Expert advice on how to deal with Patrick Dangerfield injury in SuperCoach

TRADE or hold? SuperCoach players around the country face a season-defining decision over what to do with injured Cat Patrick Dangerfield. Here are four options from the experts.

The JLT Series has only just concluded, yet with two weeks still to go until the season proper, SuperCoach coaches are already at panic stations.

The AFL world was sent into a frenzy when star Geelong midfielder Patrick Dangerfield — SuperCoach’s No.1 ranked player — left the ground with a hamstring injury in the first quarter of his side’s match against Essendon in Colac on Sunday.

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While it’s already looking unlikely that he will line up in Round 1, whether you start with Dangerfield or not will depend on your aim for the season. If you’re simply playing for bragging rights over your mates and work colleagues, you might just decide to save trades and hang on to him, as league games don’t start until Round 3.

Patrick Dangerfield tries to make a fast getaway from waiting reporters outside GMHBA Stadium. Picture: Peter Ristevski

If however, you’re playing for an overall ranking, it’s unlikely you can risk a substitute’s score in place of Dangerfield’s, even for a week. So what do we do?

PLAN A

If you decide to hang on to Dangerfield and think you’ll be able to cope without him, you’ll need to start a player on the field until he returns who would otherwise be on your bench.

The pre-season competition has given us a few potential rookie candidates who could not only cover for Dangerfield in the midfield, but also generate some quick cash as well if they establish themselves in their respective sides.

Fremantle’s Andrew Brayshaw and Bailey Banfield both impressed in each of their two JLT matches, while the Power’s Dom Barry dominated in his side’s clash with West Coast.

Corey Ellis and Jeremy Finlayson both feature some added flexibility with DPP status as defender/midfielders, while Geelong’s Tim Kelly and Charlie Constable both look like slotting straight in to the Cats side, and at only $117,300 apiece will hopefully score around the 70s.

Playing a rookie on field in Dangerfield’s place will cost you 40-80 points a week but saves a valuable trade and means you get Danger on field as soon as he’s ready while others have to wait until they can trade for him.

PLAN B

The more tempting options open up if we consider not starting Dangerfield for the season opener. At a whopping $749,800 — almost $100K more expensive than the second-most expensive player, Dustin Martin — there’s going to be some extra cash to splash.

This could be spread evenly around your field or, more likely, used to significantly upgrade 1-2 players on your list.

Whether you’re upgrading a rookie to a mid-pricer, a mid-pricer to a premium, or a premium to an elite, use that remaining extra salary wisely. There’s little point upgrading value picks like Stephen Coniglio or Allen Christensen, as there are few better options around the range that money is going to afford.

Instead, it may be better suited upgrading an inconsistent that may feature in your side like James Sicily to someone more reliable — you’d be able to afford any of the top defenders with the extra money from Dangerfield’s omission.

The best midfield upgrades may be found at the cheaper end of the scale. Upgrading No. 1 draft pick Cameron Rayner to fallen premium David Armitage could be the way to go here, while promoting risky forward line picks Michael Barlow, Devon Smith and Michael Walters to some more consistent performers like Isaac Heeney and Toby Greene could be a safer game play.

Patrick Dangerfield has created a huge SuperCoach headache.

Giant Josh Kelly is one very capable replacement. Picture. Phil Hillyard

PLAN C

Of course, the benefit of the competition’s best player missing a game or two before the season gets underway is that coaches will have the money to finance any replacement player of their choosing. Perhaps the smartest option we can take is to create our team as normal with Dangerfield, then temporarily “downgrade” him prior to Round 1 to another premium midfielder for the time that he’s missing.

Considering most coaches are starting Dustin Martin and/or Tom Mitchell, another high-priced premium such as Josh Kelly, Clayton Oliver, Dayne Zorko or Matt Crouch would all be safe cover for Dangerfield as he recovers. But the most logical option may be Dangerfield’s teammate Mitch Duncan, who is coming off an outstanding pre-season and will likely flourish without Danger in the Cats midfield.

