SuperCoach Round 7 trade guide: Why you should be patient to snare biggest stars at base price in coming weeks

The temptation to jump on some of the AFL’s biggest stars is growing, but if you’re patient you can add top talents such as Jack Macrae and Patrick Cripps at a bargain price. ROUND 7 TRADE GUIDE

Consistency is one of the most valuable commodities in SuperCoach.

Players you can rely on for scores above 90 — or even better 100 — provide valuable piece of mind.

It’s those who yoyo between 140 and 60 who provide the most headaches for SuperCoaches, launching teams to league wins one week and causing scores under 2000 the next.

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There’s been no better example of reliability this season than Western Bulldog Caleb Daniel.

Moved into a role off halfback, Daniel’s precision by foot has resulted in six consecutive scores of 93 or better with four hundreds.

While fallen premiums such as Nat Fyfe and Rory Laird will be the rage this week, Daniel has a favourable bye and a perfect role to keep accumulating points.

He might have risen by about $70,000 from his starting price, but don’t let that deter you from one of the best picks available for less than $500,000.

Forward upgrades should be your first priority if you still have rookies stuck on field, Daniel must be among your targets.

TOP TARGETS

Nat Fyfe $564,000 Mid Avg: 114.4 Breakeven: 90

A player with Nat Fyfe’s average and ceiling won’t come cheaper than this. The Fremantle skipper has scored 147, 124, 110 and 128 this season and the sole reason he’s under $600,000 was being knocked out against St Kilda when he tallied 63. If you don’t jump on this week, it has to be in Round 8. You’ll likely pay an extra $10,000-$20,000 next week, but Fyfe is worth it.

Nat Fyfe is the top SuperCoach target of Round 7 after dropping to what should prove his base price. Picture: Michael Dodge/Getty Images.

Rory Laird $531,600 Def Avg: 99.7 BE: 92

With Wayne Milera out due to injury, Laird returned to the type of scoring we’ve become accustomed to when he amassed 124 against St Kilda and went up $8500 in price. With a break even of 92 he won’t rise considerably this week, but if you are chasing a defensive upgrade, the Crows halfback ball magnet should be your man.

Clayton Oliver $550,100 Mid Avg: 101.2 BE: 107

Much like Melbourne, Oliver hasn’t quite got going yet. He’s threatened a big score in the past two rounds, managing 108 and 105, but the Demons’ woes haven’t helped his scoring. When his form turns, you’ll want to be on board. But Oliver should be the No.2 midfield target behind Nat Fyfe heading into Round 7.

James Sicily is one of the in-form SuperCoach players. Picture: Michael Dodge/Getty Images.

James Sicily $564,300 Def Avg: 106.5 BE: 84

Sicily was one of the heroes in Hawthorn’s nervy win over Carlton, mopping up possessions at will in defence to finish with 127 points. He’s gone 119, 117 and 127 in the past three rounds and looks every bit the top defender thousands paid premium money for at the start of the season. He’s still available for a slight discount on his starting price and has a favourable bye in Round 12 which avoids most of the popular premiums.

Caleb Daniel $486,100 Fwd Avg: 102.5 BE: 81

You can read the full case for Daniel above, but the Bulldogs halfback weapon ticks a lot of boxes. He’s one of the best ball users in the AFL, has a SuperCoach-friendly role and has been as consistent as any player this season. Don’t rule him out just because his price has climbed.

Caleb Daniel’s consistency has been a feature of the opening six rounds. . Picture: Michael Klein.

James Worpel $445,200 Fwd-Mid Avg: 92.8 BE: 76

Worpel is the best of the players available for under $450,000 if you’re desperate for an upgrade but don’t have the bank to fund reaching the likes of Fyfe and Oliver. The Hawks rising star showed his ceiling when he pumped out a 54-point quarter in Hawthorn’s victory over Carlton on Sunday. Only six players in the AFL have attended more centre bounces this year.

Tim Kelly $476,700 Fwd-Mid Avg: 96.3 BE: 62

With the spectre of a Mark Hutchings tag gone, now is the time to jump on Kelly at his cheapest rate for the season. If you disregard his 39 when he was carrying an ankle injury as well as Matt De Boer around Kardinia Park, Kelly has scores of 106, 111, 107, 129 and 86. An average in that region would guarantee he becomes a premium forward.

Lachie Whitfield’s break even has soared after he carried an injury during the Sydney derby. Picture: AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts.

