SuperCoach AFL 2024: Winners and losers from round 10

Harley Reid makes 38,000 SuperCoaches pay, but another popular trade was more successful. And what’s up with some so-called premiums? All the winners and losers from round 10.

Harley Reid of the Eagles.

Last week the SuperCoach experts were polled on trading out Harley Reid.

The Eagles young gun had just scored 59 and 59 and was set for a big price drop – or so we thought.

I was one of the advocates for trading Reid – and made the move myself. Patch and Tarquin joined me in the trade Reid camp, Tim Michell and Chloe Williams were considering it and just one of our five-person expert panel said to hold the No.1 draft pick. Well played, Dos.

Reid was one of the biggest SuperCoach stories of round 10, but he didn’t deliver the biggest score of the round. And trading him wasn’t the worst move, either.

Here are this week’s heroes and villains.

WINNERS

BLAKE HARDWICK – 180 POINTS

The former full-back had the ultimate SuperCoach role on Sunday – booting goals (five overall including four in the first quarter) then going back into defence where he was taking marks and kick-ins as Port Adelaide charged home late in the game. An amazing result for his 1202 owners (1 per cent).

CHAD WARNER – 172 POINTS

Must have thought he had the top score for the week wrapped up going into the final game, especially when the heavens opened in Adelaide. But this is still a massive number, built on 28 damaging disposals, 14 score involvements and three goals.

Blake Hardwick, unlikely SuperCoach hero. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

DAYNE ZORKO – 161 POINTS

Wins a spot in here ahead of teammate Lachie Neale (162) after being one of the most traded in players last week – largely for Harley Reid. A nice reminder trading out Reid wasn’t a total disaster. Zorko was always going to feast on the depleted Tigers and that’s exactly what he did, racking up 35 touches and sneaking forward to kick a goal.

LUKE JACKSON – 154 POINTS

Jackson’s first 100-plus score in eight weeks was worth the wait. With Sean Darcy missing again through injury, he staged an epic ruck duel with Rowan Marshall (169 points) at Marvel Stadium. Jackson had 12 hitouts to advantage to go with 25 disposals, 10 clearances and six tackles. No need to rush back, Sean!

JAKE WATERMAN – 142 POINTS

Is he the premium forward we are all ignoring? Well, all of us except his 1424 loyal – and very happy – owners. His past five scores are 176, 107, 116, 92 and 142, giving him the fifth-best five-round average in SuperCoach and the best among the forwards. Not bad from a guy whose average of 64 last season was a career-high to that point.

HARLEY REID – 138 POINTS

Lost $100 in value after lockout, so trading him out was a win – right? Oh boy I wish I still had him after watching him light up Optus Stadium with an incredible display of power and skill. The highlight was pushing off Clayton Oliver then Christian Petracca in one barnstorming run out of the centre square. His Break Even is now back to 59 and he could be over $500k in a couple of weeks.

ALEX SEXTON – 118 POINTS

As my colleague Tim Michell tweeted, Damien Hardwick is bringing Sexy back. One of the most popular picks of the pre-season returned after a six-week spell in the VFL and scored 82 points in round 9, then went even bigger against the Cats. With Will Powell serving a five-match suspension, Sexton should have a few more weeks to pump out big scores and add to his $277k price tag.

Did you trade out Harley Reid? You weren’t alone. Picture: Will Russell/AFL Photos via Getty Images

HARRY SHEEZEL – 117 POINTS

Reports of Sheezel’s demise were greatly exaggerated. SuperCoaches were worried after two scores under 90 following a move to the midfield from the half-back role he had dominated in the early stages of his career. Then full-blown panic set in when he said in a radio interview last week that “I don’t really care about disposals any more”. But he didn’t play like it against Essendon, collecting 34 of them to be among the best on the ground. Don’t even think of trading him out.

DAVID SWALLOW – 98 POINTS

The Suns veteran started as the sub four weeks in a row, but after being released from the vest he reminded us of his years as a solid SuperCoach scorer. He enters round 11 with a Break Even of -25, he could make some fast cash but it would take a very brave coach to make the move.

LOSERS

TOM GREEN – 95 POINTS

Far from the worst score of the round but worth noting Green’s price, which has dropped all the way to $487,500. If you don’t have the GWS gun this is one of the steals of the season. Timing isn’t deal – GWS has a bye in round 12 – so you could wait two weeks and hope he doesn’t go too big against the Cats.

JACK STEELE – 88 POINTS

Is that knee issue still bothering the Saints skipper? Surprisingly quiet against the Dockers with just five kicks and 18 disposals. Fortunately his eight tackles helped him post a respectable score.

Sam Walsh has become a key target for opposition taggers. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

SAM WALSH – 85 POINTS

Copped a tag from James Jordon and came off second best – Jordon scored 114 points. Walsh has had a run-with player beside him in two of his past four games but should get some relief; the Blues’ upcoming opponents Gold Coast, Port Adelaide and Essendon don’t usually deploy taggers. Then it’s a return date with Mark O’Connor in round 15.

TOM STEWART – 75 POINTS

We have been talking Stewart up as a value pick but we aren’t mentioning him again until he shows signs of the form that made him one of the best scorers in the backline for the past four seasons. Has Max Holmes stolen his rebound mojo? Now priced at $489k and still getting cheaper.

KIEREN BRIGGS – 62 POINTS

One of the breakout SuperCoach stars of 2024 hasn’t gone anywhere near those heights this season. Briggs is averaging 85 points a game, 24 points lower than last year. His three-round average is 77.7 and he hasn’t hit three figures since round 3.

DUSTIN MARTIN – 44 POINTS

It’s tough going being a Tigers fan at the moment and even Dusty isn’t providing the highlights he was in bursts earlier in the season. Just 16 touches against the rampaging Lions and he hasn’t kicked a goal in a month. He’s just four games away from his 300th milestone, let’s hope the champ can bring something special.

An injury to Darcy Jones made it a bad weekend for GWS rookies. Picture: Phil Hillyard

AARON CADMAN – 27 POINTS

If you still have Cadman in your team, make him a priority trade this week. We pick bottom-priced rookies at the start of the year to make money, and Cadman reached $294k after round 8. But a combined total of 39 points in his past two games has sent his value tumbling back to $251,500. Cash in now.

DARCY JONES – 8 POINTS

Disaster for the 52,000 coaches who traded Jones in over the past two weeks, especially if you had to play him on field as one of your 22 scoring players this week. Just three disposals before being subbed out with a hamstring problem.

Originally published as SuperCoach AFL 2024: Winners and losers from round 10