SuperCoach AFL 2017: will you pick any of these mid-price midfielders or ruckmen
SELECTING mid-pricers in the midfield and/or ruck will have major consequences later in the year but will they be positive or negative? WHO WILL YOU PICK?
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THESE could be make-or-break decisions.
Selecting mid-pricers in the midfield and/or ruck will have major consequences later in the year.
But will they be positive or negative?
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A good midfield mid-pricer gives you another premium scorer at half the price and allows you to upgrade other areas of your team while your rivals are playing catch-up.
Just look at Dayne Beams in 2014 and 2011. Can he do it again in 2017?
The story is the same with Aaron Sandilands. He’s under $350,000 as he was in 2014 when he went on to average 108.
Can these mid-price picks become breakout stars or just break your season?
MIDFIELDERS
JARRYD LYONS ($490,900, Mid) Gold Coast
After a breakout season at Adelaide, Lyons finds himself on the Gold Coast with more responsibility and more opportunity. Averaged 90 in 2016 and only saw more than 90 per cent game time in five games.
JOSH CADDY ($488,600, Mid-Fwd) Richmond
Admittedly, as the only DPP player on this list, you’re more likely to pick him as a forward but there’s nothing wrong with some flexibility. Caddy averaged 93 at Geelong in 2015 but dropped back down to 89 due to Patrick Dangerfield’s arrival in 2016. Will see far more opportunity at Richmond.
JOBE WATSON ($453,300, Mid) Essendon
We here he’s fit and happy. The (current) Bombers skipper is priced to average just 82 - a mark he has never - that’s right, never! - failed to meet since SuperCoach was introduced in 2007. If you’re looking for a safe, consistent scorer, look no further.
MARC MURPHY ($432,500, Mid) Carlton
The Carlton captain hasn’t been this cheap since his sophomore season and has averaged 90-plus ever since. However, injury struck in 2016 and his average fell to just 79. A fully fit, Murphy is a safe scoring bet that’s hard to look past.
DAYNE BEAMS ($432,500, Mid) Brisbane
Do we trust his body? That’s the big question because there is no doubting his scoring potential. As we said above, Beams has been a great mid-price find in 2011 and 2014 when he started under $500,000. A full pre-season and JLT Challenge is a must.
JACK REDDEN ($348,600, Mid) West Coast
Eagles coach Adam Simpson has said he wants to see more from his 2016 recruits and Redden is squarely in the gun. After being a SuperCoach star (albeit under-rated) at Brisbane, injury cruelled his first season in Perth. Expect a bounce back year.
JAEGER O’MEARA ($318,900, Mid) Hawthorn
The Sun-turned-Hawk hasn’t played in two years and yet will be pretty popular in the lead up to Round 1. If he plays ... he scores. O’Meara averaged 90 in his debut season, which is almost unheard of. He backed it up with 97 in 2014 before injury struck.
CAM ELLIS-YOLMEN ($304,700, Mid) Adelaide
Is there a changing of the guard at Adelaide? Richard Douglas forecast more midfield time for the Crows next generation and Ellis-Yolmen should be at the front of the queue. After 11 games in 2015 he could only manage two in 2016, so watch closely.
SCOTT SELWOOD ($281,800, Mid) Geelong
A one-time low-end premium, Selwood is a bit of an unknown quantity at Geelong. After three games late in 2016 (he scored 57, 87 and 78), he goes into 2017 fully fit. Can he return to the heady days of 2012 and 2013 or will he be the Cats’ No.1 shutdown option?
DAVID SWALLOW ($280,200, Mid) Gold Coast
David Swallow hasn’t been this cheap since his debut year. Annoyingly he’s a midfielder only as we all remember his breakout year came when he had defender-midfielder DPP. However, he’s put in the hard yards this off-season and we’re confident he’ll be back to 100 per cent.
RUCKS
PADDY RYDER ($418,100, Ruck-Fwd) Port Adelaide
Ryder returns as the presumptive No.1 ruckman at Port Adelaide, and unless Matthew Lobbe produces a scintillating pre-season, the only ruckman. Ryder averaged just 85 in his first season with the Power but 101, 90, 105, 90 in the previous four years.
MATTHEW KREUZER ($398,000, Ruck) Carlton
He’s teased us year after year but is 2017 finally the year Kreuzer elevates himself to elite SuperCoach status? He played 21 games for the first time in his career and averaged 73 in 2016. As Carlton improve so to should Kreuzer’s scoring potential.
TOBY NANKERVIS ($366,400, Ruck) Richmond
Who will be the Tigers’ No.1 big man in Round 1? The incumbent Shaun Hampson or the newbie Toby Nankervis? Or both? If both play they are SuperCoach kryptonite. If Nankervis can win the top job, his tap work could see him score highly.
AARON SANDILANDS ($308,200, Ruck) Fremantle
Anyone got deja viu? Coming off an injury-riddled season, Aaron Sandilands is super cheap. The same happening in 2014 when he started at $310,700 and went on to average 108. If he looks good in the pre-season, don’t miss the rush.
JON GILES ($280,600, Ruck) West Coast
Covered admirably for West Coast in their final two games of 2016 after Nic Naitanui injured his knee. With Naitanui and Scott Lycett to miss a large chunk of the season, Giles will be No.1 and with a midfield of Mitchell, Priddis, Gaff and Shuey expect there to be plenty of taps to advantage.
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