Supercoach 2018 – Premium Review

Welcome to The Bull’s third player review article, which will focus around the 2018 Premium
Players which should be under your microscope for 2018. The Bull will be discussing 2
premiums across each line, which you should consider in your starting team. The Bull will miss
a couple of obvious premiums, but these are ones which I feel deserved to be discussed in
depth as to why they should be considered in your starting line-up in 2018. This will be the
last article for 2017, with more to come as we edge closer and closer to the JLT games and
Round 1. The Bull would like to thank everyone that has helped support him so far in 2017,
and wishes everyone a safe and Happy New Year! Enjoy a beer or 3 for The Bull!

Defenders
Rory Laird, Adelaide Crows 528K
Having previously had a breakout year
in 2015, Laird has been almost an
instant start in defence because of his
consistency with scoring and ability to
find the footy across the half back. In
2017 Laird crack the 100 mark,
averaging 100.2 points per game. He
cracked the tonne 11 times in 2017,
with 6 scores over 120. There were a
handful of poor scores, but for the price you pay for a player like Laird, you would have been
happy. Starting with this proven and reliable premium in 2018 is a must. He will be a top 6
defenders and at 528K this is a small price to pay for certainty. In 2017 Laird averaged a
whopping 29.4 disposals per game, and was instrumental off the half back line for the Crows.
With Brodie Smith going down with injury, he will need to take his game to another level again
if the Crows can push for another finals berth. Lock him in!

Kade Simpson, Carlton 516K

Mr Reliable, Kade Simpson, is the
second defender on The Bull’s radar this
preseason, and this is due to the fact he
will be the go to rebounding defender
for the Blues in 2018. Simpson across
the last 5 seasons has only missed 2
games back in 2015, meaning he will be
on the park most weeks. Don’t let his
age concern you. Simpson cracked the
tonne 7 times in 2017, and historically starts the season well vs Richmond. His last 4 round 1
scores include 107, 104, 103, 105 for a total 4 game round 1 average of 104.75 points per
game. There are several other fantastic options around the same price, but if you’re looking
for consistency then look no further than Kade Simpson. He has certainly shown no signs of
slowing down, and similar to what Corey Enright did in his final year, The Bull Expect Simpson
to be up there in the top 8 defenders for 2018.
Midfielders
Matt Crouch, Adelaide Crows 608K
In 2017 Matt Crouch had a year to
remember. His disposal average
increased by just over 4 disposals per
game to 33 per game, and his tackle
rate lifted slightly, up to 4.8 tackles per
game. Starting the year at 504k crouch
dipped to 475k off the bat of 3 below
par scores and mid-season he blew up,
cracking 600k by the end of the season.
Across the last 13 matches of 2017,
Crouch cracked the tonne 11 times in a row, with 8 scores out of 13 over 120. He had a 13
round average of 121.5 points per game, ranking him as elite. If he can take this scoring across
the last 13 weeks and the AFL Finals into 2018 then he is a lock. There is one concerning aspect
to selecting Crouch, and that is the fact that 2017 was his first breakout season. Can he back
it up in 2018? Realistically it is a gamble, but he is a flat out midfielder, and will score well
across 2018. The Crows have a favourable draw, and improved depth with the edition of
Gibbs. Crows are probably the team to beat in 2018. Expect Crouch to be at worst a top 10
midfielder.

