SuperCoach AFL: Who will win $50,000 grand prize, Grand Final trade tips
The top-ranked coaches in SuperCoach reveal their hopes and tactics for the final round as they chase the title of 2024 champion – and the $50,000 grand prize. Plus trade tips!
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With nine matches to decide the 2024 SuperCoach champion, the race for the $50,000 SuperCoach grand prize is going down the wire.
Nathan Cadee, coach of Cadee’s Crew, has ridden his luck for a month with no trades remaining – but it could catch up with him this week as he faces a potential zero on field.
Like many SuperCoaches, Nathan’s defence has been hit hard with an ankle injury to Harry Sheezel and Dan Houston’s suspension. His bench cover consists of young Saint Arie Schoenmaker, who has been stuck in the VFL for the past five rounds.
“(I’m) extremely nervous ... Dan Houston has made the nerves a little bit worse with my backline, but it’s out of my control now,” he said on the official SuperCoach podcast. “It is what it is, and let the players do the work on the weekend. Pick a captain then away I go.”
Cadee’s Crew has scored 53,407 total points for the season, a lead of 144 over the second-placed team, Caleb Windsor Knot – which doesn’t include Sheezel or Houston.
Nathan has a 144 point lead heading into the final round but Joven is hot on his heels heading into the final week!
— SuperCoach AFL (@Supercoach) August 21, 2024
🧵A look at the top 20 rankings in #SuperCoach! pic.twitter.com/ot65JJfBRM
Nathan is banking on Max Gawn to produce one more big score for the season and hoping Lachie Neale and Josh Dunkley don’t get hold of Essendon. His fate might come down to the final game of the season, when Luke Jackson takes the field against Port Adelaide.
“I can only hope that is somehow still a live game for Freo,” he said.
“(This week) I’ll wait until the teams come out on Thursday night, hopefully no more bullets – and try to hold on.”
A passionate Hawthorn fan, Nathan paused only briefly when asked if he could choose between a surprise Hawks flag and the SuperCoach crown.
“I’d rather win SuperCoach this year, they can win the flag next year.”
HOW THE CONTENDERS ARE PLACED
Joven, coach of Caleb Windsor Knot (ranked second overall)
1. How are you feeling going into the final round?
Stressed but very excited
2. Which player do you need to go big?
Need one more big effort out of the St Kilda boys – Rowan Marshall and Jack Sinclair
3. Which player in your team are you most nervous about?
Jordan Dawson
4. Which player that you don’t have are you most nervous about?
Zak Butters will be a tough watch in the last game!
5. What has been the key to your SuperCoach success this season?
To reach this position I’ve needed a lot of luck. Listening to hours of podcasts and watching as much footy as possible has helped me assemble my team week to week.
6. How do you plan to watch the footy – and check SuperCoach scores – this weekend?
I won’t be able to watch much on Saturday due to playing in a qualifying final but I will be checking the scores at the quarter breaks. Sunday will be spent in front of the TV for sure!
Ben, coach of Dot (ranked third overall)
1. How are you feeling going into the final round?
Prior to Dan Houston ironing out Izak Rankine, I was feeling hopeful. However, now I am hopeless. That one action has ruined any chance that I had to take the prize, and now I’ll be content if I can hang on for a top-10 finish. I held Zac Fisher for four weeks while he was out of the side and purely for differentiation, I traded him to Rankine over Dylan Moore. I couldn’t have drawn up a more disastrous, $50,000 mistake. Moore has outscored Rankine 236 to 124 in those two weeks and to forcefully rub salt in the wound, Fisher would be a handy cover for sniper-Houston this week. Lesson: Don’t pull the trigger until the very end.
2. Which player do you need to go big?
The Brisbane boys (Neale and Dunkley) against Essendon look like the only saviour, despite Caleb Windsor Knot owning both. I feel it could be of more assistance if I get lucky with a big name such as seagull Gulden getting a rest, or Dylan Moore having a down game. You never wish for player injuries ...
3. Which player in your team are you most nervous about?
Simpkin, Jackson, Sheezel
4. Which player that you don’t have are you most nervous about?
Dylan Moore going large against North. Gulden and Walsh simultaneously having a good week at last could really bury me.
