Fantasy Freako’s formguide: SuperCoach trade, rookie tips for Round 11
Trading around the byes is tricky at the best of times. Maybe it’s best just to get the players in the hottest form right now. Champion Data’s SuperCoach expert names his top targets. SEE THE STATS
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Upgrading around the byes is always tricky.
If you bring in a premium this week, they are guaranteed to miss one game over the next month.
What players to target is also dependant on team balance. For example, if you have 13 players missing in Round 14, trading in Lachie Whitfield this week might not be the way to go. In this scenario opting for Jack Macrae or Marcus Bontempelli will better suit your bye structure, as both have a Round 12 bye.
Taking out those complications and looking simply at players in the best form right now, you can’t go past the Kelly boys – Josh and Tim are the top SuperCoach midfield scorers over the past six rounds with averages of 130 and 121 points respectively.
Josh’s price has hit a season-high after piling on 148 points against Melbourne last week. He also has a healthy three-round average of 144. Tim, on the other hand, has reached 120 in two of his past three games and averages 130 points.
Nat Fyfe (120), Mitch Duncan (119) and Elliot Yeo and Luke Parker (117) aren’t too far behind. In the case of Yeo, his tackling has been relentless in the past two rounds – applying a total of 31, the equal second-most recorded over a two-week period. He has rewarded SuperCoaches with 136 and 115 points in these games.
In terms of value for money, Dayne Zorko has been somewhat overlooked by SuperCoaches. He has outscored Lachie Neale over the past month (120 average vs 112) and also boasts a terrific record against this week’s opponent Hawthorn – scoring 100-plus points in six of eight career games against the Hawks. Zorko also has the scores on the board against Round 12 opponent Carlton – returning 151, 142 and 129 points in his past three games.
ROOKIE WATCH
With thousands of SuperCoaches facing a zero on field last round after Patrick Dangerfield was ruled out, the solution was simple. Jump on second-gamer Robert Young to make up the numbers and go in with all 22 players playing. That move backfired miserably and, in hindsight, saving a trade and playing one short may have been the better option.
What followed was nothing short of disastrous as Young struggled throughout St Kilda’s match against Carlton, recording just one disposal and five points in a frustrating first half. Things didn’t get any better, as he finished with just 17 points.
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Young (BE -16) is one of several players on the bubble ahead of Round 11, but after that performance, you couldn’t pick him with any confidence. Unfortunately for SuperCoaches, Darcy Fort (BE -86) and Mitchell Hinge (BE -55) have both been dropped, leaving Oskar Baker (BE -24) and Josh Begley (BE -3) as the viable bubble boys.
Trading in Fort might still be worthwhile if you have Reilly O’Brien on your ruck bench. Sam Jacobs isn’t far away from a return from injury which will impact O’Brien’s scoring, if not his place in the Crows team.
The mid-season draft has also provided SuperCoaches with a much-needed cash cow boost this week. Ryan Gardner is the first debutant of that group, with the Bulldogs already confirming that he will play against West Coast on Sunday. Gardner averaged nine disposals, 1.3 goals and 65 points in the VFL this season.
With the byes just around the corner, SuperCoach rookies are set to play a key role over the coming weeks, so make sure you choose them wisely.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
North Melbourne v Richmond
Ben Cunnington has scored at least 90 points in each of his six games at Marvel Stadium in 2019, with a season-high of 159 in Round 2. Dustin Martin has scored 115 and 98 points in his two matches at the venue.
Collingwood v Fremantle
Scott Pendlebury is one of four Magpies to average 100-plus points in games against top-eight opposition in 2019 (101). Luke Ryan’s average of 110 points against top-eight sides ranks third at the Dockers.
GWS Giants v Gold Coast Suns
Josh Kelly has dominated in his past two games against Gold Coast, scoring120 and 146 points. Alex Sexton has struggled against the Giants across his career, averaging just 38 points – his fewest against any AFL opponent.
Geelong v Sydney
Tom Atkins enjoyed the highest price rise of any Geelong player last round after he scored a season-high 115 points. Lance Franklin suffered the second-biggest price fall of any Swan after scoring a season-low 39 points.
Brisbane Lions v Hawthorn
Hugh McCluggage averages a career-high 22 disposals and 97 points at the Gabba this season. Jack Gunston has scored 102 points in each of his past three matches at the venue – kicking a combined six goals.
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Melbourne v Adelaide Crows
Clayton Oliver was blanketed by Matt De Boer last round, managing a season-low 17 disposals and 53 points. Brodie Smith’s 65 points was also a season-low as he suffered a third consecutive price fall.
St Kilda v Port Adelaide
Jade Gresham led the Saints to victory over the Blues with a season-high 29 disposals on his way to 114 points. Travis Boak finished with just 26 points and a season-low 75 points against the Hawks.
Essendon v Carlton
Dyson Heppell has averaged 30 disposals, five tackles and 111 points from his past three games against Carlton. Patrick Cripps has averaged 26 disposals, six clearances and 105 points in these games.
West Coast v Western Bulldogs
In the past four rounds, Shannon Hurn is the No.1 ranked defender in the competition with an average of 120 points. Caleb Daniel, a forward in SuperCoach, has averaged 94 points over these rounds, ranked sixth at the Bulldogs.
Originally published as Fantasy Freako’s formguide: SuperCoach trade, rookie tips for Round 11
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