AFL round 15: SuperCoach scores and key moments from Sunday’s games
Zach Merrett dominated against West Coast – again – but a Gold Coast SuperCoach gun has a major problem. See all the fantasy news and analysis from two big Sunday games here.
AFL
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Essendon is in the top four and Fremantle is fifth after the final two games of round 15.
It was a mixed bag for SuperCoach stars. See the key takeaways here and scroll down to recap all the Sunday action.
ZACH’S BUNNY
My friend and colleague Tim Michell wrote a preview for today’s Essendon v West Coast game comparing Zach Merrett to Shane Warne and the Eagles to Daryll Cullinan. And that’s how it played out again as the Bombers skipper romped to 135 SuperCoach points. That backs up scores of 121, 143 and 110 in his previous three games against the Eagles. The key to Merrett’s score on Sunday was his sublime disposal setting up repeated Essendon scores, including three goals in the last quarter.
SUB PAIN
It wasn’t a great weekend for SuperCoach rookies and the sub vest. First Kynan Brown copped it on Saturday night then Jack Hutchinson (West Coast) and Karl Worner (Fremantle) started as the sub on Sunday. With no early injuries the trio had limited time on ground; Hutchinson finished with two dispoals and six SuperCoach points. Worner scored 19 points from five last-quarter touches.
ROWELL TRAVEL SICK
Matt Rowell’s scoring away from home has become a real issue for his 41,000 SuperCoach owners. His monster scores early in the season all came at People First Stadium and he has struggled to reproduce that form away from home, with just three 100-plus scores at other venues. He started on fire in Perth with a string of centre clearances but went stone cold until some late touches helped him to a final total of 82 points – his fourth score of 83 or lower in his past seven matches.
6:36pm: DOCKERS WIN
It wasn’t the most convincing performance but Freantle has accounted for Gold Coast by 20 points.
6:25pm: SUNS’ LATE CHARGE
Super sub Brandon Ellis snaps truly and from nowhere Gold Coast is making a late charge.
The margin is back to 15 points with six minutes left.
Could they pull it off?
6:22pm: YOUNG GUN
It’s been tough going for several SuperCoach stars but Hayden Young isn’t one of them.
He has kicked three goals from his 24 touches and 126 SuperCoach points.
6:10pm: SUBS ACTIVATED
Popular SuperCoach rookie Karl Worner is into the game, with Alex Pearce subbed out injured.
Earlier, Brandon Ellis replaced Bailey Humphrey (tactical) for the Suns.
6:05pm: THREE QUARTER-TIME
Some popular SuperCoach picks continue to battle, with Matt Rowell (56 points), Luke Jackson (53) and Nat Fyfe (36) fighting to make the best 18 scorers for many teams.
Luke Ryan has 64 points, well down on his best but not a total disaster considering Gold Coast has kicked just two behinds for the game.
5.50pm: TREACY’S TICKS
Fremantle have a gem in Josh Treacy. He’s bowled through Sam Collins and Bodhi Uwland on the forward flank to set up what should have been a goal had Sam Sturt’s shot not gone wide.
Moments later he’s taken a big contested mark against Mac Andrew and turned and speared the ball into Sturt again, who converts.
The Dockers have well and truly put the Suns away this quarter, with a 32-point lead despite the best efforts of Matt Rowell and Sam Flanders.
Rowell hasn’t had the reward on the stats sheet, with 52 SuperCoach points, while Flanders has hit 80.
Sean Darcy and Andy Brayshaw have cracked three figures for the Dockers, on 114 and 106 respectively.
5:26pm: CLARK OFF TO THE RACES
SuperCoach points are awarded for running bounces, and Jordan Clark just racked up a pile of them after running on to a Luke Ryan handball just outside the defensive 50 and going on an epic five-bounce run down the wing before delivering a perfect pass to Andy Brayshaw for the first goal of the second half.
5:08pm: HALFTIME
Big Sean Darcy putting in one of his monster SuperCoach games – if only he wasn’t so injury prone.
Luke Jackson has still managed 44 points of his own so that’s a tick for Justin Longmuir’s two-ruck policy.
The big alarm bells at halftime are on Matt Rowell who is being comprehensively beaten in his head-to-head duel with Caleb Serong. Rowell has had just eight touches and 29 SuperCoach points in the first half. Serong has 18 touches, a goal and 68 points.
5:05pm: SEXTON STILL ALIVE
More than 100 coaches ranked in the top 1 per cent of SuperCoach traded out Alex Sexton this week after he was named on the bench following the return of Wil Powell.