5. What has been the key to your SuperCoach success this season?
This is the first year that I have targeted underpriced, off-Broadway players in my starting team. I’ve always relied on aggressive trading to rise up the ranks and have typically been conservative by starting with proven, highly-selected guns like Marcus Bontempelli. I started the year with Martin, Young, Crouch, Steele, Wines, D’Ambrosio and Yeo. I brought in Xerri after R0 and traded in Zorko in R3, Neale in R5, Caldwell in R16. Selecting the right rookies through the year is the lifeblood of a good season, but I was lucky enough to hit some relatively unique rookies like Tom Brown, Leek Aleer and Jeremy Sharp, who provided healthy, consistent cash generation during the year. It allowed me to get expensive, normally unattainable players such as Serong, Ryan and Merrett.
6. How do you plan to watch the footy – and check SuperCoach scores – this weekend?
I’m obsessed with it and can’t help but track the scores on the SuperCoach App. Depending on how things go throughout the weekend, I’ll probably watch the Brisbane v Essendon games and the Sunday games and yell at the TV with a few beers.
Renee, coach of Leon: The Pro (ranked ninth overall)
1. How are you feeling going into the final round?
Going into final round No.1 is off the table, but hoping/optimistic for a top-10 finish.
2. Which player do you need to go big?
With Gawn becoming a bit of a POD in the top 10 need him to go huge to match other rucks (namely, Xerri).
3. Which player in your team are you most nervous about?
Charlie Curnow, he is a test to play for this week and even if he does not sure he will do very well.
4. Which player that you don’t have are you most nervous about?
Xerri.
5. What has been the key to your SuperCoach success this season?
Starting team needed minimal changes and players stayed super consistent. Let me start at the top very early.
6. How do you plan to watch the footy – and check SuperCoach scores – this weekend?
I’ll check scores for a VC loophole game, otherwise I’ll leave it till the last game and find out results.
Ultimate SuperCoach grand final trade guide, match-up tracker
The sun is shining and the smell of cut grass is in the air – welcome to SuperCoach grand final week.
For many coaches it’s last man standing with more stars set to miss the biggest game of the year.
If you have any trades left – well played! You can pick the best player available to replace Dan Houston, Izak Rankine, Will Day or an out of form premium (Brodie Grundy?).
All you need is one big score, so match-ups in round 24 will be critical. If you don’t have trades these numbers are still vital intel when picking your captain, vice-captain and bench players.
So, who has the friendliest fixture and who could struggle in the decider? Read on to find out.
Melbourne v Collingwood (Friday, MCG 7.40pm)
The Demons’ trend of giving up points to opposition midfielders continued on Saturday, with Sam Flanders and Noah Anderson both topping 120. This week it could be Nick Daicos’s turn, although Alex Neal-Bullen held him to 15 disposals and 64 points on King’s Birthday.
Collingwood has also been an easy midfield to score against this season. Could Jack Viney back up his 136 against the Suns?
It should be a great ruck battle between Max Gawn and Darcy Cameron, who has five scores over 120 in his past six games.
Geelong v West Coast (Saturday, GMHBA Stadium 1.45pm)
The easiest match-up analysis this year has been to target rucks playing against the Eagles or Cats, but this week the two easiest teams for big men to score against play each other.
The Eagles are also the second-easiest midfield to score against and third-easiest match-up for forwards. Jeremy Cameron scored 65 points from three goals against St Kilda but expect him to fire at home as the Cats play for a top-four spot. He has already scored 120 and 140 at GMHBA Stadium this year – where the Cats have won their past three against the Eagles by an average of 80 points. Tom Stewart should also score well here while Lawson Humphries can provide excellent bench cover again.
Richmond v Gold Coast (Saturday, MCG 2.10pm)
Richmond’s 2024 trend continued in round 23 of giving up bulk points to midfielders (Jai Newcombe 162), defenders (Karl Amon 123) and forwards (Dylan Moore 139, Jack Gunston 129). So, this is the match-up to target for a final round boost. The only problem is can we trust any Gold Coast player, especially at the MCG?
Lock in Sam Flanders for a big score, but he is already owned by most of the competition. If you want to pull something out of the bag in grand final week, Noah Anderson has a great record against the Tigers (av 140 in his past three). Touk Miller isn’t far behind (135) and he’s a lot cheaper. And don’t be surprised if a defender like Lachie Weller or Wil Powell scores big.
Gold Coast has given up the second-most points to defenders this year, so Daniel Rioli should finish the season in style.
