SuperCoach AFL 2024 champion reveals the tactics than won him $50,000

The 20-year-old winner of SuperCoach AFL 2024 reveals the tactics that led him to the game’s top prize, beating out more than 180,000 players across the country.

Rowan Marshall was an inspired trade by the SuperCoach winner. Picture: Michael Klein

Chasing the title of 2024 SuperCoach champion came with an added level of stress for university student Joven May.

May lined up at half-back for the Yass Roos in a qualifying final knowing he was a chance to land the $50,000 prize in Australia’s biggest fantasy sports game.

And every score in Round 24 was crucial to his fortunes after starting the weekend 144 points behind the overall leader.

“It was another layer of stress. I played OK in that game but I was thinking a lot about SuperCoach as well,” he said after storming home to claim the top prize – and helping the Roos through to this Saturday’s premiership decider.

“I was checking the scores when I came off and during the quarter-time and halftime breaks. “Luckily there are no rules (about looking at phones during matches) in AFL Canberra Div 3.”

May’s SuperCoach team - Caleb Windsor Knot - finished the season on 55,927 points at an average of 2330 per round.

His squad finished 80 points clear of Cadee’s Crew, the team that had gone into the final round at the top of the leaderboard.

A mad Geelong fan, May is an exercise physiology student at the University of Canberra. Despite his young age, the 20-year-old is a seasoned SuperCoach veteran.

“My dad made me a team when I was about seven. I don’t think I made too many of the decisions back then but I’ve been playing really for as long as I can remember. He really taught me the basics of the game.

“He actually took a break this year but I think me might come out of retirement and try to replicate what I did.”

Joven May (middle) celebrates with mates.

Trading in Lachie Neale helped May charge home. Picture: Getty

May’s Tip 1: Get your timing right on trades

The 2024 champ attributes his success to smart trades, and a healthy slice of luck.

“Timing is everything in this game,” he said.

When Max Gawn was injured in round 18, May “zigged when everyone else zagged” by replacing him with Rowan Marshall, who finished the year like a steam train, averaging 126 points a game over the final seven rounds.

The same week saw the arrival of Hawk Dylan Moore – who averaged 106.3 from round 19 onwards as forwards around him crumbled – while bringing in Lachie Neale after Brisbane’s bye and Josh Dunkley and Errol Gulden the next week set up his charge to the finish line.

May’s Tip 2: Chase value

When looking for SuperCoach recruits, value was everything for May.

“I didn’t own Luke Ryan, Zak Butters or Caleb Serong for the whole season.” he said.

“I was pretty adamant about chasing value. You don’t get the points they scored when they’re not in your team.”

Joven identified Kangaroos breakout star Tristan Xerri early. Picture: Linda Higginson

Docker Jordan Clark was a brilliant starting pick. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

But he didn’t get every call right.

“I always thought you had to have a perfect season to win, but I had a lot of things go wrong.

“I brought in Clayton Oliver and he was awful. I brought in Izak Rankine in round 10 and he did his hammy that week.”

He rated Touk Miller as another failed trade and while Zac Fisher delivered some good scores, “he was very annoying”.

May’s Tip 3: Avoid top-tier players at the start

May largely avoided top-priced players in his starting team – with the exception of Marcus Bontempelli, Max Gawn and Harry Sheezel – and instead banked on mid-pricers including Docker Jordan Clark, who went on to average 104.6 points a game for the season.

“I started him and checked his ownership and I thought a lot more people had him, he was an accidental POD,” May said.

Not everything went to plan for the SuperCoach winner, including trading in Clayton Oliver. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

Not all his mid-pricers succeeded, but even players like Ollie Wines and Nat Fyfe played a role in his overall success.

“A lot of mid-pricers I started ended up flopping but having them in your team gives you the flexibility to jump on the ones that do pop off – I got on guys like Riley Bonner, (Massimo) D’Ambrosio and Tom Powell pretty early.”

May’s Tip 4: Back your gut

Another smart early move was grabbing North Melbourne ruckman Tristan Xerri, the breakout SuperCoach star of 2024.

“I had him all pre-season but got fooled by Brodie Grundy in round zero, as a lot of us did,” May said.

He was quick to make a correction after just two rounds which meant he missed out on some of Grundy’s best scores, but Xerri “was better than I ever thought he would be”.

May’s Tip 5: Save your trades

May made aggressive moves early, but saving trades for a hectic finish proved pivotal.

“I knew I wanted to have trades left at the end in case of an emergency. You don’t ever want to leave yourself with a doughnut, and I was lucky I had enough left heading into the final few rounds.”

He already has some undervalued players in mind for his 2025 squad, but one challenge will be devising a new name for his champion team.

May with his dad, Steve. He owes him a beer.

“I always try to come up with a name that’s a pun on an AFL player. Caleb Windsor Knot is probably one of my better ones, to be honest, so I’m glad I won it with a good team name.”

Joven says much of his winnings will go towards his HECS debt, but he does have a cruise planned with some school mates before next footy season.

“I might have to shout a few rounds on the cruise,” he said.

He might also want to buy one for his dad.

Originally published as SuperCoach AFL 2024 champion reveals the tactics than won him $50,000