But Sexton is showing he can still score with Powell in the side, racking up 44 points late in the first half.
Powell is flying – he’s the top-ranked Sun on 60 SuperCoach points.
4:44pm: RYAN ROBBED?
We’ve travelled six minutes into the second term and Gold Coast still has 2.0 (12) on the board – not a single opportunity for one of the biggest kick-in pigs in the competition, Luke Ryan.
He’s still travelling OK with 34 SuperCoach points. Caleb Serong has a goal in the second quarter to move to 49 points while Touk Miller (38) is finding plenty of it for the Suns.
UPDATE: The Suns have their first miss of the game and Ryan has his first kick-in, playing on and roosting it 60m to the wing. That’s what his SuperCoach owners love to see.
4:30pm: QUARTER-TIME
Lots of SuperCoach players in action and it’s been a mixed bag so far.
Matt Rowell dominated the early clearances but was quiet after that, getting caught holding the ball by Andy Brayshaw late in the quarter.
Luke Jackson (17 points) and Nat Fyfe (12) need to lift in the second term!
4:24pm: YOUNG GETS FREO’S FIRST
It’s been a battle for the home side, with just two behinds on the board until Hayden Young snaps truly with just under four minutes left in the first term.
He has 24 SuperCoach points but some other popular picks are finding it hard going – Nat Fyfe has seven points, Luke Jackson 13 and Caleb Serong 17.
Young goes forward and kicks a hard-earned ripper! 💥#AFLFreoSunspic.twitter.com/f7szz6D5EF
— AFL (@AFL) June 23, 2024
4:10pm: SUNS’ HOT START
Gold Coast has the first two goals and leads inside-50s 7-2 after five minutes in Perth.
Sam Day and Jack Lukosius are the goalkickers.
Matt Rowell has shot out of the gates with four disposals, three clearances and 24 SuperCoach points.
3:49pm: BOMBERS WIN
The Eagles fought hard all day but Essendon is home – and into the top three on the ladder.
A string of goal assists in the final term propelled Zach Merrett to another big score against the Eagles, while Elliot Yeo was massive dall day.
Not many disappointing scores today unless you were relying on Eagles bargain basement rookie Jack Hutchinson – he scored five points after starting as the sub.
3:37pm: MERRETT THROW ASSIST?
Jye Caldwell and Elliot Yeo have gone head-to-head all day in an epic midfield duel. Yeo has been best on ground but Caldwell has been great as well, capping his game off with a brilliant running goal.
The assist came via slick hands from Zach Merrett ... so slick that on replay he would get a game for Melbourne storm.
Jye Caldwell has been immense today! 😤#AFLDonsEaglespic.twitter.com/NZ6SM6yibx
— AFL (@AFL) June 23, 2024
umpire right there btw... #AFLDonsEaglespic.twitter.com/JfcsuDQo3Y
— bear 🧸 (@beartorius) June 23, 2024
3:30pm: SUBS ARE GO
Both subs are now on the field. Jack Hutchinson comes on with eight minutes to play, replacing Ryan Maric. Jye Menzie took off the sub vest earlier this term, with Nik Cox subbed out for Essendon.
3:27pm: MARTIN MOTORING
Nic Martin started slowly but he’s been fantastic since, kicking at 92 per cent efficiency to power to 102 SuperCoach points – just one behind Zach Merrett.
3:25pm: IS THAT ENOUGH FOR DONS?
Matt Guelfi kicks Essendon 20 points clear with 12 minutes to play.
West Coast has responded all day, what have they got left?
Guelfi has been a surprise star with his 15 touches coming with two goals and maximum impact for 106 SuperCoach points.
3:13pm: FINAL TEAMS FOR DOCKERS v SUNS
There are no late changes for the final game of the round, but the news isn’t good for more than 27,000 SuperCoaches.
Karl Worner, the most traded in player this round, will start as the sub for Fremantle.
Veteran Brandon Ellis is Gold Coast’s sub.
3:10pm: THREE QUARTER-TIME
Elliot Yeo and Jake Stringer lead the way but there could be a lot more points up for grabs if this is a tight finish.
Crazy left-field potential SuperCoach bargain Liam Ryan has 76 points with a quarter to play.
One player who has been unusually quiet is Jordan Ridley, who came into the game with a three-round average of 128. So far he has 17 disposals, three marks and 54 points.
