SuperCoach AFL 2024: Expert verdict on most popular round 5 moves, full trade guide
Could you really trade Nick Daicos this week? He’s not the only surprising name on the chopping block. See our experts’ verdict on the most popular moves before round 5.
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Welcome to the great bye scramble.
With Sydney and Collingwood missing this week, priority one is getting 18 scoring players on the field for round 5.
So it’s no surprise two Swans are on the chopping block for many coaches. And some are parting ways with a Magpie superstar.
Meanwhile, help has arrived for our decimated backline benches, and it could be the last chance to get on some super scorers.
Who is getting their trades right, and who is headed for disaster?
Our experts give their verdict on the 10 most traded in and 10 most traded out players in SuperCoach this week. Scroll down for the full round 5 trade guide.
MOST TRADED IN
1. SAM CLOHESY $102,400 DEF
Al Paton: BUY. We coined the Josh Glenn rule for the Gold Coast player who scored 103 on debut in 2015 then 36 the next week before being dropped. In other words, trading in a rookie after one game is risky. But after watching Clohesy on Sunday, he’s coming into my team.
The Phantom: BUY. Yep, go early, if you need.
Tim Michell: BUY. Former VFL jet has bought himself at least a few games, is bottom dollar and set for DPP as a DEF-MID after round 6. Hopefully our defensive rookie saviour.
Dan Batten: BUY. Slot him in. Has improved exponentially in recent seasons and was the VFL’s best young player last year. Worth going a week early with Graham and Comben to come.
Patch: CONSIDER: I hate trading in a player after one game, but gee whiz he looked good. Best rookie option this week.
Tarquin Oakley: BUY: A cheap as chips rookie scoring a ton on debut? Sign me up
2. JASON HORNE-FRANCIS $433,900 MID
AP: PASS. Looks incredible at full flight but can he do it consistently yet? I’m not brave enough.
The Phantom: BUY. Get onboard – DPP status or not.
TM: PASS. Not going to be a top-eight midfielder so you’re essentially guaranteeing using two trades by bringing him in. Sorry, Phantom.
DB: PASS. If he was FWD-MID he’d be an absolute lock. Just the 62 per cent game time on the weekend and he is Port’s third-midfielder at best with Rozee and Butters in there.
Patch: CONSIDER: If you’ve got a mid spot, you could do worse think JHF.
TO: CONSIDER: Looks awesome in the guts but with Wines likely returning this week he probably won’t go 130 again.
3. CHARLIE COMBEN $227,100 FWD
AP: WAIT. After his horror injury history I want to see one more game, which we can afford to do before his price skyrockets.
The Phantom: CONSIDER. Ideally, you’d have another look, but he did put up similar numbers as a defender in the VFL to start the year.
TM: BUY. I reckon I could score points in that North Melbourne backline and the last game I played was a one-disposal outing in under-16s. Ideally, wait a week but no issue with getting on now.
DB: WAIT. This guy has had cursed injury luck (touch wood) and it’s worth waiting the extra week if you can.
Patch: PASS: Not yet. We’ve seen North Melbourne defender have a rough time of it, and Comben could be a flash in the pan. Will be jumping at him next week, though.
TO: CONSIDER: We get another look at him before we have to jump on and I’d be taking it if you can. Very injury prone.
4. WILL GRAHAM $117,300 DEF/MID
AP: WAIT. Pencilled in for next week if he has another good game.
The Phantom: CONSIDER. One for next week, but the CBAs on debut is a great sign.
TM: BUY. Especially if the DEF-MID swing helps free up Nick Daicos. His CBAs on debut were encouraging.
DB: WAIT. Very promising first game –and CBA numbers – but another you can afford to wait a week on.
Patch: PASS: Dimma might love him but it’s a tough midfield to hold a spot in. I want more data before going near him.
TO: PASS: I’d only go early on one rookie this week if you can, but Graham looks a solid option if you have to get him and Clohesy.
