While the dollar-per-point ratio highlights the value of Lachie Neale and Rory Sloane, it also shows how much of a bargain Angus Brayshaw might be

In the past two matches, Angus Brayshaw has resumed the midfield role which saw him finish third in the Brownlow last year. And the dollar-per-point ratio further highlights his value. See some other bargain buys here.

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Do you have the Tom Liberatore injury to deal with but don’t want to use your warchest of money that you had saved to execute the rest of your bye-round trade plan?

Or are you trying to improve your midfield but just don’t have the funds?

Melbourne’s Angus Brayshaw could be the answer.

Of all midfielders in the competition worth more than $400k, who have played five or matches, Brayshaw has the fourth-best dollar-per-point ratio.

It’s a stat which simply highlights how much you are paying for each SuperCoach point your player scores.

Will Angus Brayshaw’s midfield role continue in the second half of the season?

Based on his price tag of $423k and average of 90, Brayshaw’s ratio is $4722 per point.

While it further highlights the 23-year-old bargain price, it doesn’t even take into consideration the potential scoring spike with a midfield role change in the second half of the year.

After overcoming a number of concussion issues and being made to wait in the VFL, Brayshaw returned to the Melbourne side in Round 4 last year.

The tough right-footer posted three SuperCoach tons and averaged 86 points per game prior to Melbourne’s Round 13 bye.

But then he exploded in the back-half of the season, producing form which led to a third-place finish in the Brownlow Medal.

Partnering Clayton Oliver on the inside for the Demons, Brayshaw averaged 28 disposals and 106 SuperCoach points in the final 10 home-and-away matches of the season.

It was form he was unable to carry through into 2019, however, with coach Simon Goodwin preferring to use him on the wing, forward and even behind-the-ball at times, rather than as an inside-midfielder.

But in the past two matches, Brayshaw was back in the middle.

Against the Magpies in the Demons’ last game before the bye, Brayshaw attended 15 centre bounces — the fourth-most for his side on the day.

And the role change was reflected in his numbers, with Brayshaw finishing with 32 disposals, 116 SuperCoach points — his highest tallies since Round 3 — eight tackles and 12 contested possessions.

It followed a 91-point performance, on the back of 23 disposals, 12 contested possessions, five clearances and a season-high 22 centre bounce attendances against the Crows.

It’s hard to be certain — given the fluctuation this year — the role will continue but what Melbourne was doing before the bye wasn’t working.

And the potential reward could very well be worth the risk.

In the four games he’s played as a permanent midfielder this season, he’s averaged 105 points.

Crow Rory Sloane will be great buying after the Crows’ Round 14 bye.

The other two names who stand out on the dollar-per-point table are Lion Lachie Neale and Crow Rory Sloane.

Despite only playing 12 games, Neale has scored the fourth-most points in the competition but he’s the 13th-most expensive.

At $578k, he’s a bargain you can’t miss out on coming off the bye.

And the disparity with Sloane is even more astounding.

The Adelaide co-captain’s 109-points per game — given he’s played 13 matches, we’ll use his average — is the 18th-best in the competition, yet his price-tag ranks him as the 42nd-most expensive.

And if you take out the injury-affected 35 points against the Demons — the reason for his current price — Sloane is averaging 115 points per game — an average which would rank him sixth of all midfielders.

Save a spot for Sloane after this week’s bye.

DOLLAR-PER-POINT

$400k+ Midfielders (min 5 games)

	Average	Dollar-per-point
Tom Liberatore $410,700)	88.1	$4662.6
Lachie Neale ($578,300)	123.8	$4670
Rory Sloane ($511,000)	108.7	$4701.4
Angus Brayshaw ($423,000)	89.6	$4721.9
Matt Crouch ($484,200)	102	$4747.1
Marucs Bontempelli ($534,000)	112.4	$4750.2
Adam Treloar ($507,900)	104.9	$4841
Lachie Hunter ($464,200)	95.5	$4860.7
Patrick Cripps ($584,400)	119.8	$4879.4
Hugh McCluggage ($449,900)	92	$4890.2

ANGUS BRAYSHAW’S POSITION SPLIT

2018 — Rounds 14-23: 92% mid/ 8% fwd

2019 — Rounds 1-10: 37% wing/ 45% mid

2019 — Rounds 11-12: 86% mid/ 14% fwd

Originally published as While the dollar-per-point ratio highlights the value of Lachie Neale and Rory Sloane, it also shows how much of a bargain Angus Brayshaw might be