Melbourne
Angus Brayshaw (MID) $452,400 2019 avg.: 83.3
Hard to see many better mid-priced options at the Demons than Brayshaw, despite a pre-season setback when he injured ligaments in his elbow. The Demons have described the injury as a “minor setback”. Most coaches will be wary after Brayshaw failed to replicate his fast finish to 2018, averaging 83.3. He still has the most upside of any mid-price Demon though.
VERDICT: Not after that pre-season setback.
North Melbourne
Majak Daw (DEF) $339,600 2019 avg.: N/A
Daw has found his niche as a key defender for the Kangaroos and impressed during pre-season after an inspiring recovery and return to the field last year. Season 2018 was the first time Daw played more than eight games in a year and his output increased from 66.1 points a game to 78.2. He averaged 12 disposals, five marks and two tackles that year but has another level to go to.
VERDICT: His return will be one of the footy stories of the year but key defenders don’t make great SuperCoach scorers.
Tarryn Thomas $339,900 FWD 2019 average: 62.6
Thomas wasn’t a big ball winner in his debut campaign, only collecting more than 15 disposals three times in 20 games. He’s got significant room for improvement as a result and has shown plenty of promise during his second pre-season at Arden Street. He’s a player worth monitoring during the pre-season series. If he’s built his tank enough to be thrown into a 50-50 split between midfield and attack, he’s worth considering. Steven and Smith are better forward options at a similar price though.
VERDICT: He’s a real talent but not at that price in SuperCoach.
Port Adelaide
Connor Rozee (FWD) $422,100 2019 avg.: 77.7
The prodigiously-talented Power young gun might be the exception to the rule about picking second-year players. Playing predominantly in the attacking 50, Rozee averaged a commendable 77.7 in his debut campaign, which included four scores of 110+. Should he progress to a forward-mid role in 2020, his talent suggests he’s capable of adding another 10 points to his average.
VERDICT: 2021 will be the year to start Rozee when he’s playing more midfield minutes than up forward.
Brad Ebert $415,200 FWD 2019 average: 76.5
After a season blighted by concussion issues, Power veteran Ebert starts the season more than $50,000 cheaper than last year and listed as a forward. He’s twice averaged 100 or more and has five seasons of 94 or higher during his career. A midfield return has been mooted for the 29-year-old, which brings him back onto the SuperCoach radar at that price. You need to be consider he can be a top-six forward though.
VERDICT: Smith and Steven should average just as much for $80,000 and $50,000 cheaper respectively.
Richmond
Tom Lynch (FWD) $388,800 2019 avg.: 71.6
The key forward came into his first season at Punt Road under an injury cloud and finished with his lowest average since 2013. The scoring highs Lynch achieved at Gold Coast are difficult to ignore considering he was playing in a weaker side. He averaged 83.2, 88.3, 93.2 and 85.1 between 2014-2017, which suggests he’s underpriced. From Round 17 onwards, he posted five tons in 10 games including a 149 in the preliminary final win over Geelong.
VERDICT: Very tempting despite the torrid scoring history of key forwards.
St Kilda Hunter Clark (DEF) $402,200 2019 avg.: 74.1
The top-10 draftee relished extra freedom at halfback after Brett Ratten took over from Alan Richardson. Clark put himself firmly on the SuperCoach pre-season watchlist with seven consecutive games of 20+ disposals and a SuperCoach high of 120 during the run home. However, he might be hard to squeeze in when there’s so much value in defence.
VERDICT: One of the best mid-pricers of the year. A genuine D3/D4 contender.
Sydney Callum Mills (DEF) $444,100 2019 avg.: 81.8
Is this the year Callum Mills finally launches into a full-time midfield role? Mills has averaged between 73.3 and 81.8 in the first four years of his career, 5-10 points off the lower range of premium status. There was an expectation last year Isaac Heeney would become a full-time midfielder, only for John Longmire to use him predominantly in attack. It’s tough to have much confidence Mills will be a regular on-baller based on that.
VERDICT: Not after John Longmire said Sydney needs his class in defence.
Oliver Florent MID $373,400 2019 average: 68.8
Another player with real breakout potential. Florent consolidated his average last year, posting 68.8 in 21 games after managing 66.2 in 2018. Warriors such as Josh Kennedy will need greater support from the emerging Swans this season and Florent is close to the front of the queue for midfield time. He averaged 25 disposals and 90 SuperCoach during the last month of 2019, a promising platform to make the leap from mid-pricer to premium scorer.
VERDICT: Extra midfield responsibility could push his average to 85-90, but is that enough for a starting pick?
Western Bulldogs Patrick Lipinski (FWD) $441,500 2019 avg.: 81.3
Lipinski took until Round 10 to work his way into the Bulldogs side but took his opportunity when it came. He increased his averages to 21.9 disposals (up from 14.7), 4.6 marks (up from 2.8) and 3.6 tackles (up from 2.4). There’s only so many points to go around in a game and he’s competing with three premium midfielders in Jack Macrae, Marcus Bontempelli and Josh Dunkley. However, his FWD eligibility weighs in his favour.
VERDICT: He’s an exciting player but hard to pick if you have two Dogs already in midfield.
West Coast Brad Sheppard (DEF) $455,700 2019 avg.: 83.9
A largely unheralded member of the Eagles’ defence, 2019 was the first year Sheppard pushed his SuperCoach average above 80. He’s had the best two years of his career in the past two (77.1 points and 83.9). They aren’t huge numbers, but at 28 he’s a player who is still improving and starting to win the plaudits he deserves. Most of West Coast’s mid-pricers are too inconsistent for consideration, but Sheppard at least offers reliability.
VERDICT: Not when Dan Houston is less than $30,000 more and a “lock” to feature in midfield for Port Adelaide.
