AFL SuperCoach 2024: Al Paton’s team revealed

As the start line approaches SuperCoach expert Al Paton has dropped two big names from his team to make way for some huge late inclusions. SEE HIS TEAM

Opening round is done, now for the real thing.

Some injury news and an overall assessment of my team has resulted in some late restructuring – always a dangerous thing.

But my midfield just looked too thin with only two big Dogs (including the biggest – Marcus Bontempelli) plus Nick Daicos, who everyone else has in defence.

I’ve also made a call on that forward line riddle where we suddenly have three premium-scoring options. I’m starting two, again leaving out a player who was in my team for most of pre-season.

So, barring some more late late changes, here’s what Don’t Argue looks like entering round 1.

DEFENCE

Nick Daicos $650,000 MID/DEF

Harry Sheezel $556,200

Hayden Young $525,100

Zac Williams $216,100

Josh Gibcus $150,700

Blake Howes $123,900

Bench: Zach Reid $123,900, Nick Coffield $123,900

Tom Stewart has been in my team all summer but has made way in the final hours to create room for Nick Daicos to move from the midfield back to defence. I needed that spot in the midfield for an extra gun and in the end I think that new mid recruit can probably outscore the Cats veteran. Sorry, Tom, you’ll be welcome back at some point during the year.

The surprise first-up performance of Blake Howes in Opening Round (91 points) has given me confidence to pick four rookies down back (Round 0 scores do count towards price changes, which should guarantee a nice profit from the Demon debutant).

Harry Sheezel and Hayden Young haven’t moved – both have huge upside after Young’s full-time move to the midfield. Sheezel might get more mid time this year too but I’m confident he can score anywhere.

Tom Stewart is a late out from Al Paton’s SuperCoach team. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

I was rapt to see Zac Williams get through his first game in 18 months on Friday night. He will make us all a truckload of cash.

I don’t want to touch the defence again ... although I’m leaving open the option of downgrading one of my bench rookies to Ethan Phillips ($102k) if I need some last-minute cash.

MIDFIELD

Marcus Bontempelli $724,600

Zak Butters $636,100

Tom Green $621,500

Nic Martin $492,800

Matt Crouch $490,800

Riley Bonner $284,500

Colby McKercher $202,800

Ryley Sanders $184,800

Bench: Matt Roberts $156,800, Jeremy Sharp $123,900, Jhye Clark $123,900

Zak Butters is my big late recruit.

I needed another big-scoring midfielder and Butters was in most versions of my team until he rolled his ankle in Port Adelaide’s last practice match. But his early exit from that game was really about keeping him fresh for the real thing. Butters’ game is built for SuperCoach scoring and he has an incredible early fixture, starting with match-ups against West Coast and Richmond. FOMO can be a big selection pressure in SuperCoach.

Marcus Bontempelli, the No.1 SuperCoach scorers of 2023, hasn’t left my team, and I picked Tom Green in my last side on the theory that (a) players on the round 3 bye should be easier to cover, and (b) he’s insanely good. He certainly confirmed the second point against Collingwood in Opening Round – and he has North Melbourne and West Coast in his next two.

Matt Crouch is underpriced for a reliable ball magnet with his prime role back in the Crows midfield, while Nic Martin is a steal in his new role running off half-back for the Bombers. He is also likely to end up in my defence after dual-position changes come into effect.

Tom Green is ready to tear the competition to shreds. Picture: Phil Hillyard

I admit I had totally forgotten Riley Bonner had landed at St Kilda after being delisted by Port Adelaide. But you couldn’t miss him in the Saints’ two practice matches, where he was arguably his team’s best player in both games, playing – you guessed it – an attacking half-back role.

I have toyed with taking Bonner out to free up cash but I’m backing the eye test. An injury cloud over Jack Sinclair and Jimmy Webster’s lengthy suspension should ensure he has an important role in the team for a while.

The other late inclusion is Matt Roberts. Our in-house rookie experts just love Roberts and he has a great role at the Swans including taking kick-outs, so he’s in.

RUCK

Max Gawn $538,700

Brodie Grundy $481,900

Bench: Coen Livingstone $102,400 FWD/RUC

In: Max Gawn, Coen Livingstone

Out: Rowan Marshall, Sam Naismith

No changes here with Livingstone’s selection locked in when Richmond dropped Sam Naismith.

It’s back to the old Grawndy combo – the value is just too good to pass up, byes or no byes.

Livingstone provides a handy link to the forward line, hopefully he won’t be needed on field after his score of -4 in the community series.

FORWARDS

Luke Jackson $547,000 RUC/FWD

Isaac Heeney $483,700

Zac Fisher $378,600

Cam Mackenzie $271,500

Harley Reid $207,300 MID/FWD

Alex Sexton $133,400

Bench: Darcy Wilson $130,800, Aaron Cadman $127,600

Did I mention FOMO?

The other big change is Isaac Heeney replacing Sam Flanders in my forward line.

Flanders is another player I’ve been keen on for a while, and his role looked fantastic against Richmond. But he won’t get an easy ride like that every week. In fact, the Suns’ early fixture looks very tough for midfielders – Adelaide, Western Bulldogs, GWS. I still like Flanders but don’t think his price will get out of hand too quickly; hopefully he can be an early upgrade target.

Heeney just looked incredible against possibly the best midfield in the comp and although his role could change when injured teammates return, I want to cash in while the going’s good – especially when the Swans face Essendon, Richmond and West Coast after their date with Collingwood on Friday night.

I’m going to bank some big scores through to Sydney’s bye in round 5 and can reassess then.

Luke Jackson was a star recruit for me last year when Sean Darcy was injured, and news the big Docker will miss the start of the season had me scrambling for the trade button. Darcy’s return date remains clouded but there’s a chance he isn’t back until after Brodie Grundy and Max Gawn have their byes, which would be huge if I can use his DPP to swing him into the rucks as cover.

How much can Cam Mackenzie improve in his second season? Picture: Simon Sturzaker/Getty Images

Zac Fisher has an unbelievable role at North Melbourne – SuperCoaches fondly remember Jack Ziebell and Aaron Hall scoring points for fun – and Hawk Cam Mackenzie is my point of difference. He’s in 1.7 per cent of teams, but I really liked what I saw in the community series, and I’m backing the No.7 draft pick from 2022 over old bulls like Nat Fyfe and James Harmes at a similar price. James Jordon is also a great option but I already have a lot of round 5 bye players.

The final changes are on the bench. Darcy Wilson should be in every side and I’ve got Aaron Cadman at F8 at the moment as a bit of a flier, hoping he can kick a bag in the Giants’ next two fixtures against the Kangaroos and Eagles. But that spot is still up for grabs depending on team sheets – I would love to find a way to squeeze Charlie Lazzaro back in, but need to find another $20k or so to make it happen.

BYE COUNT

R2 (Carl, Bris) – Zac Williams.

R3 (GC, GWS) – Tom Green, Alex Sexton, Aaron Cadman.

R5 (Coll, Syd) – Brodie Grundy, Nick Daicos, Isaac Heeney,, Matt Roberts.

R6 (Rich, Melb) – Max Gawn, Josh Gibcus, Blake Howes.

AFL SuperCoach 2024: Al's late team