SuperCoach AFL 2024: The players to watch in Opening Round
Opening Round is a unique chance to road-test players before SuperCoach teams are locked in. Here are the stars, potential bargains and rookies to follow, and what we need to see this week.
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The first ever Opening Round will change the way we select SuperCoach teams in 2024.
Eight teams will open their AFL seasons this week, but player scores from those four matches will not count in SuperCoach, which begins in round 1 – the first lockout is 7.30pm (AEST) on Thursday March 14 before the Blues take on Richmond.
That means fantasy coaches are in the unique position of being able to look at a host of potential recruits in real home-and-away action before deciding whether to pick them in SuperCoach.
Those eight teams will each have a bye in the first six rounds of the season, so it could be a recipe for disaster to select too many of them. But rookies and mid-pricers who start well could be almost guaranteed an early price rise (Opening Round scores do factor into price calculations), and many coaches will be tempted to start one or two top-line players from each bye round in the knowledge Best 18 scoring will help provide cover in those weeks.
On the flip side, a poor score or role could provide a reason to avoid a player who would otherwise be part of your starting team.
So who should be on our radar when watching each Opening Round game? Keep this cheat sheet handy!
SYDNEY V MELBOURNE
Brodie Grundy $481,900 RUC: The former Magpie and Demon is huge value at his new club, but his last pre-season outing was somewhat underwhelming. Another low score here will tempt SuperCoaches to look for a last-minute alternative, or embark on a desperate scramble to find the extra $234,000 for Tim English.
Max Gawn $583,700 RUC: Gawn and Grundy will be back on the same field, but on opposite teams – great news for SuperCoaches. Gawn’s monster pre-season game has him locked in most teams and something extraordinary would have to happen to budge him.
Caleb Windsor $180,300 MID/FWD: Young wingman gives the Dees plenty of spark and his debut has already been announced. We can watch his first game before committing – with so many cheap options up forward we probably need 70 points or more to lock him in.
Matt Roberts $156,800 MID: Similar story for the young Swan who has been training in a very promising half-back role over summer. He scored 100 last week but that was without Jake Lloyd in the team. If he repeats it he could be another high-priced rookie worth paying up for.
Clayton Oliver $674,100 MID: We couldn’t ... could we? A hugely interrupted pre-season surely rules him out, but if he scores 130 it would make things interesting.
BRISBANE LIONS V CARLTON
Keidean Coleman $398,800 DEF: Were his scores of 127 in the preliminary final and grand final a tease or the sign of a breakout waiting to happen? Round 0 will tell SuperCoaches whether Coleman is a must to start with or whether to wait until after the round 2 bye. A score of 90-plus would just about lock him in.
Zac Williams $216,100 DEF: The Blues have understandably been ultra cautious with Williams during the late stages of his comeback from an ACL injury. There’s a real risk he starts as the sub or is subbed out on managed minutes. Round 0 will tell us plenty about Carlton’s plans.
Lachie Neale $617,000 MID: Groin surgery interrupted the Brownlow Medal winner’s pre-season but he looked like he’d hardly missed a beat with 14 contested possessions, 22 disposals and 114 points against the Swans in pre-season. He’s only in 4 per cent of teams and could be a great POD if he convinces you he’s at full fitness.
Kai Lohmann $150,900 FWD: The 20-year-old has spent most of his Lions career on the fringes of the senior team but looks ready to break in after a stellar pre-season. There’s genuine sub risk with Lohmann and we’ll need to see plenty as there are so many forward rookie options.
Cameron Rayner $385,100 FWD: Is the midfield switch really happening? We’ve heard that before, but this time it feels real. At $385k most coaches would prefer the similarly priced Zac Fisher, but Rayner has a chance to throw another mid-priced spanner into our plans.
GOLD COAST V RICHMOND
Alex Sexton $133,400 FWD: The reborn backman is one of the biggest bargains of the year in his new role behind the ball. Would have to get hurt or return to the forward pocket to be taken out of most teams at this stage.
Sam Flanders $494,200 FWD: The role was there in the community series with Flanders playing as a high half-forward with stints in the midfield. But the scoring wasn’t. Has been taken out of many teams as a result but a big return here could prompt a rethink for a player who could finish as one of the top-scoring forwards.
Jayden Short $551,200 DEF: A return to a full-time defensive role should see Short’s scores spike, possibly by enough to be a top-six defender. Keep a close eye on who takes kick-ins for the Tigers.
Thomson Dow $254,800 MID: Awkward price in the midfield but has enjoyed a stellar pre-season. Is he part of Adem Yze’s starting midfield? If he tons up watch for lots of team structures to be redrawn.
Touk Miller $545,500 MID: A vintage display in the Suns’ final practice match reminded the SuperCoach world of his talent and value this year. Coaches should be able to cover one premium with the round 3 bye, with Miller and Tom Green potentially auditioning for that spot.
GWS GIANTS V COLLINGWOOD
Finlay Macrae $152,600 FWD: Has a strong pre-season really put him in Collingwood’s best 23 or is he still going to be a fringe dweller? And perhaps more importantly, will he be named as the sub. Coaches are cooling on Macrae and he will need a huge performance against the Giants to convince most to jump back on.
Nick Daicos $650,000 DEF/MID: One of the biggest questions of pre-season has been whether to start the Magpies superstar or not. If he scores under 90 in Round 0, that would be an easy call. If he monsters the Giants, Daicos could start as the most popular pick of 2024.
Harvey Thomas $117,300 MID/FWD: The Giants academy prospect has forced himself into the Round 0 reckoning but could still be used as sub. He might be the best get-out option for coaches with limited budget left if the Cats don’t play ball at selection with Shaun Mannagh.
Aaron Cadman $127,600 FWD: The No.1 draft pick looks to have put on size and has been used to provide support for Kieren Briggs in the ruck. After a pre-season score of 43, he’ll need to be prominent in attack and win a few hitouts to convince SuperCoaches to overlook the myriad other forward bargains.
Jacob Wehr $123,900 MID: Yes, this is the same player many of us jumped on two years ago. Wehr has won a spot on the wing and done enough in pre-season to suggest he’s worth a MID bench spot. But we’d love to have that vindicated with a solid Round 0 score which would all but guarantee his cash gen gets rolling after three games.
Tom Green $621,500 MID: If he goes 130-plus against the Magpies with North and West Coast in the next two weeks, we might just have to forget the round 3 bye and start him. The same could be said for Giants skipper Toby Greene, too.
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Originally published as SuperCoach AFL 2024: The players to watch in Opening Round
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