SuperCoach 2025: Most popular picks in every position

See exclusive ownership numbers for the all-new Flex position in SuperCoach AFL plus the most popular picks on every line to help guide your team selection choices.

One strategy has emerged as the clear frontrunner to maximise the new Flex position in SuperCoach.

The Flex is a 31st player in SuperCoach squads, and can be drawn from any position on the ground.

In its first season there are several theories – all unproven – on how to make the most of the rule change, including selecting dual-position players, volatile scorers or an extra cash generator.

But coaches have settled on the opportunity to select an extra ruckman – and the most popular Flex pick could also be a huge cash cow in 2025.

Former Giant Matt Flynn moved to West Coast at the end of 2023 but his first season in the west was wiped out by injuries. He’s back on the track this pre-season and aiming to take the No.1 ruck spot from Bailey Williams. If he does, he could be one of the best value selections in fantasy at a starting price of just $261,900.

Almost 10 per cent of coaches have Flynn in the Flex spot as we approach full-scale practice matches, while another ruckman, Tom De Koning, is also in the top five most popular Flex selections.

Coaches bypassing a fourth ruckman are mostly picking an extra rookie, with Lion Levi Ashcroft the pick of the bunch.

DEFENCE

A trio of rookies feature in most backlines, led by West Coast’s top draft pick Bo Allan.

Coaches are banking on Essendon’s 2024 mid-season draft recruit Saad El-Hawli cracking the best 23 - we’ll find out in Opening Round - and St Kilda flyer Tobie Travaglia repeating the heroics of Darcy Wilson last season.

Speaking of Bombers, Zach Reid could be a great bench option if he can finally beat his injury demons, but there are injury clouds over Keidean Coleman, Jack Sinclair and Sam Flanders.

Max Holmes is the bolter after being a major point of difference last year.

MIDFIELD

Rookies top the charts again in the midfield, with No.3 draft pick Jagga Smith pushing for a start in the centre square against Richmond.

Levi Ashcroft is a close watch as he works up his match fitness following shoulder surgery. The Lions don’t need to rush the father-son gun.

He’s one of two members of the Ashcroft family in the top 10, with Norm Smith medallist Will coming in at No.9.

More than 50 per cent of coaches are prepared to pay top dollar for Marcus Bontempelli while just under half can’t ignore Clayton Oliver’s bargain price – $223,000 cheaper than this time last year.

RUCKS

Max Gawn is yesterday’s man.

That’s the message from SuperCoaches, who have switched their allegiances to Kangaroo Tristan Xerri after he powered home with an average of 130 points a game after last season’s mid-year bye.

Gawn is the sixth most popular ruck pick in the pre-season, and the third in the premium category behind Xerri and Tom De Koning.

The other two rucks above Gawn - who was the No.1 averaging ruck last season (124) and averaged at least 113 in six of the past seven seasons - are cheapies Harry Boyd and Matt Flynn.

Boyd blitzed the SANFL last season - averaging over 150 SuperCoach points per game on his way to the Magarey Medal - before joining the Saints during the supplemental selection period.

FORWARDS

Caleb Daniel and Bailey Smith are the most popular player in SuperCoach five weeks from round 1, while Jack Macrae comes in at No.5 overall.

That means a lot of SuperCoach forward lines will look very similar, at least to start the season.

Luckless Eagles young gun Elijah Hewett has been starring in match simulation after injury wrecked his 2024 campaign, while Isaac Kako looks the safest bet of the new draft contingent to line up in the early rounds - his mix of forward craft and X-factor is exactly what Essendon needs.

Originally published as SuperCoach 2025: Most popular picks in every position