SuperCoach AFL 2024: Teams whispers, Champion Data form, captain tips for round 18
Get the latest teams whispers plus captain advice, Champion Data intel and the bargain basement Cat who could be worth his weight in SuperCoach gold.
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SuperCoach is a minefield ahead of round 18 as carnage has struck across all lines.
We’ll be missing Jeremy McGovern in defence, Touk Miller in the midfield, Max Gawn in the ruck and Izak Rankine and potentially Isaac Heeney in the forwards as he challenges his one-game ban for the second time.
So, the bench will be heavily relied upon, especially if you’re holding onto Gawn. The ruckman is bullish about his recovery and hopes to come back sooner than the three weeks forecast – however, SuperCoaches have reacted by hitting the trade button in droves nonetheless!
Scroll down for captain tips and latest teams news and whispers
As we look at this week’s crop of rookies, owners of Shaun Mannagh would be rejoicing the most after he racked up 20 disposals and 118 points against the Hawks, with his relentless tacking a highlight – applying a round-high 14 tackles. What made his score even more impressive is that he had a nice spread of tackles, with eight coming at stoppage and six in general play. Mannagh played 86 per cent of game time as a forward but pushed up to stoppage to get involved in the play.
Mannagh is a key player this week for those covering Heeney (if suspended), but for SuperCoaches without him – do you snap him up even after a $62,500 price rise? That all depends on who you’re trading out, but as a DPP he could be gold in the run home irrespective.
Geelong teammate Lawson Humphries is an alternative to Mannagh. Also a DPP, he is hot property ahead of his third game and he’s currently the most traded in player at the time of writing. He added another 66 points to his season total last weekend after managing 91 on debut.
Jacob Blight is an option in defence after he collected 86 points against Fremantle from 13 disposals, five spoils and seven intercept possessions. If picking between him and Humphries, then going for the more versatile defender is the way to go as Blight is a defensively oriented key defender.
Andy Monz-Wakefield has been consistent in his two outings grabbing 16 disposals in each game, scoring 59 and 60 in that order. If you need the extra cash and can’t get to Mannagh then Moniz Wakefield is a worthy alternative up forward.
No no doubt we’ll see more fresh faces in the run home.
As always, trade wisely and best of luck for the upcoming round
CAPTAINS CORNER
Owners of Brisbane’s superstar midfielders have eight matches to get a free hit at a VC before the best captain options of the week play in the final game on Sunday.
Expect Lachie Neale and Josh Dunkley to score big at Optus Stadium.
Both are in red-hot form – Neale has a three-round average of 147 and Dunkley 142– and their record against the Eagles is eye-popping. Neale’s past three scores against West Coast are 142, 123 and 133. For Dunkley it’s 143, 132 and 151. And West Coast has been the second-easiest team for midfielders to score against this season.
Dayne Zorko could also have a day out, but his record doesn’t match the big two, averaging 98 in his past three against the Eagles.
If you need a captain or vice-captain early in the round, Zach Merrett is a standout after his 145 against Collingwood last week. This week he faces Melbourne – a team he averages 133 against in their past three encounters – without Max Gawn or Christian Petracca.
Nick Daicos is always a safe VC choice, except for his rare sub-100 score last week. But he should bounce back against Geelong, who he scored 129 against last year.
And Marcus Bontempelli never lets you down ... although his score last week wasn’t great, either. But we can write off one off day for the No.1 scorer in the game who averages 124 in his past three against the Blues.
Zak Butters fresh off a 159 in just 65 per cent game time, Tom Green against Richmond and Toby Nankervis, if you’re bringing him in this week, are all worth considering.
And you can throw a dart at the Swans v Roos game on Saturday and potentially hit a captain-worthy score from the likes of Brodie Grundy, Errol Gulden, Harry Sheezel or Isaac Heeney – if he plays.
Al Paton’s Top three captains
1. Josh Dunkley
2. Lachie Neale
3. Zach Merrett
FISHER’S POSITIVE PROGRESS
Zac Fisher could deliver a reprieve for under-siege SuperCoaches this week.
Fisher was subbed out of North Melbourne’s round 16 match against the Bulldogs and missed the Roos’ win against Gold Coast.
But he is back in full training and shaping as a likely inclusion for the Kangaroos against Sydney on Saturday.
“Zac has made great progress in recovering from that midfoot sprain suffered against the Dogs, after failing to clear availability last Thursday,” North Melbourne head of performance Kevin White said.
