How to run your first AFL SuperCoach Draft
New to SuperCoach Draft? You are about to embark on arguably the most enjoyable format of SuperCoach there is. Here’s a beginner’s guide to creating a league and running your own high-stakes draft.
New to the game of SuperCoach Draft?
You are about to embark on arguably the most enjoyable format of SuperCoach there is.
The unique format allows SuperCoaches to play the role of a list manager and draft a side from scratch.
Unlike SuperCoach Classic, once a player is picked they are off the board – meaning there is only one Brodie Grundy, Max Gawn and Patrick Dangerfield to choose from. Add inter-league trading between teams and you’ve got a SuperCoach game like no other.
Let’s walk through how to get involved in this fun-filled format.
1. REGISTER FOR SUPERCOACH
If you haven’t registered for SuperCoach 2019, you’ll have to do that first.
Those that already have, jump to the next step!
2. CREATE OR JOIN A LEAGUE
In order to play SuperCoach Draft, you must create or join a league.
If you wish to create a league of your own, it can be either private or public. A private league will ensure only those who have the unique league code can join, while any player can join your public Draft league until all spots are filled.
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To join a mate’s private league, simply click the “join a league” tab and type in the six-digit code.
For those that can’t band a group of friends together to make a league, don’t worry – you can still play! Simply join a public league of your choice by browsing the unfilled leagues on the “join a league” page.
3. CUSTOMISE YOUR LEAGUE
Now, it is time to customise your league for the season ahead.
PUBLIC LEAGUES
Unfortunately, public leagues have less freedom with customisation than private leagues.
As league creator you have the ability to name your league, decide how many players league members have to draft and perhaps the most important role of all – choosing the draft date and time.
There are nine different squad and field options to choose from, varying from 12 total players to 22.
All public leagues have eight members, with opponents playing each other twice and skipping the byes before finals in Round 20 with no rolling lockout within rounds to make trades.
In the draft each player will have 90 seconds to take their pick, with a ‘snake’ draft order. In a public league, the player with pick No.1 will have the last selection of the second round (pick 16), the next player will have pick 2 and 15, and so on.
If you run out of time, a player will be auto-selected for you.
You’re on the clock.
PRIVATE LEAGUES
Private league creators – listen up. There are a host of ways to customise your league to suit you and your mates.
These cover everything from when finals in your league begin, to allowing a rolling lockout from when games kick-off on the weekend.
LEAGUE AND SEASON LENGTH SETTINGS
There are a range of options here. As private league CEO, you can choose the league name, the amount of sides that will compete, when the league will begin and when finals start.
These fixture options will vary depending on the amount of players in your league.
One of the interesting options here is making the league a keeper league.
In this form of Draft, teams remain exactly the same across however many years you wish to play together.
This brings different tactics into play — do you draft for the now and try to win this year’s flag, or instead draft for sustained success?
It makes young guns like No.1 draft pick Sam Walsh and breakout contender Tim Taranto more highly sought-after.
TEAMS, TRADING AND GAME PLAY SETTINGS
Yes, there are even more ways to make your league unique.
You can choose whether your league has captains (scoring double points), a rolling lockout and an automatic emergency for non-scoring players on field.
Likewise, you can choose whether members within the league can trade players, and a host of options for selecting undrafted free agents once the draft is completed.
My tip: Definitely keep trading in, with the “up to five players” box ticked – it makes for a very enjoyable season when league members aren’t afraid to hit the trade button.
DRAFT SET-UP
Along with the draft date and time, private league creators can play with other features of the draft. These include how many players each team will have to draft, the time allotted for each team to make their selection and the order of proceedings in the draft.
The draft order is possibly the most confusing and important part of the process, so we’ll give it an in-depth look.
How the draft order is set out will depend on which order you select “linear”, “snake” or “banzai”. Let’s see how these orders will look in a 10-team league.
In the linear order, getting the first pick is the greatest advantage, with the order of picks staying the same each round.
First pick will have selections No.1 and 11, second will have No.2 and 12, and so on.
In a snake order, the player with the first pick will then have the last pick of the second round. For example, if you had the first selection in a 10-team league and chose Collingwood ruckman Brodie Grundy, you would have to wait another 19 selections until the next choice at pick 20. You would then have another selection at 21, before waiting until No.40 for your fourth draft pick.
This is why having a pick somewhere in the middle can be an advantage if there is no clear standout. In that same league, someone with pick five could snare Carlton beast Patrick Cripps and Crows ball-magnet Rory Laird with their second pick at 15.
The banzai format is like snake until the end of Round 2, but instead of reversing again in Round 3, the selections stay the same as Round 2. It then returns to a regular snake order.
The player with pick No.1 will also have pick 20, 30 and 31.
Ultimately though, how the draft pans out will depend on what those before you select.
WARNING: Just don’t let the timer run out and auto-select Tom Mitchell — who is expected to miss the entire 2019 season — with your first pick.
THE DRAFT
Following the admin work, now it’s onto the part we’ve all been waiting for – the draft.
This will begin on the date and time you or the league admin has selected. Be sure to put it in your diary.
That’s when you will draft the players who will fill your team and make or break your season – so draft carefully!
FINAL WORD
Enjoy what is sure to be a bumpy ride as you battle injury, form slumps, draft regret, failed trades and everything in between over the course of the season.
Best of luck for the season ahead, and happy drafting.
Originally published as How to run your first AFL SuperCoach Draft
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