Free SuperCoach 2019 Bible: All the key info you need to pick a winning team
The countdown is on to select the squad to carry you to SuperCoach glory. Don’t panic — we’re here to help. From the best rookies to advanced strategy, it’s all here.
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The SuperCoach countdown is on.
The 2019 AFL season starts on March 21 which means there is less than 10 days to select the squad that will carry you to SuperCoach glory.
Don’t worry — we’re here to help.
The SuperCoach experts in the Herald Sun offices have been watching pre-season matches, training sessions, studying form and sniffing around AFL clubs to get the latest news on injuries and role changes for this season.
From easy how-to guides to detailed rookie analysis and advanced selection strategies, we’ve got every base covered in the biggest SuperCoach pre-season ever.
Check out the best bits below — and check back before Round 1 as we update this page with all the latest SuperCoach news and intel.
START HERE
New to SuperCoach? Check out this quick explainer of how the game works and how to put a team together — it walks you through the whole process.
If you’re really pushed for time, here’s how to pick a team in five minutes.
GOLDEN RULES: THE SUPERCOACH 10 COMMANDMENTS
TOP GUNS: MOST POPULAR PICKS AT EVERY CLUB
ROOKIE BIBLE
Cheapies — players priced at under $200,000 — are the key to a successful SuperCoach team.
Not only do they help you put a squad together under the $10 million salary cap, they help your SuperCoach team grow in overall price during the season, allowing you to upgrade starting players with prices into premium players who pump out big scores every week.
The key is to find players who will get games early in the season, so role and opportunity play a big role in the search for a successful rookie SuperCoach pick.
Our fully updated rookie bible includes profiles of more than 50 cheap selections this season. Here are some of the top picks:
Sam Walsh (Carlton) $207,300, Mid
Normally the No.1 draft pick is overlooked as a cash cow option because their price is steep for an untried player, but Walsh is different. Champion Data described him as one of the most “reliable ball-winners ever seen” after he averaged 29 disposals across 41 matches and at least 23 disposals in all 25 of his TAC Cup matches. And he carried that form into the JLT Series. Walsh was a standout against the Bombers, finishing with 28 touches, four tackles and 102 SuperCoach points, and Carlton’s third-highest scorer against Collingwood (96 points). His $200,000 price is high, but Walsh is approaching lock status.
Marty Hore (Melbourne) $117,300, Def
Took the second-most marks in the VFL last year and gets a chance at the Demons at age 22. Hore played in both of Melbourne’s JLT matches and finished with 57 and 69 points, which is enough for a bench player in our SuperCoach teams. Currently the 10th most selected player, in almost 35 per cent of teams.
Darcy Fort (Geelong) $117,300, Ruck
The 205cm giant finally gets a chance at an AFL club six years after playing for the Geelong Falcons in the TAC Cup. Since then he has spent time in the VFL and the SANFL, where he dominated last year for Central District, averaging 123 SuperCoach points a game. The biggest issue for the 25-year-old will be getting a regular game but the Cats never settled on a starting ruckman last season, trying Rhys Stanley, Zac Smith and Ryan Abbott at various stages.Unfortunately, his JLT Series is unlikely to catapult him to the top of Chris Scott’s plans, scoring 21 and 13 in his two games. Not a bad option for your bench but don’t start him on the field!
ROOKIE BIBLE: EVERY CHEAPIE YOU NEED TO KNOW
Expert recruiter Gary Buckenara has also given his take on recent draftees and who is ready to play at the top level this year. Here’s one of his specials:
NOAH BALTA (RICHMOND) $123,900 FWD
“This one is a bit left-field because Balta needs to break in to one of the strongest teams in the competition, but he’s a big smokie. I think Richmond will be looking to get him into the AFL mix this season and I wouldn’t be surprised if he grabs his chance. He’s got the body to be able to play now and he’s got serious athleticism about him. He traditionally doesn’t get a lot of the ball but I think that will change at AFL level because Richmond’s style suits him. He can take marks and can play in a similar way to Alex Rance. He can also play forward and even in the midfield.”
