AFL SuperCoach: Ultimate guide to the top Round 4 trade targets, Dustin Martin and Elliot Yeo on chopping block

Lachie Whitfield has a SuperCoach average of 127 after three rounds and looms as a defensive option you need to trade for soon. BEST ROUND 4 TRADE OPTIONS

Tom Liberatore and Dom Sheed have jumped in price but are still among the top targets this week after flying starts to the season.

SuperCoach prices have changed for the first time, but some of the top mid-price picks are still within reach despite surging toward premium status after Round 3.

Tom Liberatore experienced one of the biggest price rises, while popular West Coast on-baller Dom Sheed jumped to almost $450,000.

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If you’ve had this pair in your sights, now is the time to jump on otherwise you have officially missed out.

There’s concern over the form of some premium starting picks, most notably Dustin Martin.

Should he be rubbed out at the tribunal, it will be an easy call for the 40,000 coaches who stuck by Dusty to move him on.

Rory Laird and Josh Dunkley are two other players who started the season with high price tags who have failed to reach the scoring heights expected of them so far, but history tells us sticking by the top players pays off in the long run.

Monitor Nathan Fyfe and Tom Rockliff (concussion) in the lead up to their respective matches this week, while Tim Kelly (ankle) is also under a cloud but should be held regardless of whether he plays in Round 4 or not.

Tom Liberatore $379,600 Mid Avg: 117.7 BE: -55

Any doubts about the sustainability of Libba’s elite scoring are surely gone after he scored 150 in a loss against Gold Coast. He’s back to his best, racking up contested ball at will and already jumping by almost $80,000. If you miss out this week, it will be too late as his negative break even will result in another hefty price jump.

Grey skies are clearing if you have Lachie Whitfield in your SuperCoach team. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images.

Lachie Whitfield $569,600 Def Avg: 126.7 BE: 60

All signs point to Whitfield being a top defender at the end of the season. His numbers so far put him close to Jake Lloyd, who is the No. 1 defender after three rounds. Great signs for his owners when Josh Kelly returned on the weekend yet Whitfield’s scoring increased. He might be above $600,000 in two weeks.

Dom Sheed $449,500 Mid Avg: 118.3 BE: 53

The greatest question about Sheed’s selection was answered on Saturday when he excelled in the grand final rematch despite Andrew Gaff’s return. He spent more time forward than in the opening two rounds but still had a huge impact with 24 disposals and three goals. He’s the real deal.

Nathan Fyfe $604,900 Mid Avg: 111.3 BE: 169

Fyfe was headed for another triple-figure score before he clashed heads with St Kilda’s Josh Battle and was knocked out on Sunday with his total on 63. He might miss the western derby this weekend but don’t waste a trade moving him on. He was the No. 1 midfielder after two rounds.

Rory Laird has made a slow start to the season but is worth holding on to. Picture: Sarah Reed.

Rory Laird $555,900 Def Avg: 91.7 BE: 154

The most reliable defender of recent years is giving coaches headaches for the first time. Laird is set to lose value again this weekend after scores of 102, 89 and 84. Those numbers are hardly cause for alarm but some of his points from previous seasons are being taken by Brodie Smith and Wayne Milera. You picked Laird to hold him for the season so don’t stray from that plan.

Josh Dunkley $494,000 Fwd-Mid Avg: 84.7 BE: 135

Another premium player who has been underwhelming to date. Luke Beveridge has used Dunkley in a variety of roles this year, spending most of his time as a midfielder in Round 2 before playing deeper forward for large periods against Gold Coast. The temptation to trade him to Tim Kelly is growing but you want more depth in your forward line, not less. Don’t go trading out premium forwards yet.

Gryan Miers $176,100 Fwd Avg: 63 BE: -48

Miers appears one of the standout forward rookies after kicking three goals in Geelong’s victory over Adelaide. His break-even is so low it could be worth a sideways trade from a lower scoring rookie such as Carlton’s Will Setterfield.

Gryan Miers is outperforming most of the SuperCoach forward rookies. Picture: Mike Dugdale.

Travis Boak $521,600 Fwd Avg: 126 BE: 48

Boak went to another level with Ollie Wines back in the Port Adelaide team, scoring 136 against Brisbane Lions. His lowest total so far is 119 and if he can average 105 or better for the campaign he’ll be a topscoring forward. The Power has a Round 12 bye, avoiding most of the popular premium picks.