Hawthorn v North Melbourne (Saturday, UTAS Stadium 4.35pm)
Good news for Tristan Xerri owners – if they needed any after a fourth straight score over 140. Hawthorn is the third easiest match-up for rucks, so pencil in another big return.
The Kangaroos, meanwhile, are classified as an easy match-up for opposition midfielders and forwards. Dylan Moore is a great asset, and can Jai Newcombe back up his 162 against Richmond? That was a season-best and he is averaging 114 over his past four. Newcombe has played 13 games in Hobart for a 104 average.
Brisbane Lions v Essendon (Saturday, Gabba 7.25pm)
Avoid Essendon players this week – the Lions are the most restrictive team for opposition midfielders and in the top four for all other positions.
And the Bombers are harder to score against than you might think based on their ladder position – only three Swans scored over 100 on Friday night with Isaac Heeney topping the list with 117 points.
Lachie Neale famously scored 198 against the Bombers in 2022 but was clamped by Jye Caldwell the next time they met. Will Brad Scott revive that role with finals out of the equation?
Sydney v Adelaide (Saturday, SCG 7.40pm)
Sydney has been one of the hardest midfields to score against this season, with tagger James Jordon a big reason for that. Expect him to target Jordan Dawson on Saturday.
Brodie Grundy owners hoping his SCG record will lead to a return to form won’t be happy to hear Reilly O’Brien is the fourth-most restrictive ruckman in 2024.
Western Bulldogs v GWS Giants (Sunday, Mars Stadium 12.30pm)
Another tough match-up for both teams. The Dogs are the second-hardest midfield to score against this year while the Giants are the hardest match-up for opposition defenders.
Caleb Serong fought through the Toby Bedford tag to score 105 last round, but he hasn’t been beaten often. Marcus Bontempelli or Adam Treloar are possible targets this week.
Losing Tim English makes the Dogs vulnerable in the ruck – could you take a flyer on Kieren Briggs? After a slow start to the year he has averaged 110 over his past six games.
Carlton v St Kilda (Sunday, Marvel Stadium 3.20pm)
Both teams rank mid-table for their ability to restrict opposition scoring across most positions, but the Saints have a tradition of giving up points to defenders. Nic Newman is the player to target here – he scored 144 when these teams met at Marvel Stadium last year.
Fremantle v Port Adelaide (Sunday, Optus Stadium 6.10pm)
Dockers defenders Luke Ryan and Jordan Clark go from the hardest match-up in the competition in GWS to a medium match-up against the Power.
Fremantle has been a tough match-up this season for opposition midfielders but Tom Green (143) and Brent Daniels (195!) showed the Dockers’ defensive strategy can be broken.
GRAND FINAL TRADE TARGETS
Jeremy Cameron ($432,500 FWD) v West Coast
Cherry picking a key forward in the final round has been a hugely successful strategy in past seasons – Taylor Walker averaged 89 last year but produced when it mattered with 167 points against the Eagles in the SuperCoach grand final. Could Jezza kick the Cats into the top four with a big bag at GMHBA Stadium?
Touk Miller ($468,500 MID) v Richmond
Noah Anderson has a slightly better record against the Tigers but we recommended him last week, and Miller has a longer track record away from home. At 6 per cent ownership, he’s also a great POD. The Tigers midfield leaks points like no other and someone will go big.
Dylan Moore ($518,200 FWD) v North Melbourne
Moore cashed in on the Tigers match-up in round 23 and gets another great fixture in the final round. He scored 116 against the Roos in round 6, and that was when the Hawks were in the bottom four.
Nic Newman ($541,300 DEF) v St Kilda
If you’re rolling the dice with a grand final trade it’s no fun banking a safe 105. Aim for the stars with a high-ceiling player – and Newman fits the bill perfectly. He already has logged a 144, 156, 147 and 148 this year, and the Saints are known for their tendency to leak points to opposition defenders.
Kieren Briggs ($528,400 RUC) v Western Bulldogs
Last week we listed Marc Pittonet as a Hail Mary option and he scored 122, so we’re targeting another ruck with a favourable match-up. The Dogs had just 18 hitouts in total last round through Rory Lobb and Sam Darcy, while Tristan Xerri racked up 44 of his own. Expect Briggs to post similar numbers. And I just have a feeling he’s the kind of guy who will love playing in Ballarat.
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