The ahead line is the bane of most SuperCoachers’ existence.
It’s all the time the toughest line to fill in the beginning of the season, with so many gamers who’s picked up DPP shedding it the next season.
This yr is not any exception, with Zak Butters, Tom Liberatore and a bunch of others shedding ahead eligibility, so we’ll must get inventive to fill the ahead line.
There are a number of methods of approaching it, with some SuperCoachers trying to discover worth and watch for some midfielders to realize DPP, whereas others are loading up with weapons who’ll be within the high eight or 10 forwards come season’s finish.
One technique I’ve all the time preferred – it doesn’t work, and it’s too early to inform if it’s an possibility this yr – is loading up with rookies and spending the money elsewhere.
But listed here are some choices to fill your ahead line with regardless of the technique you’re taking.
JACK MACRAE $558,400
You need a protected possibility within the ahead line? Jack Macrae is your protected possibility within the ahead line.
He’s a participant who’s averaged greater than 120 in a number of seasons, and needs to be in line for extra minutes within the midfield in 2024 with Bailey Smith happening with a season-ending knee harm.
I don’t assume we see him again averaging Gary Ablett Jr-like numbers once more, however he’s the protected choose, whereas his teammate Caleb Daniel ($518,800) can be a fairly protected wager after being seen rocking up numbers within the midfield once more throughout the pre-season.
Despite the danger of Luke Beveridge tossing his gamers round like a salad, each these guys know how you can get their arms on the ball and can discover it except they play out of the goalsquare at both finish.
He is one to regulate by way of the preseason, although, with studies he’s battling a low-level hamstring harm.
CHARLIE CURNOW $545,300
Every yr, whereas scrolling by way of choices, I’d bear in mind the outdated adage of by no means beginning key forwards in SuperCoach.
They’re notoriously unreliable and inconsistent and there all the time appeared to be a midfielder who was a greater possibility.
And then each single yr Tom Hawkins would come out and end within the high eight forwards for whole factors.
He did it for 4 years straight till father time caught up with him final season, and likewise numerous extra instances earlier than that.
I’ve discovered my lesson, but it surely’s too late for me to make amends with the Tomahawk. Maybe Charlie Curnow can fill his void.
Curnow is the third-most costly ahead within the recreation, however his lowest worth was $500,000 on the dot for all of 2023, and he solely had 5 stunning video games throughout the season.
The solely situation I now have with beginning Curnow is the AFL’s bye construction – Curnow has per week off in Round 2, which can be a ache to cowl if in case you have another Carlton or Sydney gamers.
DUSTIN MARTIN $527,300
While he has real claims to being the most effective participant of the twenty first century, Dusty’s solely had the one yr of being an out-and-out SuperCoach star, which was his unstoppable 2017 yr the place his common kissed 120.
Under a brand new coach in Adam Yze, will the factors stream extra freely at Tigerland?
Around 5 per cent of coaches are backing him in early doorways for season 2024, and we get an early take a look at his function and type on account of his Round Zero conflict along with his outdated coach Dimma on the Gold Coast.
At lower than $530,000, an in-form Dustin Martin might be very tough to disregard.
Last season he proved his flooring is exceedingly low, with simply the one recreation underneath 80 throughout 2023, and if he can carry these 80s into 95s with the odd recreation the place he goes bananas, Martin might be the person for us once more up ahead.
NAT FYFE – $283,200
What should you’re going mid-priced within the ahead line, I hear you ask? Dear reader, in fact. I all the time have time for individuals going low cost within the ahead line.
Has it labored the previous couple of seasons?
Well, no.
But it simply would possibly work this season.
Okay, we now have to take it with a grain of salt that he’s been working by way of the center at coaching.
We must take it with a grain of salt that he’s wholesome and match and has each his legs hooked up.
And I do know it’s a dream that he’ll get again to his twin Brownlow Medal-winning type.
But gee whiz he’s $283,200. That’s cheaper than Jamie Cripps. That’s cheaper than Jake Stringer. That’s one way or the other cheaper than Sam Reid – bear in mind him?
Look, he’s received some hoops to leap by way of earlier than he may be named in anybody’s facet, but when he will get a whiff of some midfield motion … effectively, you’ve gotta give it some thought, don’t you?
JAMES JORDON – $275,500
James Jordon was on the perimeter of Melbourne’s facet – he was sub of their grand remaining victory and donned the dreaded vest a heap in 2023.
Sydney went onerous after him within the commerce interval, signing the previous delisted free agent within the opening days.
The great thing about opening spherical is we get to see him in motion in the course of the pre-season and in Round Zero, and he has one of many later byes – coming in spherical 5 – after we’ve already had some money rolling in.
If Jordon scores effectively straight out of the gate, and a rookie has a fast rise alongside him, the teenager might be a ticket to a really early ahead improve.
Although, he may be price holding if he’s going that effectively. Jordan is an affordable crack at somebody who may high out at an 85 common if he finds the precise function, which may see him hit the 400k mark.
Best case state of affairs is he turns into somebody to maintain as cowl in the course of the late a part of the season as he jumps into a task on a wing or rotating by way of the center.
Clubs hardly ever goal gamers who they don’t have a task in thoughts for, and Sydney have a particular knack for locating the precise participant they need and sliding them within the perfect-shaped gap.
If there’s a James Jordon-shaped gap within the harbour metropolis, I would like part of it.
Originally printed as SuperCoach 2024: Five gamers who may also help you sort out the ahead line
Source: www.news.com.au
