Five cut-price replacements for injured Fremantle defender Luke Ryan

Not every SuperCoach has the bank — or trades — available to turn injured Docker Luke Ryan into a premium defender. Who are the cut-priced options you should consider? TOP FIVE PICKS

Grant Birchall is the cheapest of five options to consider when trading Luke Ryan. Picture: Michael Dodge/Getty Images.

Fremantle defender Luke Ryan’s hamstring injury has thrown a huge spanner in the works for the finals plans of 33,183 SuperCoaches.

The Docker ($438k) faces a race against time to return this year and even if he does, he’s too expensive to sit on your defensive bench during SuperCoach finals.

The greatest issue many coaches with Ryan are facing is their lack of trades and dwindling bank balances.

If you invested in Lachie Whtifield last week, for example, it’s likely you burned a large chunk of your available cash to get there.

While losing a defender who has a huge ceiling and has averaged 95.8 is a setback, it’s not all doom and gloom.

If you choose wisely, there are enough cut-priced defensive options to ensure you compensate for Ryan and don’t use too much bank in the process.

Of course, Shannon Hurn ($519k), Whitfield ($520k) and Bachar Houli ($483k) should be top of your shopping list.

But if you don’t have the money spare to upgrade, here’s five options you should consider.

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Jeremy Finlayson and GWS have a friendly run to end the season. Picture: Phil Hillyard.

1. JEREMY FINLAYSON

$360,700, Def, Average: 83, Break even: 27

Finlayson’s run home makes him an appealing prospect. The GWS Giants forward has scored 98 and 91 in the past two weeks and is only this cheap due to a score of 21 against Brisbane Lions in Round 16. GWS takes on a Sydney side which will be without Dane Rampe this round, before tackling Hawthorn, Western Bulldogs and Gold Coast. Finlayson, Jeremy Cameron and Harry Himmelberg will stretch the Hawks’ defence, while the Dogs’ key defensive stocks are bare and Gold Coast sit on the bottom of the ladder. He could be in for a huge month.

Jeremy Howe has averaged 95 points in the past two weeks since returning from injury. Picture: Michael Klein.

2. JEREMY HOWE

$356,300, Def, Average: 76.5, Break even: 24

It’s been a frustrating season for Howe, but it’s worth remembering he has averaged more than 90 in the past three seasons. The flying Magpie opened 2019 with scores of 89, 99 and 103 but then only went above 80 four times between rounds four and 17. He’s returned to the Collingwood team with 90 and 100 in the past two weeks and would net an $81,000 profit in a downgrade from Ryan. There’s certainly risk attached but in only 4369 teams he represents a finals POD.

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Kade Simpson has been in vintage form in the past three rounds. Picture: AAP Image/Daniel Pockett.

3. KADE SIMPSON

$418,500, Def, Average: 78.9, Break even: 33

Just when we thought Kade Simpson was done as a SuperCoach option, he’s roared to form with scores of 87, 93 and 125 in successive weeks. His ton against Adelaide was his first since Round 4 and his best score since Round 22 last season. Simpson feasted on the Crows’ forward forays with a season-high 12 marks and 31 disposals. He’d be a speculative pick considering his average is only 78.9, but much like Carlton, Simpson has been revitalised under David Teague.

First-round draftee Hunter Clark is flying after being recalled from the VFL. Picture: Michael Klein.

Hunter Clark has outscored Tom Stewart since Rnd 14. #SuperCoach🤔

— Fantasy Freako (@FantasyFreako) July 29, 2019

4. HUNTER CLARK

$424,300, Def, Average: 73.6, Break even: 75

Clark has been in red-hot form under caretaker Saints coach Brett Ratten and his three-round average of 99.7 is the eighth best of the defensive picks. Kade Simpson ($418,500, Def) is the only defender with a better three-round average than Clark who is available for a cheaper price tag. His past five rounds have been very encouraging — 105, 64, 120, 98 and 81. The Saints take on Adelaide, Fremantle, Carlton and Sydney during a run home where Clark is primed to flourish. It’s a huge bonus he’s in 0.8 per cent of teams.

Grant Birchall is the cheapest of five options to consider when trading Luke Ryan. Picture: Michael Dodge/Getty Images.

5. GRANT BIRCHALL

$205,200, Def, Average: 87, Break even: -51

Ideally, Hawthorn veteran Grant Birchall would come into your team at D7. This would give you the option to loophole Birchall’s score with another rookie-priced defender if you have a non-scoring player at D8. However, if you are low on trades and still need to upgrade in another position, you might have no choice but to bank the $232,100 from Ryan and play Birchall as your D6. He has scored 87 twice after his long injury lay-off, although there’s some concern about his durability after he was sidelined with general soreness after his return match.