Fantasy Freako’s Round 7 Form Guide: Whose ruck-mid connection is strongest?
The forward line is a SuperCoach disaster zone with a drought of viable rookies to improve our teams. A Hawk receiving very little attention could change all that, according to Champion Data expert Fantasy Freako.
Supercoach
Don't miss out on the headlines from Supercoach. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Rucks and midfielders are the scoring bread and butter of every SuperCoach team, but which club’s combination offers you a path to competition gold?
Champion Data’s Fantasy Freako looks at the best ruck-midfield combinations with the best connections in the game in this week’s Form Guide.
SUPERCOACH WHISPERS: WHAT YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED
TRADE GUIDE: HOLD FIRE ON THESE STARS
Gathers from a hitout (a possession gained from a teammate’s hitout-to-advantage) are one of several statistics that fall under the contested possession umbrella.
It is also a statistic that rewards two players — the ruckman with a hitout-to-advantage and the player that wins the contested possession. It should be no surprise to anyone that midfielders dominate this metric, as they are at the feet of the ruckmen at the stoppage.
The No.1 SuperCoach player in the competition, Lachie Neale is the king of the gathers from hit-outs this season with 27 — three more than Ben Cunnington. Tom Rockliff (21) and Clayton Oliver (20) rank third and fourth in that order, while there are a host on 18, one of which is Brayden Fiorini — a real surprise packet of 2019.
If we look at the best ruck-rover combination after six rounds — Todd Goldstein and Cunnington have combined more than any other duo (21 times) — with Stefan Martin and Neale not too far behind on 19. Max Gawn has both and third and fourth places covered, with Angus Brayshaw (17) and Oliver (16) the beneficiaries of his tap work. Rounding out the top-five is Jarrod Witts/Fiorini (15).
At centre bounces, the clear standout is Ben McEvoy and Jaeger O’Meara — combining on 10 occasions. The fact that O’Meara has missed one match makes this even more impressive. With Tom Mitchell sidelined, O’Meara is the one player that has benefited the most at Hawthorn — improving his disposals (+7), contested possessions (+4) and points per game (+8).
There is a three-way tie at ball up stoppages, with Gawn/Brayshaw, Martin/Neale and Goldstein/Cunnington all combining seven times. The Witts/Fiorini combination is next best with six.
Brodie Grundy has come into his own at throw in stoppages, combining with Scott Pendlebury and Steele Sidebottom seven times. Gawn/Oliver have also combined seven times at throw ins.
ROOKIE WATCH
There results were mixed last round, with Marty Hore (86), Charlie Constable (79), Jack Ross (89) and Xavier Duursma (84) posting decent numbers. Sam Collins (66) and Jack Scrimshaw (62) were in-betweens, while Tom Atkins (47), Michael Gibbons (51) and Jack Petruccelle (48) were all underwhelming.
Once again, moving on cash cows at the right time will once again be at the forefront for SuperCoaches. Collins (70 BE) is perhaps the only player you’d consider trading out this week, so if you’re cashed up, then that is the most obvious move to make. You could also trade him down to one of the bubble boys ahead of Round 7 — Lachlan Young (-24 BE) should he retain his place in the side.
I definitely wouldn’t go early on one-gamer Noah Answerth, even though he looked right at home in Brisbane’s defence on his AFL debut — scoring 69 points. Zac Bailey is nearing a return from injury which could see Answerth get squeezed out. Either way, just wait one more week.
The No.1 trade-in target this round is the mature-aged Will Hayes. He has scored 70 and 55 points from his two games and already has a SuperCoach ownership nearing 6,000. The Bulldogs have moved Jason Johannisen back into defence to accommodate Hayes, with the latter spending 87% of game time on the wing — the second-highest percentage of any Bulldog behind Lachie Hunter.
Elsewhere, this could also be the week we finally offload Noah Balta — even though such a move will cost us $10,200 — with Mitch Lewis the target. Lewis ranks No.1 at the Hawks for inside 50 targets across the past two rounds, with only Paul Puopolo winning more disposals inside 50. It’s definitely one move to ponder.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Collingwood vs Port Adelaide
In the past three rounds, Brodie Grundy averages 132 points — ranked No.1 in the competition. Travis Boak has led the Port Adelaide charge over this period with 119 points per game — ranked eighth.
Melbourne vs Hawthorn
Max Gawn posted scores of 112 and 125 points in his two games against Melbourne last season. Ben McEvoy had mixed results, scoring 49 and 109 points in these games.
Greater Western Sydney vs St Kilda
Tim Taranto won a career-high 17 contested possessions last round on his way to a season-high 136 points. Sebastian Ross had his first price rise of the season after scoring 118 against Adelaide.
Brisbane Lions vs Sydney Swans
Lachie Neale averages 146 points in Brisbane wins this season — ranked No.1 in the AFL. Isaac Heeney scored a season-high 137 points in Sydney’s only win of 2019 against Carlton.
Western Bulldogs vs Richmond
Tom Liberatore suffered his first price drop of the season after scoring a season-low 71 points in the loss to Fremantle. Dustin Martin’s value plummeted for the third time in 2019 — dropping by $10,300 after scoring 89 points.
West Coast Eagles vs Gold Coast Suns
Andrew Gaff had 32 disposals, two score assists and 103 points when these sides last met in Round 4 last season. David Swallow had a blinder for the Suns, finishing with 29 disposals and 129 points — his highest score against the Eagles.
Carlton vs North Melbourne
Sam Walsh’s price has boomed by $236,300 this season — the biggest of any player in the competition. Ben Brown’s value has gone the other way (-$78,300) after averaging just 61 points.
Geelong Cats vs Essendon
Tim Kelly has racked up 106 and 129 points from his two matches at the MCG this season. Zach Merrett averages 30 disposals and 121 points at the venue this season which is a career-high tally.
Adelaide Crows vs Fremantle
Brodie Smith has reached three figures in each of his past three games, rising in price by $35,400 last round with a score of 103 points. David Mundy celebrated his 300th AFL match in style — scoring 122 points.
The AFL trades set to deliver big SuperCoach bargains
Bailey Smith and Clayton Oliver could be huge SuperCoach steals at a new club in 2025. Which other names should be on the watch list? Here are the moves to watch.
AFL obsession to NBL addiction: How SuperCoach hooked me on hoops
I hadn’t watch the NBL since the Andrew Gaze and Shane Heal days. Now I’m taking my son to United games and watching Phoenix on Kayo because of one reason.