SuperCoach AFL 2025: Experts reveal their round 14 trades

Zak Butters is the hottest property in SuperCoach but one expert is passing on the Port Adelaide star. See who’s coming in and who’s getting the boot here.

Zak Butters is at the top of the shopping list for the SuperCoach experts this week. Is he a must-have?

There are some tempting mid-price bargains to consider as well, byes to negotiate and fewer trades to play with.

See all their moves for round 14 here.

AL PATON

IN: Zak Johnson, Zak Butters, Colby McKercher

OUT: Christian Moraes, Levi Ashcroft, Matt Roberts

One of the trickiest weeks for trades as I try to solve the puzzle of completing my team with almost no cash. I have seriously considered trading Lachie Neale to Colby McKercher to generate the money I need to upgrade my final two forward spots – currently occupied by Luke Pedlar and Archer Day-Wicks. Neale’s recent form is underwhelming, he has more potential tags coming and moving him on helps navigate a tricky round 16 bye.

But, at the end of the day, it’s probably not smart to trade out a proven premium. So Matt Roberts goes, making a little bit of money instead of a lot. McKercher’s scoring is hugely dependent on keeping that half-back role for 11 weeks, so I’m putting a lot of faith in Alastair Clarkson here, but the upside is huge for his price. High Break Evens and low job security means it’s time to move on Ashcroft and Moraes. I very briefly considered passing on Butters but his scoring is just way too good.

Zak Butters has bottomed out in price. Picture: Brendon Thorne/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

THE PHANTOM

OUT: Levi Ashcroft, Matt Roberts, Sandy Brock

IN: Zak Butters, Colby McKercher, Zak Johnson

Don’t overthink it this week. One up, one down with one name – Zak. But if I were to overthink, I might also consider trading Matt Roberts to Colby McKercher for $56k, which will be handy next week when Callum Mills is on the bubble. And another big McKercher score in a permanent defender role could be handy, too.

TIM MICHELL

IN: Colby McKercher and Zak Johnson/Tyrell Dewar

OUT: Levi Ashcroft and Xavier Lindsay

I’m tossing up what to do here even as late as Thursday. Dewar has DEF-FWD DPP and has taken nine kick-ins during the past two weeks. I’m wary that Tom McCarthy might pinch that role when he debuts, but at $170k he might end up being great cover or the run home. Johnson also looks to have good scoring potential but Essendon will get defensive bodies back after the byes. The issue is the reason I am going McKercher over Zak Butters is I need to save money for Callum Mills next week and the easiest way to grab him will be Johnson. Genuinely unsure what to do yet.

Colby McKercher lined up in defence last week for the first time this season – and scored 144. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

PATCH

IN: Tom McCarthy, Zak Johnson, Zak Butters

OUT: Henry Hustwaite, Xavier Lindsay, Matt Carroll

Carroll and X Lindsay both stuffed up my plans to get Butters in one fell swoop – I’m about $12 short which means I need to bring in another rookie. McCarthy is that rookie at this stage which brings me down to six trades, which is not a lot. But what can I do, I’m one trade away from what might be a complete team with $45k in the bank for Kane McAuliffe up to Jason Horne-Francis or someone, which is a problem for next week when I’m back in the cold and windy Melbourne instead of warm and sunny Espania, so I’ll deal with it then.

MATT FORREST

IN: Colby McKercher and Zak Johnson

OUT: Matt Flynn and Campbell Gray

I’ve ummed and ahhed about whether I pay up for double Zak: Butters and Johnson. But instead I’m going to hope Butters cops some heavy attention for the next three weeks (Langdon/Oliver, Jordon, Hewett) and pray McKercher’s stint on the half-back flank against West Coast is not just an aberration. I’m not expecting 140s every week, but if he can keep the role and maintain 105-plus from here on out, he’ll be my Flex at the end of the season. Flynn has served his purpose and Gray is out indefinitely, so they are pretty easy trade outs this week. I’m tossing up whether I bring in Tyrell Dewar as well, maybe for Tom Gross (if not selected) but we’ll see – I’m down to 10 trades after these two moves so I’m hanging onto them if I can.

CHLOE WILLIAMS

IN: Colby McKercher, Zak Butters, Zak Johnson

OUT: Matt Carroll, Levi Ashcroft, Matt Roberts

One upgrade, one downgrade and one sideways. It’s not ideal, but it works for now and leaves me with money to continue on with my long-term plan next week. Butters and Johnson are obvious ins, and it admittedly took me way too long to settle on McKercher, but I’ve now accepted my fate lies in Clarko. It’s time to say so long to one of the good ones in Levi, my favourite rookie Matt Carroll, and Matt Roberts, who would be an acceptable D6 but I’m always keen to roll the dice somehow.

Originally published as SuperCoach AFL 2025: Experts reveal their round 14 trades