Prior to this week, Giants defender Lachie Whitfield was one of the most-owned players in SuperCoach. With news emerging surrounding the star's broken collarbone, he is expected to miss an extensive period, forcing all SuperCoach teams to offload.

So far, 18% of all teams have traded the 2018 All-Australian, however, he is still owned by 43% of all teams. Given these numbers, it's important to find a replacement that is both suitable for your bye structure and helpful towards forming your finished side.

Here, we'll break down some of the consistent, unique and left-field options down back.

SAFE OPTIONS

Jake Lloyd (SYD)

Price: $580,200 / Avg: 116

Last year, Lloyd was a sure-thing for big points each week and he has mirrored that so far in 2019. The Swans defender has dropped below triple-figures just once this season (83 against the Bombers). His ability to score above 120 makes him the best option - he'll again be the top scorer of all defenders. An absolute must-have.

Shannon Hurn (WCE)

Price: $599, 700 / Avg: 114

Unfortunately, Hurn is expected to miss this upcoming match with injury. If you don't mind not having him for two of the next three rounds, he's a terrific buy to add to your defenders with three scores between 85 - 99 and the rest over 100.

Rory Laird (ADE)

Price: $504,600 / Avg: 99

The Crows' back pocket has relished as a proven performer in the past, and will give you scores between 80 - 120 each week he plays. Due to his slow start and having a season-high of just 124 points, Laird is now priced $84,000 less than what he was at the beginning of the season. A tough month of footy coming up, but Laird remains the ball-carrier out of the backline for Don Pyke's men.

NEXT BEST

Bachar Houli (RICH)

Price: $541,100 / Avg: 111

Houli has enjoyed a recent run of good form, averaging 127 points per game from his past three encounters. This is the reason behind Houli being the number one player traded in for Whitfield so far this week, he is capable of hitting big scores. Select him with caution though, as Houli is yet to play a top-eight side this year and faces Geelong, Adelaide and St Kilda next - three teams he averages less than 90 against over his career.

Tom Stewart (GEEL)

Price: $505,400 / Avg: 102

The boy from South Barwon has shown terrific consistency in his third season at the elite level, and is currently owned by less than 10% of teams. Excluding a season-low of 78 in round five, Stewart has posted five scores over 88 and five scores over 100. He isn't as proven as other options, but Geelong is in winning form and Stewart has played a huge role in it.

Zac Williams (GWS)

Price: $505,100 / Avg: 94

After spending a full season on the sidelines, Williams remains a decent scorer so far in 2019. He returns this week following a two-week hamstring injury, and if you take away his score against Carlton - where he scored 75 in one half before injury - Williams has posted some scores worthy of considering him as a top-six defender.

UNIQUE SELECTIONS

Harris Andrews (BRIS)

Price: $455,000 / Avg: 91 / Owned by: 2%

The young Lion returned from injury in round eight and has looked capable of becoming the scorer we all expect him to be. In his past two, he's scored 118 and 131 against the Dockers and Hawks respectively. With a breakeven of 23, now is the time to pick him.

Lachie Weller (GCS)

Price: $458,500 / Avg: 90 / Owned by: 1%

An extremely left-field pick, excluding his round one score the former Docker has scored within 87 and 106 from six performances. Starting to find some form with a secure role across half-back for the Suns.

Connor Blakely (FREM)

Price: $455,700 / Avg: 87 / Owned by: 0.3%

Not the most popular pick, but Blakely has shown in previous seasons that he is capable of scoring well and consistently. He returned from injury in round nine and has posted scores of 88, 69 and 105 since. If you remove his two injury-affected games, Blakely averaged 100 points from 14 games in season 2017 and he's every chance of returning to that form with Fremantle pushing for top eight.

ROUND 12 BYE - all these players will miss the week due to the bye

James Sicily (HAW) $491,600 / Avg: 100 - Extremely under-priced, Sicily has a high ceiling and despite him being Hawthorn's go to user, tends to miss eventually through injury/suspension.

Luke Ryan (FRE) $523,100 / Avg: 104  - A revelation down back, Ryan has posted quality scores in 2019 to the point where you can pen him for at least 80+ each week. Go to kicker who excels when playing at home (average of 109 at Optus Stadium).

Jason Johannisen (WB) $476,700 / Avg: 94 - The dashing defender is staking his own claim in recent weeks, he hasn't dropped below 84 since round six - remains a very left-field option currently in just 0.5% of teams!