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| TRAVIS CLOKE (Collingwood) | NICK RIEWOLDT (St Kilda) | |
| Fantasy position | Forward | Forward |
| 2014 price | $502,200 | $559,000 |
| Price change from 2013 | +$101,900 | +$66,200 |
| 2013 average | 92.67 | 103.14 |
| 2013 high score | 147 | 153 |
| Age | 26 | 31 |
| Key Fantasy stat | Cloke is a beast when the ball is in the air, notching 10-plus marks in eight games last season. Often those grabs were taken deep inside 50, which led to direct shots at goal. The Pie star kicked 68 goals in 2013 and is regarded as just about the best power forward in the game. His season-high Fantasy score of 147 included a bag of seven goals, 14 marks and 20 possessions. | The Saints' skipper led very much from the front in 2013, averaging an impressive 103.14 Fantasy points. Riewoldt topped the 100-point mark on 10 occasions, with a season-high score of 153 coming in round five against the Sydney Swans. He closed the year out with a bang, with scores of 104, 104, 152 and 120 coming in the last month of the season, also known as the Fantasy finals series. |
| Value for money | A stellar 2013 has bumped Cloke's price above the $500,000 mark, so coaches will have to think long and hard before selecting him in their team. In a season of underachievement for the Magpies, Cloke produced his best year so his reliability can't be questioned. | Ahead of Cloke, Riewoldt is the highest priced forward in the game at $559,000. He averaged nearly 10 more points per game when compared to any other forward last season, working up and down the ground to gather his possessions. He takes marks at a high rate and consistently splits the big sticks in games. At 31, it's just a question of whether he can continue to perform at such a high level. |
| Job security | Cloke is going nowhere and will again be one of the first Magpies picked each week. | St Kilda's captain and a modern day champion, Riewoldt's job is not in question. |
| Where he'll play | Cloke will again hold down the centre-half forward position in Collingwood's side. His licence to roam will depend on what Jesse White's first season as a Magpie produces. | Riewoldt's work-rate to get from contest to contest is what separates him from the rest and there is no doubting he will once again lead St Kilda's forward line. |
| Injury concerns | Now fully over a troublesome finger injury, Cloke is set for a full year of strong Fantasy point production. | Riewoldt has battled a degenerative left knee injury in the latter half of his career, which he continues to manage. |
| The case for | The 26-year-old forward is in the peak years of his career, and is proving to be one of the toughest players to match up against in the AFL. His strength in the contest and a pair of sturdy hands make him almost impossible to defend. If he can kick a bit straighter, Cloke shapes as one first forwards you should pick for your side. | It is Riewoldt's work rate and will to push himself to exhaustion throughout his career that has made him such a complete player. It means he rarely plays a poor game and he is always contributing in some way. It translates to his AFL Fantasy points spread, with the Saints' star dipping below 80 points just once last season. |
| The case against | Cloke misses some golden opportunities in front of goal. At $502,200, behinds are a luxury that few Fantasy coaches can afford. You may also want to consider a more mobile or dual-position forward. | At his best for much of last year, Riewoldt turned back the clock with some vintage performances. However, his niggling knee issue and age raise a few red flags when selecting this marquee name for your Fantasy team. |
| The verdict | Cloke is perhaps the most complete forward in the game. He latches onto the ball in marking contests like few of his rivals. Fitting both Riewoldt and Cloke looks too much of a luxury in this game of midfielders, so Travis Cloke is your man. | |
