SuperCoach AFL 2017: Collingwood’s must-haves, risks and rookies to watch this season

COLLINGWOOD is always a SuperCoach staple thanks to one man, Mr Dependable, Scott Pendlebury but who else should be on your radar?

Scott Pendlebury at Collingwood training.

WE know Scott Pendlebury or as he is known in the SuperCoach world Scott De-Pendlebury.

But in SuperCoach 2017, there’s plenty more to like in black and white.

Adam Treloar announced himself as a premium midfielder while Steele Sidebottom has been an under-rated pick since he was drafted.

Now we have the likes of Taylor Adams - who is now available as a defender - Jeremy Howe, Brodie Grundy and if you’re brave enough Daniel Wells.

Then at the other end of the spectrum, we all hope injury-prone defender Matthew Scharenberg gets a free run while father-son guns Callum Brown and Josh Daicos are sure to see plenty of AFL action.

Adam Treloar stamped himself as a premium SuperCoach midfielder in 2016.

PREMIUMS

Scott Pendlebury ($645,700, Mid)

Captain Dependable. While the likes of Gary Ablett and Patrick Dangerfield hog the headlines, Pendlebury just gets the job done every week and by that we mean 100s. He’s posted nine consecutive years of 100-plus averages and 18-plus games for 10 years straight.

A dam Treloar ($605,400, Mid)

Raised his game to the elite level in his first season with Collingwood. Treloar had averaged 106 and 107 in 2014-15 but exploded in 2016 with an average of 111, scoring 16 tons and finishing the year with 148, 131, 150.

Steele Sidebottom ($577,800, Mid)

One of the most under-rated midfielders in the game. Sidebottom just keeps producing, averaging 100-plus for the last five years. He’s also consistent scoring 90-plus in 17 of his 20 games last year. If you like a point of difference strategy, this bloke might be first picked.

Taylor Adams ($527,800, Def-Mid)

While Adams hasn’t proven himself a true premium just yet, he gets a spot here thanks to his shiny new "DEF” status. Adams is available as a defender in 2017, which should make him pretty popular given he’s averaged 97 in his past two seasons.

Jamie Elliott looks back to full fitness after a back injury ruined his 2016.

MID-PRICE RISKS

Jeremy Howe ($500,500, Def)

Not very mid-priced but still a bit of a risk. After a breakout year as a defender, Howe averaged 92 in 2016, a vast improvement on his previous career-best 85 in 2014. The question is, can he back it up? We will wait and see.

Jamie Elliott ($291,700, Fwd)

The star forward missed the entire 2016 season with a back injury but looks to be back to 100 per cent of pre-season training is any guide. However, he hasn’t been a great scorer in the past averaging 72, 83 and 76 in the previous three years.

Will Hoskin-Elliott ($213,300, Fwd)

The former Giant couldn’t buy a game in 2016 as GWS surged to the preliminary final but it will be a different story at Collingwood. Hoskin-Elliott has been on the Magpies radar for a couple of years and at that price, how can you say no?

ROOKIES

Callum Brown ($117,300, Mid-Fwd)

Brown could get plenty of opportunity in 2017. The son of former captain Gavin Brown has impressed in pre-season training and has been likened to Lachie Neale and Caleb Daniel. His midfield-forward flexibility makes him a tantalising cash cow prospect.

Josh Daicos ($117,300, Fwd)

The son of club great Peter Daicos might not get as much opportunity in 2017 as Brown but we still believe he’ll be given the chance. Perhaps, he’ll be a handy mid-season downgrade option. Small forwards aren’t always the best scorers though.

Matthew Scharenberg ($164,000, Def)

Everyone in the footy world hopes this young fella gets an injury-free run in 2017. Scharenberg has been beset by injuries since being drafted. In his only four games he averaged 50 but at his price we reckon he would still be worth the gamble.

Josh Daicos and Callum Brown at Collingwood training. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

NO-GO ZONE

Mason Cox ($322,000, Fwd)

We were all over the big American last year when he was just $117,300 and gave us some ruck-forward flexibility. It was a cherry on top when he started getting games and became a useful cash cow. That is most certainly not the case in 2017.

Chris Mayne ($396,200, Fwd)

Mayne was on the verge of becoming a premium forward when he averaged 92 with Fremantle in 2013 but has dropped off dramatically. He could only manage five 90-plus scores on his way to a 72 average in 2016 and it’s very hard to see that changing at Collingwood.

Darcy Moore ($313,000, Fwd)

This could come back to bite us but for now we’re saying stay away from the young forward. There’s no more Travis Cloke so Moore will likely attract the best defender and he’s never been overly prolific anyway, averaging 57 in 17 games last year.

TEAM PREVIEW

Fair to say, it’s a big year for Collingwood.

The Magpies have been finals onlookers for three years now and the pressure is most certainly on Nathan Buckley.

The coach himself admits if there’s no September, there’s probably no job in 2018.

Making life that much harder is the club’s first nine games with premiers the Western Bulldogs in Round 1 followed by Richmond, Sydney in Sydney, St Kilda, Essendon, Geelong, Carlton, GWS in Sydney and Hawthorn.

The Magpies certainly have a team that is a finals contender - on paper - but whether that rings true at the end of the year is an entirely different matter.