SuperCoach 2017: Start your squad with one of these six ruck line-ups

THE smart place to start picking a SuperCoach team is the ruck — and there are a lot of choices. Steal one of these ready-to-go line-ups and join the chase for the $50,000 prize.

THE smart place to start picking a SuperCoach team is the ruck — and there are a lot of choices for a position with just two players on the field (and another on the bench).

With $10 million to spend in your salary cap, how much you spend in the ruck will have a huge impact on how many stars you can pick in other parts of the field.

Sound challenging? It is, but we’re here to help.

SuperCoach is fun and free to play and with awesome prizes on offer including:

$50,000 to the overall winner.

$1000 for the top score every round.

START a private league and fill it before Round 1 and you’re in the running for $9000 cash ($500 for everyone in the league).

JUST by registering you go in the draw for one of four double passes to a corporate box hosted by Matthew Lloyd.

If you need a hand getting started, just choose one of the ready-to-go ruck line-ups below and you’re on your way.

Starting with the two top-scoring SuperCoach rucks from last year is hard to fault.

1. SET AND FORGET

Max Gawn was one of the superstars of SuperCoach last season, posting a season average of 119 points a game including several monster scores (four times over 160). Despite his high price tag, for many SuperCoach players he’s a must-have.

WEIRD: GAWN’S DIG AT MUM’S COOKING

Todd Goldstein couldn’t quite live up to his enormous 2015 season but was still the second-best ruck with a 108 average. This pair is likely to fill the top two slots again this season and represent minimum risk — but they will use a big chunk of your salary cap.

If you pick these guys you can afford to find the cheapest player possible for your bench ruck spot — Fremantle’s Luke Strnadica ($102,400) is a popular choice.

An each-way bet on scoring power and injury risk.

2. IN SANDI WE TRUST

With Gawn locked in, you can save some cash by picking a potential bargain as your second ruck — and Aaron Sandilands is the standout candidate.

He has averaged at least 105 points in five of the past seven seasons. One of the misses was last year, when he played just five games because of injury. As a result the SuperCoach bankers have given him a big price discount which delivers us a big-scorer at a bargain price.

MORE HELP: SIX SUPERCOACH STARTING MIDFIELDS

EXPERT TIPS: THE PHANTOM’S MIDFIELD REVELATIONS

The only problem is Sandilands is 34 and he’s already injured again, missing the JLT Series with a calf injury. Make sure he’s back on the park by Round 1 and if you take the plunge, pick a third ruck who should play as back-up (Sydney’s Darcy Cameron is a chance at $117,300).

Brodie Grundy is on the verge of joining the ranks of elite SuperCoach scorers.

3. HOPE MAX FALLS OVER

It’s a strange SuperCoach fact that ruckmen who shoot to the top of the scoring pile find it very difficult to stay there.

Everyone is tipping Max Gawn to go from strength to strength in 2017, but what if he has an ordinary year — or Simon Goodwin persists with the two-ruck setup he has used in the pre-season?

A lot of SuperCoaches would have egg on their faces and you could take advantage by avoiding Gawn and punting on big improver Brodie Grundy, who looks ready to break into the elite scoring category. You’ll also have extra money to upgrade to a superstar in your defence, forward line or midfield.

A cheap third ruck like Strnadica is a safe option here.

Can Stef Martin and Sam Jacobs return to their best?

4. COMEBACK KINGS

Now we’re moving into more high risk territory. These two players have proven in the past they can be huge SuperCoach scorers — can they get back to the top?

If the answer is yes this setup will save you a bunch of cash and set you apart from the crowd.

Martin averaged 110-plus in 2014-15 before falling in a hole last year. Jacobs scored 115 points a game in 2014 and 108 the next year but just 87 in 2017. Could the new rule barring a third man-up at ruck contests revive his career?

The problem is if one — or both — of these picks fail, it will be hard to rescue your team with limited cash available for trades.

Picking a third ruckman with cash-generating potential — such as Gold Coast’s Jarrod Witts, who starts at $217,600 but should go up in value — would be a smart contingency plan.

Two cheap rucks could be the way to go.

5. BRAVE OR CRAZY?

Very high risk, potentially high reward. This combo comes in at a joint cost of $674,600, nearly half what you would fork out for a Gawn-Goldstein combo.

We’ve discussed Sandilands above (option 2) and Nankervis could provide similar value if he can nail down Richmond’s No.1 ruck spot. The signs in his first JLT Series outing were promising, with the former Swan posting 89 points.

This starting line-up would require a lot of guts and it would pay to pick a third ruckman assigned as a ruck/forward (like Luke Strnadica) and another ruck/forward in your forward line (such as Paddy Ryder) to give yourself maximum flexibility if it all goes pear-shaped. This is also a smart play if you’re starting with any ruckman with injury worries — which is pretty much all of them.

Whichever option you choose, good luck!

START PICKING YOUR SUPERCOACH SQUAD NOW!