HOLD OFF

Jack Macrae $614,300 Mid Avg: 115 BE: 175

Patrick Cripps $684,500 Mid Avg: 128.5 BE: 195

Lachie Whitfield $575,200 Def Avg: 108 BE: 204

Lachie Neale $675,200 Mid Avg: 136.2 BE: 160

Josh Kelly $585,700 Mid Avg: 105.5 BE: 128

SuperCoach shopping season has started, but you can afford to hold off for another week or two on some of the biggest guns. Cripps is already in 59.2% of teams, while Whitfield, Macrae and Neale have grown in popularity due to their stellar opening months. Kelly is the wildcard on this list due to his late start to 2019. He’s only in 3.4% of teams and is capable of matching Neale, Macrae and Cripps for points during the run home. Whitfield is going to be an absolute bargain in 2-3 weeks, depending on whether he plays in Round 7 after suffering a severe corkie against Sydney which limited him to 45 points.

Will Hayes battles with first-round draft pick Bailey Smith at Western Bulldogs training. Picture: Michael Klein.

BUBBLE BOYS

Josh Rotham $123,900 Def Avg: 77 BE: -82

Will Hayes $117,300 Mid Avg: 62.5 BE: -57

Shai Bolton $146,600 Fwd Avg: 66.5 BE: -48

Lachlan Young $120,400 Def Avg: 47 BE: -24

Mitch Lewis $149,000 Fwd Avg: 59 BE: -31

James Rowbottom $117,300 Mid Avg: 39 BE: -10

Toby Greene $354,600 Fwd Avg: 78.5 BE: 49

Joe Daniher $277,800 Fwd Avg: 69.5 BE: 23

Rotham could come into calculations after West Coast’s capitulation in Geelong and with Tom Barrass out indefinitely will have a chance to stake his claim to lock in a defensive role for the reigning premier. Hayes will be the most popular downgrade option this week as coaches look to offload the likes of Zac Butters and Tom Atkins from their midfields. Young and Rowbottom haven’t scored enough to warrant a trade, while Lewis is tempting, although key forwards are always difficult to trust. Daniher and Greene aren’t typical bubble boys but if you’re after an experienced player to help build your bank, both should do the job.

Shane Savage has been in hot form for St Kilda in recent weeks. Picture: Hamish Blair

BARGAIN BIN

Under 500k

Tim Kelly $476,700 avg: 96.3 High score: 129

Caleb Daniel $486,100 avg: 102.5 HS: 120

Dustin Martin $482,600 avg: 87.8 HS: 115

Tom Rockliff $480,900 avg: 103.3 HS: 140

Brayden Fiorini $492,800 avg: 102.7 HS: 118

Zak Jones $471,600 avg: 94.3 HS: 116

Shane Savage $479,300 avg: 89.5 HS: 121

Jaeger O’Meara $495,400 avg: 100.8 HS: 133

Under 450k

Jarryd Lyons $395,800 avg: 75.8 HS: 114

Justin Westhoff $383,100 avg: 73.8 HS: 149

Toby Greene $354,600 avg: 78.5 HS: 79

Jack Gunston $408,500 avg: 77.2 HS: 110

Jeremy McGovern $433,100 avg: 88 HS: 134

Sam Menegola $425,500 avg: 78.7 HS: 115

Lance Franklin $435,400 avg: 70 HS: 80

Jeremy Howe $437,500 avg: 84 HS: 103

James Worpel $445,200 avg: 92.8 HS: 110

Brodie Smith $445,200 avg: 93.8 HS: 110

Gold Coast defender Sam Collins will face the chop from many SuperCoach teams this week. Picture: Supplied.

CHOPPING BLOCK

Jack Darling $338,600 Fwd Avg: 56 BE: 166

Robbie Gray $419,400 Fwd-Mid Avg: 76.5 BE: 145

Jack Scrimshaw $314,500 Def Avg: 70.3 BE: 58

Sam Collins $311,600 Def Avg: 65 BE: 70

Tom Atkins $232,500 Mid Avg: 53.8 BE: 25

Zak Butters $252,400 Mid Avg: 61.5 BE: 27

Kade Simpson $458,900 Def Avg: 75.2 BE: 140

Gray (broken hand) is set to spend several weeks on the sidelines and Simpson (hamstring) appears certain to join him. Holding players of their value will only set your team back. Darling has scored 9 and 22 in the past two weeks and although he’ll be available for under $300,000 in a few rounds, he’s too risky to be considered as a bargain pick-up considering his recent form.

The time has arrived to start turning rookies into premiums where possible, with Collins the top priority to move on after his break even exceeded his average. Butters still has money to make but has been running out of steam, with scores of 23 and 46 in the past three weeks. Atkins will likely make another $10,000-$15,000, while Scrimshaw might need to be sacrificed to fund upgrades in more pressing areas such as up forward where rookie options are limited.

Originally published as SuperCoach Round 7 trade guide: Why you should be patient to snare biggest stars at base price in coming weeks