Once Dangerfield is named — hopefully before Round 3 — disciplined coaches will be able to trade out their designated replacement player. Because salary prices won’t fluctuate until then, it’s a certainty you’ll be able to have enough money to buy him, provided you haven’t blown your budget making other trades in those weeks.

This option is of course for players who are prepared to burn an early trade, but it’s certainly one that would be well worth it.

PLAN D

The above option is definitely the safest contingency plan. If you go into the year with the misguided intention of bringing Dangerfield into your side in weeks to come when he eventually bottoms out in price, it could be your undoing. Even the best-laid plans like these tend to come undone.

Chances are the SuperCoach gods will inflict greater priorities upon us with untimely injuries and suspensions when the time comes to bring Dangerfield in and it will require multiple trades to get the job done.

Last season Dangerfield started at $711,700 and a score of 65 in Round 6 saw Dangerfield drop to just $560,300 two games later. If he only misses a week or two this year, that price drop might come slightly earlier depending on his form, but it’s impossible to know for sure, and a dangerous game of chance to be playing.

Whatever you decide to do, know your plan and stick to it, lest your decisions be fraught with Danger.

Follow James Nice on Twitter @jamesnice4

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We surveyed our experts on their Dangerfield plans

Al Paton (@al_superfooty): Dangerfield was my first picked player so this is a huge blow. Tempted to hold him rather than endure the nightmare of trying to find $700k to trade him in, but that could be a lot of points lost if he’s stuck on the bench for more than a week. I’ll be watching Geelong medical reports very closely ... can anyone help with an alibi for a break-in at the Moggs Creek physio?

Gilbert Gardiner (@gilbertgardiner): Didn’t have Danger before the hammy twinge and certainly ain’t going to have him now. Will need do be picked for Round 1 to come close to consideration.

The Phantom (@ThePhantomSC): I’m not making a decision yet. The Phantom will be holding Dangerfield as long as he can and will even think about carrying the star on the bench through week 1. If the scan results are worse than expected, it will be a trade to another top-line premium.

Dangerfield thought ... Cats play second-last game of R1 and last game of R2, R3 & R4. Can at least loophole best bench rookie score* until he’s back (*apart from Kelly). Does that help tip the scales?#supercoach

— Al Paton (@al_superfooty) March 12, 2018

Dan Begala (@danbegala): He’s a miracle man when it comes to recovery, but given his game is built on power and speed, I will be steering clear at $749k. I expect some coaches may hold him, even if he misses, but I am bullish and will not accept an asset of his quality (and price) lying dormant on my bench. That being said, however, I will give him every chance to prove himself for Round 1.

Alexie Beovich (@LekdogSC): Downgrade him to a player who will score well and hold their value like Tom Liberatore, David Armitage or Stephen Coniglio, keep the leftover cash in the bank and trade back up to Dangerfield as soon as he’s back. This plan costs a trade but ensures you still have a good scoring player on field and rookies generating cash on the bench.

Ben Higgins (ben_higgins84): I’ve never actually had him but I think it’s an exciting time for SuperCoach. There’s always a lot of talk about “cookie-cutter” teams (they’re biscuits but that’s another argument) and this is the perfect chance for Danger owners to diversify and pick a point of difference.

Kate Salemme (@KateSalemme): Danger’s injury doesn’t change my plans as I wasn’t going to start with him anyway given his extremely high price tag. The injury means his value could drop upon his return, which means we can trade for him at a lower price. Still want to see how the big three — Danger, Ablett, Selwood — go in the one side before picking any of them. How many points are there to go around?

Anthony Hack (@ant_hak): Amazing that the best player will now be a point of difference for those sticking with him or able to bring him in when he’s back. Personally, I’m too tempted to spend the cash. I feel I need to replace him with another premium mid because despite already having Mitchell and Martin, without Dangerfield my midfield looks bare. I’m still considering whether to keep the remaining cash in the bank to help bring him in later, however at this stage I’ve taken the opportunity to improve my forward line where there seem to be fewer solid rookie-priced options.