Luke Dahlhaus $448,000 Fwd-Mid Avg: 104 BE: 53

The premium forward who was a top pick from 2014 to 2017 is back. Dahlhaus has three straight hundreds as a Cat and looks to have rediscovered the hunger which was lacking in his final years at Western Bulldogs. It’s tempting to wait for a bigger sample but that will also mean potentially paying above $500,000.

Ben Cunnington $550,100 Mid Avg: 122.7 BE: 46

Contested beast Cunnington backed up his 159 from Round 2 with 118 against Hawthorn. He’s a real POD pick, but a word of caution — Cunnington has never averaged more than 96.3.

Tom Rockliff $429,000 Mid Avg: 96.7 BE: 100

Rockliff’s pending price spike was derailed when he was knocked out upon his return to Brisbane with his score on 36. His break even is back to 100, which he’s shown is achievable. If you have him, don’t trade him based on an injury-affected score. He could be a trade target again if he fires in coming weeks.

Are you willing to take a punt on Gold Coast defender Pearce Hanley? Picture: AAP Image/Dave Hunt.

Zach Merrett $533,400 Mid Avg: 98.3 BE: 86

Merrett was always likely to make a slow start after his pre-season was affected by injury. After 67 in Round 1, he’s cranked out 108 and 120. Merrett has twice averaged 109 and has delivered three successive seasons above 100. He’s strongly worth consideration if your midfield is lacking depth.

Pearce Hanley $313,800 Def Avg: 71 BE: 18

Hanley’s time on Gold Coast has been riddled with injury and he was less than $300,000 and the start of 2019 as a result. He’s been warming into the year, building from 46 in Round 1 to 96 against the Bulldogs on Sunday. Hanley comes with a fair bit of risk but his price is rising fast.

Shane Mumford $320,200 Ruck Avg: 91 BE: 6 (one game)

Wait another week before you consider Mumford. A score of 91 on his return to the GWS side was encouraging and he could present a quick cash grab if you have an underperforming ruckman. If you’re holding a player such as Justin Westhoff, a downgrade to Mumford makes sense.

Tom Papley $398,100 Fwd Avg: 86 BE: 66

One from left field. Papley averaged 82 two seasons ago when playing predominantly as a small forward and has been deployed further afield this year. Papley already has two scores above 90. He’ll throw in the odd low score but could be one of the breakout forwards of 2019.

It’s hard to mount a case for holding Dustin Martin through his suspension. Picture: AAP Image/James Ross.

CHOPPING BLOCK

Dustin Martin $520,400 Mid Avg: 78.3 BE: 180

Facing two weeks on the sidelines due to suspension and Martin’s slow start means he’s only going to burn cash when he returns. He might be a good target when his price bottoms out but you would want to see his form turn sharply before then.

Elliot Yeo $538,600 Mid Avg: 80 BE: 160

Yeo has struggled to match his 2018 output in the early rounds, tagged by Matt De Boer in Round 2 and plummeting in price this week. He was a POD pick for those who started him and it hasn’t paid off. He could be worth a look if he drops below $500,000.

Justin Westhoff $509,900 Fwd-Ruc Avg: 78.3 BE: 214

Westhoff was one of the top performers of Round 1 with 149 but has followed up with scores of 47 and 39. Swing him to Tim Kelly, Shane Mumford or either Brodie Grundy or Max Gawn.

Justin Westhoff has failed to fire since being one of the top scorers of Round 1. Picture: AAP Image/David Mariuz.

Stefan Martin $546,100 Ruck Avg: 92 BE: 127

A bit unlucky to be on this list, but an average of 92 won’t make Martin a top ruckman. Max Gawn and Brodie Grundy won’t lose much more value so if you’re planning to upgrade from Martin to the premier rucks, this could be the week.

Forward rookies

Will Setterfield, Willem Drew, Matt Parker, Jack Petrucelle, Chris Burgess, Jack Lukosius, Noah Balta.

Petruccelle was the best scorer of this bunch in Round 3 with 58. Start making plans to punt your forward rookies quickly as the depth at our disposal in midfield and defence just isn’t available in attack this year. The best strategy would be finding enough money to upgrade these players.