SuperCoach AFL 2017: Will you gamble on these mid-price defenders and forwards?
THE SuperCoach mid-pricer. They can pay off handsomely or cruel your entire season. Will you gamble on these defenders or forwards?
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ARE you a SuperCoach gambler?
Then some of these 20 mid-pricers might be for you in 2017.
Find a breakout star and you’re gamble will pay off handsomely, but get your pick wrong and you’ll be behind the eight ball all year.
SEASON 2017: THE SUPERCOACH CASH COWS TO WATCH FOR
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Priced between $450,000 and $300,000, the “mid-pricer” can be anything from fallen premiums and injury-struck stars to breakout contenders and everything in between.
Thousands of SuperCoaches will entire the new season with several of the below players in their teams but only a few will succeed.
How will you spend your $10 million?
DEFENDERS
CALE HOOKER ($444,900, Def-Fwd) Essendon
The Bombers swingman is priced to average 82, which is a 50-50 gamble. The positive is Hooker averaged 90 in 2015 but in his previous seven seasons, his best was just 79.
ZACH TUOHY ($443,200, Def) Geelong
The big question is will a move to Geelong improve Tuohy’s scoring potential? He managed an average of 81 with Carlton in 2016, finishing with a bang (four tons in the final five games).
HAMISH HARTLETT ($423,700, Def-Mid) Port Adelaide
If you believe 2016 was an annus horribilis for Hartlett, then he’s a must-have in 2017. Now with Defender-Midfielder dual position status, Hartlett is capable of a 100-plus average, as he did in 2015. In fact he’s averaged 101, 97, 90, 91 and 92 in the four year prior to 2016.
MICHAEL HIBBERD ($402,200, Def) Melbourne
Sure to be very popular in 2017, the former Bomber will slot into half-back at Melbourne. On face value his 2015 average of 82 seems an aberration. Hibberd had averaged 91 and 95 in 2014 and 2013 respectively.
BOB MURPHY ($392,300, Def) W.Bulldogs
You can’t let emotion come into SuperCoach selection. Bob Murphy is getting on a bit but will walk back into the Bulldogs’ line-up. Before injuring his knee Murphy scored 112, 102 and 95 while averaging 91, 88 and 99 in his previous three years.
KADE KOLODJASHNIJ ($375,400, Def) Gold Coast
The Suns young gun was meant to be the breakout star of 2016 but was anything but. Will you take the risk again? He’s more than $100,000 cheaper, so that’s something to consider.
LUKE McDONALD ($348,200, Def) North Melbourne
Speaking of breakout potential. McDonald has been handed the vaunted No.11 and surely the attacking half-back role in the new-look North Melbourne line-up. Monitor his pre-season very closely.
MICHAEL JOHNSON ($341,700, Def) Fremantle
Injuries have cruelled him in the past and now a pre-season run-in with the law. Johnson is a massive risk but has premium potential. If he can get his body right and Fremantle return to form, he’s one to own.
JAKE CARLISLE ($337,000, Def-Fwd) St Kilda
We simply don’t know how Carlisle is going to fare at St Kilda. Will he be an intercept king or shutdown defender. He’s priced to average just 62, so he’s low risk in that respect. His best SuperCoach season was 2013 when he averaged 75.
MARLEY WILLIAMS ($309,100, Def) North Melbourne
Williams and McDonald could foil each other as attacking half-backs but the former Magpie must still be considered. After a horror year in 2016, Williams finds himself in a new environment and we suspect with plenty of opportunity. If he can get back to his 2015 form when he averaged 85, he’s worth considering.
FORWARDS
DEVON SMITH ($444,800, Fwd) GWS Giants
Was primed for a big season in 2016 before injury struck. Back and fully fit after playing the final 10 games of 2016. Can be a little up and down as evidenced by his three hundreds and three below-90 scores in the final six regular season games.
CHAD WINGARD ($439,800, Fwd) Port Adelaide
If you enjoy rollercoasters then Wingard is the man for you. The Power star averaged 80 in 2016, scoring six hundreds but also registering seven scores under 70. Can be a match-winner but a lot will depend on Port Adelaide’s form as a team.
ISAAC HEENEY ($433,400, Fwd) Sydney
Set to be the pre-season darling of 2017 after John Longmire said he was in line to replace Tom Mitchell in the Sydney midfield. Heeney was already being touted as a breakout contender
HARLEY BENNELL ($387,000, Mid-Fwd) Fremantle
Can he get over his injury issues? If yes, then he could be the bargain of 2017. Bennell missed the entire 2016 season - his first at Fremantle - and is now available under $400k for the first time since his second season. Since 2012, he’s averaged 97, 96, 95 and 101.
JARRYD ROUGHEAD ($367,100, Fwd) Hawthorn
The big Hawk is back and we expect very popular in 2017. Roughead was a premium forward before his cancer battle in 2016, averaging 95-plus every year since 2011. In 2017, he’ll be the cheapest he’s been since 2007.
STEWART CRAMERI ($359,200, Fwd) W.Bulldogs
The forward will walk straight back into the Bulldogs forward line and could be a handy early season pick. Priced to average just 66, Crameri looms as a possible stepping stone if he can go up in price quickly allowing you to upgrade to a premium.
BRADLEY HILL ($355,200, Mid-Fwd) Fremantle
A new club, a fresh start, better SuperCoach output? Hill was always a bit of a SuperCoach tease at Hawthorn. He had all the hallmarks of a premium midfielder but couldn’t quite gain any consistency. A more senior role at Fremantle looms.
JACK STEELE ($347,100, Mid-Fwd) St Kilda
The rugged inside midfielder looks to be one of the most popular pre-season picks with his dual position eligibility. Steele will see far more midfield minutes at St Kilda than he did with GWS and has breakout potential. Monitor his pre-season closely.
TRAVIS COLYER ($332,100, Fwd) Essendon
One of the unheralded banned Bombers. Colyer was on the verge of a breakout season in 2015 before injury struck and was then forced to sit out 2016 due to a drug ban. The speedy winger is priced to average just 61 and could skyrocket in price if he gets back to his 2014-15 form.
NATHAN HROVAT ($301,400, North Melbourne
The former Bulldogs look primed for a big season with new club North Melbourne. Hrovat struggled to break into the Bulldogs midfield but showed plenty of promise when given the opportunity. In 12 games in 2014, he averaged 75. In his four games in 2016 he averaged 70.
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