Wil 2017 be the year the SUNS get some luck and make a climb up the ladder? If they can keep their best players on the park, they should improve and we will have plenty of players in the mix for our Fantasy squads.

Aaron Hall (MID, $635,000) was the highest averaging player last season – excluding Brayden Fiorini – however he frustrated his Fantasy coaches, not just Rodney Eade, by spending time playing for the reserves side.

One of the new co-captains, Tom Lynch (FWD, $520,000) is the 11th highest-priced forward available after his best season to date.

Gold Coast recruited well during the off-season. Adding some experienced players to a healthier list coupled with natural improvement, the SUNS can climb the ladder and post some positive Fantasy numbers along the way.

It goes without saying that Gary Ablett (MID, $611,000) is up there with the greatest of all time – in both general football terms and of course Fantasy football. Just to recap, from 2007 the Little Master has averaged 98.5, 111.7, 118.7, 119, 112.1, 124.8, 114.6, 119.1, 94.5 and 101.2. Sensational numbers although he has been restricted by injury in the past few seasons. Ablett is tracking well in the early stages of this pre-season and knowing how good he is at his best, the dual Brownlow medallist will still be among the elite again in 2017.

We have already started tracking the pre-season of Kade Kolodjashnij (DEF, $437,000). The 21-year-old was among the best defenders in 2015, his second season, when he averaged 84 from 22 games. Kolodjashnij missed games on two separate occasions last season when struck down by mystery abdomen issues and concussion. A new diet has him in check and he is feeling the fittest he has in this three years at the club and is destined to improve on his 72.4 average from 2016.

Touk Miller (MID/FWD, $493,000) was promoted to a regular midfield role in the latter stages of the 2016 season. The opportunity came about due to injury and coach Rodney Eade proclaimed that Miller would be a certain starter in 2017, no matter which players were available. Fantasy-wise, his numbers soared, averaging 104.3 for the last eight weeks of the season, making his price based on his 81.6 average a lot lower than his most recent output.

Both Pearce Hanley (MID, $506,000) and Michael Barlow (MID, $583,000) joined the SUNS during the off-season and have been among the Fantasy elite in the past. Their stocks have dropped since being stripped of dual-position status, but Hanley and Barlow are both priced approximately $100K cheaper than their best seasons.

The SUNS went into the NAB AFL Draft with four picks inside the top 10 and hunting for players to help rebuild their depleted midfield. The pre-season matches in February and March will be telling as they jockey for position but if Jack Bowes (FWD/MID, $232,000) gets the nod for round one, then lock him in. Bowes' dual position status gives him the edge over Will Brodie (MID, $234,000) in the Fantasy stakes.

Dogged by ongoing PCL trouble for the past two years, David Swallow (MID, $355,000) has regained fitness and confidence in his knee. The 24-year-old is training and should be set for round one. With a 30 per cent discount, he is simply too cheap to ignore. 

Brayden Fiorini (MID, $512,000) played two games last season with his second basically making himself irrelevant in Fantasy Classic for next season. As prices are based on their previous average, even with a 24 per cent discount, the 111.5 average prices the 19-year-old in a range where there are better options for those dollars. It wasn't a real surprise that Fiorini scored 166 in his second match. He averaged 25 disposals, six marks, three tackles and 104 Fantasy points in the NEAFL. Note to self: don’t get sucked into his high average for your Classic team, or into drafting him too early in Elite!