Here’s my preliminary views as we head into preseason… the players I am looking at + notables.
Defence
Dawson: Looks like the most obvious selection for mine in defence. Class act. Can play across the park and still score well. More mid time looks inevitable. Hard to fault
Daicos: Nicely priced. Collingwood always looking to shift it into his hands. Another year in system, difficult to envisage him not going 100+
Sicily: Weapon, but possibly too much role risk priced at 113? Will be avoiding
Stewart: Similar to Sicily. Duncan risk + brain explosions? $600k feels like a good price. In the mix for me but out at this stage.
Brayshaw: Back end of ’22 was great, but hard to see him getting as much run through mids this year. Pass
Aaron Hall: Will tempt a few but I won’t be sucked in.
Luke Ryan: Good value at $531k, but seems to go missing a bit too much for me. Emergence of Young doesn’t help
Cumming/Redman: Tempting at this level. Prefer Redman of the two.
Yeo: All depends on the body. He’s not in for me now, but if he’s running well then probably a must.
Bowes: Good price. Role watch. In for now.
No one else really jumps out at me. Salem interesting at 390k but ugly price. Will Day probably due a breakout but not worth the risk. I like Ben Miller too but not selectable at his price. Hunter Clark on preseason watch.
Mids
So many good selections. It’s pretty hard to go wrong. Really just a matter of taste / bye balance.
Oliver, Touk and Steele are the three that I have just about locked. Will likely build around them.
Trac: Is this his 125+ year? He was so frustrating last season. You just know one year he’s going to be the highest averaging player. In for now.
No problem with anyone selecting Neale, Mills, Bont, Macrae – but they’re out for me at the moment. Feels weird not starting with Macrae. See how we go.
Parish: Looks very, very cheap to me at 610k. Probably a toss up with Trac for me. Would love to start him. Think there’s a big gap between this top group of 10 or so, then the rest.
LDU: Big Trac vibes of 2020. He’s got a tank now. If North are a bit better, he looks good for 110+
Green/Warner: Think these type of decisions are the hardest in Supercoach. If someone is priced at 90, and goes at 105, is that a good selection.....? Or a M8 list clogger. Of the two I like Green. He’s out for me now, but if the structure falls in the right way I’d love to have him.
Ditto for Newcombe. There’s a tiny bit more leverage in picking a guy at 87 ave, but these picks are so risky. In for me right now. But if it feels like I’m taking too many mid pricers then he’ll drop out.
Titch: 528k. Very tough call. On the face of it he looks like a really obvious selection. But if he couldn’t keep up with the Hawks style of play last year, then how does he keep up with Collingwood’s even faster style? Unless he’s just used as a pure shovel man. Really tough call
Simpkin/Serong: See above with Green/Warner. They’ll improve, but probably not enough for 110+ so probably not good picks.
Sam Berry: Sneaky POD potential.
Hopper: Looks like a no-brainer
Rucks
Leaning towards English/Marshall early. Marshall looks like a lock to me. English with more Kgs…. If he plays 20 games then he’s a win. The scoring will be there.
Darcy probably unselectable with Jackson in now.
Witts is fully priced, no thanks.
Gawn/Grundy, who knows. If Grundy’s presence means Gawn plays a chunk of time down back, he’ll probably score even better. If he plays more forward, that’s probably back into 105 range. I think they’re both priced fairly. Does Brodie play occasionally more of the mid / link-up role he played at Collingwood? No idea where I’ll land here.
Meek interesting but price no good.
Forwards
Dunkley: Don’t overthink it. First picked player in ’23.
Coniglio: A maybe. Probably some price upside with Hopper/Taranto gone.
Heeney: Not for me at this price.
Butters: Wouldn’t fault anyone for taking him, but until his frame fills out I still think his crash style means he’ll miss games.
Rozee: Prefer him to Butters. He was so good in 2H last year.
Dylan Moore: Don’t hate it. Role crucial.
Taranto: Looks like an easy pick to me. He’s incredibly frustrating to own because his disposal is so horrific. But if he’s a perma-mid and doing grunt work (which he’s fine at) then it’s hard to see him under 100 ave.
Gulden: Interested
Darcy Cameron: Looks like a very safe pick to me. Should go 95+ and gives Ruck cover. Done.
Nic Martin: Interested, but probably a year too soon.
Toby: Don’t hate it as a speccy pick
Cunnington: Not for me.
Fyfe: Very tough. I think I’ll probably not start him, and if he starts on fire then immediately shift him in.