700)

Ownership: 3 per cent

New Port Adelaide recruit Ryan Burton comes in to the 2019 season at a very generous price, considering that the 22-year-old rebounding defender is only one year removed from his exciting debut season that saw him average 84 SuperCoach points per game. Making the move from Hawthorn to Port Adelaide, Burton is tipped to be a primary kick-in taker, after taking in excess of 25 per cent of Hawthorn’s kicks last year. With the new rules favouring players that run and carry out of the square, Burton could see a few more points added to his average in 2019 via this method.

Ryan Burton in action at Port Adelaide training. Picture: Sarah Reed

With the departure of Jasper Pittard, Burton looks primed to slot into a favourable half-back flank role at his new club. Playing in a similar position in 2017, Burton averaged 21 possessions before dropping to just 17 a game last season. He was still able to muster three scores over 90 showing us that the potential for bigger scores is still there, however, in 2017 that figure was higher with 10. The half-back flank position has been a revolving door at Port Adelaide for some time now, so make sure to keep an eye on who may be favoured there in the JLT Series. If Burton gets the nod, keep him on your watchlist.

BRODIE SMITH ($332,500)

Ownership: 20 per cent

Perennial burn man Brodie Smith hasn’t had an injury free season since 2014, including just two games played for the entirety of the 2018 season, after a devastating ACL injury in the 2017 qualifying final. However, in those two games, Smith was able to highlight his incredible scoring potential by scoring a whopping 129 points against GWS, which was also in a losing effort. Prior to the 2018 season, Smith played a full regular season, in which he stormed home averaging 93 points from Round 12 onwards, but finished the season with a slightly disappointing average of just 82 points. Assistant coach Scott Camporeale has already been quoted saying “with the kick-ins from full-back, the new rule works well as Brodie Smith is able to get an extra 10 metres”, which implies that it is Smith that may be the preferred option to take the kick-in duties in 2019. With this being the case, coupled with the fact that Smith has already shown signs of being a top-tier defender in the past, he looms as a savvy bargain pick if he can get through the majority of games this season. Additionally, the Crows play just three 2018 finalists in their opening nine rounds of the season, which may make for a hot start for Smith. If Adelaide are going to bounce back into top eight contention, Brodie Smith will be a big factor in their resurrection.

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DYLAN ROBERTON ($297,500)

Ownership: 16 per cent

Last season, Dylan Roberton was limited to just four games after being diagnosed with a heart condition which had caused him to collapse during St Kilda’s Round 4 clash with Geelong. In the three rounds prior to this, Roberton had been averaging a respectable 80 SuperCoach points. In 2017 though, Roberton broke out with an average of 93 points for the season, cementing himself as a top defensive premium option. This wasn’t Roberton’s only season above a 90 average either, as he was able to muster a 91 average in 2015 too. Now if the injury risk was the only downside to the Roberton selection, it would appear silly to ignore him at this generous price, but there is another factor that needs to come into consideration – versatility. As much as coach Alan Richardson would applaud Roberton for his ability to play multiple positions in defence, it is a major scare factor in SuperCoach. Roberton’s average decreases significantly when he rotates to play as a ‘third tall’ in St Kilda’s defence, rather than a rebounding defender or loose man down back. Given his role is hard to predict on a week-by-week basis, coupled with the likelihood that Shane Savage has claimed what once was Roberton’s kick-in duties, Roberton remains more of a close watch in the JLT Series.