With SuperCoach almost a week open, fantasy coaches have begun to contsruct their sides for the season ahead.

Nailing early calls ahead of Round 1 - whether they be popular or PODs - are critical to setting yourself up for a successful campaign over your mates.

Deciding between high-priced premiums could also make or break your season early while picking out the right balance of mid-price money-makers is also a looming catalyst for any coach.

And then there are the rookies. Identifying and plucking the perfect rookies to start, bench and avoid is crucial in building your side's foundations.

As we reach the end of January and Round 1 nears, we take a look at who SuperCoaches are picking across all four lines ahead of the 2022 season.

Defenders

Reliable ball-magnet Jake Lloyd once again stits atop the summit of backline selections, closely followed by dual-position Giant Lachie Whitfield. Pre-season favourite Will Gould joins the senior pair on the podium, while inexperienced Magpie Will Kelly is also popular among coaches.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 04: Jake Lloyd of the Swans marks during the round 20 AFL match between the Sydney Swans and the Collingwood Magpies at Sydney Cricket Ground on August 4, 2018 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

Jake Lloyd ($586,000) - 44%
Lachie Whitfield ($502,600) - 42%
Will Gould (123,900) - 35%
Will Kelly ($123,900) - 33%
James Sicily ($448,100) - 32%
Charlie Dean ($102,400) - 27%
Sam De Koning ($123,900) - 26%
Sam Skinner ($123,900) - 26%
Garrett McDonagh - ($117,300) - 24%
Jack Crisp ($571,000) - 23%

Midfielders

Giants captain Stephen Coniglio's stunningly low price is hard to go past, with the midfield/forward DPP the most popular selection in the game. Collingwood's top draftee Nick Daicos is equally favoured, while untried Suns midfielder Elijah Hollands is also popular. Lions star Lachie Neale is the most popular full-time midfielder.

Nick Daicos speaking to media at Trevor Barker Oval, 2021 (Photo: Mitchell Keating - Zero Digital Media)

Stephen Coniglio ($261,300) - 62%
Nick Daicos ($193,800) - 62%
Elijah Hollands ($123,900) - 57%
Jason Horne-Francis ($207,300) - 52%
Josh Dunkley ($558,200) - 51%
Lachie Neale ($543,200) - 51%
Jack Steele ($685,800) - 46%
Lachie Whitfield ($502,600) - 42%
Jack Macrae ($699,900) - 41%
Greg Clark ($117,300) - 41%

Rucks

'Set and forget' looks to be continuing into 2022, with the popular duo of Brodie Grundy and Max Gawn the two most favoured rucks. GWS tall Braydon Preuss is also gaining traction given his cheap starting fee.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 10: Brodie Grundy of the Magpies and Max Gawn of the Demons compete for the ball during the 2019 AFL round 12 match between the Collingwood Magpies and the Melbourne Demons at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on June 10, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Brodie Grundy ($627,100) - 37%
Max Gawn ($657, 400) - 35%
Braydon Preuss ($204,700) - 30%
Sean Darcy ($642,600) - 29%
Sam Hayes ($123,900) - 20%

Forwards

DPPs litter the forward favourites, with Coniglio, Hollands, Josh Dunkley, Kelly, Mitch Duncan, Josh Rachele, Sam De Koning and Sam Skinner all giving coaches much-needed flexibility. Zak Butters ranks as the most popular full-time forward.

AFL Rd 4 - Western Bulldogs v Brisbane
BALLARAT, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 10: Josh Dunkley of the Bulldogs in action during the 2021 AFL Round 04 match between the Western Bulldogs and the Brisbane Lions at Mars Stadium on April 10, 2021 in Ballarat, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Stephen Coniglio ($261,300) - 62%
Elijah Hollands ($123,900) - 57%
Josh Dunkley ($558,200) - 51%
Will Kelly ($123,900) - 33%
Mitch Duncan ($540,000) - 29%
Josh Rachele ($184,800) - 26%
Sam De Koning ($123,900) - 26%
Sam Skinner ($123,900) - 26%
Zak Butters ($443,600) - 25%
Cam Rayner (4278,600) - 24%