Most popular players in SuperCoach AFL early team picker revealed

The early SuperCoach AFL team picker has been open since December, and some clear trends are emerging. See the exclusive ownership numbers here.

Bailey Smith features in more than four in five SuperCoach squads. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Save money in the forward line and spend up in defence – that’s the clear 2025 strategy emerging from early SuperCoach ownership numbers.

Exclusive data from the SuperCoach Plus early Team Picker shows three ex-Bulldogs are the three most popular picks in the game after leaving Whitten Oval to refresh their careers at new clubs.

Caleb Daniel (North Melbourne), Bailey Smith (Geelong) and Jack Macrae (St Kilda) are all favourably priced, and can all be selected in the forward line thanks to some creative magnet moves by Dogs coach Luke Beveridge.

Smith and Macrae are expected to play as full-time midfielders this year, while Daniel has been earmarked as a creative half-back for the Kangaroos.

Other key takeouts from the ownership data include the emergence of a new top dog in the ruck, while first-round selections from the highly-touted 2024 national draft are the most popular rookies – plus a mature-age Bomber.

Scroll down for expert analysis on the 25 most popular picks and watch the video below or on the Code Sports YouTube channel for more in-depth discussion plus hot tips on players being overlooked by coaches late in January.

6. Tristan Xerri | NTH | $654,900 RUC

Team picker ownership: 66.4 per cent

The most popular ruckman in pre-season sides, and by a fair margin. Coaches are banking on him dethroning SuperCoach ruck king Max Gawn. Last year Xerri was No.1 for total points but Gawn won the averages battle 124.1 to 119.9 while playing two fewer matches.

7. Jagga Smith | CAR | $194,500 MID

Team picker ownership: 65.7 per cent

Rookies usually dominate the top end of these pre-season lists but the value picks this year have pushed them down the list. Jagga is the second-most popular draftee and with good reason – like Ashcroft, he’s good enough to take an on-field midfield slot in fantasy teams.

8. Bo Allan | WCE | $136,000 DEF-MID

Team picker ownership: 64.8 per cent

Another member of the gun 2024 draft class, Allan comes a bit cheaper than some of the other highly-rated kids after sliding to pick 16. Looks a very safe bench option who could be fieldable after gaining experience at senior level in his draft year.

Saad El-Hawli is pushing for a round 1 debut at Essendon. Picture: Kelly Defina/Getty Images

9. Saad El-Hawli | ESS | $119,900 DEF-MID

Team picker ownership: 64.4 per cent

Already a fan favourite, El-Hawli has won rave reviews since being picked up in last year’s mid-season draft – the 23-year-old likely would have made his debut late last season if injury hadn’t intervened. Picking both El-Hawli and Allan makes sense – put one in defence and one in the midfield to create a valuable DPP link.

10. Keidean Coleman | BRL | $269,100 DEF

Team picker ownership: 63.5 per cent

Most coaches are taking the punt that the vastly underpriced Lions defender will be ready for round 1 after wrecking his knee in March last year – and noises out of Brisbane are positive.

11. Sid Draper | ADL | $190,000 MID

Team picker ownership: 61.6 per cent

How many first-round draftees can we fit in our starting teams? The popular play is at least four, which means one is likely on the midfield bench. Draper is another leading SuperCoach candidate although news out of Adelaide that he’s been eased into training after some back soreness make him one to keep a close eye on.

12. Harry Sheezel | NTH | $635,600 DEF

Team picker ownership: 60.7 per cent

Six in ten coaches are happy to pay up for the Kangaroos young gun as their No.1 defender, regardless of a likely mid-forward role in 2025.

Harry Sheezel is flying on the track. Picture: Michael Klein

13. Nick Daicos | COL | $631,400 MID

Team picker ownership: 57.7 per cent

Slightly fewer coaches are happy to pay up for the Magpies young gun, regardless of a tricky early bye and reports he’s on a modified training program to start the new year.

