SuperCoach AFL pre-season news: Key training notes from the track
As pre-season ramps up and the practice matches draw closer, the SuperCoach whispers are coming thick and fast from around the country. We’ve compiled everything you need to know.
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Pre-season watch is on in earnest as SuperCoaches count down to the first bounce of the new season on March 14.
Of course, the season gets underway a week before with opening round — which will give SuperCoaches a valuable insight into players from eight teams before the game launches in round 1.
But before then, it’s crucial to stay across the latest injury, training and positional news to ensure you hit the ground running in SuperCoach this year.
Here are the latest match sim and training notes from around the country with SuperCoach implications:
ADELAIDE
The big watch at the injury-hit Crows is top-10 draftee and popular SuperCoach selection Daniel Curtin, who has been managed closely after jarring his knee during his first AFL pre-season. Curtin ($175,800 DEF-MID) has been on light duties but rejoined the main group this week in a positive sign — however, he was held out of match sim. Meanwhile, Josh Rachele’s ($413,300 FWD) mooted midfield move looks set to eventuate — although it’s more likely to be cameos than a full-time role. He’s one to monitor for your forward lines in SuperCoach Draft.
WEST COAST
Harley Reid ($207,300 FWD-MID) reportedly suffered a leg issue at training this week in a worrying sign for already stretched SuperCoach forward lines. Channel 10 reported the No. 1 draft pick “pulled out of the main session with what appeared to be leg soreness”. Let’s hope it’s just precautionary. If you’re feeling risky with the extra trades this year, Elliot Yeo ($447,100 DEF-MID) is dominating in the midfield.
.@WestCoastEagles training sights
— Ashleigh Nelson (@ashnelson08) February 5, 2024
- Jack Darling light duties as he recovers from a hamstring injury
- Harley Reid pulled out of main session - with what appeared to be leg soreness
- Dom Sheed and Liam Ryan continue to "hang out" in the rehab group. @10NewsFirstPERpic.twitter.com/mOXQP0qi8H
GEELONG
Cats skipper Patrick Dangerfield has given an update on two key Cats for SuperCoach — Cameron Guthrie and Shaun Mannagh. On Guthrie ($420,800 MID), Dangerfield told SuperCoach’s own Dan Batten: “(Guthrie) spent some time in the states over in the off-season, spent some time training with some NFL quarterbacks and you’d think for someone who had been away for some time, his first session back he was pretty much best on track.” Guthrie was restricted to six games last year after requiring toe surgery. On Mannagh ($117,300 FWD-MID), he added: “ … he is ready to go and we feel like he can have a big influence on the way that we play. “Really composed, beautifully clean off his feet — as you’d expect from someone who is four foot two. But we’ve got high hopes for him.” Max Holmes ($446,000 MID) has also been spotted at halfback in a sign the Cats might be planning for Tom Stewart’s extra midfield minutes.
PORT ADELAIDE
The Ollie Wines midfield experiment is over. The Power have trialled Tom Clurey ($145,900 DEF) and more recently Mitch Georgiades ($230,800 FWD) on a wing as they continue to experiment after Xavier Duursma’s move to Essendon. But Port has been emphatic that Wines will be part of its engine room again this year and he could represent great SuperCoach value at $463,600. Last year was Wines’ worst average since 2013 (83) after three consecutive seasons at 104.3 points a game or better. Wines has played alongside Zak Butters, Connor Rozee and Jason Horne-Francis in the first-choice midfield. Jase Burgoyne ($179,700 DEF) is another contender for the wing role.
NORTH MELBOURNE
Alarm bells are ringing after No. 3 draftee Zane Duursma ($193,800 FWD-MID) declared he would play most of his maiden AFL campaign as a forward. While Colby McKercher ($202,800 MID) looks set to emulate Harry Sheezel by slotting in at halfback, Duursma said this week: “I’m predominantly going to play forward this year, whether I get pushed up into the midfield, I don’t really know yet.” With so many forward rookies to choose from, a forward role in a team expected to struggle again might be reason enough to scratch Duursma from your initial plans. In more positive news, Zac Fisher is building back to full training after a hamstring scare and Tristan Xerri is on track for round 1 after eye surgery.
