Doctor SuperCoach: Ultimate starting team cheat sheet, with best options in each position

Want a knockout SuperCoach team for 2025? The experts break down how to build a winning squad and the best options in each position.

There’s nothing like a bit of chaos to start the year! Two games down in round 0 and we now have just days to prepare for the long season ahead.

The team at Doctor SuperCoach have been working away analysing the pre-season to come up with helpful tips to consider when building your team in 2025. Under each position line we highlight our favourite premiums, mid-pricers and rookies to consider starting, along with the optimal strategy to deploy.

A WORD ON THE BYES

There will be a total of six teams missing action in the first month, and we suggest avoiding players from these teams except for a few certain instances. We have included some examples below that fit each category.

Rookies: Conor Stone $119,900, James Leake $119,900

Playersthat represent exceptional value: Matt Roberts $434,800, Will Day $491,300

Premiums who are elite in their position: Lachie Whitfield $598,100, Nick Daicos $631,400

DEFENDERS – LOAD UP ON PREMIUMS AND MID-PRICERS

The on-field rookie options are very thin in defence, and we likely won’t have many good options come round 1. This means it is very important that you invest in premiums and mid-pricers to stretch this position as best you can. With the lack of scoring power and job security in these rookies, you will lose too many points by going too thin in defence.

OPTIMAL SET-UP

• Pick 4-5 Players from the Premium and Mid-Pricer list

• Pick 3-4 Rookie options

Harry Perryman presents value after moving to the Magpies. Picture: Morgan Hancock/Getty Images

MIDFIELDERS – LOAD UP ON PREMIUMS, MID-PRICERS AND HIGH-END ROOKIES

In contrast to defence, the midfield is stacked full of talented rookies who should easily outperform similarly priced players in the defence and forward line. This is why we believe it is an attractive option to go thinner (more rookies on field) in this area than in previous years.

There is risk that comes with this strategy, however, because historically midfielders are the best scorers in the game. It is important you strike a balance that makes sense for you.

As a side note, it can be very easy to get sucked into picking Finn Callaghan and Will Day after lighting it up in Round 0, but don’t get rid of your elite uber premiums to get them in! It is still of utmost importance to select at least two proven scorers.

OPTIMAL SET-UP

• Pick 2-4 Premiums

• Pick 1-4 Mid-pricers

• Pick 3-4 High Priced Rookies ($145,000-$210,000)

• Pick 3 Cheap Rookies (Under $145,000)

 

Andrew Brayshaw is a popular pick in the midfield. Picture: James Worsfold/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

RUCKS – SET AND FORGET

Keeping things very simple, set and forget is the way to go this year. With the addition of the Flex, it makes more sense to consider mid-priced options in this new slot instead, which alleviates a lot of the risk in starting a cheaper R2.

You could go rogue and choose a player like Matt Flynn in the ruck, but if he is omitted or injured early in the season you will find yourself in a world of trouble.

OPTIMAL SET-UP

• Pick 2 Premiums

• Pick 1 Rookie (or non-playing loophole)

 

FORWARDS – LOAD UP ON PREMIUMS AND MID-PRICERS

Similarly to the defenders, you want to fill most of the on-field spots in the forward line with premiums and mid-pricers who are going to provide much better stability for your scoring. With the lack of scoring power and job security in these rookies, you will lose too many points by going too thin in the forwards. Differently to the defenders however, you can afford to pick more of those cheaper options because the underpriced talent is stacked!

OPTIMAL SET-UP

• Pick 1-2 Premiums

• Pick 3-4 Mid-pricers

• Pick 3 Rookies

 

Jack Macrae could be the biggest bargain in SuperCoach. Picture: Jack Cahill, St Kilda FC

FLEX – HIGH-END MIDFIELD ROOKIE / MIDPRICER

The Flex is an interesting addition to the SuperCoach mix and there are plenty of ways you can go about using it. However, we can’t see value in putting a premium here in your starting team as you wouldn’t be reaping the benefits of the new “best 22” rule.

With the defender and forward rookies being thin, your best bet is to use this slot on a high-end midfield rookie, or a cheap starting ruckman. The one negative to selecting a ruckman is flexibility, as you will be forced to field them each week.

Originally published as Doctor SuperCoach: Ultimate starting team cheat sheet, with best options in each position