SuperCoach AFL: Al Paton reveals his team for 2025

Injuries, fixture changes and pre-season performances have forced expert Al Paton into a total SuperCoach rebuild. SEE HIS TEAM.

A lot has happened since I last revealed my SuperCoach team.

Opening round has been cut in half due to a cyclone. Marcus Bontempelli is injured – along with a host of other SuperCoach stars.

And I have selected Jason Horne-Francis.

All summer my friend The Phantom and his friends at the Lair have taken the bait, getting big laughs out of me not having the budding Port Adelaide superstar in my team.

It was fun for some interstate rivalry and pre-season banter, but do you think I would really start the season without him? Actually, I did entertain it for a while. The theory was Horne-Francis was fifth banana in the Power midfield last year, which is a tough spot to put up consistently high SuperCoach scores. But we can throw that analysis in the bin. Based on pre-season games, he had already jumped two or three spots in the pecking order before Zak Butters (another SuperCoach gun) went down injured.

So, I’ve caved. JHF is in. To be honest, I can handle the SA taunting, but watching him tear Richmond to shreds in round 2 without the consolation of getting his SuperCoach score could be more than I can handle.

He is one of a host of changes since February 9 – 16 in fact. Here’s a quick run-down.

After careful consideration, Jason Horne-Francis probably is a good starting pick. Picture: Steve Bell/Getty Images

DEFENCE

Harry Sheezel $635,600

Dayne Zorko $595,100

Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera $543,700

James Sicily $532,900

Matt Roberts $434,800

Zach Reid $119,900

Bench: James Leake $119,900, Luke Trainor $113,500

Dayne Zorko is my big recruit, and he was in before we learned the Lions might not have a bye in round 3. Brisbane’s early fixture is mouth-watering – I expect him to feast on the Eagles (round 2) and Tigers (round 4).

I’m going four deep with premiums down back, largely forced by a severe drought on the rookie front in this part of the ground. I have a strong watch on Harry Perryman – he could come in for one of those premos with a strong opening round performance.

Matt Roberts has a great role at the Swans, Zach Reid is due some luck with injury and I liked what I saw from Tigers draftee Luke Trainor when he got a run in the AAMI Series. Richmond plays in the first game of the SuperCoach season so we’ll know if he’s in the team – and dodges the sub vest.

MIDFIELD

Nick Daicos $631,400

Andrew Brayshaw $591,800

Clayton Oliver $451,600

Adam Cerra $447,700

Finn O’Sullivan $199,000

Levi Ashcroft $185,500

Angus Sheldrick $161,700

Mitch Knevitt $149,800

Bench: Angus Hastie $119,900, Lucas Camporeale $113,500, Hugh Boxshall $113,500

Brisbane isn’t the only team with a friendly early fixture. I can see Adam Cerra blitzing Richmond (round 1), a severely undermanned Bulldogs midfield (round 3), West Coast (round 5) and North Melbourne (round 6) – at a huge discount.

Daicos is a must-have regardless of the bye, Clayton Oliver is a no-brainer and Brayshaw averaged 123 over the final eight rounds last year.

I’ve got four rookies on field in the midfield – if I’m spending $150k or more, I want those dollars, and points, on field. O’Sullivan drifted to half-back in the Kangaroos’ AAMI game – where Harry Sheezel and Colby McKercher started their AFL careers. If O’Sullivan scores anything like those guys, I want a piece of it.

Levi Ashcroft has scored at every level he’s played, Angus Sheldrick seems to be in Dean Cox’s midfield plans and I’m trusting rookie expert Dan Batten’s word on a Mitch Knevitt breakout.

That means finding cut-price options for the bench, and the Saints have come to the rescue – we always knew Ross Lyon loves playing the kids.

Adam Cerra is massively underpriced. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

RUCK

Tristan Xerri $645,900

Tom De Koning $547,100

Bench: Harry Boyd $99,100

See my comments above on Carlton’s draw. Marc Pittonet’s injury makes Tom De Koning a must-have if he’s playing as the Blues’ solo ruckman. I’m not sure what his role will be when Pittonet returns, but let’s enjoy the early ride and deal with that issue when it happens.

He had to replace one of Tristan Xerri and Max Gawn, and as much as I love Gawn, I’m not prepared to take on Xerri’s 80,000-plus ownership.

FORWARDS

Jason Horne-Francis $537,000 FWD/MID

Jack Macrae $392,200

Bailey Smith $389,200 FWD/MID

Caleb Daniel $269,100 FWD/MID

Hugo Garcia $245,800 FWD/MID

Sam Davidson $113,500

Bench: Conor Stone $119,900, Aidan Johnson $113,500

My forward line hasn’t changed much apart from the addition of Horne-Francis and another Saints cheapie, Hugo Garcia. I loved what I saw from him in cameos as the sub last season, and he seems to be settled now as St Kilda’s No.3 midfielder behind Jack Steele and Jack Macrae.

To be honest, Aidan Johnson wasn’t my first choice for that F8 spot but he’s the best I can afford after squeezing every dollar out of my bench to get the best options on field, including Flex. There are just no dollars for Tom Lynch or Isaac Kako or Elijah Hewett. Hopefully that doesn’t come back to bite me.

FLEX

Matt Flynn $261,900

Flynn has been in and out of my team all summer, and he’s back after a 98-point performance in the AAMI Community Series.

I’m still nervous about his body holding up, and him holding out Bailey Williams as the Eagles’ solo ruckman. But if both work out, he could be the best money-maker in SuperCoach this year.

How Al Paton’s team looks heading into opening round.

Originally published as SuperCoach AFL: Al Paton reveals his team for 2025