SuperCoach AFL: captaincy, trade and cash cow advice plus the latest podcast

COLLINGWOOD might be suffering but club and supporters can take heart knowing it has provided SuperCoach with two juicy downgrade options. Top trades plus new Podcast

Sam Edmund and Ben Higgins

5 min read

May 5, 2016 - 10:00PM

Josh Smith is the most popular trade-in option this week. Picture: David Crosling

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COLLINGWOOD might be enduring a miserable start to the season and its fans may be suffering.

But both club and supporter can take heart in the knowledge they have provided the SuperCoach community with two juicy downgrade options this week.

GET THE ROUND 7 SUPERCOACH PREVIEW FROM AL PATON AND GILBERT “GUIDANCE” GARDINER IN THE SUPERCOACHES BOX BELOW

In your time of need, you have still seen fit to provide bubble boy duo Josh Smith and Mason Cox and we are most grateful.

Midfielder Smith ($102k) and ruck-forward Cox ($117k) not only arrive at the perfect time, but they arrive in solid form with solid job security. Smith is coming off scores of 72 and 96 and Cox a 75 and 67.

In a season in which we’ve been constantly told downgrade targets will be like water in the Sahara, they are popping up from everywhere.

Next week the likes of Melbourne’s Christian Petracca (123k) and Brisbane Lion Ben Keays should also be bubbling away.

But back to Pie duo Smith and Cox. Your grandma could identify them as trade targets, how you go about bringing them in is what separates the wheat from the chaff.

Christian Petracca debuted last weekend. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

There are a stack of options depending on your set-up. Do we double down? One up and one down? Does Jacob Weitering survive? What about our slow-growing midfielders?

Some cash cows are ready to be lead into the slaughterhouse and cash-generating week is staring us in the face. Don’t overthink it — get Cox by dumping Essendon’s Matt Dea ($296k with a breakeven of 94).

If you’ve got one or both of Mitch Brown or Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti forward, swing them into defence to make this happen. McDonald-Tipungwuti himself is close to being culled.

Midfield pair Connor Menadue ($220k) and Ryan Davis ($186k) are appreciating slower than a snail with a backpack full of bricks. But are there more pressing issues? If you’re lucky enough to answer ‘No’ then Smith is their obvious replacement.

At the selection table last night three debutants were named, while Cats defender Tom Ruggles was recalled for their clash against the Eagles. Of the debutants, Darcy MacPherson has shown promise in the NEAFL, averaging 26 disposals, six tackles and 102 points. Ben Crocker has been impressive in Collingwood’s VFL team, averaging 11 disposals, two tackles and 68 points.

CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN

TODD GOLDSTEIN (640,800, Ruck) North Melbourne

A word of caution, St Kilda has kept opposition ruckmen to an average of 83 this season. That said, Goldstein averages 136 against the Saints and will be looking to bounce back after scoring just 49 last week against the Bulldogs. A lot hinges on Goldy’s teammates ability to win the ball from hitouts and stop the Saints sharking it.

PATRICK DANGERFIELD ($644,500, Mid), Geelong

The Cats’ superstar is the No.1 SuperCoach scorer in first quarters, averaging 43. Dangerfield averages 127 in his past three against West Coast and will be favoured to score big again at Simmonds Stadium if the Eagles’ continue to struggle on the road.

LUKE PARKER ($595,700, Mid) Sydney

The hottest player in real life and in SuperCoach. Parker averages 113 against Essendon and will be coming up against a vastly weakened team to what he has faced in the past. Parker has almost gained perma-captain status this season and we see no reason why it should change now.

SAM MITCHELL ($573,700, Mid) Hawthorn

The Hawks star is looking to bounce back after a quiet game against GWS and averages 110 against Richmond. It will be interesting to see how the Tigers treat Mitchell after seeing Stephen Coniglio keep him quiet last week. Perhaps a Vice-Captain option.

SCOTT PENDLEBURY ($577,600, Mid) Collingwood

Perhaps a risky option, given his injury concerns, but Pendlebury averages 139 against Carlton in his past three games. The Magpies will be missing Taylor Adams and Travis Varcoe, making Pendlebury even more important to the Magpies’ midfield brigade.

Heath Shaw is the second most popular trade-in target. Picture: Mark Evans

JUMP ON

JOSH SMITH ($102,400, Mid) Collingwood

More than 28,000 teams have jumped on Smith at the time of publish, making him a clear trade-in favourite. After positing scores of 72 and 96, Smith is also an on-field option if you’re battling injuries or suspensions. With a breakeven of -108, Smith will skyrocket in price just by stepping on the park this week.

LUKE PARKER ($595,700, Mid) Sydney

If Parker isn’t in every team’s top three upgrade targets ... he must be already in those teams. The Swans midfielder is in blazing form, averaging 129, to be the No.1 scoring player after six weeks. Amazingly, he’s still under $600,000 but he won’t be for long with a breakeven of 69.

HEATH SHAW ($562,000, Def) GWS Giants

Surprisingly, Shaw is the second most traded in player this week. With some popular backline cash cows hitting the wall this week, getting the presumptive No.1 SuperCoach defender is a priority. He’s $45,000 cheaper than the start of the season but is only going to get dearer with a breakeven of 55.

Darcy Parish has been rested this week.

JUMP OFF

JACOB WEITERING ($338,400, Def) Carlton

Carlton’s No.1 draft pick has been traded out of almost 20 per cent of teams this week. We were hoping Weitering could break the $400,000 barrier but a shoulder injury/concussion looks to have put paid to that. The Blues have ruled the young defender out for 2-3 weeks and we should be looking to upgrade asap.

MATT DEA ($296,900, Def) Essendon

The Bombers top-up lost money for the second week in a row and it’s now time to say goodbye. After being a reliable option in defence, Dea’s scoring has dropped dramatically after posting 41 and 39 in his past two games. Dea has still gone up $113,300 and is a prime upgrade-downgrade option this week.

DARCY PARISH ($331,100, Mid) Essendon

The Essendon young gun could be approaching the end of his cash cow relevance. After six games, Parish’s average and breakeven have converged at 75. It’s also possible the rising star gets a rest shortly after being a key part of the Bombers’ midfield so far this season. After making $128,300, it could be time to put Parish out to pasture.

CHAMPION DATA MATCH-UPS

Owners of Todd Goldstein would have been seething last round after he could manage only 49 points against the Bulldogs. At halftime he only had 13 points to his name, which was his second-lowest score in any game since 2011 at the major break. Goldstein has a history of having one shocker per year, so at least he got this one out of the way.

Looking ahead, he comes up against St Kilda this week, a side that has given up the fourth-most points to ruckmen of any team in the league. He has a terrific record against the Saints since 2013 as well, scoring 120, 165 and 121 in his past three games.

Owners of Zac Smith will be a little nervous as he prepares to take on the might of Nic Naitanui. West Coast give up an average of just 49 points to opposition ruckmen – the fewest of any side in the competition. Smith bounced back to form last week against Gold Coast with 100 points, his equal-highest score for the year.

Exclusive match-up stats from @championdata - good news for Todd Goldstein, not so good for Zac Smith pic.twitter.com/sOQ98E3pwH
â€” SuperCoach AFL (@Supercoach) May 6, 2016