BRODIE Grundy (RUC, $906,000) will start the season as the most expensive AFL Fantasy Classic player, which is no mean feat for a title usually dominated by midfielders.

The Collingwood ruckman had a year for the history books, dominating the competition for a season-high average of 122 and in doing so earning himself the title of Fantasy Pig alongside the royalty of previously snouted heroes Dane Swan, Tom Mitchell and Tom Rockliff.

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How it works

Players are priced according to their 2019 output, so the highest-averaging players will cost you a bucketload. On the flipside, players who had a quiet year or have never played before will be far cheaper.

Basically, you will need to select a range of players from within each category to fit the $13 million budget.

An exception to the pricing rule is if a player takes part in fewer than 10 games, which triggers a discount clause. Players that fit within this category will receive a discount of 3 per cent per game based on their highest average in the past two seasons. So, if for one reason or another they miss the full season, they can be discounted up to 30 per cent.

Tom Mitchell (MID, $671,000) missed all of 2019 after breaking his leg in the pre-season. The Hawthorn Pig will receive a 30 per cent discount, pricing him well below his massive 129 average in 2018.

The price of the cheapest players will be $170,000, with the top 50 rookies having a premium added to their price depending on how early they were drafted.

New Suns Matthew Rowell (MID, $270,000) and Noah Anderson (MID, $268,000) will hold the highest price tags of the newcomers after going No.1 and No.2 in the draft. Despite the inflated price, they are well worth a look given their ability to earn a spot in the team for round one.

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Top defenders

Our backline premium options come with good and bad news.

Unfortunately, we lose Giant sensation Lachie Whitfield (FWD/MID, $844,000) from our backlines after the running machine averaged 114 spending plenty of time through the midfield and forward line.

On the flipside, Carlton superstar Sam Docherty (DEF, $563,000) is set to be available for a heavily discounted price after missing the past two seasons with injury. Prior to his unfortunate run of injuries, he averaged a lazy 117 so he is a more than worthy replacement as 'captain backline'.

Jake Lloyd (DEF, $795,000) will be the highest-priced starting defender after racking up a phenomenal amount of the ball across half-back for the Swans, while a resurgent year from Tiger veteran Bachar Houli (DEF, $766,000) has him at No.2 after averaging a career-high 103.

Although Rory Laird (DEF, $719,000) still sits well within the top 10, he is certainly a candidate for a value selection after having a quiet year by his standards, averaging just 97, down from his 108 the previous season.

Top midfielders

Jack Macrae (MID, $858,000) overcame a slow start to the year to come home like a steam train and once again be one of the top-priced midfielders available. He is joined at the top by Josh Kelly (MID,$860,000), who managed to average an elite 116 despite a season lacking continuity due to injury.

A notable absence from the top 10 is superstar and newly crowned Giant skipper Stephen Coniglio (MID, $769,000) whose average of 104 for the season includes the game where he injured his knee on zero, effectively giving him a handy discount on his initial asking price.

Top rucks

The cream rose to the top in the big man department with Brodie Grundy and Max Gawn (RUC, $826,000) clearly leading the way at the top of the table.

Fantasy coaches will once again have a decision to make in regard to starting with the Big Two or chasing value elsewhere, like fallen premium Sam Jacobs (RUC, $514,000) who will be given more opportunity to produce vintage numbers with the Giants.

Top forwards

Unfortunately, Josh Dunkley (MID, $824,000) won’t be available as a forward. Despite starting the year in that position, he was moved into the midfield and went full beast mode with 14 hundreds in his last 16 games, including three games of 150 or more with a top of 189.

With him unavailable, it will be up to Lachie Whitfield to take the reins. He dropped under triple figures on just two occasions from his 16 games and had a season-high of 190.

A player to keep an eye on is Devon Smith (FWD/MID, $720,000) whose season was ruined by injury. He played only seven games so will receive a discount based on his average of 107 in 2018 where he was the highest-averaging forward.

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