Cole Cook credits some timely trading and keeping trades up his sleeve for winning $50,000
KEEPING trades up his sleeve, some timely trading and a pinch of good luck has seen Cole Cook claim the title of SuperCoach 2018 winner and the $50,000 major prize.
IT might sound easy in theory but doing the basics right has made Cole Cook a SuperCoach champion.
The Bunyip native claimed the title of SuperCoach AFL 2018 winner and the $50,000 major prize on Sunday and revealed his previous best finish was “in the 12,000s range”.
While some pore over the pre-season statistics and search for the diamond in the rough, Cook had a very simply philosophy heading into the season.
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“I’m not normally one to go too early because otherwise I overthink it,” he told the Herald Sun.
“Normally, I sign up a couple of weeks beforehand, just tried to go pretty safe.
“I wanted to save as many trades as I could at the start of the year, that was the main plan.”
And the plan paid off with Cook having two trades up his sleeve heading into the final round, turning Bulldog Toby McLean (66) into Geelong’s Tom Hawkins (144).
In a case of perfect timing Cook’s “CharCole Chicken” finished the season with a wet sail, climbing to the top spot in the penultimate week.
Starting with the likes of Devon Smith and James Sicily made for a strong foundation while bringing in the likes of Jack Macrae, Jake Lloyd and Lachie Neale throughout the year proved masterstrokes.
But Cook believed it was dodging early season injuries and poor form of premiums was crucial to his success.
“I think it was more the ones I didn’t have, I didn’t have the Jack Billings or the Hibberds,” he said.
“I got Jack Macrae in after he came back from his hammy, I got (Lance) Franklin in and he came good and I got Lachie Neale in for the last three rounds and I think he pumped out three 130s.
“I didn’t think I was much of a chance, I was waiting for the bad week when it all fell apart to be honest.
“When I hit fourth with about six, seven weeks to go and I started to think I was a little sniff.
“I stayed fourth for ages and I ended up making it very late in the end. Not really until I’d won did I think I was a chance.”
Cook, a university student in Melbourne, said he’d probably go overseas with his winnings but also heed some advice from his parents.
“I’ll probably go overseas with a bit of it I think. I’ll try and put a bit away, I think the parents would recommend that,” he said.
“I may as well spend some of it, I got it, I might as well enjoy a bit of it. I am a uni student, so $50,000 does come in handy at the moment.”
SUPERCOACH TOP 10
53,852 - CharCole Chicken, Cole Cook
53,598 - SnowSky, Callan Jolly
53,509 - Throbbing Hotspurs, Robert Price
53,461 - Chrispys Critters, Chris Baker
53,455 - Teddy’s Drugsters, Terence Yik
53,428 - Danger Things, Adam Bonnici
53,409 - Prestigiacomosexual, Daimon Kift
53,398 - Sargon, Simon Waiss
53,348 - Goldy Locks, Liam Sotos
53,329 - Kentucky Fried Chiqon, Sam Kent
Originally published as Cole Cook credits some timely trading and keeping trades up his sleeve for winning $50,000
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