5. SAM FLANDERS $552,700 MID/FWD
AP: BUY. Who can we confidently say will be a top-tier forward this season? Heeney, Flanders ... and that’s about it. Price is still going up.
The Phantom: BUY. You should have him already.
TM: BUY. Head to the Leftorium and get yourself some of Flanders’ finest. The half-back role is so juicy. Hopefully he stays there.
DB: BUY… but not sure half-back Flanders is the best Flanders. Didn’t take a kick-in over the weekend.
Patch: BUY: Off the half-back flank.
TO: BUY: Looks just as good off half-back as he did in the middle. A must-have in our forward lines.
6. LLOYD MEEK $357,300 RUC
AP: PASS. Won’t be a top-three ruck and not cheap enough to make enough cash to get you to one.
The Phantom: CONSIDER. The most intriguing option of the week. Scored well at Fremantle when Sean Darcy wasn’t playing, too. I won’t do it but he’s, surely, earnt a significant run without Ned Reeves in the side.
TM: PASS. One bad game and he’s out for Ned Reeves. I’d rather pay the extra $100k for Tristan Xerri, who’s still very affordable.
DB: PASS. It’s a bold play and the Hawks have done some whack stuff with their rucks in recent years – like playing Meek and Ned Reeves together regularly. There is no doubt he has the scoring potential, though.
Patch: PASS: Absolutely not.
TO: PASS: Had a great game on the weekend but Reeves isn’t a mile behind him and the Hawks have played both in the same team before.
7. JEREMY SHARP $255,600 MID
AP: CONSIDER. Brilliant starting pick with a great role who should continue to score well. Should make another $100k easily.
The Phantom: PASS. As a non-owner, I’m just not sure there’s a trade to him that makes enough sense.
TM: PASS. Already gone up by $120k.
DB: PASS. Have probably missed the boat given he is generally a 60-70 point operator.
Patch: PASS: You’ve missed the boat if you don’t have him, folks.
TO: CONSIDER: I’m not totally against jumping on Sharp late after his bumper 126 against Carlton. He’ll make you close to $100k in the next two weeks with just a couple of scores in the 60s.
8. SAM DARCY $204,700 FWD
AP: CONSIDER. Also still making money and forward rookies are harder to find. Doesn’t feel good paying $70k more than most others, though.
The Phantom: CONSIDER. At $204k, there’s probably one more week to jump on. He was great again last week
TM: PASS. See above reasoning on Sharp. There will be other rookies who come along and ones less likely to get Bevoed too. Yes, that’s now an adjective.
DB: BUY. Not too late and Rory Lobb isn’t going to be in the frame for a while – especially after the latest TikTok…
Patch: CONSIDER: We’ve missed a mammoth price rise, but if you need a forward downgrade for Jordon he’s probably the one.
TO: PASS: He’s had his massive price rise and that score of 109 falls out of his price cycle.
9. JACK STEELE $589,600 MID
AP: BUY. Even when I picked him at the start of the year I wasn’t sure if the Steele who averaged 120-plus back in 2020-21 was gone forever. I shouldn’t have doubted him. Still great value.
The Phantom: BUY. One of only two players in the game averaging 120-plus priced at less than $600k. The other? JHF.
TM: BUY. I tossed up Touk Miller or Steele last round and went against all logic by choosing Miller. It cost me 53 points. Steele has the midfield points to himself at St Kilda and handballing most of the time isn’t a problem when you have big contested numbers.
DB: BUY. Was a tough seeing him go off live at Norwood Oval. Not sure I can go another week without him.
Patch: BUY: He’s back, and you want to be on board before he hits $600k.
TO: BUY: Would have been better to grab him last week, but Steele looks like he’ll push to be a top-eight midfielder so is still good buying.
10. TOM BROWN $213,800 DEF
AP: PASS. Looks a real player for the Tigers, and a great pick-up in SuperCoach if you jumped on last week. But we have cheaper defence rookies to look at now.
