AFL Supercoach 2023: Bargains, value and mid-priced madness

Kieran Francis

AFL Supercoach 2023: Bargains, value and mid-priced madness image

Mid-priced madness is becoming a regular part of AFL Supercoach with the number of players at awkward prices growing every season.

Which of these players should you consider and who should be avoided?

The Sporting News throws Supercoaches into mid-priced mayhem in search of that bargain buy.

Bargain and mid-priced defenders

Name Club 2022 Avg. Price
Christian Salem Melbourne 70.9 $390.400
Will Day Hawthorn 65.8 $362,100
Elliot Yeo West Coast 68.0 $337,000
Jack Bowes Geelong 63.0 $277,500

West Coast's Elliot Yeo will be the most popular defensive mid-priced selection after being troubled by Osteitis pubis and then easing his way back into the team in defence. He should return to the midfield in 2023.

Christian Salem has two 90-plus Supercoach season averages in his resume, making this a decent pick if he returns near that form or better. Has been injury prone though.

Hawthorn talent Will Day is likely to get time through the midfield but is a wait-and-see option.

Geelong recruit Jack Bowes will be a value selection, provided he can get into the best 22.

Christian Salem
Getty Images

Bargain and mid-priced ruckman

Name Club 2022 Avg. Price
Lloyd Meek Hawthorn 87.0 $431,000
Scott Lycett Port Adelaide 86.8 $429,900
Sam Draper Essendon 72.4 $398,700

Not a huge amount of mid-priced ruck bargains but Essendon's Sam Draper is one that could breakout in 2023.

Lloyd Meek could assume the No.1 ruck role at Hawthorn, while Scott Lycett has averaged 101.1, 96.9 and 94.2 in the three previous seasons before 2022.

Scott lycett.jpg
Getty Images

Bargain and mid-priced midfielders

Name Club 2022 Avg. Price
Ben Cunnington (FWD) North Melbourne 49.5 $419,000
Jason Horne-Francis (FWD) Port Adelaide 63.4 $348,800
Jacob Hopper Richmond 67.0 $332,000
Dom Sheed West Coast 67.0 $332,000
Nat Fyfe (FWD) Fremantle 63.3 $313,600

Being the two standalone mids in this list, Jacob Hopper and Dom Sheed could be value options this season.

Hopper will enjoy a new lease of life at Richmond and has averaged 90-plus on three occasions.

Sheed is a more risky selection but averaged 95 in 2019.

Bargain and mid-priced forwards

Name Club 2022 Avg. Price
Ben Cunnington (MID) North Melbourne 49.5 $419,000
Nat Fyfe (MID) Fremantle 63.3 $313,600
Jason Horne Francis (MID) Port Adelaide 63.4 $348,100

Fremantle star Nat Fyfe will be the popular mid-priced selection in attack, but will he play forward or midfield?

A fit Ben Cunnington could make you an easy $100k-plus profit, while Jason Horne-Francis could be ready to break out after moving to Port Adelaide.

Ben Cunnington

Kieran Francis

Kieran Francis Photo

Kieran Francis is a senior editor at The Sporting News based in Melbourne, Australia. He started at Sportal.com.au before being a part of the transition to Sporting News in 2015. Just prior to the 2018 World Cup, he was appointed chief editor of Goal.com in Australia. He has now returned to The Sporting News where his passions lay in football, AFL, poker and cricket - when he is not on holiday.