Our experts have their say on some of SuperCoach’s biggest names
Having a tough time selecting your SuperCoach team? Our experts are here to help, putting the game’s biggest names under the selection microscope ahead of the JLT Series.
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Having a tough time selecting your SuperCoach team?
Our experts are here to help and every week will have their say on some of the game’s biggest names.
This week we start with the likes of Dustin Martin and Jake Lloyd as well as which ruck strategy we’re preparing to employ.
FREAKO: BREAKING DOWN SUPERCOACH RUCK DILEMMA
TACTICS: FIVE TIPS TO BOOST YOUR SUPERCOACH SCORES
GAMBLE: SUPERCOACH RISKS WHO CAN SHOCK WORLD
DUSTIN MARTIN ($563,800, Mid)
The Phantom: Too cheap to ignore. After averaging a huge 119 points per game in his Brownlow year, Martin was priced at $656k heading into 2018. This season, he’s priced as the 18th-ranked midfielder in the competition. But, at this best, how many can score like Dusty? Not many, if any.
Alastair Paton: Dusty might not get back to his unbelievable 2017 numbers but he’s a lot better than his 104 average from last year. I’ll have the VC on him in Round 1.
Gilbert Gardiner: The sheer definition of arbitrage. Far too cheap for what Dusty (will be) is capable of churning out each week. The premiership Tiger and Brownlow Medallist was the first player picked in Gilbert’s Guidance.
Ben Higgins: He’s simply too cheap to ignore. We were locking him last year for $100k more, so why the hesitation this year? Few can match Dusty’s scoring potential and he makes an ideal M4 or M5.
Dan Begala: Dusty’s an absolute lock and should be the second player selected behind Patrick Dangerfield at F1. You’re getting a Ferrari for the price of a Ford, ladies and gentlemen, so it’s a no-brainer. I’m tipping he’ll scale the lofty heights of his heroic premiership campaign and average 130 points. SuperCoach “arbitrage”, folks.
Tim Michell: I’m 50-50 on Dusty. His price is enticing but his 2017 Brownlow year was the only season he’s averaged more than 110 in SuperCoach. I prefer Matt Crouch and Zac Merrett at a similar price.
Dan Batten: Locked and loaded. That price for a player of Dusty’s ilk is too good to pass up. Can’t see the superstar having two poor SuperCoach seasons in a row.
Paul Dunn: Dusty did us a favour last year by having an down season compared to 2017. This just means he is a bargain for us this year. With a good pre-season he should be able to provide your team with a great return to form and a return to his scoring output of 2017. Must be considered.
ZAC WILLIAMS ($407,800, Def)
Phantom: After missing the entire home-and-away season with injury, the dashing Giant defender was recalled for the elimination final and wasted little time reminding everyone of his scoring power, recording 117 SuperCoach points. Williams should improve on his 94-point average of 2017 and appears the best value-for-money option, in any position, for 2019.
Paton: About as safe a mid-price player as you can get, he’s been in my backline for a long time. Slight concern at reports he didn’t take any kick-ins in the Giants’ practice match.
Gardiner: Tempting at the price but happy to dodge the Giants’ speedster. Will monitor closely and happy to consider Williams should he start strongly.
Higgins: I’m gone for Brodie Smith. He’s that little bit cheaper and is just as capable of pumping out premium-quality SuperCoach scores. Williams is most certainly on my upgrade watchlist and I’ll be keenly watching the JLT Series to see how the new kick-in rules impact him … and Lachie Whitfield.
Begala: Amid the new kick-in rules, I envisage Zac Williams will be knocking on the door of the top-10 defenders in 2019. I, like most astute pundits, will be stacking the backline and expect Williams will be vying with the likes of Brodie Smith ($334k) for the highly coveted D4 position.
Michell: Absolute steal at his price. He should be in either the D3 and D4 position in every side. In 2017, when he averaged 94, he only scored below 70 twice to Round 21 and went above 80 in 18 of those 21 fixtures. Has a high ceiling and could easily be a top-six defender.
Batten: A player who averaged 93.9 SuperCoach points in 2017 for $407,800? Bargain. Should improve on that figure with the new kick-in rules.
Dunn: Returning this season after his Achilles injury in 2018 look for Zac to be a great scorer for the Giants in defence. He only played two finals for the Giants last season and averaged just over 21 disposals in those two games. With his discount for missing all of the 2018 regular season he is certainly under-priced and should be a value pick in defence.
SAM WALSH ($207,300, Mid)
Phantom: Everything you hear about the No.1 draft pick is overwhelmingly positive. Although I expect him to have a greater SuperCoach impact than the top picks of recent seasons, at the high-end rookie price, I just can’t squeeze him in at the moment.
