We all know the saying that defense wins the premiership.
Stingy, ruthless players who only worry about keeping their direct opponent quiet with rushing steals and desperate defensive efforts are of the utmost importance to AFL teams.
At SuperCoach, we're not so concerned.
There are other defenders who run away from their opposition to get extra clearances, move through the half-backs themselves, take interception marks and move into the midfield on occasion for midfield rebounds.
Now this is what we are looking for.
This year there are a wealth of options for your team, with Luke Ryan, Jack Sinclair and Harry Chisel making the list.
Here are five defenders to consider for SuperCoach this year.
Nick Daicos: $650,000
Having averaged 116.3 in just his second year, Daicos now has dual status giving him the flexibility to move the biggest name in football from defense to midfield and back again. What's the possible reason Nick Daicos won't start? Well, it turns out there are a couple. The Magpie star plays in the opening round meaning he will have an early exit in Round 5. Before that, he faced tagger Finn Maginness in Round 4, who was given his number when the Pies met the Hawks last year.
Verdict: The good outweighs the evil with Daicos and you'll want them on your final team. It's just a question of whether you start fantasizing about Brownlow or take a risk and aim to replace him after his first bye.
James Sicily $637,400
Sicily took the Hawthorn captaincy into his stride last season, achieving a career-high SuperCoach average and earning his first All-Australia jacket. His ability to intercept is rivaled by very few and the Hawks love the ball in his hands coming out of the back half. The Sicilian's only problem is staying out of trouble, as a suspension has kept him out of action for four matches in 2023.
Verdict: A player with a massive ceiling as evidenced by scores of 172, 171 and 166 last year. If you don't pick Sicily, he'll make you jealous of those who did when opposing teams constantly kick the ball down his throat.
Tom Stewart $635,300
Catt's premiership looks likely to ramp up his minutes in midfield in 2023 and that brings both positives and negatives. Stewart scored the second-most points of any defenseman last year, playing mostly as a midfielder. While Stewart will lose some of those intercepting marks on defense if he advances into midfield, he will consistently gain points around the ball when stopping. In the short period of time Stewart played in midfield, the 30-year-old has scored at a similar rate, if not better, as he did at the back.
Verdict: Some may be wary of changing his role, but whether he downplays Stewart or emphasizes bravado, he has proven he can make plenty of SuperCoach points count.
Hayden Young $525,100
I can't remember this guy with Tim Michel who was sitting in front of me. Tim has decided that 2024 will be the year of Hayden Young. Docker finished last season with four points plus 110 after moving to midfield and that trend is set to continue this year. Young also picked up a host of points with tackles in that month's football which took him a SuperCoach gold medal.
Fifthresolution: The 22-year-old is more than $100,000 cheaper than premium options in Daicos, Sicily and Stuart. I'll take Tim's advice and start with him.
Zach Williams $216,100
After missing the entire 2023 season with an ACL injury, Zach Williams is an absolute bargain this year. The last time the former Giant racked up more than 14 appearances, he averaged 101.6 points in 20 games in 2019. Yes, that was five years ago, but Williams has proven he can score well in SuperCoach and at that impressive price tag of $216,100. A must have in the calculations for your team.
Verdict: The majority will start for Williams and agree to a bye in the second round, but his price will not change until after his third match in the third round. If you trade him before that game, you will only miss one game worth of Williams scoring in the opening round does not count. Food for thought.
Originally published as SuperCoach: Five defenders to consider in your team in 2024
