SuperCoach AFL 2024: Key role changes to watch this season

A new role can turn low-scoring players into SuperCoach sensations. Expert Swiz has been watching every team to find this year’s biggest bargains.

Finally, footy is back for another year and that means its Christmas time for the Herald Sun SuperCoach community.

With every kick, mark and handball of the practice matches, coaches of SuperCoach teams come a little bit closer to locking in their squads before the Round 1 deadline.

AFL pre-season is a special time of the year, when clubs sell hope to long-suffering supporters and players get to put the long hard slog of Summer behind them and showcase what they do best.

Picking the right players can help maximise points on field, as well as our overall team value which will hopefully assist in catapulting our ranking to the top of the leaderboard.

One way to find those players is to identify role changes that can dramatically impact scoring potential. Jack Ziebell is the classic example of a player who went from a low-scoring forward to a SuperCoach premium after being moved to defence.

In 2024 there’s no shortage of AFL players that fit this mould including Nic Martin, Hayden Young and Zac Fisher and throughout this article I’ll take a deeper look into which players need to be considered for our starting teams.

ALEX SEXTON (GOLD COAST) $133,400 FWD

I’ll kick off the list with a forward transitioning to the backline this season. After 12 seasons and 163 games playing as a small forward, it has taken a change of coach to help extend Sexton’s career.

At Richmond, Damien Hardwick was known for moving players around into different roles, with one of his main successes being Daniel Rioli. The Tiger forward pocket returned from injury late in 2021 in a new role at half-back and has not looked back. In Dimma’s first pre-season in charge of the Suns he has identified Sexton to do similar, training with the defenders throughout the Summer.

In the match simulation against Brisbane this continued with Sexton using his penetrating right foot to good effect and even was involved in kick-outs, and he scored a team-high 125 SuperCoach points in the community series. With Darcy Macpherson and Ben Long being used as pressure forwards, it seems Sexton will be part of the Suns small defence unit with Connor Budarick and Will Powell for the foreseeable future.

VERDICT: Lock – Cheap as chips at $133k and a must have in our forward line. Even with an early bye, lock him into your F6/7 position.

Alex Sexton has come from nowhere to be a must-have in SuperCoach. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

ZAC FISHER (NORTH MELBOURNE) $378,000 FWD

The injury-prone forward struggled to cement a regular spot in Carlton’s forward line, however a change of scenery at North Melbourne might help prolong the 25-year-old’s career.

And its not just a change of club for Fisher, who looks to be one of the players to help fill the void left by Jack Ziebell and Aaron Hall in the Kangaroos backline. All indications are North Melbourne will struggle again as Alastair Clarkson continues to rebuild and shape the list. That could be wonders for Fisher, as the Kangaroos will look towards him to help rebound from defensive fifty. Had a day out against St Kilda in the Roos’ final practice match, collecting 36 disposals and scoring 132 SuperCoach points.

VERDICT: Strongly Consider – I never like picking players coming off injuries, however, the role might be just too good to ignore.

NIC MARTIN (ESSENDON) $492,800 MID

Martin could be a value option for our teams for the third straight year. He burst onto the scene in Round 1 of 2022 with a five goal, 114-point performance against Geelong as a half-forward, generating $266k for those who cashed him out at the Bombers’ bye.

In 2023, listed as a forward in SuperCoach, Martin had a role change to the wing and averaged 95 in the first 17 games before fading late.

In 2024 another role change is expected with Martin moving to the favourable half-back role. In the match simulation against St Kilda 20 of his 29 touches were effective, continuing on from his strong pre-season. With his high kicking game (Ratio 1:3) and likely to be involved in kick-outs, Martin could easily see him jump to a 100-plus average this season, especially if he improves his kicking efficiency of 64.1 per cent. This would put him in the conversation of a top-six defender at around a $110k discount. As he is currently listed as a midfielder, he would need to be selected in your midfield until he gains defender status.

VERDICT: Strongly Consider – With the popular mid-price Cam Guthrie now injured, Martin needs to be considered to fill the M5/M6 spot in our line-ups.

Zac Fisher is loving life at half-back. Picture: Michael Klein

So is Nic Martin. Picture: Michael Klein

HAYDEN YOUNG (FREMANTLE) $525,100 DEF

In round 17 of the 2023 season Young was moved from the defensive 50 to playing predominantly through the midfield.