14. Marcus Bontempelli | WBD | $681,000 MID

Team picker ownership: 57.1 per cent

With cost of living pressures biting, it’s a big ask to fork out almost $700k for the No.1 scorer in the game. But more than half of coaches are prepared to pay for what the Bulldogs skipper offers – reliable huge scores, doubled if you have him as captain. Paying slightly overs now could save the headache of trying to buy him during the season.

15. Tobie Travaglia | STK | $172,000 DEF-MID

Team picker ownership: 52.9 per cent

The third-most popular defensive rookie behind El-Hawli and Bo Allan, the new Saint costs a bit more after going at pick 8 on draft night – so you want him performing well enough to pick on field. And that looks a real possibility for the half-back dasher.

Callum Mills could be a SuperCoach steal. Picture: Phil Hillyard

16. Elijah Hewett | WCE | $122,800 MID-FWD

Team picker ownership: 52.9 per cent

First picked of the forward rookies, the first-round draft pick from 2022 is due a clear run after his entire 2024 season was wiped out by a foot injury.

17. Josh Smillie | RIC | $176,500 MID

Team picker ownership: 52.4 per cent

Another high priced mid rookie from the standout 2024 draft. Smillie will be on the bench in most teams but should be a solid money-maker as the most likely Tiger draftee to play from round 1.

18. Callum Mills | SYD | $357,200 DEF

Team picker ownership: 48.8 per cent

Almost half of teams can’t pass up the Swans’ captain’s bargain price. He could be a premium scorer in the backline – depending on where new coach Dean Cox uses him.

19. Clayton Oliver | MEL | $451,600 MID

Team picker ownership: 44.1 per cent

The player who is dividing SuperCoaches. Oliver was one of the top picks in the game for years before crashing last season, when he recorded just five scores over 100 in 22 matches. Is he ready to bounce back? The answer will determine the early fortunes of many teams.

20. Isaac Kako | ESS | $149,500 MID-FWD

Team picker ownership: 43.4 per cent

Rookie picks in the forward line often emerge at the last minute but Kako is one we can bank on early. He’s exactly what the Bombers need, but his SuperCoach scores could be up and down. Will a cheaper alternative show up before round 1?

21. Tom De Koning | CAR | $547,100 RUC

Team picker ownership: 41.7 per cent

Xerri and De Koning are the favoured ruck pairing of SuperCoach Plus subscribers, who clearly have good memories of the Carlton big man’s insane 2024 mid-season run when he scored 131, 140, 146, 176 and 128 in successive weeks. Note that those scores came when he was playing solo ruck, his output is a lot lower when Michael Voss partners him with Marc Pittonet.

22. Mattaes Phillipou | STK | $313,800 FWD-MID

Team picker ownership: 41.6 per cent

Based on ownership figures, the forward line combination of Bailey Smith, Caleb Daniel, Jack Macrae and Jason Horne-Francis is the way most players will go in 2025 – at least at this stage of pre-season. Is your next forward a rookie or can you squeeze in another mid-pricer? Phillipou is another value pick with high upside after showing what he can do in the midfield late last year.

Sam Flanders has a new position and a new look for 2025. Picture: Gold Coast Suns

23. Sam Flanders | GCS | $541,500 DEF-MID

Team picker ownership: 39.2 per cent

Doesn’t offer the same value as last year and now we can pick him in defence instead of the forward line. But Flanders has proven he’s a safe bet for 100 points-plus almost every week wherever he plays.

24. Sam Lalor | RIC | $203,500 MID

Team picker ownership: 39.2 per cent

The No.1 draft pick features in almost four in 10 teams – who must be spending big on their midfield bench, or running a lot of rookies on field in that part of the ground. He is being eased into training after injury issues in his draft year, so make sure he’s cherry ripe for round 1 before committing.

25. Tom Lynch | $183,200 FWD

Team picker ownership: 34.1 per cent

There’s no risk picking the injury-prone spearhead in January, where we can all dream about the upside of a player who produced scores of 167, 184 and 177 back in 2022. Check back in when we get to March to see if a third of coaches are holding their nerve.

Originally published as Most popular players in SuperCoach AFL early team picker revealed