Angus Brayshaw (MID) $452,400 2019 avg.: 83.3
Hard to see many better mid-priced options at the Demons than Brayshaw, despite a pre-season setback when he injured ligaments in his elbow. The Demons have described the injury as a “minor setback”. Most coaches will be wary after Brayshaw failed to replicate his fast finish to 2018, averaging 83.3. He still has the most upside of any mid-price Demon though.
VERDICT: Not after that pre-season setback.
North Melbourne
Majak Daw (DEF) $339,600 2019 avg.: N/A
Daw has found his niche as a key defender for the Kangaroos and impressed during pre-season after an inspiring recovery and return to the field last year. Season 2018 was the first time Daw played more than eight games in a year and his output increased from 66.1 points a game to 78.2. He averaged 12 disposals, five marks and two tackles that year but has another level to go to.
VERDICT: His return will be one of the footy stories of the year but key defenders don’t make great SuperCoach scorers.
Tarryn Thomas $339,900 FWD 2019 average: 62.6
Thomas wasn’t a big ball winner in his debut campaign, only collecting more than 15 disposals three times in 20 games. He’s got significant room for improvement as a result and has shown plenty of promise during his second pre-season at Arden Street. He’s a player worth monitoring during the pre-season series. If he’s built his tank enough to be thrown into a 50-50 split between midfield and attack, he’s worth considering. Steven and Smith are better forward options at a similar price though.
VERDICT: He’s a real talent but not at that price in SuperCoach.
Port Adelaide
Connor Rozee (FWD) $422,100 2019 avg.: 77.7
The prodigiously-talented Power young gun might be the exception to the rule about picking second-year players. Playing predominantly in the attacking 50, Rozee averaged a commendable 77.7 in his debut campaign, which included four scores of 110+. Should he progress to a forward-mid role in 2020, his talent suggests he’s capable of adding another 10 points to his average.
VERDICT: 2021 will be the year to start Rozee when he’s playing more midfield minutes than up forward.
Brad Ebert $415,200 FWD 2019 average: 76.5
After a season blighted by concussion issues, Power veteran Ebert starts the season more than $50,000 cheaper than last year and listed as a forward. He’s twice averaged 100 or more and has five seasons of 94 or higher during his career. A midfield return has been mooted for the 29-year-old, which brings him back onto the SuperCoach radar at that price. You need to be consider he can be a top-six forward though.
VERDICT: Smith and Steven should average just as much for $80,000 and $50,000 cheaper respectively.
Richmond
Tom Lynch (FWD) $388,800 2019 avg.: 71.6
The key forward came into his first season at Punt Road under an injury cloud and finished with his lowest average since 2013. The scoring highs Lynch achieved at Gold Coast are difficult to ignore considering he was playing in a weaker side. He averaged 83.2, 88.3, 93.2 and 85.1 between 2014-2017, which suggests he’s underpriced. From Round 17 onwards, he posted five tons in 10 games including a 149 in the preliminary final win over Geelong.
VERDICT: Very tempting despite the torrid scoring history of key forwards.
St Kilda Hunter Clark (DEF) $402,200 2019 avg.: 74.1
The top-10 draftee relished extra freedom at halfback after Brett Ratten took over from Alan Richardson. Clark put himself firmly on the SuperCoach pre-season watchlist with seven consecutive games of 20+ disposals and a SuperCoach high of 120 during the run home. However, he might be hard to squeeze in when there’s so much value in defence.
VERDICT: One of the best mid-pricers of the year. A genuine D3/D4 contender.
Sydney Callum Mills (DEF) $444,100 2019 avg.: 81.8
Is this the year Callum Mills finally launches into a full-time midfield role? Mills has averaged between 73.3 and 81.8 in the first four years of his career, 5-10 points off the lower range of premium status. There was an expectation last year Isaac Heeney would become a full-time midfielder, only for John Longmire to use him predominantly in attack. It’s tough to have much confidence Mills will be a regular on-baller based on that.
VERDICT: Not after John Longmire said Sydney needs his class in defence.
Oliver Florent MID $373,400 2019 average: 68.8
Another player with real breakout potential. Florent consolidated his average last year, posting 68.8 in 21 games after managing 66.2 in 2018. Warriors such as Josh Kennedy will need greater support from the emerging Swans this season and Florent is close to the front of the queue for midfield time. He averaged 25 disposals and 90 SuperCoach during the last month of 2019, a promising platform to make the leap from mid-pricer to premium scorer.
VERDICT: Extra midfield responsibility could push his average to 85-90, but is that enough for a starting pick?
Western Bulldogs Patrick Lipinski (FWD) $441,500 2019 avg.: 81.3
Lipinski took until Round 10 to work his way into the Bulldogs side but took his opportunity when it came. He increased his averages to 21.9 disposals (up from 14.7), 4.6 marks (up from 2.8) and 3.6 tackles (up from 2.4). There’s only so many points to go around in a game and he’s competing with three premium midfielders in Jack Macrae, Marcus Bontempelli and Josh Dunkley. However, his FWD eligibility weighs in his favour.
VERDICT: He’s an exciting player but hard to pick if you have two Dogs already in midfield.
West Coast Brad Sheppard (DEF) $455,700 2019 avg.: 83.9
A largely unheralded member of the Eagles’ defence, 2019 was the first year Sheppard pushed his SuperCoach average above 80. He’s had the best two years of his career in the past two (77.1 points and 83.9). They aren’t huge numbers, but at 28 he’s a player who is still improving and starting to win the plaudits he deserves. Most of West Coast’s mid-pricers are too inconsistent for consideration, but Sheppard at least offers reliability.
VERDICT: Not when Dan Houston is less than $30,000 more and a “lock” to feature in midfield for Port Adelaide.
