AFL Supercoach 2021: Forward prices and selection guide

Kieran Francis

AFL Supercoach 2021: Forward prices and selection guide image

The final piece of your AFL Supercoach 2021 puzzle is the forward line - an area where your selections need to be smart and not based around goalscoring power.

Traditionally, the forward players who play in the midfield during games are usually the top scoring within the forward discipline in Supercoach.

Can Patrick Dangerfield match his output in 2021 with his time in the forward line increasing?

Will Steele Sidebottom return to the midfield with the departure of Adam Treloar?

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Sporting News looks at the prices of the AFL forwards and analyses the questions you want answered.

Top 10 Premium Forward Prices

Name Club 2020 Avg. Price
Patrick Dangerfield Geelong 113.9 $611,900
Steele Sidebottom Collingwood 109.4 $588,000
Tom Hawkins Geelong 105.8 $568,600
Josh Dunkley Western Bulldogs 104.3 $560,200
Rowan Marshall St Kilda 103.7 $557.200
Dustin Martin Richmond 100.8 $541,600
Michael Walters Fremantle 98.9 $531,100
Dayne Zorko Brisbane 97.9 $525,800
Charlie Dixon Port Adelaide 92.8 $498,700
Robbie Gray Port Adelaide 91.4 $491,100

With only six forwards available for selection in the position in 2021 averaging 100-plus last season, it's important to nail the correct premium selections.

Jeremy Cameron's arrival to Geelong should mean Patrick Dangerfield returns to spend more time in the midfield, making him a lock for every Supercoach forward line.

After his disciplinary issues, Steele Sidebottom spent time in the forward line with Josh Daicos excelling on the wing, but the departure of Adam Treloar could pave the way for more midfield action for the Collingwood veteran.

Tom Hawkins will be a risky selection until we are sure Cameron's presence at the Cattery won't lower his scores, while uncertainty around Josh Dunkley's role at the Bulldogs means careful thought should be put into him.

The unpredictability around roles is a recurring theme with Supercoach forwards in 2021, with the same questions asked about Rowan Marshall, Michael Walters and Robbie Gray. Will they play in the engine room and generate big scores?

Cheaper Premium Forward Options

Name Club 2020 Avg. Price
Shai Bolton Richmond 86.1 $462,400
Isaac Heeney Sydney 94.0 $454,500
Chad Wingard Hawthorn 84.2 $452,300
Toby Greene GWS 83.5 $448,400
Jack Martin Carlton 83.1 $446,300
Jeremy Cameron Geelong 72.2 $388,100
Lance Franklin Sydney N/A $312,000

Because of the shortened quarters and unusual season in 2020 due to COVID, there are several attractive forward options on the cheaper end of the scale.

Sydney gun Isaac Heeney had an injury-interrupted campaign but he still averaged 94 from his six games, and he has two seasons where he has scored 97 across the home-and-away matches in the past.

Chad Wingard and Toby Greene are forwards who spend time through the midfield but the amount of time they spend on the ball will determine the size of their scores.

Richmond's Shai Bolton enjoyed a breakout campaign last year and he could lift his average higher than the 86 he achieved if he plays on the ball.

Swans superstar Lance Franklin can be selected at a bargain price of $312,000 because he didn't play in 2020. But can he get back to the glory days where he averaged 100-plus?

Rookie Forward Options

Name Club 2020 Avg. Price
Jamarra Ugle-Hagan Western Bulldogs N/A $207,300
Riley Thilthorpe Adelaide N/A $202,800
Paddy Dow Carlton 37.7 $202,400
Callum Coleman-Jones Richmond N/A $161,200
Mark Hutchings West Coast 29.3 $157,600
Nakia Cockatoo Brisbane N/A $123,900

Forward rookie options will emerge once the AFL pre-season competition commences but there is several players to consider in your team now.

Ex-Geelong livewire Nakia Cockatoo has moved north to Brisbane and is a value selection if he plays, and West Coast tagger Mark Hutchings will make you cash if gets in the best 22.

Richmond big man Callum Coleman-Jones could see significant game time because of the long-term injury to Ivan Soldo, while Carlton on-baller Paddy Dow was a no.3 draft pick in 2017 and could have decent scoring potential if he plays.

The pick of the draftees is Bulldogs' no.1 pick Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and Adelaide's no.2 selection Riley Thilthorpe, but both are expensive for rookies so you want to guarantee they will score solidly.

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.