SuperCoach: The top five most expensive players at each position

Every SuperCoach loves a good premo who produces. But there are plenty of high-priced stars who have broken the bank and failed to deliver. Here’s a look at the top five most expensive players at each position.

Every SuperCoach loves a good premo who produces.

But there are plenty of high-priced stars who have broken the bank and failed to deliver.

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Here’s a look at the top five most expensive players at each position.

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Patrick Cripps, Tom Mitchell, Patrick Dangerfield and Lachie Whitfield are among the most expensive players at their positions in SuperCoach.

Most expensive defenders

Player	Team	2018 average	2019 starting price
Jake Lloyd	Sydney	112.1	$608,200
Rory Laird	Adelaide	102.2	$587,600
James Sicily	Hawthorn	105.1	$570,400
Kade Simpson	Carlton	105.1	$570,300
Lachie Whitfield	GWS	99.9	$542,100

With 2018 defensive studs Elliot Yeo and Tom McDonald losing their dual position status and the shattering news that Blue Sam Docherty has gone down with another ACL injury, the hunt for a premo in your SuperCoach backline has become even tougher. Swan Jake Lloyd deserves his top billing after playing every game last season and averaging almost four more points than the next best defender — Crow Rory Laird, who is the second most expensive.

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James Sicily had his injury and suspension issues, but had eight tons in 14 games, while the ageing, but effective Kade Simpson again becomes the top dog defensively at the Blues. Lachie Whitfield could be poised for a breakout year after switching from the midfield to defence — he had six tons in a row from Round 16-21 last season.

Most expensive midfielders

Player	Team	2018 average	2019 starting price
Tom Mitchell	Hawthorn	129.1	$700,800
Jack Macrae	Western Bulldogs	127.1	$689,700
Patrick Cripps	Carlton	119.4	$648,200
Clayton Oliver	Melbourne	114.7	$622,700
Nat Fyfe	Fremantle	113.9	$618,100

All five of the most expensive midfielders in 2019 have been slapped with big premiums on their 2018 closing prices. Brownlow Medallist Mitchell — who owned the second-highest average in SuperCoach — is almost $70,000 more expensive than his closing price of $633,800.

LOOKING AHEAD: WHO WILL HAVE A BIG 2019?

Dog Jack Macrae ended as one of the bargain buys of 2018 cracking the ton in 16 of 19 games — 10 of those over 130 including a mammoth 189 — but he begins 2019 more than $100,000 more expensive than last season’s starting price. Cripps, Oliver and Fyfe were all priced under $600,000 at the end of last season.

Most expensive rucks

Player	Team	2018 average	2019 starting price
Brodie Grundy	Collingwood	130.5	$708,200
Max Gawn	Melbourne	127.5	$692,100
Stefan Martin	Brisbane	105.7	$573,700
Ben McEvoy	Hawthorn	101.9	$553,100
Todd Goldstein	North Melbourne	100.1	$548,000

We’ve covered the near $1.5 million it would cost to roll out a ruck duo of Brodie Grundy and Max Gawn here and, while Martin, McEvoy and Goldstein are all productive, the buck stops with the pair at the top. You either fork out for both or buy one or the other and search for a cheaper option who could produce. Buying Max Gawn and then adding Goldstein instead of Grundy will save you more than $160,000.

THE PHANTOM: CHEAP RUCK OPTIONS AND BARGAIN BUYS

Most expensive forwards

Player	Team	2018 average	2019 starting price
Patrick Dangerfield (fwd/mid)	Geelong	121.7	$660,500
Tom Hawkins	Geelong	101.9	$552,900
Justin Westhoff (fwd/ruck)	Port Adelaide	101.2	$549,400
Lance Franklin	Sydney	100.1	$543,500
Sam Menegola	Geelong	100.1	$543,100

A forward designation for Patrick Dangerfield might just be SuperCoach’s greatest gift. The Geelong superstar’s average of 121.7 last season actually dropped from his stunning 136.4 in 2017, but that was still good enough for fifth overall in SuperCoach and a whopping 6.6 points per game better than the best forward in Sicily — who has lost his dual position status in 2019. Set him and forget him. Dangerfield’s Geelong teammate, the Tomahawk, is coming off his best SuperCoach season ever, cracking the ton average for the first time in his 12 seasons. Port utility Justin Westhoff, too, exceeded the ton average for the first time in his career and is just about a must-have, given he can ruck during the bye rounds. It was the year of the ton last year, as Sydney superstar Lance Franklin also raised the bat for a triple-digit average for the first time since 2012. But he always has a lull and it might be an idea to wait for his price to drop before adding him to your team from Round 1. A third Geelong player rounds out the top five in Sam Menegola, who should again find a heap of minutes in the midfield and be productive.