Full Herald Sun article:
GARY Ablett might have lost his mantle as SuperCoach’s most expensive player but the little master’s price tag is still sure to generate plenty of debate.
North Melbourne’s Todd Goldstein’s stellar 2015 campaign in the ruck sees him as the most expensive player available at a tick under $700,000.
Ablett, on the other hand, was hampered by his shoulder injury early in the season and then after three impressive mid-season games he was struck down by a knee injury.
Usually, the Gold Coast captain would have been eligible for a 10 per cent discount after only playing six games, which would have seen him priced at $560,100.
We don’t want to be too generous, instead you can pick him up for $623,200, which is still the cheapest he’s been since 2008.
Ablett is the fifth most expensive player in 2016 with Goldstein, Nat Fyfe, Patrick Dangerfield and Scott Pendlebury ahead of him.
Brett Deledio comes in at 10th and is the most expensive forward at $508,800, slightly ahead of Heath Shaw, the most expensive defender at $607,800.
THE TOP 10
Todd Goldstein (NM, Ruck) $695,100
Nat Fyfe (Frem, Mid) $670,600
Patrick Dangerfield (Geel, Mid) $647,000
Scott Pendlebury (Coll, Mid) $627,200
Gary Ablett (GCS, Mid) $623,200
Dan Hannebery (Syd, Mid) $617,900
David Mundy (Frem, Mid) $612,600
Dayne Beams (BL, Mid) $612,100
Matt Priddis (WCE, Mid) $611,200
Brett Deledio (Rich, Fwd) $608,800
CHANGING PLACES
While player prices are important, dual position status is perhaps one of the most hotly debated changes every SuperCoach season.
It will be no different in 2016 as several high profile players lose or gain a secondary position.
Robbie Gray is perhaps the biggest name, after being a hugely popular midfield-forward option for the past couple of seasons the Port Adelaide star is now a midfielder only.
Perhaps the biggest surprises come in the forward line with ball magnets Leigh Montagna, Michael Barlow and Toby Greene all getting dual position status.
Montagna is the 12th most expensive player in the game after averaging 111 points in 2015.
In defence, it’s the return of two old favourites; Jimmy Bartel and Jarrad McVeigh.
After losing DPP eligibility last season, the pair are back in defence while Brodie Smith gains midfielder status and Matt Rosa provides some value as a backman.
KEY CHANGES
Robbie Gray (Port) Midfielder only
Marcus Bontempelli (WB) Midfielder only
Tom Mitchell (Syd) Midfielder only
Luke Hodge (Haw) Midfielder only
Brodie Smith (Adel) Defender-Midfielder
Jarrad McVeigh (Syd) Defender-Midfielder
Jimmy Bartel (Geel) Defender-Midfielder
Toby Greene (GWS) Midfielder-Forward
Michael Barlow (Frem) Midfielder-Forward
Leigh Montagna (StK) Midfielder-Forward
ROOKIE WATCH
Cash Cows. Perhaps the key to a successful SuperCoach season.
First year players and youngsters who have been cruelled by injury or lacked opportunity.
Christian Petracca - the No.2 draft pick in 2014 is returning from a knee reconstruction - is sure to be popular with a price tag of just $123,900.
Word from the Melbourne training track is the young gun is progressing well and could be available for the NAB Challenge, which would boost his SuperCoach stocks even further.
Top 2015 draft picks Jacob Weitering and Josh Schache are the most expensive draftees at $220,800 and $216,300 but their limited scoring potential makes them a no go.
The names Jed Anderson, Jarrad Jansen, Ben Kennedy, Nathan Freeman and Sam Kerridge are also expected to be popular but we’ll have more on that later.
MOST EXPENSIVE DRAFTEES
Jacob Weitering (Carl, Def) $220,800
Josh Schache (BL, Fwd) $216,300
Callum Mills (Syd, Mid) $211,800
Clayton Oliver (Melb, Mid) $207,300
Darcy Parish (Ess, Mid) $202,800
Aaron Francis (Ess, Def-Mid) $198,300
Jacob Hopper (GWS, Mid) $193,800
Callum Ah Chee (GCS, Fwd) $189,300
Sam Weideman (Melb, Fwd) $184,800
Harry McKay (Carl, Fwd-Ruck) $180,300
BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE
Don’t worry the SuperCoach reveals are just getting started.
From Monday we’ll have in-depth position reviews with the must-have players, fallen premiums and rookies to watch.
For 2015 SuperCoach Gold subscribers the always highly-anticipated SuperCoach Team Picker will launch on Wednesday.
Get a head-start on your mates and start shaping your 2016 line-up.