SuperCoach 2025: How opening round works, players to watch

SuperCoach officially starts in round 1 when the Tigers and Blues meet at the MCG. Here’s everything you need to know when the footy starts this weekend.

The footy season is here, but you have a few more sleeps before SuperCoach kicks off for real.

You can pick a team before the two opening round games – Sydney v Hawthorn on Friday night and GWS Giants v Collingwood on Sunday – and track every player’s live score in the SuperCoach app.

But these scores don’t count towards the official SuperCoach competition, and you can change your team as much as you like until the ball is bounced for Richmond v Carlton on Thursday, March 13.

So if you miss this week, it’s not too late to join the action and have a shot at league glory and the $50,000 grand prize.

However, opening round can still have a big impact on your fortunes in 2025. Here’s a quick explainer.

WHEN DOES SUPERCOACH START?

Like previous seasons, SuperCoach commences officially in round 1, with a full slate of nine matches. The opening round played one week earlier will not be included in the competition – you can still make unlimited changes to your team until the first lockout when Richmond faces Carlton at 7.30pm (AEDT) on Thursday, March 13.

You will be able to view and track live scores during opening round, and player performances in those two early matches will also impact their future Break Evens and price changes – so if a rookie or bargain player produces a big score it’s a free tip of a likely early price jump.

With each of the four opening round teams – plus Essendon and Gold Coast – having an early bye in rounds 2, 3 and 4, Best 18 scoring will apply for these rounds (only your best 18 scores count towards your weekly total). Best 18 scoring will also continue to apply to the mid-season byes in rounds 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16. You’ll be able to make up to three trades per round ahead of all five mid-season bye rounds.

Patrick Cripps’s Blues face Richmond in the first game of the SuperCoach season. Picture: Phil Hillyard

WHAT ABOUT THE RESCHEDULED GAMES?

SuperCoach will announce any changes after the AFL has determined when the postponed Brisbane Lions v Geelong and Gold Coast v Essendon games will be played. For now, it’s business as usual.

OPENING ROUND PLAYERS TO WATCH

Opening round gives us a chance to look at players in the heat of the real AFL season. Here’s who we will be keeping a close eye on.

WILL DAY

Underpriced midfield star was underwhelming in Hawthorn’s AAMI Series game. How will he perform when premiership points are on the line?

JAMES SICILY

It’s all about Sicily’s role. If he plays loose in defence, he’s a huge bargain this year. If the arrival of Josh Battle and Tom Barrass means he plays full-forward, cross him off your list.

SuperCoaches get a free look at James Sicily in opening round. Picture: Michael Klein

ANGUS SHELDRICK

Dean Cox has been talking up the young midfielder, who couldn’t break into the team last year under John Longmire. We want to see him playing and starting at centre bounces.

TOBY BEDFORD

The Giants have said Bedford will perform fewer tagging jobs this year, but can they resist sending their No.1 stopper to Nick Daicos?

JAMES LEAKE / RILEY BICE / BEN PATON

There is a serious rookie crisis in defence this year, and these guys can help solve it if they cement their spot in the Giants’ (Leake) and Swans’ (Bice, Paton) best 22. They don’t need big scores to earn a spot on the bench in SuperCoach.

HARRY PERRYMAN

Collingwood still has an early bye, but it’s a lot easier to pick Magpies and Swans if they are the only two teams missing in round 3. Perryman put up a big score against Richmond last week, let’s see how he goes against some tougher opposition.

ANY ROOKIE SURPRISES

Last year Demon Blake Howes appeared from nowhere, scoring 91 on debut in Opening Round to instantly become a must-have rookie. Hopefully we get another cheapie like Blake this year.

Ben Paton is a cheap option in defence after signing with the Swans. Picture: Phil Hillyard

FAST TIPS

1. Believe in your pre-season research

Don’t throw out weeks or months of work based on one performance. Last year Max Gawn was removed from thousands of teams after a below-par 72 points in Opening Round. In round 1, when it really mattered for SuperCoach, he came out and scored 162.

2. Go in with a plan

Know what you’re looking for. If you need to know where James Sicily will line up, it’s fine to change your team if you don’t see what you’re after. But don’t throw out your entire side to bring in players who do well this weekend. Remember, those points don’t count towards SuperCoach.

3. Enjoy the footy!

Originally published as SuperCoach 2025: How opening round works, players to watch