The Phantom: PASS. Like him as a player, but a tough trade, given the looming bye and emergence of Clohesy and Graham.
TM: BUY. Apparently Dan Batten almost ran onto the field at Norwood when he took an intercept at the weekend. He’s so far only gone up by $60k and might be the best kick in the Richmond backline. Move over, Jayden Short.
DB: BUY. This kid looks set to explode. Watch his highlights from the weekend, both his intercepting and foot skills, and you won’t be able to pass him up.
Patch: CONSIDER: Let’s be honest, if you’re downgrading in the backline, nothing I say would make you pick Brown over Clohesy, and nothing should.
TO: CONSIDER: An awkward one given he’s only got one game until his bye.
MOST TRADED OUT
1. JAMES JORDON $350,700 MID/FWD
AP: TRADE. Easiest trade of the year. Get someone who is playing this week.
The Phantom: TRADE. All the best, JJ.
TM: TRADE. You know that meme where Rafiki ‘yeets’ Simba in the Lion King? You should do similar with Jordon. Not playing this round and the cash gen has stalled.
DB: TRADE. Probably would have been on the chopping block regardless of the bye, but it is perfect timing.
Patch: TRADE: Bye bye, James!
TO: TRADE: A no-brainer.
2. BLAKE HOWES $223,300 DEF
AP: TRADE. Might come good but he has the bye next week anyway.
The Phantom: TRADE. Probably not making much more cash in a hurry and is definitely a trade option for Clohesy.
TM: SELL. No issue if you want to wait a week on Clohesy or Graham to make sure they are legit but Howes might lose $10k if you do.
DB: TRADE/HOLD. Not opposed to holding onto him as all it takes is one good score to get his cash flow going again.
TRADE: See ya, Blake!
TO: CONSIDER: His Break Even has crept up to 56 so you could offload him, but it’s also an option to hold one more week before his bye then reassess.
3. BRODIE GRUNDY $507,700 RUC
AP: HOLD. There’s no Kieren Briggs to swap him to this year. Still think he can average 110, hopefully you can still field 18 with just one ruckman.
The Phantom: CONSIDER. I am more than considering, given Sydney’s bye. He’s not who I want at R2 in my final team, so now might be the time to spread the cash.
TM: HOLD. But only if you own Luke Jackson as cover. Your aim should be to turn him into Tim English at his lowest price in round 7-8.
DB: CONSIDER. Seriously tempted by trading him to Jack Steele via DPP or another quality option.
Patch: HOLD: What are you people doing? Stop. Please stop trading in the rucks. If you’ve got 200k to spend, upgrade someone else, it’ll be better for your team.
TO: CONSIDER: If you don’t have Jackson’s cover it’s tempting to trade Grundy as he heads for his bye.
4. TOBY PINK $146,800 DEF
AP: CONSIDER. If you don’t have Howes he could go to get an extra warm body this week.
The Phantom: TRADE. You don’t get a lot out of Pink to Clohesy. If it’s your only option, sure, otherwise hope for a recall.
TM: HOLD. I don’t think any seasoned SuperCoach would advocate trading a rookie for a $20k profit. He’s only one backline injury away from returning and Comben is hardly the most durable footballer.
DB: TRADE. But probably low on the pecking order with all the other non-playing rookies in defence.
Patch: TRADE: We don’t get cash or points for scores in the VFL.
TO: CONSIDER: Should make some more money if he’s picked again so I’d hold at least for a week or two during the bye rounds if possible.
5. NICK COFFIELD $123,900 DEF
AP: HOLD. Performed admirably as my captain last week (allowing me to take Isaac Heeney’s VC score) so he gets another week in my team.
The Phantom: TRADE. It’s not a fun trade, given the money you make out of it, but we know how important cash gen is. Move him on.
TM: TRADE. Won’t play again for about three months due to injury, so you might as well kickstart your cash gen again by grabbing Clohesy.
DB: TRADE. Probably time to get rid now.
Patch: TRADE: Won’t hurt you if you hold him for another week, but if you need someone to move on, then move him on.
