A weekly look at the SuperCoach relevant players flying in pre-season or hit by untimely setbacks

Plans to start bargain ruckman Sam Naismith in SuperCoach are out the window and a popular bench player is out for the season. Check out all the latest SuperCoach player news.

Stay up to date with the footy news that impacts your SuperCoach team in our regular whispers column.

Scroll down to find out which Swans are racing the clock to play in Round 1, the popular rookie struck down by another serious injury and updates on Dan Hannebery, Harley Bennell, Chad Wingard, Zach Merrett, Stef Martin and more.

CRYSTAL BALL: EIGHT FEARLESS SUPERCOACH PREDICTIONS

UNIQUE: STARS TO SET YOUR FORWARD LINE APART

SURVIVAL GUIDE: GET YOUR 30-PAGE SUPERCOACH MAGAZINE

NEW BLUE: WHY GIBBONS IS A SUPERCOACH STAR

SAM NAISMITH ($251,400 Ruck)

The underpriced Swan has been a popular choice to partner one of the big dogs in the ruck, but those plans will have to be shelved after John Longmire revealed Naismith is almost certain to miss Round 1 as he recovers from a knee injury. “He’s going OK, he’s running, he’s not training yet, so he won’t be available for the start of the season,” he said. “He had the knee reconstruction last year and he had a minor cleanout just before Christmas and so that’s helped him get through so far. We’re not pushing him along too hard. He’s a significant player for us in the ruck and missed all of last year, so we hope to get him back within that first four to six weeks.”

Sam Naismith is making slow progress in his injury comeback. Picture: Phil Hillyard

LANCE FRANKLIN ($543,500, Forward)

Naismith isn’t Sydney’s only injury concern. Superstar forward Lance Franklin is also taking time to recover from a groin operation. Franklin is yet to resume running and has been ruled out of the JLT Series. Longmire said of Buddy and Daniel Menzel, who had a similar procedure: “To be honest, they’ll play when they’re ready.” Alarm bells!

BRAD CROUCH ($418,000, Midfielder)

Better news if you’re considering rolling the dice on injury-cursed Adelaide midfielder Brad Crouch. After yet another injury setback Crouch is now back in full training and set to play in the pre-season competition. “He’s fit, feeling good and is ready to go,” brother Matt said this week. “He’s a lot more positive than last year and I’m looking forward to playing with him again.” Crouch missed last year with a groin injury but when he’s fit he has no trouble scoring in SuperCoach.

Brad Crouch ramps up his pre-season training load.

HARRISON WIGG ($102,400, Defender)

Scratch Wigg from your backline bench after the Sun’s injury curse struck again. Wigg, who joined Gold Coast from Adelaide after the 2017 season but didn’t play a game last year due to ankle problems, ruptured his ACL in an intense intra-club practice match this week. “It’s really unfortunate for Harrison, he had an injury interrupted season with the club last year but had put together a really strong pre-season,’’ football manager Jon Haines said.

STEF MARTIN ($573,700, Ruck)

The shadow of Archie Smith has always loomed over Martin’s SuperCoach value and pre-season back and ankle injuries have put the Lions No.1 big man behind the eight ball. Smith has been the lead big man in pre-season match simulation with Martin instead playing predominantly as a forward. Even if Martin does start in Round 1, he’s likely to be partnered by Oscar McInerney after he played 16 games last year.

Brisbane’s No.1 ruckman Stefan Martin. Picture: Tim Marsden

ZACH MERRETT ($544,800, Midfielder)

After a pre-season setback, Merrett is back up and running at Essendon training and is on track to feature in the JLT Series. Merrett injured his ankle in January and has been wearing a moonboot but the 2017 All-Australian moved freely on Monday, completing an individual running program away from the main training group. Merrett is underpriced after a quiet 2018 where he was concussed early and battled the attention of taggers.

ISAAC QUAYNOR ($153,300, Defender)

Collingwood’s first-round draft pick has taken another step toward a Round 1 AFL debut with a strong showing in a recent scratch match at Olympic Park. Quaynor - a graduate of the Magpies’ Next Generation Academy - impressed onlookers during Friday’s session with his decision-making and hardness at the ball. Fellow draftee Will Kelly has no doubts about Quaynor’s ability: “He will play in Round 1, I reckon. He is ready to play,” he told Fox Sports.

