SuperCoach AFL stats dossier: Full CBAs, kick-ins, time on ground for round 16, top captain picks for round 17
Bailey Smith and Max Holmes are prime captain picks in round 17. How do you split them – and can the Bont beat them both? See all the best options here, and who to avoid.
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Can there be too much of a good thing when it comes to captaincy options in SuperCoach?
With all nine teams back in action for round 17, coaches have plenty to potential high scorers to pick from – and some of them feature in the same game.
On Thursday night Marcus Bontempelli and Tristan Xerri could both put up big numbers when the Dogs and Kangaroos clash, and on Saturday Bailey Smith and Max Holmes are both prime candidates against Richmond.
The Tigers are on a six-game losing streak, in in their past three matches a remarkable 22 opposition players have scored over 100 SuperCoach points against the Tigers (compared to seven Richmond players in the same period) – including Marcus Bontempelli (177), Dan Curtin (153), Isaac Heeney (123) and Sam Davidson (109) .
SCROLL DOWN FOR HARRY SHEEZEL STATS + FULL CBAs, KICK-INS
Over the season Richmond has conceded the third most points to midfielders, so this is a great game to target – but splitting the “Dash brothers” isn’t easy.
Smith has the higher season average (117.6 v 111.2) but Holmes is in better recent form (five round average 130 v 120). The teams meet at GMHBA Stadium, where Smith averages 122 from five games this year v Holmes 120 from six games. Smith’s top three scores for the season are 156, 154 and 147. Holmes’ are 155, 152, 147. Recent form against Richmond is hard to judge – Holmes scored 133 against the Tigers last year but Smith hasn’t faced them since 2023, when he scored 59 as a Bulldog.
Aside from a relatively quiet 28-disposal game against his nemesis Brisbane Lions (the toughest match-up for mids), Smith hasn’t had under 30 touches since round 7. It’s safe to say he’ll get plenty of the footy; his SuperCoach score will be decided by how many targets he hits. Smith’s overall kicking efficiency for the season is 53 per cent, third lowest at Geelong (only Ollie Dempsey and Patrick Dangerfield are lower). In his two 150-plus SuperCoach games in round 9 and 10, Smith hit 65 and 68 per cent kicking efficiency. How long with Richmond’s resistence last and how much pressure can the Tigers apply? The answer could determind how big Smith can go.
WHO TO TARGET THIS WEEK
Midfielders v Melbourne, West Coast, Richmond, Collingwood: Jordan Dawson and Tom Green are good options, and the opportunity is there for an Adam Cerra bounce-back. North Melbourne is the sixth best match-up for midfielders and Marcus Bontempelli’s past three scores against the Roos are 123, 157 and 169. Carlton is a neutral match-up for midfielders but Nick Daicos has copped attention in recent meetings, scoring 94 and 101. Having said that, he loves the Friday night stage and has hit form with 157 and 131 in hipast two outings.
Rucks v West Coast, Geelong, Western Bulldogs, Hawthorn: This could be big for Nic Madden owners if Kieren Briggs isn’t passed fit to return this week. Tristan Xerri is in a rare down patch – three-round average 98 – but he has a great match-up in the Bulldogs, who have conceded the fourth most points to opposition rucks this year. Xerri scored 122 against Tim English in round 1 this year and 141 twice last season.
Rowan Marshall is a rollercoaster but he’s fresh off a 159 and scored 164 the last time he played Hawthorn.
General defenders v Gold Coast, St Kilda, Richmond, Collingwood: Tom Stewart could have a field day against the Tigers, while whoever replaces Adam Saad could do well. West Coast is the fifth best match-up for generald defenders – with no Lachie Whitfield, expect Lachie Ash to go ham.
WHO TO AVOID THIS WEEK
Midfielders v Brisbane Lions, Gold Coast, Western Bulldogs, Fremantle: Zak Butters faces teh toughest midfield match-up in the comp; he averages 113 in his past three against the Lions. Zach Merrett, Isaac Heeney and Harry Sheezel – depending where he lines up – could face tough weeks.
Rucks v Brisbane, Sydney, Adelaide: The Crows are the big watch here, coming up against Melbourne on Sunday with the third most restrictive ruckman in the game. But Max Gawn has a good record against Reilly O’Brien, scoring 129, 120 and 124 in his past three.
General defenders v Carlton, GWS, Essendon, Western Bulldogs: Tom McCarthy needs to score about 105 to break Errol Gulden’s all-time record for the highest first price change in SuperCoach history – and the match-ups could be against him. The Dogs have been hard to score against for half-backs, which could hurt Colby McKercher and Caleb Daniel.
AL’S TOP CAPTAIN PICKS
1. Bailey Smith
2. Marcus Bontempelli
3. Max Holmes
4. Tristan Xerri
5. Nick Daicos
STATS DEEP DIVE: WHAT’S GOING ON WITH HARRY SHEEZEL’S ROLE?
Harry Sheezel’s magnet has been one of the most talked about in the AFL this season.
Attracting the attention of Kane Cornes mid-season, Sheezel is a weapon wherever he plays. And North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson is still trying to find the role that maximises his value to the Kangaroos.
SCROLL DOWN FOR FULL CBAs, KICK-INS & TIME ON GROUND STATS
For the first six rounds he played mostly as a midfielder, with some stints forward and occasionally in defence. For three weeks, from round 7-9, he spent almost 100 per cent of game time in the backline. And since round 10 he has played more as a forward with stints on ball.
Overall this season, Sheezel has played 25 per cent game time in defence, 38 per cent in the midfield and 37 per cent forward (if those numbers continue, he’ll be a MID-FWD in SuperCoach next year).
On Saturday against Hawthorn his role was essentially the same as it has been for the past six weeks, attending eight centre bounces – a slight uptick from the week before but slightly down on his mid time from rounds 10-14.
Luke Davies-Uniacke has been the No.1 man in the centre square for North Melbourne all year, and he was at 82 per cent of CBAs in Launceston. Luke Parker had a big jump in CBAs against Hawthorn (82 per cent) while Tom Powell’s CBAs dipped and George Wardlaw’s mid time crashed after injury ended his day early.
Sheezel had just eight kicks and a season-low 60 SuperCoach points, his lowest score since round 21, 2023 and the third lowest of his 58-game career.
His role will continue to be a matter of debate in the footy world, but sometimes you just have a shocker.
Search CBAs, kick-ins and time on ground for every player at the weekend below, plus the big movers and sliders from round 16.
To see full stats read this article at CODE SPORTS.
Originally published as SuperCoach AFL stats dossier: Full CBAs, kick-ins, time on ground for round 16, top captain picks for round 17
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