SuperCoach 2016: All the best ruck options rated

STUCK in the ruck? With top-dollar superstars, potential bargains and risks around every corner, you’re not alone. We’re here to help.

Matthew Leuenberger made an encouraging debut for Essendon in the VFL. Picture: Ian Currie

STUCK in the ruck? With top-dollar superstars, potential bargains and risks around every corner, you’re not alone. We’re here to help.

Starting at the very top of a very tall tree, here are the key questions and contenders for the two on-field ruck spots this season.

1. GOLDY OR NO GOLDY?

Todd Goldstein dominated SuperCoach in 2015. He had the highest average of any player — 129 points per game — missed only one match (when Brad Scott rested half his team in Round 23) and posted six scores over 140 including an immense 221 against a hapless Shaun McKernan. That’s 442 if he was your captain. So is there any reason not to pick him?

A couple, actually. The big one is his monster price tag of $685,100, making him the most expensive player in SuperCoach this year. Do we want to outlay that much — almost 7 per cent of our salary cap — on one player?

This question becomes more relevant considering historical data that show that while 23 players have averaged more than 120 in a season in SuperCoach history, only four have done it more than once — and they were all midfielders: Gary Ablett, Dane Swan, Scott Pendlebury and Nat Fyfe. Can Goldy break the mould?

Historically there is also a regular turnover of the top-ranked ruckman each season; since 2010 Aaron Sandilands, Dean Cox, Nic Naitanui, Will Minson, Sam Jacobs and Goldstein have all held the mantle only to surrender it the next year.

On the other hand, in his past 36 games (a season and a half), Goldstein has averaged 127 points with just five scores under 100 and one under 90. There’s no reason to think that trend will stop now.

Even if Goldstein doesn’t quite reach the stratospheric heights of last season he’s still likely to be the top ruck scorer. If you don’t get him now you are committing to a year without him because you will probably never have the cash to trade him in.

If you’re prepared to fork out big dollars for reliably big scores, lock in Goldy and throw away the key. If you’re more of a bargain hunter, read on. In fact, you need another starting ruck so read on anyway!

2. USURPERS TO THE CROWN?

If you want an elite (if costly) “set and forget” ruck line, who should partner Goldstein? Or who could you hand the huge responsibility of starting as R1 in a Goldstein-less line-up? Here are the main contenders.

Stefan Martin (BL) $597,600

Burst on to the scene in 2014 and maintained the rage last year, averaging 112 points a game even though he had to share the ruck role with Matthew Leuenberger. With Berger now a Bomber, Stef should run amok. Safe choice. Note: Has a bye the same week as Goldstein so picking both will leave you short in Round 15.

Sam Jacobs (Adel) $582,500

Didn’t quite match his 2014 heights last year but was still extremely solid with a 108 average. No Dangerfield any more might cost him a few hitouts to advantage, but Sauce won’t let you down.

Max Gawn (Melb) $550,800

The hot ruck property of the pre-season after topping 100 in all three NAB Challenge games. Had a purple patch in the middle of last year that included scores of 150 and 146 and although he didn’t finish the season that strongly we have seen the potential. Fear the beard.

Nic Naitanui (WC) $560,700 ruck

Somehow forgotten in SuperCoach talk this year but should improve on his 104 average from last season. The Eagles aren’t going anywhere and he’s had a full pre-season for the first time in ages. His durability has been questioned but has played at least 20 games in five of the past six seasons.

Aaron Sandilands (Frem) $581,700

Age is the only query on the Dockers giant, who has averaged 108 the past two years. He’s now 33 but he isn’t getting any shorter. In just 2.2 per cent of teams — that’s less than Anthony Morabito. What the?

Mark Blicavs (Geel) $562,700 ruck/mid

Now a genuine premium option after his average jumped from 69 to 104 last year. This year Zac Smith will take most of the centre bounces but Chris Scott is happy to start the Blitz in the centre square anyway. Offers added flexibility as the only ruck/midfield DPP in the game.

Shane Mumford (GWS) $570,500

Scoring potential is unquestioned, the only worry is his body. No ruckman tackles like Mummy and we know how crucial he is to the improving Giants. In fact, his scoring ceiling is probably second only to Goldstein. But he has never played a full season in an eight-year career. Will this be the year?

3. RISKY BUSINESS

If you don’t want to fork out the cash for two top-shelf rucks, a nice compromise is to pick one of them and a mid-price bargain — a player who is priced $100,000-$200,000 cheaper but you hope will score about the same as the guys listed above.

Picking two of them will save a lot of cash but going all in is a big play — if a mid-pricer doesn’t work out they are very difficult to replace.

Who are the names to consider in this category?

Matthew Lobbe (PA) $389,500

One of the most popular picks early in the pre-season and with good reason — with Paddy Ryder suspended he will be the solo ruck at Port. The last time he was in that position, in 2014, he finished the year with a 101 average. The only problem is his NAB scores have been terrible. Now SuperCoaches can’t get off him fast enough.

Zac Smith (Geel) $425,300

Will a move to the Cats kick-start a career that has stalled since a stellar debut season for Gold Coast in 2011? The early evidence says there is every chance, with two 100-plus scores in three NAB Challenge outings. Injuries and form have restricted Smith to 11, 10 and eight games in the past three seasons so doesn’t come without risk.

Callum Sinclair (Syd) $409,500 ruck/fwd

Nic Nat’s understudy last season now has the chance to make a name for himself at the Swans as the replacement for Mike Pyke. NAB Challenge scores of 114, 84 and 75 point to a value pick given he is priced at a 75 average. How will he work with Kurt Tippett?

Brodie Grundy (Coll) $488,800

If you’re looking for steady improvement rather than hoping for a player to jump out of the box, Grundy is your man. After averaging around the 70 mark in his first two seasons he boosted his scoring to average 90 last year and should be better again in year four, surrounded by a plethora of Magpie midfielders.

Matthew Leuenberger (Ess) $310,700 ruck/fwd

Alarm bells everywhere but he is very cheap. The Leuenberger story is simple — CON: His body breaks down on a regular basis; PRO: He has averaged over 100 in a full season (in 2011), something you can’t say for any of the other guys in this section apart from Lobbe. He hasn’t played in any NAB Challenge games but got through a VFL practice match last weekend to firm for a Round 1 start. If he comes off he could be an inspired pick but you’ll need some decent cahunas.

Originally published as SuperCoach 2016: All the best ruck options rated