PREVIEW: CATS HOLD SUPERCOACH HIDDEN GEMS

PICK ’EM: DANGER, TWO BLUES MOST POPULAR

CHAD WINGARD ($481,100, Mid-Fwd)

Hawthorn’s big off-season recruit has officially been ruled out of the club’s intra-club match and AFLX after suffering a calf injury in pre-season training. Hawks football manager Graeme Wright lamented the lingering issue. “He’s taking a little bit longer than what we would have expected (for) a really minor calf issue,” he told the club website. “He (also) won’t play in AFLX at this stage due to the injury.”

CHARLIE CONSTABLE ($123,900, Midfielder)

The untried young midfielder has been one of the buzz cash cows this pre-season and the hype appears to be well founded with Geelong midfield coach Matthew Knights expecting Constable to step up. “We’d certainly like Charlie to get an opportunity in the JLT … (he) has taken on some of our experienced midfielders in match play or in one-on-one contested situations, so he is trying to develop himself as quickly as possible, which has pleased all of us.”

DAN HANNEBERY ($326,100, Midfielder)

The star St Kilda recruit is adament he remains on track to play in Round 1 after conceding he has been suffering “hamstring awareness”. The club is hopeful Hannebery will play in one JLT game before facing Gold Coast in Round 1. “In the past, at different stages I’ve probably rushed things and the club are taking the approach of being really cautious and making sure I get a certain amount of conditioning and leg weights and all that sort of stuff in,” Hannebery said after being named in the Saints leadership group. “At this stage I’m confident I’ll be right.”

Dan Hannebery has suffered an injury setback.

Harley Bennell has suffered another setback. Picture: Daniel Wilkins

HARLEY BENNELL ($167,700, Midfielder)

SuperCoach ambassador Jonathan Brown was adamant Harley Bennell was set for a return to AFL but another calf injury seems to have put his future in doubt once again. There is no timeline on Bennell’s return from injury after the talented midfielder suffered a calf strain at training last week. Bennell last played for Fremantle’s WAFL affiliate Peel Thunder in August last year when he injured his calf.

HARRIS ANDREWS ($480,100, Defender)

Champion Data predicts Harris Andrews is the next great defender but Chris Fagan is been trialling his star backman in attack this pre-season. With the arrival of Marcus Adams in the off-season, the intercept-marking star has been partnering Eric Hipwood as a deep forward with Fagan keen to use his marking ability in front of goals. “They (genuine contested marking key forwards) are harder to find in AFL footy,” Fagan said. “It is still experimental at the moment but he has looked really good.”

Harris Andrews has been training as a forward during pre-season. Picture: Mark Cranitch

JOSH SMITH ($244,300, Forward)

The former Magpie has wasted no time impressing at West Coast. After being picked up in the rookie draft, Smith broke Chris Masten’s 2km time trial record and has been training with the Eagles’ midfield group over summer. Masten has liked what he’s seen: “He’s a ripper. He got me in the 2km time trial which hurt me for about 10 minutes, but I got over that and now we’re good friends.” “Any role that he’s given, I’m sure he’ll attack and do pretty good.”

NATHAN VARDY ($306,400, Ruck-Fwd)

TOM HICKEY ($485,600, Ruck)

KEEGAN BROOKSBY ($202,700, Ruck)

West Coast’s No.1 big man Nic Naitanui won’t be back until mid-year - he’s aiming for Round 13 — so who takes the ruck mantle in the meantime? There are three men vying for the role; premiership winner Nathan Vardy, former Saint Tom Hickey and SANFL rookie and former Sun Keegan Brooksby. The Eagles are likely to employ two rucks as they did last year with Vardy and Scott Lycett and having given up a second-round pick for Hickey, you’d suspect he’s front of the line. Jack Redden has been impressed with Hickey since his arrival. “Hick’s has had a good impact since he’s been here. He’s a different type of ruckman, he gets on the move a lot,” he told the club website. “He’s a really good runner and good endurance runner. He gets around the ground really well and he gets on the move and makes it tricky. He’s a good tap ruckman and works his opponent over.”

Originally published as A weekly look at the SuperCoach relevant players flying in pre-season or hit by untimely setbacks