| SAM MITCHELL | MARC MURPHY | |
| Fantasy position | Midfielder | Midfielder |
| 2013 price | $523,500 | $522,000 |
| 2012 average | 101.62 | 101.31 |
| 2012 high score | 130 | 163 |
| Age | 30 | 25 |
| X-factor, Rising Star or Mr Reliable? | Mr Reliable. The former Hawthorn skipper is one of the most prolific ball-winners in the competition and rarely has a poor game. Like Murphy, he has averaged more than 100 points in AFL Fantasy in the past four seasons. | Mr Reliable. Murphy has been one of AFL Fantasy's most consistent scorers over the past four seasons, averaging more than 100 points every year. Even after missing six weeks with a shoulder injury last season, he rewarded his AFL Fantasy coaches with a solid finish to the season. |
| Value for money | More than $30,000 cheaper than 2012 and unlikely to be prone to hefty price fluctuations like the competition's higher-priced midfielders. | Almost $30,000 cheaper than last season and, injury permitting, seems capable of climbing back to his 2011 AFL Fantasy average of 111.5 points a game. |
| Job security | Just like Richie Benaud, Mitchell has a job for life with his current employer. He is the man the Hawks look to at stoppages to give them first use of the ball. | One of the first picked by Carlton every week. With Chris Judd a chance to spend more time out of the midfield this season, Murphy will be the Blues' No. 1 on-baller. |
| Where he'll play | Midfield. Like Murphy, unlikely to rest for too long in defence or attack. | Midfield – and should spend almost all of his time on the ground around the ball. |
| Injury history | Has rarely missed a game since 2005. Mitchell, 30, recently said he felt like a 25-year-old, but is now at an age where some players start getting recurring soft-tissue injuries. The Hawks might be tempted to rest him at stages during the year too. | Save for his shoulder injury last season, Murphy has been remarkably durable since his 2006 debut season. Last year's injury was the result of a collision too, with Murphy having largely avoided soft-tissue injuries so far in his career. |
| The case for | Despite his advancing years, Mitchell has been in career-best form in recent seasons, winning the Hawks' past two best and fairests, and three of their past four. As a stay-at-home midfielder who rarely plays run-with roles, he's always a reliable Fantasy points machine. | Murphy is in the prime of his career and should only improve. In addition to his consistency, his career-high score of 163 points against Essendon in round 21 last season showed he is capable of racking up match-winning scores for his Fantasy coaches. |
| The case against | There are few risks with this blue-chip investment. Only footy ageists should shy away. | Flimsy at best. New Blues coach Mick Malthouse might ask him to play a greater variety of roles this season. |
The verdict | A line-ball decision, but we'll go with Murphy given he can rack up monster scores and kicks more goals than Mitchell. The Blue also has greater scope to improve. | |
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