Carlton key men ... Marc Murphy, Kade Simpson and Heath Scotland. Source: AAP
Which Carlton players should you pick in your FOX FOOTY SuperCoach team and who should you avoid?
Perhaps the most intriguing team of the looming SuperCoach season. The questions leap off the tongue _ How will Mick Malthouse effect the Blues' fantasy output? Can the high-scoring _ but horribly injury-prone _ Jarrad Waite string games together? What effect will the captaincy have on A-graders Marc Murphy or Andrew Carrazzo?
Will Malthouse finally elevate Bryce Gibbs' game to the level many believe he is capable of?
But a closer look at Carlton and its new coach sheds some light on the uncertainty. Malthouse's Collingwood sides of 2010 and 2011 were renowned for their tackling pressure, forward press and contested possession hunger.
At Visy Park, Malthouse inherits a side that was already second and fourth in contested ball and tackle differential respectively last year.
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Midfielders Carrazzo, Murphy, Gibbs, Chris Judd, Brock McLean, Kade Simpson and Mitch Robinson are all primed for big seasons. The cattle is there to implement Malthouse's blueprint.
Chris Yarran has already admitted that Malthouse "is all about everything on the boundary line", but this shouldn't hurt the disposal tallies of the Blues' prime movers. Scott Pendlebury, Dane Swan and co. racked up some huge numbers playing to Malthouse's philosophies.
The spate of injuries at Visy Park spelled disaster for many SuperCoach sides in 2012. Do you put it down to a year of bad luck, or are Carlton players simply too risky to take on? Another question.
SUPERCOACH SUPERSTAR: Marc Murphy (midfielder) $602,900.
Plays 16 matches in an injury-interrupted season and still averages 112. An amazingly consistent player who hasn't averaged under three figures since 2008 when he averaged 99. Good inside, good outside and clean in possession, he is the ideal midfield choice.
BANK `EM: Heath Scotland (defender/midfielder) $535,600
Yes, yes, Scotland will miss the first two games courtesy of a club-imposed suspension for an off-season incident. But given head-to-head league matches don't start until Round 3 he could slot in nicely. One of the most consistent defenders in the game and rarely puts in a stinker. Of course, if you're gunning for overall SuperCoach honours you will want to avoid him.
Kade Simpson (midfielder) $501,300
Another in the super-consistent category, but one who not many coaches pick. Sits below the rung of A-graders at Carlton, but that gives you a point of difference.
BUY `EM: Chris Yarran (defender) $362,00.
Here is a player who could really improve under Malthouse. Comes at a bargain $362k, which suits the mid-priced strategy _ a winning formula last season _ perfectly.
"Yaz" has declared himself fitter than this time last year and has aspirations to break into the Blues' midfielder this in 2013. Easier said than done, but if Mick gives him the odd crack it the points will pour in.
Bryce Gibbs (defender/midfielder) $509,800
The sort of player who could really respond to a Malthouse rocket. Also dual-position, so play him in defence and watch him closely in the NAB Cup to monitor his midfield minutes. Should increase in value.
BURY `EM: Andrew Carrazzo (midfielder) $517,800
Controversial omission, but he loses his DPP status this year, meaning you can only pick him in midfield. Unique pick, but at nearly $520k there may be better options.
Brock McLean (midfielder) $568,600.
Deserves credit for an amazing 2012 that knocked the critics flat on their backs. But can he go any better? At 568k are you really going to give him a midfield berth before the likes of Judd, Hayes, Dal Santo, Goddard or Stanton? Probably not.
WATCHLIST: Jarrad Waite (forward) $520,000
If you're willing to pick a bloke like this for Round 1 you're either a serial risk-taker or the most one-eyed Carlton fan on the planet. As injury-plagued as anyone in the game, Waite hasn't played 20 games in a season since 2008. But if he starts stringing them together and churning out the numbers he may prove hard to resist in the second half of the season.
Matthew Kreuzer (ruckman) $494,100:
Hasn't quite lived up to the hype yet, but he was recruited at No.1 because he starred as a No.1 ruckman. We know Mick is a big Kreuzer fan and if he plays him permanantly in his preferred position, big scores could ensue.
