AFL Supercoach 2022: Forward prices and selection guide

Kieran Francis

AFL Supercoach 2022: Forward prices and selection guide image

It's looming as the toughest area to select in AFL Supercoach 2022 - the forward line.

With only one forward averaging over 100 last season, this could be the area to experiment and take a couple of punts.

Will you aim for forward 'premiums' such as Josh Dunkley and Mitch Duncan, or will you take a risk on the likes of Zak Butters and Jade Gresham?

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

Top 10 Premium Forward Prices

Name Club 2021 Avg. Price
Josh Dunkley Western Bulldogs 102.5 $558,200
Mitch Duncan Geelong 99.2 $540,000
Tim Taranto GWS 97.3 $529,700
Tom Hawkins Geelong 93.9 $510,900
Jake Stringer Essendon 93.1 $506,800
Dustin Martin Richmond 92.5 $503,500
Chad Wingard Hawthorn 92.1 $501,500
Toby Greene GWS 90.9 $495,000
Charlie Dixon Port Adelaide 89.1 $484,900
Ben McEvoy Hawthorn 88.9 $483,700

It seems like a tough gig selecting forwards this season, with the midfield/forwards of last year mostly having their dual-player positions removed.

The top three - Josh Dunkley, Mitch Duncan and Tim Taranto - will likely spend significant time in the midfield and loom as the 'safest' picks for your forward line.

Tom Hawkins always produces output around 90-100 but safer options will likely appear during the season, with the Cat turning 34 this year.

Burst midfield/forwards in Dustin Martin, Jake Stringer and Chad Wingard appear to be high-risk-high-reward, with their general inconsistency but ability to pump out large scores.

MORE: Price and selection guides: Defenders | Midfielders | Rucks 

Cheaper Premium Forward Options

Name Club 2020 Avg. Price
Jordan De Goey Collingwood 85.2 $463,500
Zac Bailey Brisbane 84.5 $459,900
Shai Bolton Richmond 84.3 $458,600
Isaac Heeney Sydney 83.5 $454,500
Zak Butters Port Adelaide 81.5 $443,600
Jade Gresham St Kilda 68.7 $299,000
Cam Rayner Brisbane 0 $278,600

Several of the mid-price options look enticing but will they be traps again in 2022?

Will Jordan De Goey bite the bullet and reach the potential we all know that he possesses?

Can Zac Bailey and Shai Bolton take their games to the next level in midfield roles?

Isaac Heeney and Zak Butters are options that could get around 100 but will you trust them after their 80 averages in 2021?

Jade Gresham and Cam Rayner are both returning from serious injuries and loom as cash cow options that could become premiums in best-case scenario.

Rookie Forward Options

Take a look at our full rookie and cash cow guide here.

MORE: Price and selection guides: Defenders | Midfielders | Rucks 

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.