Paton: I haven’t picked a $200k rookie for years, usually a $123,000 player will deliver the same output. This year could be different, if you believe Champion Data and anyone who has seen Walsh this pre-season. Will be watching his JLT games very closely.
Gardiner: Ticks a lot of boxes but price is somewhat prohibitive. Will he play? Yes. Is he good? Absolutely. Will he score better than a regulation $117,300 rookie? Not necessarily. What I do know is this … I’ll be watching the JLT Series closely.
Higgins: Was actually one of the first cash cows I picked. I think Walsh walks into Carlton’s Round 1 team and not as some half-forward type, a fully fledged midfielder. Yes, he’s high-priced but if things do go pear-shaped you can trade him down and make some cash in the process.
Begala: Throwing all Carlton biases aside, he’ll be starting immediately in the engine room of The Begala Brigade. He’s a competitor, dominated his entire junior career and reportedly chalked up BOG honours in the scratch match against Hawthorn. The youngster will average 80-plus.
Michell: As a Bluebagger I can’t wait to see him play but after the experience of recent years it’s hard to justify spending that much on a rookie. You can pick up his new teammates Michael Gibbons and Liam Stocker for about $20,000 more than Walsh on his own.
Batten: His highlights from last week’s scratch match brought a smile to Carlton fans and SuperCoaches alike. While expensive rookies can often be a trap in this game, Walsh is just about a sure thing to have an impact from day dot.
Dunn: He is just the type of player that Carlton are desperate for and that is good news for SuperCoaches. Walsh should be given plenty of game time and this will see him be one of the most important rookies of the season. He should provide us with consistent scoring and may end up being one of those guys you keep as bench cover throughout the year.
JAKE LLOYD ($608,200, Def)
Phantom: Injury aside, it’s hard to see a 2019 season when the Swans star isn’t, again, the top-scoring SuperCoach defender, especially with the new kick-in stat ruling. And his Round 13 bye is easier to navigate, too. I’m happy to spend the cash.
Paton: Lock lock lock. Gets a ton of the ball, takes kick-ins. Next.
Gardiner: It was a choice between Lloyd and Rory Laird and I went with the Crows dasher instead. Six of one, half a dozen of the other.
Higgins: This could ruin my SuperCoach season but Lloyd isn’t currently in my team. We can’t fit every gun in and he’s right on top of my upgrade watchlist. That said, with a big JLT Series I’ll be forced to splash the cash and bring him in. Few defenders have such a SuperCoach friendly role as the Swans playmaker. Now or later, have a plan to bring him in.
Begala: He’s just the consummate professional and if you’re chasing overall rankings, I would suggest mortgaging the house and acquiring his services. Yes, he’ll likely dip in price, but you’ll be chasing the peloton from the get-go if you don’t splurge. The only scoring threat could be Jackson Thurlow, should he assume part-time kick-in duties.
Michell: I was burned big time last year not having Lloyd and won’t be making the same mistake again. He plays one of the most SuperCoach-friendly games of any player and the new kick-in rules should only help his scoring. Whether I can start him and Rory Laird is the biggest issue in defence.
Batten: Was late to the Lloyd party in 2018 and paid the price. I’m not making the same mistake this year.
Dunn: Lock and load. Lloyd will be one of the most selected players and one of the biggest locks of the season in defence. Look for him to continue his run from last season and he will be one of those players that most teams will have and if you don’t have him you could get left behind. The new kick in rules should only enhance his scoring. Locked in my team.
JOSH DUNKLEY ($516,300, Mid-Fwd)
Phantom: The 22-year-old averaged 29 disposals, 11 contested possessions, seven tackles and 116 points per game from Round 15 onwards. And in the final five rounds of the year, only Brodie Grundy, Jack Macrae and Patrick Dangerfield scored more points. Only a Luke Beveridge coaching move in the JLT Series to could move him out.
Paton: I was a year early on Dunkley, picking him in my starting squad last year then trading him out before he went berserk when Bevo moved him into the guts. If he starts there in Round 1 he’ll be a points machine. But I don’t trust the Bulldogs coach.
Gardiner: Powered to the post last season, finishing the home-and-away season with six straight tons, which is usually a good indication for the following season, but again, a touch too rich for Gilbert Guidance’s consideration. Want to see the Dogs get their act together before cherry picking too many out of Whitten Oval.
Higgins: Not for me. The Bulldogs midfield is a revolving door of players - just look at Toby McLean in the second half of last year - and there are better options available. Tom Liberatore’s return
Begala: Lock. The young buck averaged a whopping 127 points across his final six games and it would be remiss of investors to overlook a trend as striking as this. Dunkley broke out BIG time. If the return of Tom Liberatore doesn’t thwart his midfield opportunities, I think he’ll be entrenched among the top-six forwards.
