AFL SuperCoach 2016: Nathan Grima’s career high and costly error in Round 20

ESSENDON top-up and SuperCoach aficionado Nathan Grima scored a career-high in Round 20 but one costly mistake cost him $750.

Brad Crouch at Adelaide training. Picture: Sarah Reed

AVID SuperCoach Nathan Grima has no regrets despite a “silly” trade costing him $750 and bragging rights.

The Essendon defender posted 2639 points last week and in doing so earned himself $250 for the third-highest overall score.

Happy days, right? Not quite.

Upon further inspection Grima realised his career-high was 29 points off of the highest score for Round 20.

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That’s when it all came home to roost.

His decision to trade Brad Crouch (144 points) last week for Steele Sidebottom (109) not only cost him 35 points towards his total but the $1000 weekly prize!

“That’s the highest I’ve ever ranked in a round.” the former North Melbourne Kangaroo said.

“It’s probably the best thing I’ve done in football in about two years, that’s how bad I’ve been as a player.

Trading in Collingwood star Steele Sidebottom hurt Nathan Grima’s hopes. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

“My wife is trying to get me to not play any SuperCoach at all because she reckons it’s a waste of time, but I’ve just won $250 so I guess it’s time well spent.

“I’m having a baby in November so no doubt she’s already gone out and bought $250 worth of kids clothes with that money before it’s even hit my account.

“If you actually put it on an hourly rate, over the last 10 years of me playing, I’ve been getting about eight cents an hour to get that $250.”

The Crouch-Sidebottom bungle was bad but it’s not Grima’s worst list management decision this year.

“I thought I was pretty cheap so I traded myself in (before North Melbourne game, Round 8) and made myself captain as a bit of a joke,” he said.

He sent a screenshot to Michael Firrito, a $1000 weekly prize winner himself in 2014, to wind him up before the game.

Nathan Grima at Essendon training but has still found time for SuperCoach. Picture: Colleen Petch

But the joke was on Grima when he forgot to take the captaincy off himself.

Asked how long he persisted with himself for, Grima said: “When I scored 42 as captain I had to make a hard call on myself and I was out pretty much the minute (SuperCoach lockout ended).

“It was probably the worst trade in the history of my SuperCoach ... absolutely flog status.”

Grima still plays in North Melbourne’s ultra-competitive Arden St league despite numbers dwindling as players get older and spend more time with families than SuperCoach each week.

“It’s good fun, it’s a bit of banter. It gives us something to have a chat about each week,” he said.

“Try and change a nappy with one hand and do a trade with the other might be where I’ve got to get to next year.”

Originally published as AFL SuperCoach 2016: Nathan Grima’s career high and costly error in Round 20