TO: TRADE: Pretty much the only reason to continue to hold Coffield is to use him as a loophole in defence, and Daicos can play that role this week.
6. ALEX SEXTON $182,800 FWD
AP: TRADE. Remember when he was the bargain of the year? Dimma is playing the kids so I don’t expect to see him again for a while.
The Phantom: TRADE. Wait, who is this?
TM: TRADE. Unless you can use him as a loophole. The Bulldogs and Saints play early enough that you could get a look at Sam Darcy or Darcy Wilson this round.
DB: CONSIDER. Holding will give you some handy DEF-FWD swing at the end of round 6 – something that is worth considering with Charlie Comben and others.
Patch: CONSIDER: I mean if he’s in the VFL then he won’t be named sub or play forward, but as above if you need to move someone on then do so.
TO: CONSIDER: Will gain DPP status after round 6 and has at least one more solid price rise in him. But can he get back in the Suns team?
7. MASSIMO D’AMBROSIO $316,000 DEF
AP: HOLD. His 63 last week stalls his cash generation a bit but I’m happy to back him for a few more weeks at least.
The Phantom: HOLD. Still solid on field in defence at this point.
TM: HOLD. But no issue if you sell to grab a top-line premium. Massimo is on borrowed time, which is a shame because he would have scored 80-plus if he hadn’t spent most of Sunday’s last quarter on the bench.
DB: HOLD. But if you it gets you that premium a week early, go for your life.
Patch: HOLD: This is what we expected from him, 65s or 70s with a few good spikes.
TO: HOLD: He’s making us money and has the capacity for another spike game soon.
8. NICK DAICOS $566,500 DEF/MID
AP: HOLD! Could still be the topscoring defender this year.
The Phantom: HOLD. You’re probably ahead if you didn’t start him – and used the money wisely – but you can’t be jumping off now.
TM: HOLD. Why are you trading him now? He’s lost about $100k, which you are locking in as a loss by moving him on. The only way I can see this working is if you have a plan to bring him back within the next month.
DB: HOLD. Probably will make you pay in a few weeks.
Patch: HOLD: We’ve already lost the cash, but he’ll come good. If you didn’t start him then bravo.
TO: HOLD: If you held through his price drop last week then hold him through his bye.
9. MARTY HORE $148,200 DEF
AP: TRADE. One of the many “dead rookies” in the backline who can me moved on whenever it suits your plans.
The Phantom: TRADE. We had high hopes.
TM: HOLD. He’ll be back in a few weeks and might even push Howes out of the Demons side. A good scorer due to his intercept prowess, too.
DB: TRADE. Will be spending another few weeks on the sidelines and he is a fringe player at best.
Patch: CONSIDER: See Coffield above.
TO: TRADE: Not guaranteed a starting spot even when he is fit.
10. COLBY McKERCHER $299,500 MID
AP: HOLD. Can still make a lot more money, especially if Clarko gets him back to defence. Midfield time can wait!
The Phantom: HOLD. Still early to cut him loose but he might be the first to go of the Roberts-Sanders-McKercher trio.
TM: HOLD. But, like D’Ambrosio, go ahead and trade him if it gets you to an absolute gun. For example, I’d trade D’Ambrosio, McKercher and James Jordon this week if it meant getting Zach Merrett.
DB: HOLD. Hang on… what now? Could still be the number one scoring rookie of the year and has defender status to come in a week. You’ll be regretting it when he’s pumping out 80+ scores while you’re fielding Blake Howes.
Patch: HOLD: Anyone trading him out this week is insane.
TO: HOLD: Didn’t like the switch up to the midfield for McKercher but definitely not worth shipping off yet.
TRADE GUIDE: THE SWANS TO AXE THIS WEEK
– Al Paton
SuperCoaches have gotten lucky during the early bye rounds.
In fact, the benefits of best 18 scoring have in most cases outweighed the negatives of having players unavailable in rounds 2 and 3.
