SuperCoach 2019: Herald Sun experts reveal their starting squads
Today is the day! The 2019 AFL SuperCoach season kicks off at the MCG. We know it has been a long summer, so to help you pick a team we have collated our experts’ line-ups.
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The wait is finally over!
The 2019 AFL SuperCoach season kicks off tonight at 7.25pm — when Patrick Cripps bursts out of the centre square and hits Michael Gibbons on the chest.
Wouldn’t it be nice?
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OK, so we know it has been a long off-season — planning and plotting in pursuit of SuperCoach immortality — so to make picking your team that little bit easier we have put our experts’ teams in the one place for your viewing pleasure.
AL PATON
Pick Brodie Grundy and Max Gawn then figure out how much money you’ve got left for other positions.
That was Al Paton’s philosophy and it has resulted in a team with a rookie-heavy backline, where he’s hoping the likes of Sam Collins, Jordan Clark and Xavier Duursma can deliver consistent scores on the field.
The midfield is ready to smash out big scores and up forward Fremantle veteran David Mundy — currently in just 2 per cent of teams — is Al's big point of difference.
See his full explanation here.
THE PHANTOM
He’s been pumping them up all season and South Australia’s SuperCoach expert is sticking to his guns on Nic Newman and Tim Taranto.
He declared Newman a certain top-eight defender after the first game of the JLT Series and is tipping Taranto to explode as he steps into the role vacated by Dylan Shiel in the GWS midfield.
See his full explanation here.
MARK ROBINSON
The Herald Sun chief football writer has thrown out the playbook this season.
He says he’s sick of finishing 3rd-6th in the office league and is trying something totally different.
His very high risk, high reward strategy includes unique picks like Steele Sidebottom, Tom Rockliff and JLT Series star Dom Sheed, plus injury risks like Brad Crouch and Toby Greene (we suspect there will be a late change to replace Joe Daniher).
See his full explanation here.
GILBERT GARDINER
After declaring he had a perfect team after SuperCoach opened in January, SuperCoaches Box podcast co-host Gilbert Gardiner has made mass changes to his squad.
He’s banking on four rookies on field in defence and favourite Todd Goldstein in the ruck to free up cash for an all-star midfield led by Jack Macrae and Patrick Cripps.
Adam Treloar is a great point of difference.
My 2019 #SuperCoach team (picked in December @superfooty) vs the* Round 1 squad.
— Gilbert Gardiner (@gilbertgardiner) March 19, 2019
So much for not making any changes.
https://t.co/6sM3r4hFiQ
* bench spots may change upon #AFL selection pic.twitter.com/3lMWYc1dit
JONATHAN BROWN
Browny has made some last-minute changes to get Browny’s Bruisers cherry ripe for Round 1.
Injured Bomber Joe Daniher is out and so is star Crows onballer Rory Sloane.
As Brown explains: “Sorry Rory, it’s not you, it’s me. Well, it’s actually that bloody SuperCoach salary cap.”
See his full explanation here.
FANTASY FREAKO
Champion Data’s SuperCoach expert @FantasyFreako is going with a guns and rookies approach, but he has been seduced by Adelaide’s barnstorming pre-season to take a chance on mid-price risks Brodie Smith and Brad Crouch.
He’s also a fan of young Hawk James Cousins who is set to step up in a midfield missing Tom Mitchell.
Speaking of risks, Jack Billings is sitting in the forward line after a close look at pre-season numbers reveals a likely return to the midfield this season.
See his full explanation here.
BEN HIGGINS
The SuperCoaches Box Podcast co-host is keeping the faith with his early tip Anthony Miles, despite an underwhelming pre-season.
The Bulldogs fan is also sticking to his guns on his call to not pick anyone from the kennel - so that’s no Jack Macrae, no Tim Liberatore and no Josh Dunkley., Will that come back to bite him?
Happy Round 1 Day!
— Ben Higgins (@ben_higgins84) March 20, 2019
To celebrate here is my less-than-much-anticipated #SuperCoach team.
**I reserve the right to make changes before Friday night. pic.twitter.com/6EAlaK2HgK
SCOTT GULLAN
The Herald Sun reporter and author of The Score column has backed in forgotten men coming back from injury at a bargain price.
Geelong defender Harry Taylor is just $262,800 but scored over 100 points against Essendon in the JLT Series.
One thing is for certain, he’ll get a lot of points out of that midfield.
DEFENCE
Rory Laird, Zac Williams, Brodie Smith, Harry Taylor, Matthew Broadbent, Jordan Clark.
Bench: Xavier Duursma, Isaac Quaynor
MIDFIELD
Patrick Cripps, Clayton Oliver, Nat Fyfe, Dustin Martin, Angus Brayshaw, Brad Crouch, Tom Liberatore, Sam Walsh.
Bench: Zak Butters, Tom Atkins, Michael Gibbons
RUCKS
Max Gawn, Tim English.
Bench: Austin Bradtke
FORWARDS
Patrick Dangerfield, Robbie Gray, James Worpel, Darcy Moore, Will Setterfield, Matt Parker.
Bench: Jack Petruccelle, Noah Balta
JON RALPH
Ralphy is putting his faith on Collingwood’s medical team to carry him to SuperCoach success this year.
He’s picked Darcy Moore and Jamie Elliott in his forward line — both very cheap but with a troubled injury history.
He’s backing Saint Jade Gresham to have a breakout year and Tiger Jayden Short to cash in on the kick-in rules.
So my Saints mate wants to know who to pick in SuperCoach.... So many great cheat sheets on superfooty but here is my team. Happy for it to be torn down by the experts! Sign up here https://t.co/kOnU7Aj0qV pic.twitter.com/ybS6NeCd4C
— Jon Ralph (@RalphyHeraldSun) March 20, 2019
TIM MICHELL
The newest member of the SuperFooty team has adopted a guns and rookies approach across the field, dodging mid-price risks like Tom Liberatore and Brodie Smith.
That means his team is stacked with high-scoring guns and there are three rookies on the field in defence, midfield — if you count $219k Hawk James Cousins — and the forward line.
If the risky mid-pricers bomb, Tim could do a Steven Bradbury!
Here it is! My #supercoach team for 2019 (pending team selections). Good luck to all those playing and be sure to give our final countdown @Supercoach Box podcast a listen - https://t.co/LcUBrEw0iR pic.twitter.com/h39ifMqk62
— Tim Michell (@tim_michell) March 20, 2019
LAUREN WOOD
Herald Sun reporter Lauren Wood — who already has one Herald Sun office premiership in her trophy cabinet — is set to get off to a flyer tonight with eight Richmond and Carlton players in her side.
She’s hoping superstar Richmond recruit Tom Lynch fires first up, Nic Newman slots seamlessly into the Carlton backline and Angus Brayshaw explodes to premium status for the Demons.
KnockOnWood is finally sorted for #SuperCoach after consulting the
— Lauren Wood (@LaurenHeraldSun) March 20, 2019
cash cow bible: https://t.co/FeoEegNIUb
and 5-minute cheat sheet: https://t.co/wEW80q0Rk7
Banter already beginning among @superfooty leagues...get on board. pic.twitter.com/9q1oaLT4TD
Originally published as SuperCoach 2019: Herald Sun experts reveal their starting squads
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