SuperCoach AFL round 12 expert trades revealed

The ruckman who was supposed to be our bye-round saviour will be playing SANFL this weekend. Our experts reveal their trade plans, including how to turn Jordon Sweet’s omission into a win.

The first mid-season bye round is traditionally one where trading is frowned upon.

Every player you bring in this week will either have a bye in round 12 or in one of the next three weeks and the longheld view has been that committing to a zero in coming rounds should be avoided.

But having 40 trades has completely changed the conventional wisdom about SuperCoach and how to tackle the bye rounds.

With that in mind, most of our experts are making moves this week to target premium upgrades in an effort to kickstart the byes on a strong note.

Here’s what they have planned.

AL PATON

OUT: Joe Richards, Sam Darcy

IN: Jeremy McGovern, Joel Freijah

There has been a hole for a premo defender in my team for a while, and Nic Martin was earmarked for that spot. But I’m not as confident on his top-six potential with Jordan Ridley back in the Essendon team. So I’m taking a punt on Gov instead, who has flown under the radar this year despite averaging 108.5 (three-round 115), and has a very friendly match-up against the Saints this week.

Rather than crossing off a player many other teams own, I’m hoping to gain an edge with a POD (6 per cent ownership) – but McGovern also has a horrendous injury history, so fingers crossed!

This week's POD of the Round has been a long time coming with an average of 108.5 🔥

With so many emerging point of difference players, who are you backing in this week? 👇#SuperCoach#AFLpic.twitter.com/FG8ip9dgu6

— SuperCoach AFL (@Supercoach) May 29, 2024

The first version of these trades involved moving on Jordon Sweet, but I’m going with Darcy instead to avoid a likely price drop – every dollar is going to be crucial to be able to make another upgrade next week. I pick up another $34k from the Richards to Freijah trade, but that’s more about getting an extra scoring player on field through to the Bulldogs’ round 15 bye (I much prefer Freijah to bubble bye boy Wil Dawson if you can afford it).

I’ll have 19 available this week (barring any late disasters) so hopefully losing Darcy won’t cost me.

Tim Michell has had enough of watching Jordan Dawson dominate while not being in his team. Picture: James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images

TIM MICHELL

IN: Jordan Dawson, rookie (TBC)

OUT: Lachie Whitfield, Jordon Sweet

I’ve seen enough in the past few weeks to feel less trepidation about trading Whitfield. He might have three tons in his past five matches, but it’s the scores of 54 and 69 around them which worry me and have me thinking he’s going to be a long way from the top-six defenders from this point. Throw in a likely James Jordon tag in round 15 and I’m not unhappy about punting Whitfield on his bye to bring in Jordan Dawson. I have put my friendship with Phantom at risk in recent weeks questioning Dawson’s scoring and I thought I was going to collapse when I saw his score at quarter-time against West Coast.

The Hawks are improving but I think Dawson can continue his hot form against them and Richmond before having a bye in round 15. The rookie I take largely depends on Thursday teams. I’ll have enough money (just) to consider a player such as Lachie Sullivan, but don’t particularly want to pay $220k for someone I could have brought for $102k a few weeks ago. Arie Schoenmaker is the debutant I might take a risk on if he’s named for St Kilda after averaging 26 disposals and 102 ranking points in the VFL this year. Surely Ross is going to keep playing the kids the way St Kilda’s season is going. I was considering a third trade to try and land Jeremy McGovern before he plays the Saints, but Al Paton told me I’m not allowed. And in SuperCoach, what Al says goes. These trades will leave me with 19 playing this week.

THE PHANTOM

IN: Tim English

OUT: Jordon Sweet OUT

That’s what I’ve got at the moment, just hours out from the first bounce at Adelaide Oval. But, of course, I don’t have the $255k sitting in the bank to make it happen in one trade. Sam Darcy out? Probably – but that leaves a bare 18 on-field this week. Sam Clohesy? Maybe – but that would involve a third trade. Lachie Whitfield to Christian Salem? It makes sense for the money – but will I end up using another trade on the underpriced Dee soon anyway? It’s fair to say, I need to see the team sheets first.

Dan Batten is finally bringing in Sam Flanders after weeks of pining for him. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

DAN BATTEN

IN: Sam Flanders

OUT: Jordon Sweet

After using every possible trade so far this season, it is time to pump the breaks. And with $300k in the bank it is time to finally get Flanders, who I have meaning to bring in for weeks now. It does make things tricky for me in round 14, but Sweet wouldn’t be playing in that round either, and I want Flanders before his clash with St Kilda in round 13. I flirted with the idea of getting Christian Salem as a short-term cash play, but he also has the round 14 bye and his two strong games have come against West Coast and St Kilda.

Round 11 Rising Star Harvey Harrison is in Patch’s sights. Picture: Kelly Defina/Getty Images

PATCH

IN: Wil Dawson, Kane McAuliffe, Harvey Harrison, $486,000

OUT: Tom Brown, Jordan Sweet, Sam Darcy

The Phantom said last week on the podcast that the double downgrade is dead, and to that I say long live the triple downgrade! I have 21 available this week after accidentally misplacing my Harry Sheezel, and am planning to get him and perhaps a Zac Fisher next week in one fell swoop, hence my need for 486 billion moneys. Brown to Dawson is a move I can make as Brown would be off-field anyway, and will lose cash if he plays this week.

Jordan Ridley had a huge impact on his return to the Essendon side. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

CHLOE WILLIAMS

IN: Jordan Ridley, Joel Freijah, Wil Dawson

OUT: Jake Rogers, Joe Richards, Jordan Sweet

I’m pulling out all stops to secure Ridley a week early, which also means grabbing Dawson early too. This works because I’m hoping to pick up some mid-season draftees on the bubble (fingers crossed for Jacob Blight) and I like Dawson’s DPP. The same goes for Freijah, but it is humbling to bring him in at the expense of Richards after thinking I’d made the right choice last week. The DPP once again will not go astray, though.

Sweet is out. He’s given me too many donuts — even Homer Simpson would have had enough of them. As a result, I’ve switched Luke Jackson back into the ruck.

I moved some more magnets to get Sam Clohesy onto my mid bench too, so I have all bases covered to flip players around during their byes.

It’s a strategy that has prioritised cash generation, as I’ve moved players on too quickly in the past.

It does mean holding Sam Darcy though, who I would’ve moved on for a premium if it wasn’t for the Sweet/Richards carnage. Yikes. It was Rogers who made way instead, purely because I have enough Suns and they have an unfavourable bye.

DOS (PHANTOM JR)

NO TRADES!

Despite barely scraping a hapless 18 together this week, I’m standing firm with no trades this week. I don’t love any of the rookie options enough to pay up. Do I want Christian Salem? Kind of, but probably not enough to pull the trigger. I’m down to 15 trades left and this feels like the week to stand pat. I’ll look to spend the juicy $370k I have banked up to bring in Gulden, Fisher, and the best rookie available next week.

Originally published as SuperCoach AFL round 12 expert trades revealed