That’s all about to change.
Sydney and Collingwood share a bye in round 5 and those two teams contain a bucketload of the most popular players in SuperCoach.
Nick Daicos features in 75 per cent of teams, Brodie Grundy is in 69 per cent, Matt Roberts is in 50 per cent, James Jordon is in 49 per cent, Isaac Heeney – the No.1 scorer in the game – is in 39 per cent (at least coaches without him will get a welcome reprieve) and Errol Gulden is in 21 per cent of teams.
And none of them are playing next round.
That is set to leave some major holes in most SuperCoach sides this week.
Some coaches will struggle to get 18 scoring players on the field, and even those that manage to cobble a scoring 18 together will be at a big disadvantage against coaches who have 20 or more players to get their best scores from.
Trading Swans and Pies out en masse would provide an instant fix, but if you trade the wrong players it could end up costing you more than you gain.
So, who has to go this week – and who should replace them? Here are our expert rankings.
1. JAMES JORDON
The easiest call of the week, and one of the easiest of the season. Jordon was selected as a mid-price money-maker and he has done his job, although many hoped for a bigger profit than $75,200 when Jordon opened the season with three scores in the 80s. After scoring 65 points against Richmond he struggled to 57 against the Eagles. His money has dried up (Break Even 78 in round 6), the return of Taylor Adams may have hurt his role – and Luke Parker is due back after the bye. Thanks for your service, James.
TOP REPLACEMENTS
If you can afford to upgrade Jordon to a premium forward, Sam Flanders ($552,700 FWD-MID) should be the No.1 target.
A score of 125 on Sunday makes it four from four above 100 this season, an average of 119.8 and an early claim as the No.2 forward this year with Sean Darcy’s return likely to knock the edge off Luke Jackson’s scores.
He’s also already had his early bye.
Who else could rank in that top forward bracket? It’s a wide open field this year but Dayne Zorko ($504,500 MID-FWD) has defied father time to average 101.5 and is relishing a new role off half-back, racking up 28 disposals, eight marks and a goal against the Kangaroos. A history of soft-tissue injuries is the biggest reason to think twice about picking him.
Shai Bolton ($516,900 MID-FWD) is cheaper than his starting price fresh off a 137-point blinder against the Saints (and 119 the week before that), but you might be trading one problem for another one as the Tigers have the bye in round 6.
If you have Jordon in the midfield, or can move him there using DPP, your choices are limited only by your budget It’s less than a $100k jump to Jason Horne-Francis ($433,900 MID), who is on the bubble this week after scoring 112 and 132 in his two appearances this season. Horne-Francis’s Port Adelaide teammate Willem Drew has now shot above $500k, but is averaging 117 points a game and appears in 1 per cent of teams.
The form midfielder priced under $550,00 is Bomber Nic Martin – more on him below.
If you want to make money from the Jordon trade, a couple of risky options offer big upside for just above $200k. Charlie Comben ($227,100 FWD) starred in defence in North Melbourne’s big loss to the Lions, posting 129 SuperCoach points from the remarkable stat line of 25 disposals, eight marks and five tackles. Can the injury-prone big man do that on a regular basis? In his three previous seasons he has averaged 35 (one game), 31 (one game) and 45 (seven games). Another week to assess would be ideal!
And back at Port Adelaide, Mitch Georgiades ($230,000 FWD) scored 99 in his first game for the year. But we know key forwards can be a rollercoaster – if he can stay in the team.
2. BRODIE GRUNDY
Is Grundy a top-two ruckman this year? That’s the question SuperCoaches need to ask ahead of his first bye of the year.
The Swans recruit presented undoubted value at the start of the season at $481k as he returned to the role of solo ruckman, but his year hasn’t quite gone to script.
Grundy has just two 100-plus scores from five matches and an average of 103.2, ranking him well down the ruck pecking order – No.8 based on averages.
If he’s not going to finish in the top bracket in his position, eventually we are going to want to trade him to access those top-scorers or risk losing points every week to opponents with the likes of Tim English, Max Gawn or Rowan Marshall.
