Doctor’s Orders: What to do with underperforming SuperCoach stars
Have you been pulling your hair out watching supposed ‘premiums’ produce sub-par scores week after week? The experts at Doctor SuperCoach have replacements at the ready.
Are you sick of hanging on to disappointing “premiums” like James Sicily and Matt Crouch? Many of us have stuck by them for most of the year, but is it time to cut ties on the eve of SuperCoach Finals?
This week in Doctor’s Orders, the expert team at Doctor SuperCoach review the downfall of these two players and suggest a couple of sideways trade candidates.
JAMES SICILY $432,700 DEF | AVG: 93.17 | BREAK EVEN: 91
First it was his temper that made us wary of Sicily, then it was Alastair Clarkson’s experimenting with him up forward. Now despite playing as a defender, there is yet another cause for concern! The Hawks have been playing their star man more as a key defensive pillar rather than the free roaming, rebounding defender we have come to know and love.
It’s a tale of two halves for Sicily in 2019 as his pre and post-bye statistics tell the whole story. Until Round 11 he was averaging 100 SuperCoach points, 24 disposals and eight marks per game. In his seven games since, Sicily is averaging just 18 disposals, seven marks and a dismal 82 points.
The returning Grant Birchall, as well as players like Isaac Smith and Daniel Howe being used out of defence, have really disturbed Sicily’s output. His inconsistency is hurting coaches, but his high scoring potential and elite kicking prowess mean he is isn’t a bad option to hold.
However, one man you may wish to consider for a similar price tag is Mr. Consistent, Daniel Rich.
DANIEL RICH $462,600 DEF | AVG: 96.9 | BREAK EVEN: 72
If Sicily’s inconsistency grinds your gears, then Daniel Rich is the perfect replacement for you. For just $30,000 extra you can secure this aesthetically pleasing half-back, who has scored below 88 just three times across the whole season.
This season has been outstanding for Rich, who ranks as elite by champion data in a whopping 13 categories! The Lions designated kick-in taker is averaging 23 disposals, 6.4 marks and 528 metres gained per game. His disposal efficiency is superb at 81 per cent, which combines beautifully with the fact he averages 18 kicks per game – this spells SuperCoach gold.
Combined with his 2019 consistency, Rich has shown over the years he has the ability to go large and with Alex Witherden set for a stint on the sidelines, this can only benefit his scoring.
Daniel Rich is an underrated POD who is a fantastic option to consider trading in on the eve of SuperCoach finals.
MATT CROUCH $488,300 MID | AVG: 100.1 | BREAK EVEN: 126
It’s very frustrating owning Matt Crouch. He is one of only a handful of players who can get 30-plus disposals per game on a consistent basis, but either fails to, or barely scrapes past the 100-point threshold. Although his consistency is rarely questioned, it’s his inability to go large which hinders his fantasy value. Crouch has surpassed 110 points in just three matches this season, two of which came within the first three rounds.
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As mentioned above, his disposals numbers can’t be questioned as Crouch is averaging 31 per game, but it’s not until you delve deeper until you see the underlying issues. He is averaging just a 71.1 per cent disposal efficiency, which looks even poorer when you consider he has a 1:2 kick-to-handball ratio. Of his 31 per game, only 11 of these are contested and his kicking efficiency sits under 60 per cent.
His price has dropped quite severely and there aren’t many alternatives around the same cost, but if you are stuck for cash a West Coast midfielder is a unique alternative with a history of finishing the season strong.
JACK REDDEN $495,600 | AVG: 92.6 | BREAK EVEN: 78
With names like Andrew Gaff, Luke Shuey and Elliot Yeo running around, it’s easy to forget about the reliable Redden. He started the year slowly after an interrupted pre-season, but across his last seven games has averaged 107 SuperCoach points.
Matt Crouch struggles to scrape past 100 when he has 30 disposals, but Redden is the polar opposite. In the three matches in 2019 where he has reached this possession target, he has scored 120-plus, with a season-high of 145 in Round 4. Post-bye Redden is averaging 27 touches per game and his tackling numbers are above average for his position, which is a tantalising combination.
Looking back at his 2018 campaign, Redden finished the year with uber premium numbers, averaging a superb 115 across his final eight games of the season. Being a lesser-known name in the Eagles midfield is a positive too, as he will never cop attention from opposition taggers, making him a solid alternative to Matt Crouch.
If you have the cash it’s well worth spending that extra $100,000 on a premium who can help deliver SuperCoach finals victories.
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Originally published as Doctor’s Orders: What to do with underperforming SuperCoach stars