Hawthorn SuperCoach study guide: best premium picks, mid-price risks and cash cows

Tom Mitchell has left a gaping hole in the midfield at Hawthorn — and our SuperCoach teams. So who is left to pick up the pieces? We look at the key Hawthorn premiums, mid-price risks and cash cows.

Tom Mitchell has left a gaping hole in the midfield for Hawthorn — and our SuperCoach teams.

Is Jaeger O’Meara ready to take on the No.1 onball mantle? will James Worpel explode in his second season or can Chad Wingard rediscover his All-Australian form?

We’ve analysed the Hawks’ SuperCoach premium picks, biggest mid-price risks and top cash cows ahead of the new season. How many will you be picking?

PHANTOM: HAWKS SUMMER SUPERCOACH FORMGUIDE

BIG LOSS: HOW THE HAWKS COVER MITCHELL

RETURN: SCULLY RUNNING AFTER HORROR INJURY

PREMIUMS

James Sicily $570,400 DEF

Can only be picked in defence this year but don’t let that deter you. Sicily had the third-highest average last season of players available down back in 2019. The only issue is his ranking plummets when assessed on total points as he deals with discipline issues, tribunal visits and finally a wrist injury that ended his season early. He says he has changed his ways. Do you trust him?

James Sicily should benefit from new kick-in rules.

Jack Gunston has a shot at goal at Hawthorn training. Picture: Chris Kidd

Jack Gunston $521,400 FWD

Gunston is a rare beast in SuperCoach — an ultra-reliable key forward. He has missed one game in four years and averaged between 86 and 96 every year since 2012. Last year’s figure looks even better if you focus on the back end of the season, when he averaged 102 after Round 13.

Jaeger O’Meara $503,200 MID

Awkwardly priced between premium and mid-price risk, O’Meara stands to be the biggest beneficiary of Tom Mitchell’s season-ending broken leg. In his second season at Hawthorn, the midfielder played 20 games and average 92 SuperCoach points. O’Meara’s body appears to be reliable and we’ll be watching closely to see his pre-season scoring form.

MID-PRICE RISKS

Grant Birchall $205,200 DEF

Crazy value for a four-time premiership player who has averaged over 80 in nine of his 11 completed seasons (one of the others was 79.5). But Birchall’s past two seasons have been wiped out by injury and there were reports of another knee setback before Christmas. Assess his fitness before committing.

Chad Wingard $481,100 MID-FWD

An intriguing SuperCoach prospect. Will he play more midfield now that Tom Mitchell is no longer available? Can Clarko turn his prodigious talent into consistent A-grade output? The SuperCoach potential is clearly there. Wingard averaged 103 over the final 12 games last season when he spent more time in the centre square.

Chad Wingard wearing his new colours.

Tom Scully $334,900 MID

Received a big price discount after playing just one game in 2018 for 19 points before suffering a serious ankle injury. Is capable of scores in the 90-range but the big question mark is over when he will return to the field. Could be a mid-season recruit.

James Worpel $395,700 MID-FWD

Set to be promoted in the wake of Tom Mitchell’s injury, which brings him into the SuperCoach conversation. The young gun was impressive in his debut season, averaging 72 in his nine games, but it was his last month we really care about. In that time he averaged 85 with a run that included scores of 110, 92 and 98. Can win his own footy and averaged four tackles per game. Expect a spike, the question is it big enough to justify that risky price?

ROOKIES

Jack Scrimshaw $149,800 DEF

Gold Coast traded the former No.7 draft pick for virtually nothing after he failed to settle in Queensland, playing just four games. Can Clarko work his magic?

NO-GO ZONE

Darren Minchington $190,900 MID

If he was $85k cheaper we might be interested, but the delisted Saint who was surprisingly snapped by the Hawks offers limited value at that price tag — and that’s if he can break into the best 22. Has never averaged above 60 in five seasons.

Tim Mohr $243,200 DEF

We love a mature-aged recruit — if he starts at a bargain price — but the former GWS full-back copped a raw deal from the SuperCoach banker, valued at over $240k despite playing just five games in the past three seasons. His highest score in that time was 68.

DRAFT SMOKIES

Luke Breust (Forward)

Produced very similar numbers to Jack Gunston last season and is possibly even more

durable, playing at least 21 games in each of the past seven seasons. However, he doesn’t have quite the same reliable scoring history. But he’s not far behind.

Ben McEvoy (Ruck)

Hard to see him featuring in many SuperCoach Classic starting line-ups despite finishing last season with the fourth-highest average of all ruckman (102). Snap him up after Gawn and Grundy are gone.

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