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| SAM MITCHELL (Hawthorn) | JIMMY BARTEL (Geelong) | |
| Fantasy position | Midfielder/defender | Midfielder/defender |
| 2014 price | $517,700 | $514,900 |
| Price change from 2013 | +$102,500 | +$97,000 |
| 2013 average | 95.52 | 95.00 |
| 2013 high score | 128 | 138 |
| Age | 31 | 30 |
| Key Fantasy stat | Mitchell averaged 28 disposals and 4.4 clearances a game in 2013. It was as a half-back flanker that he earned his All Australian nomination. As such, he has been granted dual position Fantasy status for this season. The former Hawthorn captain amassed 30 possessions on seven occasions, including 38, 36 and 37 in three meetings against Bartel's Geelong. | Geelong coach Chris Scott used Jimmy Bartel as somewhat of a swiss army knife last season. He played down back, through the middle and even pinch it up forward. It's an adequate description for the way Bartel plays, too, contributing in every area on the stats sheet. Importantly, the former Brownlow medallist averaged 23.2 disposals and 5.4 marks in 2013 |
| Value for money | A price rise of more than $100,000 points to the sort of year Mitchell had in 2013. That being said, the gun midfielder is still just a tick over $500,000 making him a player well worth targeting. Plus, his dual position status practically doubles his value. | An average of 95 Fantasy points per game in 2013 is an exceptional number for a player who rarely stayed put in one position. At half-back Bartel was afforded the most room and, to the opposition team's detriment, he often set up forward movements for the Cats. He may shift up field to provide another target in the team's forward line in 2014. |
| Job security | You don't drop your former premiership captain, multiple All Australian and two-time best and fairest winner. | Bartel has long been one of Geelong's go-to players in crunch games and that doesn't look like changing any time soon. Safe as houses. |
| Where he'll play | Mitchell mixed his midfield time with stints at half-back in 2013, and that looks likely to continue this season. He acts as a steadying influence for the Hawks when positioned in the back half. However he is still clearly one of the most potent midfielders in the competition when Alastair Clarkson chooses to use him there. | With the departure of James Podsiadly to Adelaide, the Cats no longer have an experienced foil for Tom Hawkins. Bartel has the necessary skills to play as a roaming or deep forward. His marking ability creates match up problems for the opposition and he is technically sound in front of goal. A permanent move makes sense for the Cats and Bartel as he enters the final stages of his career. |
| Injury concerns | Injury has not been much of a problem for the durable Mitchell. | None to speak of in the past year for the reliable Bartel. |
| The case for | You could make the argument that Sam Mitchell remains one of the best midfielders in the game. His quick hands, poise under pressure and clinical ball use are the key aspects to his game. The Hawks rely on Mitchell to set the tone for their team. His Fantasy point average of 95.5 speaks for itself – earning him the tag of Mr Consistent. | The three-time premiership star has consistently proved that he can find the football and is still a force to be reckoned with. He tallied Fantasy scores above 100 eleven times last season, including a six game stretch in the middle part of the year where he averaged 111. |
| The case against | Mitchell's age is a little worrisome. He is the wrong side of 30 and entering the latter stages of his career. To prolong his effectiveness, the Hawks may increase his time at half-back. If his midfield time is cut, that could mean a significant dip in his scoring ability. | If Bartel is anchored more to the forward line in 2014, coaches will need to rely on him kicking goals to score them points. It's something to be wary of when selecting Bartel in your team. |
| The verdict | The 2008 premiership captain is one of the best midfielders in the game, in one of the best sides in the league. He rarely plays a bad game, and even if he does, he still finds plenty of the footy. With coaches able to pick him as a defender or midfielder in 2014, Sam Mitchell should be a lock in for your side. | |