Tom Mitchell, Hawthorn 653K

Tom Mitchell came into the 2017
season being well known for his ability
to impact games at the Swans, and this
is one of the reasons why he was highly
drafted by a number of coaches coming
into 2017. He broke the record for most
disposals in a season in 2017, finishing
with 787 in total for an average of 35.8
per game. Starting the year at 565K,
Titch is almost 100K more expensive in
2018, but this is a price to pay for a consistent midfield bull. In 2017 Titch eclipsed the 100
barrier 20 times from 22 games, recording a consistent average of 118.9 points per game. He
had some notable big scores of 158 and 161, and only had 2 poor scores all year of 85 and 98.
Probably the most reliable selection of 2017. The Bull does not expect the same numbers in
2018, but if he can hit 30+ disposals per game, he will be up there in the top 8 midfielders for
2018!
Lock and Load: Danger, Dusty, Fyfe
Lock it up and throw away the key.
These 3 should well and truly be
cemented in your side for 2018. Danger
picks himself. He has proven for several
years now that he is one of the best
midfielders in the competition if not the
best. He impacts games, he hits the
scoreboard and he is exciting. The
perfect Supercoach player. Don’t be
swayed away by price. Yes, he will drop,
but you will most likely need to find the funds to trade him in, and you will lose the points he
has already scored meaning you are behind the 8 ball already in 2018.
Dusty comes in as the Number 2 ranked midfielder for 2018, after averaging 119.3 across 22
games. His Finals Series speaks for itself averaging a whopping 140.6 points per game,
eclipsing Dangerfield’s regular season average of 136.4. He is something special. Normally a
slow starter in recent years, may drop a low score 2 or 3 times meaning you can pick him up
cheaper, but he will be amongst the top 8 midfielders again in 2018. If you’re looking to take
a punt by not starting him look at his last 5 round 1 scores vs Carlton then decide on Dusty. A
poor score will see him around 50K cheaper than his starting price.
Nat Fyfe came home like a raging bull in 2017, averaging 126 points per game across
Fremantle’s last 8 games of 2017. His International Rules series was astounding. He
dominated from start to finish. With a full preseason under his belt, and injury woes behind
him, lock Fyfe away at M4/M5 for 2018. You won’t regret it!

Ruck
Max Gawn, Melbourne Demons 503K
When Max Gawn broke out in 2016, he
became an instant lock in 2017 for
several coaches. Unfortunately, his
season was interrupted in round 3 with
an ACL injury. Gawn was out for 9
games, and upon his return was quite
underwhelming, but showed glimpses
of his bullying best. 2018 is a new start
for the number 1 ruckman in the game.
Yes, I said it, he is the best ruckman in the AFL and at 503K he should be well and truly locked
away into your side. In 2017 Gawn was down on his hitouts per game from 42.2 per game to
35.9 per game, his disposal count decreased slightly as did his tackling and marking. Of course,
with a Full Preseason behind him, we should all be expecting big things from the big fella!

Tread Carefully: Nic Naitanui, West Coast Eagles 465K

The return of Lycett, on top of Vardy will means 3 Ruck/Forwards will be in the Eagle’s line-
up across 2018. There aren’t enough points to go around. Consider using someone like a Nic
Nat as a stepping stone luxury upgrade, unless he blows up out of the park and averages 110+
again.
Forwards
Isaac Heeney, Sydney Swans 536K
Coming in as the 3rd priced forward
overall, Isaac Heeney is arguably the
biggest lock to finish as a top 6 forward
for 2018. Having missed a large chunk of
last years pre season due to galandular
fever, Heeney will be back this season.
Heeney will be going into 2018 fresh
after having minor surgery, and looks fit
and ready to go based on what I have
seen across social media. Heeney
increased his Supercoach output by 18 points per game in 2017, jumping from 79.7 to 97.6
points per game. In 2018 The Bull expects 100+ from Heeney. He should play more midfield
time in 2018, and will rest forward which will mean he can impact the game by kicking a goal
or two. Heeney is a safe selection at F1 or F2 in 2018, and one which should not be overlooked.

Toby Greene, GWS Giants 528K

Greene comes into the 2018 season as
the 4th priced forward overall, and has
been highly discussed for his on field
antics. The Bull has never selected
Greene due to the simple fact he hasn’t
pulled his head in, but 2018 could be
another story. The Giants have been
rumored to to have offered Greene a
large contract, which one can assume
will not only be because he is a fantastic
footballer but because he has matured and has pulled his head in. Similar player to Jack
Billings, Greene likes to hit the flanks and wings hard, and will push through the guts at times
to service the depth of the GWS midfield, but majority of hiss coring will come inside the
forward 50. 2017 was Greene’s best goalscoring year to date, kicking 45 goals in 19 games
across the home and away season, for an average of 2.4 goals per game. He also averaged
18.2 disposals per game, swaying more towards kicking which provides a better Supercoach
output. With only 5 scores over 100 in 2017, look for Greene to come out stronger than ever
in 2018. He will need to play a big part in the GWS team if they are any chance of pushing into
September. Fingers crossed for anyone selecting Toby that he can stay out on the park and
not get into any trouble. The new MRP system will more than lilkely help his case if he doesn
cop a suspension or report.