The bad news for those thinking of trading Grundy is he has barely moved above his starting price tag. But unless you have a RUC-FWD swing to cover him this round, every coach will be picking their best 18 from at most 21 players.
TOP REPLACEMENTS
Have a spare $220k to spend? Tim English($691,900 RUC) has continued on where he left of in a dominant 2023 season, averaging 124 points a game to cement himself as a top-two ruckman (Max Gawn currently ranks No.1 with a 130 average).
Unfortunately, the planets have not aligned for a Grundy to English trade, with Grundy’s value increasing by just $25,800 and English not dropping much from his monster starting price.
Rowan Marshall is $85k cheaper than English but still $100k more expensive than Grundy, and comments from Ross Lyon about how exhausted his ruckman was and the possibility of playing a back-up is enough to stay away, for now at least.
A value option is Tristan Xerri ($468,400 RUC), who finally has the keys to the solo ruck role at North Melbourne after Todd Goldstein left for Essendon. After starting at $407k he has put up scores of 107, 108, 90 and 115. You can make a small profit by swapping Grundy to him this week and either back Xerri or aim to trade him later in the year.
However, locking in another trade is not ideal and will Xerri score much more than Grundy anyway?
An even cheaper, and riskier, option in the ruck is Hawk Lloyd Meek ($357,300 RUC), who has scored 88 and 130 in his two games this year.
Meek has scored well as a solo ruck in the past, and has performed well since replacing Ned Reeves in round 3. But with Reeves knocking down the door in the VFL, how long can he keep the role?
3. NICK DAICOS, ERROL GULDEN
Two premos who have underperformed based on pre-season expectations, but who are still likely to finish near the top of their respective lines.
Trade them out now and you are locking in a big loss, and you might be looking to use another trade to get them back.
Not recommended.
5. ISAAC HEENEY, MATT ROBERTS
Untradeable.
Heeney is the No.1 scoring player in SuperCoach and while he might spend more time in the forward line when some injured teammates return, why would John Longmire move his matchwinning superstar?
Roberts is shaping as one of the best cash cows of the season after already banking a $179,100 profit, and he still has a lot more cash to make.
OTHER TARGETS
NIC MARTIN ($533,100 MID) AND HAYDEN YOUNG ($518,700 DEF)
Could we get them back? Should we?
The answer to the first question is a big yes. The second is worth debating.
Martin was traded out of 17,000 SuperCoach teams after rounds 2 and 3 and has responded with 79 disposals in his past two matches, and SuperCoach scores of 136 and 133.
His role off half-back is unbelievable and an elite tank allows him to get up and down the ground while barely taking a rest all game. That’s a recipe for continued high scores – and potentially a spot in the top eight defenders after he earns MID-DEF status in round 7.
Young has made the 41,000 coaches who traded him out pay with scores of 132 and 119 in the past two rounds.
Martin’s price has climbed $40k from his starting value, while you can get Young at a very small discount.
The nature of this year’s fixture has made it harder than ever to judge where players truly sit in the pecking order – and the mass trading of both players was a result. But based on pre-season performances and lucrative roles, their recent scoring is likely a truer indication of what they are likely to produce over the next 20 – yes TWENTY (well, 19 if you take out their bye) – rounds.
Swallow your pride and put them both on the watch list.
SAM CLOHESY ($102,400 DEF)
What rookie defender crisis?
Tiger Tom Brown rewarded his new owners with 95 points against the Saints, but Gold Coast first-gamer Sam Clohesy went even better with 108 against GWS.
At just $102,400, he’s bound to be one of the most traded in players this season. We can afford to wait another week before pulling the trigger, especially with best 18 scoring in round 5.
Then again, if he gets you an extra body on field to cover for some missing Swans, it’s a move that could pay immediate dividends.
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Originally published as SuperCoach AFL 2024: Expert verdict on most popular round 5 moves, full trade guide
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