READ BUCKY’S FULL ROOKIE ANALYSIS HERE
JLT SERIES REVIEWS
Who put up their hands for SuperCoach selection in the pre-season series? The expert crew at Doctor SuperCoach have put every match under the microscope — here are a few of their standouts.
See PART ONE and PART TWO of their JLT reviews for more detailed analysis.
JOEL SELWOOD $570,500 MID — 153 POINTS
Geelong’s longest-serving captain just keeps on keeping on. At 30 years of age, Selwood was unstoppable on his way to 38 disposals, 12 contested possessions, seven tackles and 541m gained against Essendon. Rather than playing his typical inside midfielder role, Selwood was starting off a wing and rushing the centre bounce as the next man in. In general play, Selwood freely cruised around the ground virtually unopposed and this is evident from his 11 marks, three rebound-50s and five inside-50s. Selwood is sure to spend his fair share of time in the guts, especially in tight games where an experienced hand is needed to generate a clearance. He is certainly a unique option and with proven scoring potential.
CLICK HERE TO SEE EVERY JLT SERIES SUPERCOACH SCORE
TOM ROCKLIFF $405,900 MID — 170 POINTS
Ladies and Gentlemen, the king of fantasy football has returned! Tom Rockliff turned back the clock and produced the standout performance of the JLT Series. He spent most of his time in the midfield with the occasional forward line stint and produced a phenomenal stat line: 41 disposals, 16 marks, nine clearances, five inside-50s and 2.2 on the scoreboard capped off a stellar day for a man who once averaged 132 across an entire season. If Rocky can carry this form into Round 1 he will be one of the best bargains of 2019. The question on everyone’s lips will remain the same — is he really back?
BRAD CROUCH $418,000 MID — 124 Points
The injury-prone Brad Crouch is putting forth a case like no other for a breakout 2019 season. Scores of 118 and 124 in the JLT, while averaging 77 per cent time on ground provides an astoundingly high scoring potential for someone priced so lowly — so why isn’t he in more than 20 per cent of teams? It is well documented that Brad struggles to stay on the park due to a poor injury history, but with six potentially easier matches in Adelaide’s opening nine games, Brad could start the year off hot. There won’t be a higher risk, higher reward pick this season, so buy him with extreme caution or avoid at your own peril.
UNIQUE: UNDER THE RADAR JLT STARS
INTEL: 21 TIPS FOR SUPERCOACH SUCCESS
CRYSTAL BALL: BOLD SUPERCOACH PREDICTIONS
CHAMPION DATA ANALYSIS
Champion Data powers the SuperCoach scoring system and its SuperCoach expert Fantasy Freako has written several exclusive columns examining likely scoring trends, including the impact of new rules this season:
REVEALED: FANTASY FREAKO’S SUPERCOACH SQUAD
FREAKO: WHAT KICK-IN RULES MEAN FOR SUPERCOACH
FREAKO: SOLVING THE SUPERCOACH RUCK RIDDLE
FREAKO: THE OTHER BIG CHANGE TO KICK-INS
EXPERT TEAMS
Herald Sun chief football writer Mark Robinson is daring to be different this season:
“This is the most adventurous, audacious SuperCoach team I’ve ever selected. I’m sick of finishing between third and sixth. For several seasons my SuperCoach team has been competitive — very competitive — but has lacked the edge to go all the way at the business end of the season. You know the saying about insanity — well, I’m not going insane again. This year, I’m not going with the pack. And I’m not going to die wondering.”
Brad Crouch, Dom Sheed, Toby Greene and Joe Daniher are just some of Robbo’s high-risk, high-reward selections.
Herald Sun reports Sam Edmund and Chris Cavanagh have also put their teams up for public debate.SuperCoach experts Al Paton, Ben Higgins and The Phantom also revealed their teams before the JLT Series. Check them out and stay tuned for post-JLT updates.
PODS
Looking for a selection to set your team apart? Our POD expert Dan Batten has been combing through the SuperCoach selection stats to find stars that are slipping under the radar this pre-season.
Jack Steele ($512,600, MID)
2018 avg: 94.4 (21 games)
Ownership: 1 per cent
Like Sheed, Jack Steele replicated his form from the final month of last season, posting a team-high 117 SuperCoach points in JLT1 from just 18 possessions. These numbers are what the big-bodied midfielder can produce due to his thirst for tackles and contested ball. One in every 100 SuperCoaches own him.
