Fantasy Freako’s formguide: SuperCoach trade, rookie tips for Round 12
With popular captaincy picks Brodie Grundy and Max Gawn going head-to-head on Queen’s Birthday, getting your vice-captain right this week is key. Champion Data’s SuperCoach expert reveals why and names top trade targets.
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In the 1980s we looked forward to the epic heavyweight battles between Hulk Hogan
and Andre the Giant.
In 2019, the SuperCoach equivalent is the Gawn (Hogan) v Grundy (Andre) battle.
Round 12 is something SuperCoaches and football fans have been looking forward to for some time — the clash of the two SuperCoach titans.
Both players are having terrific seasons and are the two top scorers in the competition, with Grundy scoring 26 more points than Gawn.
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As tantalising as the match-up promises to be, it does create a SuperCoach dilemma — who do we captain?
When the sides last met in the corresponding round last season, Grundy (98) narrowly edged Gawn (76) as the latter posted a season-low for both SuperCoach points and hit-outs to advantage (five).
Grundy’s 13 disposals on the other hand were his equal third-fewest in any match for the year.
Based on these numbers, they may in fact nullify each other. This makes the vice-captain more important.
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Should our vice-captain fail to post a meaningful score, we’ll be forced to choose between the two and if I had to pick one, I would definitely go with Grundy. He is the clear leader in several measures for ruckmen — including disposals (232), contested possessions (150) and clearances (62). He has also attended 78 more ruck contests than Gawn across the year, but Gawn’s hitout to advantage numbers are better (27 more than Grundy).
Another category in which Grundy has the edge is ruck hardball gets. With a change to the
prior opportunity rule in ruck contests this season, it has enabled Grundy to impose himself at stoppages, recording 30 hardball gets, which is twice as many as Gawn (15).
ROOKIES
The bye rounds can often make or break your season. If you have been planning your trades diligently, then you enter Round 12 with a slight edge. In saying that, no amount of planning can prepare you for injuries.
On top of the players already missing Round 12, injuries to Lachie Whitfield and Shannon Hurn have provided another hurdle.
In terms of coverage, there are virtually no ‘bubble boys’ on the horizon ahead of Round 12, with the only player worth considering, Brett Bewley, missing with the bye. Even the best one-game option, Dylan Clarke, misses this round.
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We could be handed a gift from Leon Cameron should he finally decide to reward Jackson Hately for his strong NEAFL form — collecting 123 and 138 points in his past two games. But we can’t hang our hat on that happening. We already know that there will be at least one change with Whitfield out, but Zac Williams is the player likely to return after recovering from a hamstring injury.
Trading rookies during the bye rounds can be counter-productive, but break-evens are starting the skyrocket with Gryan Miers (BE 108), Reilly O’Brien (BE 95), Darcy Moore (94), Connor Rozee (BE 99), Bailey Smith (BE 95) and Jay Lockhart (BE 71) all poised for price drops.
In the case of O’Brien, a 226 SuperCoach point haul for Sam Jacobs in the SANFL may work against him as ‘Sauce’ works his way back from injury. The Crows have a major decision to make.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Richmond v Geelong
Trent Cotchin’s price fall of $58,000 is the third-biggest at Richmond after averaging his fewest points since 2010 (75). Patrick Dangerfield has suffered the seventh-biggest fall of any player in the league — averaging his fewest points since 2011 (104).
Carlton v Brisbane Lions
Nic Newman enjoyed his fifth price rise of the season despite only scoring 70 points last round against Essendon. Alex Witherden could only manage a season-low 46 points in the win over Hawthorn.
Gold Coast v North Melbourne
Darcy MacPherson is Gold Coast’s leading scorer over the past four rounds with an average of 106. Ben Cunnington has dominated over this period — averaging 113 points — ranked No.1 at North Melbourne.
Adelaide v Greater Western Sydney
Brad Crouch has stepped up in the absence of brother Matt in recent weeks, scoring 119, 80 and a season-high 127 in the past three rounds. Tim Taranto has scored 144, 132 and 70 over this period.
Sydney Swans v West Coast
Luke Parker ranks fourth in the league for points scored since Round 9 with an average of 138. Elliot Yeo is the ninth-ranked midfielder in the league over this period with an average of 115.
Collingwood v Melbourne
Brodie Grundy narrowly edged Max Gawn in Round 12 last season scoring 98 points from 13 disposals and seven tackles. Gawn finished with just 76 points and five hit-outs to advantage.
Originally published as Fantasy Freako’s formguide: SuperCoach trade, rookie tips for Round 12
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