AFL SuperCoach 2018: Who’s burning up the track at your club
WHO’S “flying”, who’s grounded, who’s up for a new role and which young guns are ready to step up.
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WHO’S burning up the track, who’s struggling, who’s training for a new role and which young guns are ready to step up?
It’s a cliche, but knowing who is “burning up the track” is crucial to picking your AFL SuperCoach team.
Every Wednesday until Round 1, we’ll be bringing you the latest news from the training track.
Registering for SuperCoach is free and takes just a few minutes, while Herald Sun subscribers get the added benefit of LIVE scores, exclusive stories and SuperCoach Stats, formerly SuperCoach Gold.
AARON SANDILANDS (Fre) Ruck, $480,000
He’s getting on but Sandilands remains a star SuperCoach scorer.
And there was some mouth-watering news out of Fremantle this week with the veteran big man determined to play every game in what could be his final season.
“I’m here to put my hand up for every game,” he told the club website.
“Obviously, I had a disappointing last couple of years not being able to be out on the park as much as I wouldn’t liked.
“You don’t go through a whole pre-season to only play 15 games. I’m pretty keen to play as many as I can.”
In his nine full games in 2017, Sandilands scored 90-plus in seven.
Monitor Sean Darcy’s role carefully but if the Dockers giant is rucking solo he could be an interesting point of difference.
MAX GAWN (Mel) Ruck, $503,700
While undoubtedly said tongue in cheek, Gawn has no doubt he’s ready to return to his 2016 SuperCoach form.
Asked if he was worth picking in 2018, the Demons big man was unequivocal.
“I think it’s a no brainer,” he joked on RSN.
Gawn has returned to pre-season training in superb shape, dropping 8kg over summer.
That could also mean more points for midfielders including Clayton Oliver and Nathan Jones with Gawn hatching a plan to improve the pair’s SuperCoach scoring as well.
“He (Oliver) tends to be first possession winner … so it can be hard to get a kick there,” he said.
“I could potentially change that to Nathan Jones so that Clayton becomes the kicker.”
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NATHAN DRUMMOND (Ric) Fwd, $172,400
After two knee reconstructions, the 2014 third-round draft pick is back to full fitness and pushing for a return to AFL level.
Drummond first injured his knee during his AFL debut in 2015 and went down again in 2017.
However, Richmond have new plans for the pacy winger … adding him to their core of small forwards.
“We think Drummo can do that sort of role, where he can get up the field and back again. You can consider him a bit of a mid, bit of a forward,” assistant coach Justin Leppitsch told the club website.
Admittedly, it’s crowded in the Tigers small forward club but at $172k, he’s worth a look if he gets the nod.
RYAN GRIFFEN (GWS) Mid, $277,100
The former Western Bulldogs captain has had a tough time of it in Sydney with injury ruining his last two years.
In fact, Griffen played just three games last year and his price has dropped dramatically and makes him an intriguing low-end mid-price pick.
It’s now unlikely Griffen will be a part of the Giants’ high-powered midfield but is happy to play anywhere and has been floated as a replacement for Zac Williams at half-back.
“We haven’t really spoken about it but if Leon wanted to throw me back there, I’d definitely be up for it,” he told the AFL website.
Griffen’s experience and ball use would be a huge asset in defence for the Giants.
JOSH KENNEDY (WCE) Fwd, $514,200
The dual Coleman Medallist underwent surgery on his ankle in December but is on track to play in the JLT Community Series.
Despite some roller coaster scores, Kennedy is one of SuperCoach’s most consistent forwards when it comes to overall average.
West Coast coach Adam Simpson revealed Kennedy was now ahead of schedule.
“He’s probably a little bit in front of what we thought,” he said.
“He’ll be out of the moon boot this week. It will be touch and go but we are hoping getting him out of that boot a couple of week earlier will give more of a look towards Round 1.”
ED RICHARDS (WB) Def, $135,300
The Western Bulldogs first-round draft pick has been earmarked as a possible replacement for retired duo Bob Murphy and Matthew Boyd since his name was called out in November.
Now the young gun is making a name for himself on the training track with key defender Marcus Adams hailing his first pre-season.
“Young Ed Richards looks like a really good player,” Adams told the AFL website.
“I don’t want to put any pressure on a young player coming in but Ed looks like he has really good skills and a great footy brain.”
The Bulldogs half-back line has produced several SuperCoach favourites and Richards could be a crucial cash cow in the backline.
WILLIE RIOLI (WCE) Fwd, $123,900 & LIAM RYAN (WCE) Fwd, $117,300
West Coast’s forward line could be about to get a facelift if pre-season training is any guide.
Eagles forward line coach Jaymie Graham has revealed Rioli and Ryan are both gunning for a Round 1 debut.
Rioli has reportedly dropped 7kg in the off-season after suffering hamstring issues last year while Ryan is coming off a successful 2017 with Subiaco, which saw him claim the WAFL leading goalkicker award.
“(Rioli) has got a real ambition to play AFL footy. He’s seen that there’s a potential opportunity there and he’s got himself in good fitness and he’s put his hand up at this stage,” Graham said.
“(Ryan) is in that first-year program from a new player’s point of view, but he’s played a lot of WAFL footy, so he’s got to train a bit more.
“He’s shown some good signs and he took a hanger on one of the boys the other day and got pretty excited about that.”
ZACH MERRETT (Ess) Mid, $600,600
Merrett is already one of the game’s brightest young stars and learning from Brownlow Medallist Nat Fyfe could take his game to another level.
The Bombers star learnt plenty from Fyfe, Dangerfield and Co during the International Rules Series and it should only help him in 2018.
“I spent a lot of time with Nat Fyfe ... to pick his brain and work out how he goes about it was great, but I certainly made sure I sat there and didn’t say too much,” he told SEN.
“I listened to the way (Joel) Selwood and Paddy (Dangerfield) went about their work and tried to take in as much as I could.”
If you were sitting on the fence on Merrett, this might just indicate another big season from the Bomber.
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