Sam Menegola ($543,100, FWD/MID)
2018 avg: 100 (22 games)
Ownership: 4 per cent
The forgotten man of the Cats midfield finds himself as a POD yet again despite back-to-back 100-plus averages. The Geelong tough nut was out of sight, out of mind after many coaches traded him out of their sides after two sub-80 scores to begin last season. He went on to make them pay, eclipsing the 120-mark three weeks in a row and averaging 103.5 SuperCoach points for the remainder of 2018. Menegola wins his own footy, tackles hard and hits the scoreboard when forward – booting a goal a game last year. Gary Ablett’s new role as a permanent forward could see Menegola get even more midfield time, making the 26-year-old an option you can’t ignore.
Toby Nankervis ($533,000, RUCK)
2018 avg 98.2 (21 games)
Ownership 2 per cent
“The Nank” was a SuperCoach sensation in 2017 but he went up another notch last season. The 24-year-old went at 98.2 SuperCoach points across 2018, missing one game despite carrying the Tigers’ ruck division. One noticeable improvement was his consistency, eclipsing 90 points in all but four matches. Intrigue surrounds what Richmond will do with its second ruck with the new 6-6-6 centre bounce and relaxed prior opportunity rule likely to make makeshift rucks like Shaun Grigg obsolete. It could mean they bring in another ruck option like Ivan Soldo to partner the big man. If not, it’ll mean the Tigers will rely on The Nank more than ever. At 24 years of age, we may see Nankervis’ SuperCoach prospects soar yet again.
More PODs: DEFENDERS | MIDFIELDERS | FORWARDS | RUCKS | JLT STARS
SUPERCOACH STRATEGY
Looking to get a jump over your mates or gunning for a spot in the top 1000 rankings this season — or a serious til at the $50,000 overall prize?
Here is some in-depth analysis to give you the edge:
SELECTION STRATEGIES
AFL coaches love to talk about “structures” and in SuperCoach it’s no different.
If you’re serious about taking out your office premiership, you need a plan before you start the recruiting process.
In the AFL there is more than one winning strategy, and the same applies to SuperCoach.
SIX STARTING SELECTION STRATEGIES
Breaking it down further ...
FIVE STARTING DEFENCE STRATEGIES
SIX STRATEGIES FOR SELECTING YOUR SUPERCOACH MIDFIELD
FIVE STARTING FORWARD LINE STRATEGIES
WHY YOU NEED A ‘FLOATING DOUGHNUT’
Picking a player you know won’t score any points is tough but it could pay off — if you select the right player. Serious SuperCoach players use a non-playing “floating doughnut” to make the most of the vice-captain and emergency loopholes.
Find out how it works and who the best options are for this crucial role here.
CAN A COOKIE CUTTER TEAM WIN SUPERCOACH?
What would a SuperCoach team made up of the most popular players in every position look like — and could it win the overall prize?
Mathematics PHD student Steven Edwards spent hours analysing that question with some fascinating results:
“At this stage the forward line is somewhat terrifying, containing only two premiums and a total of six rookies. Dangerfield and Heeney are both very popular options this year and for good reason. After that though it becomes more challenging.”
See the team and Steven Edwards’ expert analysis here.
CLUB STUDY GUIDES
We have taken a close look at every team’s list and rated the best premium, mid-price and rookie picks, plus the players to avoid:
ADELAIDE | BRISBANE LIONS | CARLTON | COLLINGWOOD | ESSENDON | FREMANTLE | GEELONG | GOLD COAST | GWS GIANTS | HAWTHORN | MELBOURNE | NORTH MELBOURNE | PORT ADELAIDE | RICHMOND | ST KILDA | SYDNEY SWANS | WEST COAST | WESTERN BULLDOGS
PLAYER REVIEWS
Get a more in-depth take on whether we should select these players in our SuperCoach team this season: Marcus Bontempelli, Shane Mumford, Tom Liberatore, Tiger Tom Lynch, Josh Dunkley.
Originally published as Free SuperCoach 2019 Bible: All the key info you need to pick a winning team
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