How many Carlton players should we pick in SuperCoach 2018?

BRYCE Gibbs is gone, Sam Docherty’s out for the season and another list turnover at Carlton provides some SuperCoach intrigue. But you can count on the Blues’ premium players.

NEW year, new Blues. Thirteen players were moved on from Carlton’s list during the 2017 off-season and that means there’s so many new faces to consider for our SuperCoach teams.

With the exception of Bryce Gibbs, who was traded to Adelaide, Carlton’s premium players all remain the same.

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It’s the mid-price and rookie players on the Blues list that will attract the interest of many SuperCoaches in 2018.

Here’s our take on Carlton’s best buys, best value and the players to avoid for 2018.

PREMIUMS

Matthew Kreuzer $603,700 ruck

Heading into 2017 no one thought Kreuzer would end the year as the No.1 ranked ruckman. Often thought of as injury-prone, Kreuz has actually played 55 of Carlton’s past 57 games. Last year he scored 103-plus in 14 matches, 12 of them were 120 points or higher. The danger with Kreuzer this year will be the less experienced midfield beneath him.

Patrick Cripps $537,300 mid

The Blues really only have two premium midfielders to choose from, Marc Murphy at $595K and Patrick Cripps. In 2016 Cripps posted an average of 108 and was well on his way to improving that in 2017 before he suffered a freakish season-ending leg injury in Round 16 against the Demons. During the month prior to his injury, Cripps was averaging 111 points per game and 103 for the entire year. Expect him to stand up and grow in the absence of Bryce Gibbs.

Injury halted Patrick Cripps last season. Picture: AFL Media

Kade Simpson $516,300 def

Simpson is a player we can never write off and the 33-year-old once again looks to be an excellent option down back. For a player who has averaged 93-plus for the past nine years, his asking price is very reasonable. Simmo had only seven scores above 100 in 2017 (including a 142 and 148) but he was sharing points with the best SuperCoach defender in the competition. Sam Docherty will miss 2018 with an ACL injury, so Simpson immediately becomes the Blues’ first option out of the backline. Ignore his age, Simpson has never relied on a strong body or pace, he is smart and will be racking up kicks in the back half again in 2018.

MID-PRICE RISKS

Charlie Curnow $408,100 fwd

Curnow made a name for himself in 2017, ranking second for SuperCoach points among rising stars in 2017, increasing his average of 49.2 from his rookie season to 74.2. From Round 14, Curnow averaged 92.7 SuperCoach points per game. He could prove to be a winning selection in a year dearth of forward options.

Charlie Curnow fired in the back half of last season. Picture: Getty Images

Matthew Kennedy $356,000 mid

Looms as one of the most awkwardly-priced players this season. The ex-GWS Giant is right in the middle range of midfielders, priced accordingly after averaging 64.8 from 16 games last year. The Blues have recruited the former No.13 draft selection with an eye to injecting more grunt into the midfield and provide support for Murphy and Cripps. Kennedy’s role could expand after Gibbs’ move back to South Australia and he has the potential to blossom into a player who could average 85-plus. Is that enough to justify a starting spot in your team?

ROOKIES

Cameron O’Shea $160,000 def

After an impressive year at the Northern Blues, O’Shea was rewarded with a spot on Carlton’s senior list for 2018. There’s some debate over who will fill Sam Docherty’s role in defence but O’Shea will certainly get a chance. If the 25-year-old defender can break into Carlton’s best 22 he’ll provide plenty of value. His six seasons at Port Adelaide O’Shea produced middling SuperCoach form but he managed a 74.4 average in his only full playing season. If he can replicate that he’ll be a great cash cow.

Jarrod Garlett $117,300 fwd/mid

It’s not quite clear where the ex-Sun will be playing in Brendon Bolton’s Blues — Garlett started his AFL career as a small forward but spent 2017 running off half-back in the WAFL. In all honesty it doesn’t matter where he plays in 2018, at $117K with dual position status, there’s minimal downside to selecting him for your SuperCoach bench. Garlett won’t set the world on fire, having managed just one score above 100 in his 17-game career but he should make you some cash.

Jarrod Garlett is now at the Blues. Picture: Regi Varghese

NO-GO ZONE

Sam Docherty $630,700 def

After making the All-Australian side and ranking first for SuperCoach defenders last year, Docherty will miss the entire 2018 season after suffering an ACL injury.

Dale Thomas $358,600 fwd/md

Thomas was selected in far too many sides in 2017 and SuperCoaches should not make the same mistake again. He selflessly tore up his contract to stay on the list but won’t have an impact for us in 2018.

PREDICTED 22

B: Plowman Jones Williamson

HB: Simpson Weitering Marchbank

C: E.Curnow Cripps Petrevski-Seton

HF: C.Curnow Casboult Silvagni

F: Wright McKay Garlett

R: Kruezer Murphy Kennedy

Inter: Mullett Dow Fisher Thomas

Get more SuperCoach tips from Tim on Twitter @tim_michell on Twitter @Lekblog and in the Jock Reynolds SuperCoach Community.