SuperCoach AFL shake-up: Fixture chaos unlocks 8 must-have stars
SuperCoach has been shaken up after the AFL rescheduled two opening round games due to Cyclone Alfred. See what it means for the game, and the players you should pick.
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SuperCoach is set for a major shake-up after the AFL postponed two of the four Opening Round games due to Cyclone Alfred.
While SuperCoach was not scheduled to start until Round 1, the AFL’s decision means Brisbane Lions and Geelong no longer have an early bye.
The Brisbane and Geelong game will be played at 6.35pm (local time) at The Gabba on Saturday night of Round 3, and all players’ points WILL count towards SuperCoach scores.
SuperCoach best 18 scoring applies if fewer than nine games are played in a round.
This will remain the case for Round 3, with Sydney and Collingwood still down to have a bye that week.
The Gold Coast and Essendon game, however, will be played as part of Round 24 and WILL NOT count towards SuperCoach scores.
The flow-on effect for SuperCoaches will be that players from Brisbane and Geelong become live options to start with in SuperCoach, while Suns or Bombers players may find their way into some teams due to a reduced number of overall ‘bye players’.
Our thoughts are with all those in Queensland and New South Wales impacted by Cyclone Alfred. Here are eight players you must consider now.
1. LACHIE NEALE (BRIS | MID | $645,900)
One of the premiers scorers in SuperCoach for years and now takes on West Coast, Richmond and Geelong in three of the first four games. Neale has scored 142 and 143 in his last two matches against West Coast and 162 and 143 in his last two against Richmond. Sadly for coaches like The Phantom, he’s no longer going to be a POD.
2. DAYNE ZORKO (BRIS | DEF | $595,100)
Prepare for an early-season Zorko feast. Keidean Coleman will still be sidelined with Brisbane takes on the Eagles and Tigers, who the veteran scored 161 points against last year. Pairing him with Harry Sheezel will be a popular move.
3. WILL ASHCROFT (BRIS | MID | $441,200)
There’s no shortage of mid-pricers to consider this year. If the round 3 bye was the only reason you were leaving Ashcroft out, that’s no longer an issue. Can you squeeze him in with so many midfield rookies putting their hands up in pre-season?
4. NICK DAICOS (COLL | MID | $631,400)
The Round 3 bye looked tricky, but realistically shouldn’t be hard to juggle, with only Collingwood and Sydney taking the week off. That means carrying Daicos won’t be the problem it might have been and you can start him with more confidence – and save two trades trying to bring him in after the bye.
5. ZACH MERRETT (ESS | MID | $621,100)
The Essendon skipper has averaged 115-116 in four of the past five seasons. He rarely scores less than 100 and had scores of 108, 127 and 136 in games against the Bombers’ round 1-3 opponents last year. Essendon will still have an early bye, but if you were rolling the dice on Lions or Cats players, you now may be able to take that risk on Merrett.
6. HARRY PERRYMAN (COLL | DEF | $417,500)
Another mid-pricer to throw into the mix now there are less early-season byes. The former Giant is set to play as a midfielder at the Magpies and has impressed in pre-season.
7. ISAAC HEENEY (SYD | MID | $629,200)
Like Daicos and Perryman, Heeney still has an early bye in round 3. But the postponement of the Brisbane-Geelong game has made it easier to pick players with that bye than it would have otherwise been. Heeney started hot last year, averaging 144.2 in his first five games. Right now he’s in just 5.8 per cent of teams.
8. NOAH ANDERSON (GCS | MID | $574,900)
The new Suns captain excelled in pre-season and looks primed for a big year in his first season as skipper. The Suns still have a tricky bye in round 2, but similarly to Merrett - the risk may now be justifiable.
Originally published as SuperCoach AFL shake-up: Fixture chaos unlocks 8 must-have stars
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