Who are Geelong’s top SuperCoach picks, cash cows and high risk players?

GEELONG might have the best starting midfield trio — Gary Ablett, Patrick Dangerfield and Joel Selwood — in the league but you can’t pick them all in Supercoach. Do the Cats have more to offer?

IT might just be the greatest starting midfield trio ever to play the game.

Gary Ablett, Patrick Dangerfield and Joel Selwood will spearhead Geelong’s assault on the 2018 premiership. And the trio is certain to rack up plenty of SuperCoach points.

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But you can’t pick them all.

Do the Cats have more to offer?

PREMIUMS

Patrick Dangerfield $749,800 MID

The 2016 Brownlow medallist backed up last year with a season just as good. No signs he’ll slow down but the biggest query over the explosive midfielder — and new teammate Ablett — is how much time he might play in attack. Wherever he does play, he’s built for SuperCoach given his contested footy numbers. But at that price it’s quite an investment.

Picking Patrick Dangerfield comes at a high cost. Picture: Mike Dugdale

Gary Ablett $631,100 MID

Will Gaz’s body hold up? He’s so far not showing any signs of the injuries that plagued his final year at the Gold Coast, a season in which he still averaged almost 115 points per game. Coach Chris Scott has said the club recruited him to play in the middle, so his numbers should stack up as long as he stays on the paddock.

Mitch Duncan $601,700 MID

Duncan returned to his best in 2017, and he might be the one that gets off the leash this year as clubs eye the ‘big three’. Is a good user of the footy, tackling machine and hard runner who might enjoy less attention in 2018.

Joel Selwood $562,000 MID

A foot injury late in the season saw a small dip in the Geelong captain’s SuperCoach price but he’ll be back to his best come Round 1. He might not chalk up the huge scores his higher-profile midfield in which his midfield buddies are capable, but with the courageous Cat you know what you’re going to get each week.

MID-PRICE RISKS

Harry Taylor $404,800 DEF/FWD

Expect Taylor to go back to his preferred defensive role but will he slot seamlessly back in? Probably, but he’s not getting any younger and an expected slower start to 2018 for Lachie Henderson might see Harry shuffled around. Bit of a wait and see on the veteran through the pre-season.

Mark Blicavs $448,600 MID

Where does Blicavs play? It was the question of 2017 and it might again pose some issues for Chris Scott this year. His versatility is a big plus but for SuperCoaches planning their teams, it ain’t ideal. Hard to see him churning out big numbers.

Mark Blicavs’ numbers dropped in 2017. Picture: Alison Wynd

Zac Smith $501,800 RUC

Finished 2017 in style and has been a big tick for the cats’ recruiting team since joining from the Suns. But Smith isn’t cheap and can lose form as quickly as he gains it. From a ruckman at that price, you might want a little more consistency.

ROOKIES

Tim Kelly $117,300 MID

Bit of hype around the mature-age Cat, who some believe could be an ideal replacement for the departed Steven Motlop. Has some speed and tricks and after a stellar season in the WAFL, is ready to make his mark at AFL level.

Lachlan Fogarty $117,300 MID

Another small forward/midfield type who could be ready to have an immediate impact. Is a nice user of the ball and a ferocious tackler — something the Cats need in their forward half. His fate might rest with how ready oft-injured teammates Lincoln McCarthy and Cory Gregson are for the season proper.

NO-GO ZONE

Sam Menegola $551,800 FWD

There’s definitely a school of thought that the Cats’ second-tier players will benefit from Gazza’s arrival. But one thing that jumped off the page when SuperCoach prices were revealed was Menegola as the most expensive forward this season. We’re not convinced he can continue to pump out big enough scores to justify splurging on him at that price.

Sam Menegola is the most expensive forward. Picture: Alison Wynd

Lachie Henderson $427,400 DEF

The one regular Cat whose summer has had its interruptions. Henderson has had a couple of bouts of knee surgery in the off-season, with the club acknowledging he may be slower to start than his teammates. Has been superb in the Cats back half but we doubt he’ll be starting at full pace.

PREDICTED 22

B: Jed Bews, Lachie Henderson, Tom Stewart

HB: Zach Tuohy, Harry Taylor, Cam Guthrie

C: Mark Blicavs, Joel Selwood, Mitch Duncan

HF: Sam Menegola, Wylie Buzza, Nakia Cockatoo

F: Lincoln McCarthy, Tom Hawkins, Daniel Menzel

Fol: Zac Smith, Patrick Dangerfield, Gary Ablett

Int: Scott Selwood, Tim Kelly, Jake Kolodjashnij, Brandan Parfitt