SuperCoach: Gold Coast Suns lock, watch and leave alone for opening rounds

Uncertainty grips SuperCoach fans as ‘Opening Round’ scores challenge team lineups. Get an insight of which Suns players to lock, watch and leave alone.

As round one approaches, most SuperCoach fans have already locked down there team for round one.

But with the free ‘Opening Round’ scores being dropped after the weekend, it has caused a few headaches for those coaches who aren’t 100 per cent sold on their line up.

Gold Coast Suns’ Wil Powell dominated opening round for the Suns, finishing with 124 points, just 13 behind clearance king Matt Rowell.

Powell ($513,500) said even he was pretty pricey but had to pick himself.

“A bit expensive, geez, must have done something right last year at the back end,” Powell said.

Wil Powell picked up 124 points in the opening round of the AFL season for SuperCoach. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

“I have Bodhi Uwland in there as bit of a cash cow and Alex Sexton.

“Budders … big cash cow, he is going to explode in the next, yeah whenever it comes, could be next week.

“He is a phenomenal talent and he is just such a hard worker as well.

“He knuckles down when you need him too and I have him in my side as well.”

Connor Budarick ($301,200) is reasonably priced for someone who is due for a big season as he over comes two ACL injuries in three years.

Budarick scored 94 points off the half back line in the win against the Tigers.

The only real issue coaches face for the Suns is the round three bye having played in the opening round.

Not the only club that will face the bye in the early rounds.

Carlton and Brisbane will both have byes in round two, followed by Gold Coast and GWS in round three, Collingwood and Sydney in round five and then Melbourne and Richmond in round six.

It does help coaches ensure they don’t go too heavy from picking players from certain clubs early on but still plenty of talent in the Suns line up you could choose early to make some extra cash midway through the year.

Locks:

Alex Sexton – $133,400 – FWD

Despite being a forward in SuperCoach, Sexton will be playing mainly off the half back this season as a shift under new coach Damien Hardwick.

It proved to be a good move after round one, with Sexton notching up his highest SuperCoach score in two years, finishing with 73.

At the price of $133,400, Sexton is a bargin and a must have ahead of round one. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Connor Budarick – $301.200 – DEF

Budders did everything right in his first game of the season and under new coach, scoring a lazy 94 points for SuperCoach in the opening round.

After a strong pre-season, expect big things from the backman who comes up against a tough test in round one.

Noah Anderson – $586,000 – MID

Not much needs to be said about Anderson, you might look at his price and think he could be a little expensive but he is worth every penny.

Opening round he scored 120 points, which included 16 kicks, nine handballs, nine marks, one tackle. Not bad against the Tigers midfield, and expect the same when he comes up against the Crows this week.

Watch:

Sam Flanders – $494,000 – MID/FWD

Based on his opening round score, you would sit there and go, yeah lets pick him for the clash against the Crows.

The only problem with Flanders is can he back it up two weeks in a row.

This is why he is a ‘watch’. If he wraps another 90 plus score this weekend, then pick him because his break even price will sky rocket.

Jed Walter – $198,000 – FWD

The highest picked draft for the Suns is someone you will look at once you know he is fit and ready to go for the Suns.

Coming back from the shoulder injury, keep a close eye on him, the only other issue you run into as a coach, no one ever picks key forwards in their teams but Walter’s size could very easily be placed elsewhere.

Bodhi Uwland is someone that could be worth his price given his recent form but you will need to look at who the young defender will line up on week to week. (Photo by Russell Freeman/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Bodhi Uwland – $137,100 – DEF

Another young defender who could sit nicely on your defensive bench for the opening few rounds, especially when you look at who he played on in the pre-season matches and then again in the opening round.

Expect him to get the gig on returning Sun Isak Rankine and other livewire Josh Rachele this Saturday who will lead him to the ball, which could see him get a few touches and raise his price over the next couple of weeks.

I would be holding off from putting Miller in my side early on and be picking Anderson and watch his price grow while Miller’s price drops. It all comes down to the club’s tagger and where they will go. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Touk Miller – $545,000 – MID

You might sit here and think why am I leaving Touk alone or out of my side for the early few rounds? Well it is simple, with the bye coming up in a few weeks time, you should only pick either Miller or Anderson in your side and based on past performances, Anderson is my pick.

Once the bye is done and dusted and you have the money in your piggy bank to put Miller in your side, then go for gold but for now, watch his price drop a bit and then cash in later.

Leave:

Levi Casboult – $305,400 – FWD

If you were going to be the type of coach who wants a key forward, you would look at Ben King ($316,300) who is only $10,900 more than Casboult and now that he is done talking about contracts, King can focus on the more important things at hand, kicking bags week in, week out.

The content summaries were created with the assistance of AI technology then edited and approved for publication by an editor.