In the last four rounds he scored 123, 118, 113 and 111. If these numbers are to continue, then it’s a no-brainer picking him at his price. However, with Caleb Serong, Andrew Brayshaw and Nat Fyfe all having huge pre-seasons, and developing youngsters coming through, Young may still find himself spending time at half-back. Nonetheless, his ability to find the ball still sees him as one of the better defenders, especially with Fremantle’s style of football when transitioning from defence.

The Dockers’ final practice game was a big tick as Young collected 26 disposals, laid seven tackles and kicked two goals.

VERDICT: Strongly Consider – If Young is named in the midfield for round 1 get him in, otherwise have a plan to get him into your side if one of Fremantle’s midfielders goes down with injury.

KARL AMON (HAWTHORN) $483,300 MID

The Hawthorn wingman was one of the more popular mid-priced options when SuperCoach Plus Team Picker opened due to his move to half-back late in the 2023 season. In a six-game period Amon averaged 107 in the new half-back role.

Early in the pre-season this looked likely continuing, however injuries to key players and the development of Josh Weddle will likely see Amon moved around as the Hawks coaching staff plug holes until their full list is available.

VERDICT: Pass – With his role not assured, there’s currently better mid-price options.

CHRISTIAN SALEM (MELBOURNE) 420,800 DEF

Salem has mainly been used as a rebounding half back throughout his 10-year career, though if the pre-season is anything to go by, he could be moving to the midfield. With the retirement of Angus Brayshaw, there is opportunity for some fresh blood in the Demons’ engine room.

In the Community Series match against Carlton, Salem scored 102 SuperCoach points attending 22 centre bounces from the 28 on the night. His ability to win the contested ball would have impressed his coaches, finishing with 23 touches and nine tackles.

Salem has the same price as popular mid-price option Cam Guthrie. People not wanting to tear up their teams after Guthrie’s long-term injury might consider Salem as the replacement, especially considering it was only two years ago he had a season average of 97.1 including a 134 in the grand final.

VERDICT: Round 0 watchlist – I view Salem more as a smokey for SuperCoach Draft, however with Oliver returning for the clash against Sydney if Salem has similar midfield time, he definitely needs to be considered as a value option.

The Cats love Max Holmes’ run out of defence. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

MAX HOLMES (GEELONG) $446,000 MID

The unlucky Cat from the 2022 premiership season, Holmes is entering his fourth season still looking to lock down a permanent role. In a five-week stint in the midfield last season he averaged 105 before being moved around for the rest of the season.

Even with the gaps in the Geelong midfield left by Joel Selwood’s retirement and Guthrie’s injury, Holmes still seems to be behind other options in Atkins, Bruhn, Bowes and Clarke, especially after only three CBAs in their match simulation verse Carlton.

As Geelong enters a new chapter, Holmes could help with their rebound from half-back. He excelled in this role against Essendon with 29 disposals and 108 SuperCoach points from 65 per cent time on ground.

With pace to burn and the ability to run and carry with the ball, this presents as a real opportunity for Holmes to cement a position starting line-up.

VERDICT: Pass – Even in a contract year, I need to see Holmes successfully play the half-back role before committing to him, even if it means paying an extra $50k for him.

TOM STEWART (GEELONG) $635,000 DEF

From the moment Tom Stewart entered the AFL he has been an absolute star at half-back for Geelong, earning himself five All-Australian jackets on the way. As a defender he is one of the more reliable SuperCoach players we can have.

An ageing Geelong list, as well as the long-term injury to Cam Guthrie, now leaves the Cats with a massive midfield hole. All the speculation was Stewart would be playing more regularly throughout the midfield this season.

However on the eve of round 1 that seems more of a pipedream than reality as Stewart has been lining up in his regular half-back role, and for good reason. In 2023 he averaged 113.7 SuperCoach points, which included an injury score of 18.

Stewart could be potentially thrown into the midfield depending on Geelong’s list health throughout the season. If this happens, have no fear about what this might do to his scoring. In Round 19 in 2023, Stewart attended the most centre bouncers he has for his career, returning a SuperCoach score of 153.

VERDICT: Consider – With Holmes being in a contract year I am tempted, but with other mid-price options, I am happy to wait to see if he gains DPP, even if it means paying an extra $50k for him.

Get more SuperCoach tips from Swiz on the SuperCoach Insider podcast and on Twitter @swiz26.

Originally published as SuperCoach AFL 2024: Key role changes to watch this season