SuperCoach AFL: The 10 players you must pick in 2025
From the biggest bargain of 2025 to must-have rookies, here are the 10 players to build your SuperCoach team around this year.
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The script has been flipped in SuperCoach this year.
A season after we were scraping the barrel to find forwards we could trust, there are three who are among the biggest locks of 2025.
And that’s not to mention the greatest bargain of this year, and the player who should feature in every SuperCoach team.
As pre-season returns and more whispers emerge on new roles and training standouts, these are the 10 players every SuperCoach team should start with.
This list will be updated throughout pre-season, so be sure to check back and make sure you’ve got the building blocks for SuperCoach success.
1. CALEB DANIEL | FWD-MID | $269,100
“He’ll play half-back ... he wants to play free and happy”. It’s the quote from player agent Marty Pask that made a drawn-out trade period more bearable for SuperCoaches. Two years after he averaged 92.8 points – which would have ranked eighth among last year’s forwards – Daniel is available for little more than the higher-priced SuperCoach rookies. But the best part is his return to a permanent role in defence. Playing half-back for North Melbourne is arguably the best role in SuperCoach. Just ask Jack Ziebell, Aaron Hall, Harry Sheezel, Zac Fisher and Colby McKercher. And there’s an argument Daniel might be the best player yet to swing into Alastair Clarkson’s backline. A likely keeper for less than $270k? Lock him in and throw away the key.
2. SAAD EL-HAWLI | DEF-MID | $119,900
While there’s been some talk out of Essendon HQ that El-Hawli might be down the pecking order at selection, we’re not worried. The mid-season draftee has all the attributes to become a top SuperCoach cash cow, whether it’s from round 1 or during the season. He scored fewer than 96 ranking points only twice in the VFL last season, finishing with an average of 111. His dash coming off half-back will be a weapon for Essendon, and Brad Scott did SuperCoaches a favour by not debuting El-Hawli late last season and keeping him at a bargain rookie price. At worst, he’s a great DEF-MID loop early on to make sure you’re getting the best rookie scores on field.
3. RILEY BICE | DEF | $113,500
Does Bice get a round 1 berth at grand finalist Sydney? That’s still up in the air. But this early on in pre-season he certainly stands out as one of the most-likely rookies to break out. He arrived in the Harbour City as a mature-ager, having starred at half-back for VFL premier Werribee last year. Bice averaged 101 ranking points a game in the state league and, like El-Hawli, has the dash – and, importantly, the kicking efficiency – to become a SuperCoach star from the get-go. Now it’s over to new coach Dean Cox to make a call on whether Bice, who has impressed in pre-season, makes his round 1 side. The beauty is we’ll get a look at the Swans in round 0 before we have to make a final call.
4. WILL ASHCROFT | MID | $441,200
As The Phantom noted in his annual breakout predictions, it doesn’t exactly take a rocket scientist to realise Ashcroft is underpriced at $441k. Ashcroft finished his rookie season in 2023 at $510k, scoring six tons with a high of 148 points. His value this year comes after an ACL injury held him back until round 16 last year, only hitting his straps in the finals series. Some will call it recency bias to have him this high in the must-haves, but it’s rare to get a potential season keeper in the midfield this cheap. If Ashcroft can average over 100, he’ll slide to your M7 or M8 position later in the campaign. He’s going to be one of the most popular starting picks – with good reason. Ashcroft looks a safer bet than Clayton Oliver, who is $10k more expensive – for now. But if Oliver continues to impress over pre-season, there will be a strong case to start both.
5. BAILEY SMITH | FWD-MID | $389,200
Kicking efficiency has always been what has stopped Smith making the next step from a good SuperCoach scorer to a great one. His best season was 2022, when he averaged 98.6 points a game. But there are three big factors working in his favour this year. We’re comparing the Geelong recruit to forwards, not midfielders. And against forwards, his numbers stack up as well as almost anyone in SuperCoach. After a year out with an ACL, Smith is as cheap as he’s been since 2019. And the Cats want to play him as an inside midfielder, where he’s always done his best SuperCoach scoring.
6. JASON HORNE-FRANCIS | FWD-MID | $537,000
Horne-Francis just edged into FWD-MID status after spending a lot of time in attack during last year’s finals series. It was a great result for SuperCoaches and makes Horne-Francis a lot more attractive as a SuperCoach option this year. He only had one score below 71 last year and lifted his average from 77.6 to 99.7. Only Sam Flanders, Dayne Zorko and Isaac Heeney, who are no longer forwards, averaged more than that last year in SuperCoach. Horne-Francis is likely to finish the year as one of the top-three forwards and the chances of getting him for much less than this price as slim.
7. IZAK RANKINE | FWD | $521,600
The budding Crows superstar got as high as $578k last year, so a price tag above $500k shouldn’t put you off. We’re well past the point where Rankine is a small forward. He’s a dynamic forward capable of having a big influence at clearances and through the midfield. And that translated to his SuperCoach scoring last season. Adelaide’s early draw is considered one of the friendliest, taking on St Kilda, Essendon, North Melbourne, Gold Coast and Geelong – with no early bye. Those are five fixtures which will give Rankine a great opportunity to get his SuperCoach owners off to a flying start, so don’t miss out.
8. TRISTAN XERRI | RUC | $645,900
The ruck position will be one of the most hotly-debated this pre-season, especially with the addition of a Flex position to SuperCoach AFL. Do you go with three premiums, a gun and two value picks, or two stars and a value option like Matt Flynn? Either way, Tristan Xerri should be one of your starting ruckmen. He’s everything we love about big men in SuperCoach. Last year Xerri averaged 18 disposals, 6.6 clearances, 12.6 contested possessions, 34.5 hitouts and 7.5 tackles a game. Ruckmen who win their own ball in the contest are gold in SuperCoach, and Xerri is arguably now the best in the game in the statistic.
9. JAGGA SMITH | MID | $194,500
You can throw a blanket over the top-priced rookies from last year’s super draft, but I’m most confident on Smith at this early stage. Carlton moved mountains to make sure it had the opportunity to draft the smooth mover out of the Oakleigh Chargers who seems destined to step straight into the midfield alongside Sam Walsh and Patrick Cripps. Smith averaged 154 ranking points in the Coates League last year and although the elite level will be a huge step, he’s done nothing in pre-season to suggest he’s not ready. Levi Ashcroft will be a popular starting pick as well, but I still need to be convinced he’s going to make Brisbane’s round 1 side – as good as he obviously is.
10. ISAAC KAKO | FWD-MID | $149,500
Levi Ashcroft was the other player I considered for the last spot in the must-have 10, but I’ve gone for Kako due to his job security. While Brisbane has so much depth it can afford to take its time with Ashcroft, or even manage him through his first season, Essendon needs a small forward now. Kako is well-priced, has DPP and although he knows where the goals are, he’s capable of winning his own ball as well. He’s set to become an important part of the Bombers’ forward line in a role they have badly needed, and shapes as a great SuperCoach cash cow.
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Originally published as SuperCoach AFL: The 10 players you must pick in 2025
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