Doctors Orders: Four top SuperCoach trade targets after Round 9

Our rookies are running out of gas so it’s time to go sho`pping for high-scoring SuperCoach stars to fill those spots in our teams. The experts at Doctor SuperCoach dig into the numbers to find the best trade targets.

Rowan Marshall of the Saints.

The second round of rookies look primed to be cashed in – so let’s get our upgrading boots on!

This week in Doctor’s Orders, the expert team at Doctor SuperCoach look at several premium upgrade targets for your forwards and defence to consider bringing in the coming weeks.

SHANNON HURN $585,300 | Avg: 116.9 | Break even: 81

After years of burning coaches and teasing us with SuperCoach potential, it finally seems like the year of Shannon Hurn. The Eagles captain is averaging a whopping 116.9, which makes him the No.1 ranked defender in the game.

Breaking down his game style, the reigning premiership captain is just built for SuperCoach. He ranks as elite in key areas, averaging 27 disposals, 7.9 marks, 8.7 intercept possessions with an amazing kicking efficiency of 87 per cent.

Although the Eagles have struggled to recapture their 2018 form, Hurn is not the one to blame. Due to these struggles, the Eagles have conceded more points than they probably would have liked to and Hurn is once again the team’s designated kick-in taker – and he plays on almost every time!

His thumping long kicks almost always score points as they travel the required 40m to a 50-50 contest or better to classify as an “effective kick” in SuperCoach, and his clean disposal means there isn’t much downside for his scoring potential. There is no reason why he can’t continue this form and average over 20 kicks a game.

With a break even of 81, this is your best chance to add him into your defensive line. One word of caution — beware the Round 13 bye!

LACHIE WHITFIELD $556,400 | Avg: 116.86 | Break even: 117

If you can’t quite afford Hurn, have no fear. Perhaps an even better selection is available and at a better price. Please SuperCoaches, look no further than Lachie Whitfield.

Whitfield shot to stardom last year as a rebounding defender but with the return of Zac Williams, Lachie is spending more time at half-forward and rolling back towards the stoppages, effectively doing as he pleases with his damaging foot skills.

Last week he had a break even of 210 and managed to finish the game just 40 points shy off this massive target. Whitfield has a genuine case as the No.1 outside player in the AFL and the numbers back up this claim. Even including his injury-affected game, he is classed as elite in more than 10 categories, averaging 29.9 disposals, 10.4 marks and 3.4 intercept possessions — all at a disposal efficiency of 78 per cent.

GWS star Lachie Whitfield can score like few others. Picture: Glenn Ferguson

Whitifeld is a playmaker who orchestrates the Giants’ offence due to his superb decision-making and ability to perform under pressure, coupled with super foot skills, all of which is how he is able to produce such high SuperCoach scores.

He is susceptible to a tag but with his craftiness and ability to run all day long, it’s a tough ask for anyone to keep up with him (and as a Giant he never has to play on Matt De Boer!). You could possibly wait a week on him, but, as seen just last week, Whitfield can explode on any given day – something you do not want to miss out on.

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DAVID MUNDY $591,700 | Avg: 106.4 | Break even: 100

For Fremantle fans, Mundy is the gift that keeps on giving. At the ripe old age of 33, it appears this veteran Docker has at least one more year of elite scoring left in him.

The year started poorly for Mundy, posting two sub-70 scores (leading many coaches to trade him out), but he has well and truly bounced back having reached the ton in six of his next seven matches.

His return to SuperCoach relevancy can be attributed to Fremantle’s recruitment over the off-season. The acquisitions of Rory Lobb and Jesse Hogan, along with the departure of Lachie Neale, has meant Mundy is back playing solely in the midfield.

Clearances and contested possessions are Mundy’s bread and butter as he ranks as elite in both of these categories – and they are both SuperCoach gold. Although he is pricey, consider bringing him in as he sits in an astonishing 4 per cent of teams despite being the second-highest ranked forward in SuperCoach. Talk about an amazing point of difference!

Rowan Marshall is thriving as a ruckman.

ROWAN MARSHALL $447,900 | Avg: 97.7 | Break even: 85

Here’s a name that no one predicted would have SuperCoach relevancy in 2019!

Much of the talk around St Kilda in the pre-season was the ruck duel between Billy Longer and Lewis Pierce, but it’s the 23-year-old forward convert who has stolen the show.

Although his rucking prowess still needs fine-tuning, Marshall’s ability to move around the ground and act as a fourth midfielder is a rare, but promising talent. He ranks as elite in a number of categories, averaging 16 disposals (10 contested), two clearances and six groundball gets a game.

Marshall has a high scoring floor and will be consistent for a SuperCoach forward, as he is actually a ruckman, but there are two main issues that still linger. The first is his job security, as both Longer and Pierce will be trying desperately to get back into the team.

The second and more prominent concern is, can he sustain a season-long stint in one of the most physically demanding positions on the field? He has never played a full AFL season, let alone as a sole ruckman, so the possibility is certainly there that he may burn out later in the season.

Marshall is a high risk/high reward choice that’s definitely worth consideration, as he is priced very kindly for his potential average.

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