SuperCoach AFL 2025 trade guide: Best targets for round 5
It’s not as frantic as last week’s midprice madness, but the trades people make this week could be more important with upgrade season looming. See who to trade in and out for Round 5.
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As declared by Simeon Thomas-Wilson on The Phantom’s Lair this week, upgrade season is officially upon us … for some.
The first month of SuperCoach is the time to correct any pre-season mistakes, grab the best money-makers, and make sure we are set up to start upgrading to get extra premiums into our sides.
A few years ago, that happened from about round 7. But it’s a new game now.
Some coaches will be looking to make their first upgrades in the next two weeks – potentially even this round.
There are some big names getting very affordable, and some rookies arriving at just the right time to cash in a cheapie and use the money to find a star.
As we return to best 22 scoring after the early season byes, here’s who to look at this week, and for the weeks ahead.
ROOKIE WATCH
BUBBLE BOYS
CLAY HALL $129,500 MID
Clay Hall was bizzarely dropped by Andrew McQualter after Round 2 despite being one of the Eagles’ best, and was brought back in for the shellacking at the hands of the Giants.
Jack Hutchinson and Jake Waterman are due to come in this week, and after being soundly beaten you’d think some changes would be made – including a Bo Allan debut? – so Hall might not be as safe as we’d like. But with an 88 in Round 2 and a 68 on the weekend if he sticks around he could be the best option for SuperCoaches.
Do we have room for another rookie defender? He was slated for the sub vest in his first game before Jack Steele was a late out, letting him score 83 on debut, and then followed it up with a four-touch, one goal opening term against Port Adelaide. However, he faded after quarter time to finish on just 52, and with some names still to come back for the Power he might be at risk of the sub vest.
After a barnstorming 82 against West Coast on debut, Dudley came back to the small forward earth on Sunday against the Dogs with a 46. With a breakeven of -69 there’s a nice amount of cash to be made there, and with Nathan O’Driscoll to miss you’d think the returning Sam Switkowski might play further up the ground and help his job security. As exciting as he is to watch, he’s certainly not a must-have in the forward line this week.
After breaking his hand before the loss to Adelaide (and playing through), Tsatas may return for the Bombers this week. You’d want to check team sheets before bringing him in but he scored 78 in his last start and with Jye Caldwell set to miss time surely – surely! – must be handed more minutes on-field despite his kicking yips.
Started sub after being left out the week before. No thanks.
ONE GAMERS
With three West Coast debutants on the weekend, we could be set for a number of rookies on the bubble next week – but how many of them are worth bringing in is another question.
Sandy Brock 80 ($99,100 DEF)
Tom Gross 51 ($113,500 MID)
Matt Whitlock 29 ($113,500 DEF-FWD)
Hamish Davies 22 ($113,500 MID-FWD) – sub
Ashton Moir 1 ($119,900 FWD) – sub
+ remember next week we should get a second game from Saad El-Hawli, who made his debut (as the sub) before Essendon’s bye.
THREE GAMERS
It’s not too late! He will cost you $90k more than other coaches but swallow your pride and find a way to get him in.
MARKET WATCH
With upgrade season upon us, it’s time to look out for who we can bring in to begin making out way to full premium.
Geelong’s quarterback scored 118 against Melbourne and appears to have his signature role back. Better still, his price has plummeted after he was subbed off with just nine points against St Kilda in round 2.
He’s projected to lost another $36k this week and is very likely to be under $450k after next week. Whether or not he’s the priority after DPPs remains to be seen.
Barring being played purely in the guts against Essendon, Christian Petracca looks likely to a forward when lockout lifts. You probably wouldn’t bring him in this week, and possibly not even next week as the Demons gun hasn’t cracked the ton yet … but against Essendon is as good a time as any.
Daicos finished with 94 against Carlton – far less than his current owners would have been hoping for. He looked set for a big price drop before a brilliant third quarter rescued his score – and the Magpies. Give him another week – has a date with James Jordan, but after that keep an eye on his price as it looks to bottom out after Round 6 or 7.
Lachie Whitfield tore the Eagles apart on the weekend, and is coming up against a Saints side which traditionally leaks points to defenders. He’s a smidgen over 600k but might not be this cheap for some time. With some coaches looking to offload the likes of Joel Freijah or Sam De Koning this week, he could be in the sights of many.
Originally published as SuperCoach AFL 2025 trade guide: Best targets for round 5
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