Michell: A brilliant finish to 2018 should have the tough Bulldog on your radar, but I want to see a greater sample size before I’ll consider him at that price. I’d prefer to pay the big dollars for proven players such as Isaac Heeney and Sam Menegola.
Batten: You can’t ignore his finish to 2018, amassing six straight tons as his ball-winning ability grew in spades. Will spend plenty of time in the guts and at 22, he should only get better.
Dunn: Dunkley announced himself in the back half of last season and came home like a steam train. Look for him to continue this form if he can maintain a spot in the midfield rotations. Combine that with the ability to select him up forward, he should be very popular in starting squads. I will consider him but want to see his role before selecting him.
JAMES SICILY ($570,400, Def)
Phantom: The fourth-highest averaging defender last season but can we trust him to stay on the park? And what can we take from his comments about a potential - albeit slight - role change? I’m happy to wait-and-see on this one.
Paton: Missed games are the only worry because he ticks every other box. Loves a long kick-in which should mean extra points under the new rules.
Gardiner: A popular pick last season - as a dual position threat - but spending $570,400 on firebrand Sicily as a stand-alone defender is a recipe for list management disaster.
Higgins: I like him as a SuperCoach pick, I really do, and I think he’ll be a big POD to start the year. After copping a talking to from Clarko last year after two suspensions, I think his brain snaps are behind him. I’ll need to see how he fares in the JLT Series before committing.
Begala: The Sicilian has no ceiling on his scoring potential, but the plethora of running defenders (Laird, Lloyd & Simpson) and midfielders (Whitfield) pressing their case for selection leaves quite the challenge fitting Sicily into the mix. He is, however, the quarterback of the Hawthorn defence and a certainty to thrive under the new kick-in rules.
Michell: Sicily was one of my best starting selections last year, but the odd brain fade and trip to the tribunal made him frustrating to own. I think him and Lloyd will vie for the title of No.1 scoring defender this year if Sicily stays on the park for a full season, but that is a huge question mark. I can’t start him based on that disciplinary record.
Batten: Brain snaps aside, Sicily is a scoring machine. His intercepting is invaluable and he will take the bulk of Hawthorn’s kick-ins. It’s a yes from me.
Dunn: Sicily should be one of the big beneficiaries from the new kick-in rules. This, along with his breakout scoring from last season should see him as one of the more popular players in 2019. While he did get a couple of suspensions last year, he stayed out of trouble after the second suspension and only missed games after that due to an injury.
STARTING RUCK STRATEGY
Phantom: Can I choose just one ruckman? Brodie Grundy is locked in but the R2 position - like it is for many SuperCoach teams - is a revolving door. Darcy Fort is currently there so I’m hoping for a Round 1 debut but it makes me nervous just thinking about it.
Paton: Currently I have Grundy and Gawn but it’s far from set in stone, especially with Braydon Preuss lurking and ready to steal Max’s points. With many other teams thinking of a similar set-up it might be smart to find one of the few rucks who will fly solo. Hello Todd Goldstein?
Gardiner: Sticking fat with Gilbert’s Guidance stalwarts Max Gawn and Todd Goldstein. Set and forget.
Higgins: I’m splashing the cash on Brodie Grundy and Max Gawn. Obviously, Gawn is the main concern with Brayden Preuss expected to figure as a back-up big man but like Nic Naitanui (Scott Lycett) and Grundy himself (Mason Cox), I don’t see his scoring falling too far with the former Kangaroo in the team.
Begala: Grundy. Gawn. Daylight. Fort. End of story? I’m chasing overall rankings and expect both, Grundy and Gawn, to average 130-plus in 2019. The only issue is the lingering shadow of Braydon Preuss and whether he lines up alongside the reigning All-Australian ruckman this season. It’s going to come down to the wire at team selection for Round 1.
Michell: Grundy and Gawn. Take out Tom Mitchell and these two scored almost 200 points than the next best player last season. If you start with another ruckman at R2 you’ll only burn a trade to bring Grundy or Gawn in at some point. These guys are as good as any premium midfielders, if not better.
Batten: Max Gawn and Todd Goldstein at this stage after an interrupted pre-season for Brodie Grundy, and banking the extra cash for my defence. Watch me swap out Goldy for Grundy in an instant if he punches out two 120s in the JLT.
Dunn: I will be staying safe in the rucks. Grundy and either Gawn or Goldstein for me. I am a big fan of set and forget in the rucks and I don’t want to be using any trades there if I don’t have to. Grundy is an absolute lock and worth paying the money for. I want to see Gawn in the JLT and how Preuss is used. Once I see that I will make a choice on him or Goldy.
Originally published as Our experts have their say on some of SuperCoach’s biggest names
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