SuperCoach 2025: Expert advice from 2024 winner Joven May

The 20-year-old university student who won $50,000 in SuperCoach last year reveals the strategy and players he hopes can carry him to back-to-back titles.

Keep chasing value, and don’t lose sleep about getting some calls wrong.

That’s the advice from 2024 SuperCoach champion Joven May, who is preparing to defend his title after sweeping almost 200,000 coaches to claim the $50,000 grand prize last season.

The 20-year-old university student is excited about the value on offer in SuperCoach this year after his strategy of finding players priced well under their scoring potential paid off in the best way possible in 2024.

But, like in his title winning season, he doesn’t expect to get every decision right.

“To be honest, the starting team isn’t really that important,” he said 37 days out from round 1.

“It seems like a lot but you can be a long way back and win, it’s more important that you get your structure right and have a few plans if things go wrong.

“I think the starting point is really just a jumping off point. Getting a few starting picks right certainly doesn’t hinder your chances but the first three or four rounds, where you’re trading players – because you’re not going to get every pick right – I think that’s the most important part of the season.”

Jordan Dawson could be a SuperCoach steal. Picture: Tom Huntley

Adam Cerra, Clayton Oliver (“a lock”), Will Day, Darcy Parish, Finn Callaghan, Callum Mills, Matt Roberts and Tom De Koning are all names on Joven’s radar, as well as the no-brainer picks in the forward line: Jack Macrae, Caleb Daniel and Bailey Smith.

“This year I wish I had 10 midfield slots on field, there’s a lot of risk but a lot of guys that are pretty awesome in terms of the value they present,” he said.

“You’ve got to get the right ones to win it, and if they blow up it can really hurt you.

“It’s going to be hard because you can’t start them all.”

Will Ashcroft’s Norm Smith Medal-winning performance has put him high on the SuperCoach radar at the bargain price of $441,200 – but not everyone was enjoying grand final day.

“I was actually pretty annoyed in the grand final last year that he played so well because I was thinking, ‘How good’s this, he’s going to be awesome next year and not many people are talking about him’ ... now he’ll be pretty popular,” Joven said.

As well as those highly discounted players, Joven is always hunting for premiums who may have had an off year for reasons outside their control, or are capable of going to another level again this year.

He puts Andrew Brayshaw, Tom Green and Errol Gulden in that second group, and he can see big upside in Adelaide’s captain.

“I feel like a lot of things went wrong for Jordan Dawson last year. The way I see it he’s their best player, along with maybe Izak Rankine, he’s so classy and they just look better when he’s in the midfield. I think he can get back to where he was the year before and push that 115 average.”

Can Ryley Sanders become a regular in the Western Bulldogs midfield this year? Picture: David Crosling

One player scratched from his plans is luckless Saint Mattaes Phillipou, who will miss the start of the season with injury.

“He was a lock but I’ve actually pivoted to Ryley Sanders now. He’s not as much of a lock, but I really like him.”

The No.6 pick in the 2023 draft, Sanders scored 99 SuperCoach points in his second AFL game but by round 7 he was playing in the VFL – where he put up some seriously big SuperCoach scores.

“I think he can score, he looks good – he’s having a big pre-season apparently – so I’m really excited about him,” Joven said.

“The Bevo factor scares be a little bit, but I’m pretty bullish on Sanders this year.”

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Worrying about the byes

“Last year I was pretty adamant that I wasn’t really worried about the early byes. It’s best 18 scoring, so it’s not like you’re getting a zero when your player isn’t playing, you’re getting your 18th or 19th best player that was normally on the field.

“This year I think it’s slightly different because we have those four teams on the one bye and there’s a lot of good options from those teams, which is giving me a bit of a headache.

“It’s going to be a bit of a balancing act in terms of how many guys I can start.”

Tom De Koning has huge upside. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

The new Flex position

“I like the game innovating and I think the Flex is going to be awesome not only for on-field scoring but also your trades, It gives you a lot of flexibility when you’re trading out players. “It’s going to make the competition a lot more interesting, you’re not handicapped by what your team is already looking like (when you make a trade), so I think it’s going to be a lot of fun.

“I’m still not sure who or what position I’m going to start in Flex, but I’m looking forward to having a go at it.”

Saving trades for late in the season

“I think you should trade aggressively early on, that’s when the price rises are the steepest and you’re getting the most value for players ... but then you need to settle down. I always like to leave myself with a few trades. I don’t care about he Trade Boosts so much, I’ll use up the boosts by the byes, but hold a few trades for the end of the season.”

Spending his $50k prizemoney

“Luckily I have my mum and dad keeping an eye on my money and mum has put it in a term deposit, so I haven’t really had much access to it, which is probably a good thing for a 20-year-old.”

Picking a team name this year

“I’ve actually got a mate who got drafted up to the Gold Coast, Cooper Bell, so I’ve got to do a Cooper Bell pun. I wanted Cooper Bells and Whistles but it didn’t fit.

“He’s got DEF-FWD status, I’ll be picking him so hopefully he gets a game!”

Originally published as SuperCoach 2025: Expert advice from 2024 winner Joven May