“He had a positive running session on-ground on Saturday morning and progressed into group training this morning.”
Zac Fisher firming for a return from a foot injury for North Melbourne’s trip to Sydney. Training with the main group this morning - needs to get through today to be considered @FOXFOOTY@FOXSportsNews#AFL
— Drew Jones (@DrewJonesFOX) July 11, 2024
Fisher is listed as a test to return against the Swans on Saturday.
George Wardlaw is also likely to return but must pass a fitness test after missing the past two matches through concussion.
CROWS UNVEIL ANOTHER DEBUTANT
Adelaide defender Hugh Bond will play his first AFL game this Sunday.
Bond was selected with pick 50 in the 2022 national draft and has averaged 62 SuperCoach points in 12 SANFL appearances this season.
He is a $123,900 defender in SuperCoach and becomes Adelaide’s fourth debutant for the season, following Dan Curtin, Billy Dowling and Zac Taylor.
BLUES REVEAL TDK WORRY
Three Carlton players will have to pass fitness tests to play this week, and one could be a gut punch to more than 11,000 SuperCoaches.
Tom De Koning played on after rolling his ankle in the first quarter against GWS but is listed as a test on the Blues’ injury list.
Jacob Weitering (cork) and Jack Martin (calf) also face fitness tests.
De Koning has been dominating in the ruck, averaging 144.2 over his past five games, but he was rested against Richmond in round 16 and the Blues have more than adequate back-up if his body needs to be managed again.
Marc Pittonet has been starring at VFL level, scoring another 147 points last weekend.
SuperCoaches are already dealing with the loss of superstar ruckman Max Gawn along with suspensions to Isaac Heeney and Izak Rankine.
HOW LONG WILL TOUK, GOV MISS?
Gawn isn’t the only injury concern this week, with Gold Coast confirming midfielder Touk Miller will miss at least a month with a broken wrist.
“Touk was sent for scans on Monday which have shown he has sustained a small fracture to his wrist,” Suns head physiotherapist Lindsay Bull said.
“We expect Touk to be unavailable in the short term as he allows time for his wrist to heal.”
The news could be better, however, for West Coast defender Jeremy McGovern.
McGovern was unable to fly home with his teammates after being taken to hospital following a knock in the final minutes of the Eagles’ loss to Melbourne on Sunday.
Scans revealed what the club described as a minor punctured lung and fractured rib.
But he is listed as just one week on West Coast’s injury list and is expected to return in round 19 against St Kilda.
“’Gov’ got the knock to his ribs in the last quarter on the weekend,” high performance Manager Mat Inness told the club website.
“With the internal injury he won’t play this week but in good news he’s making his way back to Perth.”
SAINTS TAGGER RULED OUT
A late-season resurgence for St Kilda will need to continue on without Marcus Windhager after scans confirmed a significant hamstring injury for the young midfielder.
Windhager, who was subbed out in the third quarter of the Saints’ stirring win over Sydney, could be sidelined until the final round of the home-and-away season.
St Kilda football boss David Misson said it was a “disappointing” setback for the 21-year-old as recruit Paddy Dow looms as a possible replacement should he overcome an ankle injury.
“It’s disappointing for Marcus, who has really been finding some form over the past few months,” Misson said.
“Marcus is an incredibly diligent young athlete, who we know will attack his rehab with professionalism.”
SICILY PUSHES FOR RETURN
Important Hawthorn pair James Sicily and Jack Ginnivan remain in the frame for the Hawks’ crucial trip to Launceston to face Fremantle on Saturday, along with first-year forward Calsher Dear.
It comes as Dockers captain Alex Pearce makes a bid to return from a broken arm in time to play in his home state, with fellow key defender Josh Draper’s availability clouded due to a groin complaint.
Hawthorn fitness boss Peter Burge said Sicily was “progressing really well” after dislocating his shoulder for the second time this season in the Hawks’ round 16 win over West Coast.
“His strength measures have improved each session, each time we’ve tested them,” Burge said.
“We had him out there today doing all of our drills, so the plan of attack for Thursday is to fully train this Thursday and then we’ll make an assessment off the back of main training for his availability on the weekend.”
Burge said Ginnivan would be fit to meet his former side Collingwood in round 19 if he was unable to get to the line against the Dockers, with the small forward recovering from a “very small crack” to the top of his fibula.
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Originally published as SuperCoach AFL 2024: Teams whispers, Champion Data form, captain tips for round 18
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