SuperCoach 2017: Our experts reveal their hits and misses after four rounds
EVERY year is the same for many SuperCoaches, we think our team will be world-beaters but are soon left to rue pre-season decisions. Our expects reveal their hits and misses so far.
EVERY year is the same for many SuperCoaches.
We all go into each season thinking our team will be world-beaters but many of us are soon left to rue pre-season decisions that have been the difference between winning and losing when private leagues are underway.
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TIPPING: SEE THE EXPERTS’ ROUND 5 SELECTIONS
Even with the best of teams, there are selection calls we’d like to have over as SuperCoaches trade their way into premiership contention.
After four rounds, our experts reveal their best and worst SuperCoach selections, and which players they must have.
SAM LANDSBERGER
Biggest regret: Choosing Sam Mitchell over Dustin Martin. Went last December’s Brownlow medallist over this September’s.
Best pre-Round 1 selection: Marc Murphy. Not exactly on my Pat Malone here, but Murph has clearly been the standout selection.
The player I need to get: Patrick Dangerfield. But after just 90 on Easter Monday, will hold fire a fortnight and land him at a discount.
Best cheapie: Will Hoskin-Elliott. The GWS recruit is a cash cow lock in the 22.
Trades used: Only three. That’s why we’re called the Mr Augusts.
AL PATON
Biggest regret: Changing my team structure in the hours before Round 1 to get Max Gawn back in. #facepalm
Best pre-Round 1 selection: Marcus Bontempelli — and not starting with Jaeger O’Meara.
Player I need to get: I think Stef Martin will be the No.1 ruckman this year. Long-term project.
Best cheapie: Andy Otten
Trades used: Four, will be six by this weekend. Need to stop!
GILBERT GARDINER
Biggest regret: Selecting both David Swallow and Jaeger O’Meara in my team instead of going with one and Marc Murphy.
Biggest disappointment: It was always going to be an uphill battle after almost two years on the sidelines but Jaeger O’Meara needed to average more than 68 through three games.
The player I need to get: Head says Marc Murphy given his white hot start to the season but Rory Sloane despite the hefty price tag could be worth every cent.
Best cheapie: Andy Otten far and away the best cash cow and the rate he is going could easily push towards a post-bye keeper.
Trades used: Unlike City Hall, don’t need to fix what’s not broke.
LAUREN WOOD
Biggest regret: Getting caught up ahead of last weekend’s lockouts and failing to trade out Max Gawn. Nobody likes a doughnut sitting on the field.
Best pre-Round 1 selections: Toby “The Tank” Nankervis has been brilliant — and consistent. What a find by the Tigers. Proves valuable around the ground, too, which is handy. Marcus Bontempelli has also proven fruitful thus far.
Biggest disappointment: Tim Taranto came into the season with big wraps but hasn’t lived up to things SuperCoach-wise for mine, much like Jaeger O’Meara.
Best cheapie: My man, Sgt. Pepper — aka Sam Powell-Pepper from Port Adelaide — has paid back his low price in spades. Same goes for Andy Otten, the Crow who pushed 100 points on the weekend. Already projected to go up in value.
Trades used: Two
CHRIS CAVANAGH
Biggest regret: Changing my captain to Richmond’s Dustin Martin ahead of Round 4. After scores of 159, 118 and 155 he managed just 54 against Brisbane!
Best pre-Round 1 selection: Far from the only one who started with this bloke, but Richmond’s Toby Nankervis. Averaging 109 — not bad for a player who was priced at just $366,400.
Biggest disappointment: Having cost me $616,800, Sydney’s Dan Hannebery was a major let down the first two weeks with scores of 52 and 71 but has since found some form.
The player I need to get: Cash is king and Sydney defender Nic Newman is projected to add $67,000 to his price this week so might be a goer.
Trades used: Five. A couple have been forced with long-term injuries which hasn’t been ideal.
KATE SALEMME
Biggest regret: Starting with Jaeger O’Meara. I didn’t have him in my thinking until after the JLT Series because of his injury history but I bought into the buzz. Should have gone with my first instinct.
Best pre-Round 1 selection: Scott Pendlebury. While everyone jumped off the Collingwood skipper I knew he would be as consistent as ever and he hasn’t disappointed so far (except maybe for his game against the Saints). Pendlebury is averaging 121.25 points over the first month and I’ve already used the captain’s loophole to get his score twice. Always a lock.
The player I need to get: Has to be Marc Murphy on current form, he is absolutely flying and is the No.1 ranked player in SuperCoach so far this year, averaging a massive 137.25 points. Great to see him back fit and firing. Tom Rockliff and Rory Sloane likely to get into my team at some stage, too.
Best cheapie: He wasn’t bargain basement but Will Hoskin-Elliott. Averaging 87.25 after four games and is a key player for the Magpies.
Trades used: I’ve used just the two trades so far but that will likely be four after this round.
BEN BROAD
Best pre-Round 1 selections: Zak Jones, Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver. Oliver was on everyone’s hit-list after his pre-season form but gut told me to pick Jones after seeing 3mins of him in the JLT Series. Only averaging 80 but has been pretty handy for a mid-pricer, as has Petracca.
Biggest disappointment: I’d like a lift from 10-15 of my blokes, but maybe Giants star Heath Shaw. I don’t usually spend up big in the back half, so when I do I expect results, Heater.
The player I need to get: No Sloane, no Bont, no Dusty. No wonder I’m sitting around the 55,000 mark.
Trades used: Four. That will be six by the start of Round 5. And if past history is anything to go on, I expect the trades cupboard will be rather bare midway through the season.
SAM EDMUND
Biggest regret: There’s no sentiment in footy and there’s less in Supercoach. Shouldn’t have gone with Jarryd Roughead. His bargain price fit the jigsaw but let’s be honest, it was a trap.
Best pre-Round 1 selection: Andy Otten without a doubt. When you start at $120k and you’re averaging 90, you are worth your weight in gold.
Biggest disappointment: Jaeger O’Meara. I wanted more.
Best cheapie: Otten aside, how good has Jarrod Witts been for value?
Trades used: Three
CHRIS VERNUCCIO
Best pre-Round 1 selections: Joel Selwood, even though I’ve also got Cats teammates Patrick Dangerfield. He’s averaging 116.3 points and has been picked in only seven per cent of SuperCoach teams.
Biggest regret: I’m probably one of thousands who chose Dayne Beams over Marc Murphy based on their pre-season output. The opposite has happened in the season proper with Murphy already adding $127,800 to his price, which is going to keep on soaring.
Biggest disappointment: Can you believe Adam Treloar’s best score is only 108? I have to mention Shaun Higgins posting 111 and 130, then following up with 58 and 75 when four points were on the line.
The player I have to get: Elliot Yeo in attack. Three tons — including a 139 and 141 — in the first four rounds can’t be ignored.
Trades used: Four, but will sit out this week.
ELIZA SEWELL
Biggest regret: So I caved and followed the advice of others and dumped forwards Josh Kennedy AND Tom Lynch from my initial team. They’re been quite good I see.
Best cheapie: Pretty happy to have most of the cheap guys everyone’s talking up. Not so cheerful about having Jaeger.
Originally published as SuperCoach 2017: Our experts reveal their hits and misses after four rounds