The case for and against picking Robbie Gray in SuperCoach this year?

ROBBIE Gray’s SuperCoach popularity declined last year but he’s back as a forward in 2018. Will that be enough to bring him back into your team? Here are the pros and cons.

AFTER three consecutive seasons of 100-plus averages, SuperCoach players faced a conundrum last year when Robbie Gray was stripped of his dual-position status.

Gray’s allure as a premium selection diminished when lost his eligibility as a forward.

And his popularity declined further when as a midfielder only he spent most of his time in the forward line.

However, SuperCoaches will be presented with a different scenario this season.

The Port Adelaide star hasn’t regained his DPP position but he’s back as a forward in 2018.

PRICE V POTENTIAL: GIL GARDINER’S SUPERCOACH TOP 40

YES OR NO? IS ROCKLIFF A SUPERCOACH TRAP?

THE PHANTOM: CASH COWS TO WATCH IN DEFENCE

Robbie Gray can be selected as a forward again this year. Picture: Sarah Reed

Here’s the case for and against picking Gray.

WHY WE SHOULD PICK HIM

* Gray still had a big impact as a forward in 2017 with 47 goals, the most he has ever kicked in a home-and-away season. Only Charlie Dixon kicked more goals than Gray at the Power last year.

* Gray also ranked No.2 for goal assists and No.1 for score assists, and was 12th for score involvements.

* He is damaging around the stoppages, with the Power last season generating the 12th most points from his forward-half clearances of any player across the competition.

* Playing forward didn’t stop Gray from scoring huge, with scores of 164, 146 and 139 among his nine tons.

* Ongoing groin injuries plagued Gray’s 2017 season and impacted his scoring but he’s over that issue. A recent cancer scare also doesn’t appear to have held him back on the training track.

* His starting price of $504,300 is $83,900 cheaper than last season.

* The recruit of Jack Watts could allow Gray to push up the ground more often

WHY WE SHOULDN’T PICK HIM

* Gray averaged eight less disposals a game as he spent more time up forward.

* He amassed 25-plus disposals in just four home-and-away games last year after doing 14 times from 19 games in 2016.

* Gray’s 2017 season-ending average of 91.7 was his lowest since 2013. He failed to hit the hundred in the last three rounds and his nine tons was five less than 2016. There were a few stinkers too with four games below 50 points.

* There are five small to mid-sized forward options who finished with a higher season-ending average last year — Sam Menegola, Isaac Heeney, Toby Greene, Chad Wingard and Jack Billings (Jacob Townsend wasn’t included after playing just two home-and-away games last season)

* He struggles to win one-on-one contests, beating his opponent just 20 per cent of the time in 2017.

* His kicking efficiency can let him down.

MORE ‘PICK ME’ CONTENT:

CAN DUSTIN MARTIN BACK UP PERFECT SEASON?

IS SCOTT PENDLEBURY A SUPERCOACH MUST-HAVE?

IS GARY ABLETT WORTH THE RISK?

IS TOM ROCKLIFF A SUPERCOACH TRAP?