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It’s here! For SuperCoach gold subscribers, you can now start picking your initial squad. So on day one of the picker opening, we asked MJ to select his team. As a Patreon, he’s given you exclusive first viewing. Enjoy!
DEFENDERS
I’m lighter on premium options in this line, and when you see the rest of the team, you’ll understand why I’ve structured this way. I believe Jake Lloyd and Lachie Whitfield are the best two premium defenders to start. Both are consistently strong scorers and rarely let coaches down when on the field. Wayne Milera is insane value. He’s got multiple seasons over averaging in the high 70’s, and as long as he gets through the pre-season, he’s an easy pick. From there, I hit the cash cows quick. Josh Sinn should be a popular pick and adds speed to the pear. Josh Worrell, I think, gets the first crack at Jake Kelly’s old spot in the Crows backline. At the same time, it wouldn’t be pre-season without Will Gould in your squad. Both Wilmont and Skinner fill needs in their sides best 22 but aren’t walk upon selections. I’ve gone an extra midfield premium heavy in the structure. So if required, I can easily reposition one of them into the backline to beef this area up if more MID cows/value appears.
MIDFIELD
Are you looking for where I’ve spent the salary cap? Well, this is the line, but I’ve also picked four genuine weekly captain candidates. The ‘double Jack’ of Jack Steele and Jackson Macrae helps me start with two of the most reliable and rounded scorers in the game. Against an opponent, you feel confident they can push a 120+ score. I expect both to be in the top five midfielders of the year. Clayton Oliver is coming off two consecutive seasons, averaging over 120. I see little reason that changes into 2022. He’ll get the captaincy armband if the other two fail me. Andrew Brayshaw is potentially unique, but I expect big things from him. Don’t worry, we’ll talk plenty about him in the preseason. Lachie Neale is the no brainer pick that if fit, everyone will have. Neale is my fourth captaincy option in the midfield. Remember, before last year, he was safe as houses for the better part of two years. His teammate Jarrod Berry averaged over 95 just twelve months ago, and like Neale with an uninterrupted preseason, he should be on the radar of all coaches. It’ll come as no surprise to see Jason Horne-Francis and Nick Daicos in starting squads. Both have excellent job security. I’m less sold on the scoring potential of JHF with a crowded midfield, but at worst, I cash him out for a cheaper cow if required. On the bench are Ward, Hately and Wanganeen-Milera. All are under $200k and should get plenty of games.
RUCKS
This line is possibly the most on-field vanilla side, but in reality, the value of Braydon Preuss at R2 is immense. He’s the top ruck option at GWS when available, and with him being cheaper than JHF, you just can’t say no to him. Brodie Grundy is the premium ruckman I trust the most for scoring, health and role consistency, so he’ll lead my ruck division into battle. While Sam Hayes could see plenty of games with the departure of Peter Ladhams.
FORWARD
We’ve been given some forward gifts from Champion Data, and I have zero intent to reject them. Josh Dunkley pre shoulder injury was one of the best scoring players in the game. I believe the role he held that produced his scoring is normative. Therefore I cannot resist starting him. Mitch Duncan comes with many injury history worries, but with players like these, you start them or pass entirely. Between 2017-2020 his lowest seasonal average was 103. He averaged 99 last year, which included an injury impacted 10. I’m going to bank every game I can get out of him and hope that it’s a full 22. FYI, in 2019-2020 he missed just one game, so maybe the injury history might be getting overplayed. If Tim Taranto were a MID only, I’d not consider him, but as a FWD, it’s a whole new story. He’s one of the safest 95-100 MID/FWD’s I’ve seen in recent years. Speaking of safe, starting with Stephen Coniglio is near immovable. He’s got multiple seasons of averaging 100+ at this price point, and his likely ownership numbers mean you can select with confidence. Rounding out the side is Charlie Curnow. I’m not sold on starting him. But he’s a value option if fit. My last forward spot goes to Elijah Hollands. Anytime you get a basement price player who’s DPP and in a team best 22, you pick them. The bench rounds out with a DPP Crow pair who’ll see many games in 2022.
So that’s the team, line by line. It’ll almost certainly change, but hopefully, it gives you the ideas of how I plan to attack the season early on. Here’s what it looks like in full.