2:53pm: EAGLES WON’T GO AWAY
Just when Essendon had a little break, West Coast strikes back with goals to Oscar Allen and Elliot Yeo – who cracks the SuperCoach ton with his first of the game.
And add a third to Jack Petruccelle after a brilliant underground handball from Liam Ryan.
2:42pm: RYAN A SUPERCOACH STEAL?
We were suprised to see Liam Ryan starting the game in the centre square, but he has impressed in a new role mixing his time between the midfield and forward line.
He’s got 14 disposals for the game, six contested possessions, four clearances and 56 SuperCoach points.
He’s priced at just $270,200 in SuperCoach – could he be a sneaky bench player for the run home?
2:18pm: HALFTIME
Jake Stringer lands some late blows to give Essendon some breathing space at the main break after an entertaining first half.
Stringer has four goals and Zach Merrett has 16 disposals at 88 per cent efficiency plus a goal – but zero tackles so far.
2:08pm: CADDY RAISES ROOF
Essendon traded a second-round pick to move up the draft order last November to grab Nate Caddy with pick 10 – here’s why.
NATE CADDY TAKE A BOW! ðŸ˜#AFLDonsEaglespic.twitter.com/8z5Lzno00P
— AFL (@AFL) June 23, 2024
2:02pm: MARTIN GETS MOVING
Nic Martin has been busy in the second term with five disposals – all on target – and two marks to move to 37 SuperCoach points.
Zach Merrett leads all scorers with 66 points, just ahead of Elliot Yeo and Jeremy McGovern (64).
1:49pm: ZACH ATTACK
Essendon has the lead back early in the second-term thanks to a perfect strike from Zach Merrett.
That’s his 10th disposal of the game and he skips to a game-high 57 SuperCoach points.
Jeremy McGovern is the other big mover early in the second term, cashing in on Essendon’s four behinds – playing on from each kick-in and delivering 55m bombs to the wing.
1:38pm: QUARTER-TIME
Any Essendon fans who expected an easy win today won’t have enjoyed that first quarter, but it was entertaining goal-for-goal stuff for any neutrals watching.
Elliot Yeo has continued his brilliant season and Jye Caldwell is a great POD if you need to finish your forward line.
i have regrets reversing my Trades last Night
— The SCodfather (@magicmoments000) June 23, 2024
i Tink Caldwell is the real deal pic.twitter.com/pnzCGmDngP
1:27pm: MARTIN MISSING
It’s a slow start for Nic Martin. Starting at half-back, he’s had three disposals – all handballs – and just seven SuperCoach points.
1:25pm: EAGLES IN FRONT
Jamie Cripps has his first and West Coast has the lead – a great response under the roof.
Dwayne Russell on Fox Footy: “They’re getting a bit restless, the locals”.
1:11pm: THE WRIGHT STUFF
Peter Wright has kicked two goals in the first six minutes, both from deep in the forward pocket. For the first he screwed it around his body perfectly, No.2 was a textbook drop punt.
The Bombers have a handy early break and Wright has 39 SuperCoach points!
2MP on target early 🎯#AFLDonsEaglespic.twitter.com/ia0Pugq0aB
— AFL (@AFL) June 23, 2024
1:06pm: BOMBERS STRIKE FIRST
Essendon has the first goal of the game via Kyle Langford, set up with a beautiful pass from guess who – Zach Merrett.
He could be in for a big afternoon.
1:03pm: WRONG WAY, RYAN!
We’re away at Marvel Stadium with an unusual match-up in the centre square – Liam Ryan is standing next to Zach Merrett.
Ryan wins the first touch of the pair then turns and sprints 10m in the wrong direction before realising his mistake and doing a U-turn. Bizarre start!
12:20pm: BOMBERS LATE CHANGE
Essendon has swung a late change, with Nate Caddy replacing Todd Goldstein (managed). Sam Draper will carry the ruck load against Matt Flynn.
Jye Menzie will start as the Bombers’ sub, while mid-season draftee Jack Hutchinson is the Eagles’ sub.
Originally published as AFL round 15: SuperCoach scores and key moments from Sunday’s games
Track watch: Former No.1 pick eyes second chance at Dees
Mature-age draftee Aidan Johnson is firming for an early debut at Melbourne, while a player taken with the first pick only a few years ago is pushing for an SSP spot at the Demons.
10 Dockers rated: Action Jackson poses selection headache
Fremantle has completed its final hitout before its clash with the Indigenous All Stars next week. ELIZA REILLY rates a host of Dockers and provides an injury update.