COLLINGWOOD
The hardest team in the league to crack into but youngsters Reef McInnes ($123,900 FWD), Finlay Macrae ($152,600 FWD) and Ed Allan ($123,900 MID) have done their chances of an opening round berth no harm this off-season. Macrae and Allan appear the leading contenders to fill the role vacated by Taylor Adams’ trade to Sydney. One track watcher noted McInnes kicked at least five goals during a recent match sim.
HAWTHORN
Dan Batten went and spied on the Hawks for us when they were in his new haunt Geelong recently. He came away with the news that Karl Amon’s ($483,300 MID) defensive switch is all but confirmed. Amon was prolific behind the ball in the last month of 2023. Changkuoth Jiath ($347,900 DEF) has been moved to a wing in the reshuffle. Connor Macdonald ($381,400 FWD) is a mid-pricer SuperCoaches have zoned in on, but top-10 draftee Cam Mackenzie ($271,500 FWD) is also winning plenty of admirers for his midfield work. Bailey Macdonald ($174,100 DEF) has impressed playing at halfback.
WESTERN BULLDOGS
Is James Harmes ($258,300 FWD-MID) the solution to our forward line problems? Harmes featured forward and in midfield during a recent hitout during which he kicked four goals. And he recently told the AFL website: “I will most likely play as an inside mid. That’s where I’ve trained all pre-season,” he said. “I’ll spend a fair bit of time playing as that high half-forward as well, which I’m happy to do.” Tim English ($715,100 RUC) is back in full training after having his pre-season hampered by migraine symptoms.
SYDNEY
Captain Callum Mills ($490,300 MID) is back in non-contact training and being backed to bring forward his return from a shoulder injury. But perhaps the greatest interest from the Swans is a role change for one of last year’s popular SuperCoach rookies Matt Roberts ($156,800 MID). Roberts has been showing polish playing off halfback after being regarded as an inside midfielder since joining Sydney. Our man on the spot Lachlan McKirdy has Roberts in his best 23 for opening round, which you can view here. James Jordon ($275,500 FWD-MID) appears to have been earmarked for a wing after his move from Melbourne.
GWS GIANTS
First-round draftee Darcy Jones ($123,900, FWD) is winning rave reviews as he ramps up his recovery from an ACL injury which cut short his debut season. Despite the setback, Jones has almost completed a full pre-season and Lachie McKirdy expects him to be a strong chance of an opening round debut.
GOLD COAST
After 166 games and 162 goals as a small forward, Alex Sexton ($133,400 FWD) has been reborn as a defender in one of the surprise moves of the off-season. Damien Hardwick has clearly been putting his stamp on the Suns and this move could make a big difference to his SuperCoach scoring. Sexton has never averaged more than 65.4 in a season.
FREMANTLE
In Fremantle’s most recent match sim, Heath Chapman ($251,700 DEF) was back playing in defence after being used on a wing during pre-season. Fremantle’s wing roles have been a big watch for SuperCoaches this off-season after the departure of Liam Henry. Two rookies have emerged as potential round 1 bolters — ex-Gold Coast Sun Jeremy Sharp ($123,900 MID) and a player regarded one of the steals of last year’s draft Cooper Simpson ($117,300 FWD-MID). Then of course there’s Nat Fyfe ($283,200 FWD-MID) who is back playing full-time midfield and — so far — injury-free.
RICHMOND
Tom Lynch ($287,300 FWD) has been ruled out of round 0, but more importantly expects to be fit for round 1 when SuperCoach gets underway. Thomson Dow ($254,800 MID) is shaping as a mid-price breakout contender after shining in Adem Yze’s first pre-season in charge at Punt Road. Could he partner Tim Taranto and Jacob Hopper at the opening bounce in round 0? Dustin Martin ($527,300 FWD) is back in midfield and Steely Green ($123,900 FWD) might be the man to take his spot in attack after booting four goals during match sim in late January.
MELBOURNE
Trent Rivers’ ($474,100 DEF) midfield switch has stolen the headlines, but track watchers have noted Bailey Laurie ($125,200 FWD) as another player pushing for a spot in the Demons’ midfield rotation. Laurie averaged 96 ranking points and 23 disposals in 15 VFL matches last year.
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