Five tactics and trade targets to help win your SuperCoach preliminary final

What does it take to win a SuperCoach preliminary final? Here’s five tactics you need to consider for Round 22 to move a step closer to league glory.

Andrew Gaff’s record against Richmond demands attention ahead of Round 22. Picture: AAP Image/Richard Wainwright.

It’s now or never in SuperCoach.

Every coach still in the running for league glory will face a preliminary final this week with the ultimate prize in sight.

The past two weeks have been focused on league match-ups for thousands of coaches and Round 22 will be no different.

As we prepare for what shapes as one of the best rounds of 2019 and the AFL top eight takes shape, here’s five factors to help you win you progress to a grand final.

Patrick Cripps has a record of monster scores against St Kilda. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images.

1. Make Max Gawn or Patrick Cripps your vice-captain

Hopefully you have at least one of Max Gawn and Patrick Cripps in your team. If not, you risk being well behind your opponent’s captaincy pick.

Gawn will have an 11cm ruck advantage over Hayden McLean on Friday night, with Aliir Aliir and Sam Reid other ruck options for John Longmire.

Carlton co-captain Cripps has an imperious record against St Kilda. In his past two matches against the Saints he has scored 156 and 157. Use the vice-captain loophole to take Gawn on Friday and then Cripps can act as your insurance if you have both.

2. Plan for taggers

SuperCoach nemesis Matt De Boer is due to return this week from injury, just in time to track Jack Macrae or Marcus Bontempelli. De Boer has restricted some of the game’s best players to low numbers this year and his presence should be a factor when naming your captain.

Clayton Oliver is likely to cop George Hewett on Friday, Cam Sutcliffe could go to Ben Cunnington and James Worpel might be tagged by Touk Miller. Overlook the taggers at your peril.

3. Consider a POD captain

If your opponent nails their vice-captain early in the round and you miss the mark, you’ll need to consider a point of difference captain.

Analyse the players you have that your opponent doesn’t and try to make up the ground that way.

For example, if your opponent has Cripps and he scores 150 against the Saints, you could put the C on Zac Merrett or Josh Kelly and hope they match his efforts. Both these options have low ownership.

4. Catch your opponent off guard

You might lose a few friends, but using the rolling lockout to your advantage is a great tactic. If you’ve got two trades spare, you can wait until the middle of the round before deploying them based on the status of your match-up.

Say you were 100 points behind on Saturday night, you could trade in a premium midfielder such as Kelly or Bontempelli in an effort to make up the ground.

The later you make your move the better, as it gives your opponent less opportunity to copy your moves.

5. Don’t leave trades in the bank

If you’re sitting on two trades, this isn’t the week for caution. While luxury trades are always risky, if you analyse the last two fixtures of every AFL team it will help maximise your score in rounds 22 and 23. Look for players who you think will dominate for the next two weeks. There’s nothing worse than bombing out of finals with trades left.

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Andrew Gaff’s record against Richmond demands attention ahead of Round 22. Picture: AAP Image/Richard Wainwright.

FIVE TRADE TARGETS

1. Michael Walters $519,400, fwd-mid, average: 101

Few players have the ceiling Dockers star Walters does and he takes on an undermanned Essendon and Port Adelaide in the last two rounds. Walters averages 109.6 in his last three matches against the Bombers and is only in 17 per cent of teams. He also offers a dual-position swing if you need him in midfield in Round 23.

2. Andrew Gaff $526,400, mid, average: 105.1

Gaff is one of the few players who has consistently shone against Richmond in recent seasons. The Eagles wingman has scores of 114, 123 and 132 in his past three matches against the Tigers and posted 135 last season against his Round 23 opponent Hawthorn. Gaff is in just six per cent of sides.

3. Josh Kelly $614,000, mid, average: 119.8

Due back from injury against Western Bulldogs on Sunday, Kelly is one of the best scorers in the game. You will finally feel justified if you held him through his lay-off, having not played since Round 16. His price tag is high but he hasn’t scored less than 95 and has 10 tons in 12 games.

4. Dayne Zorko $547,200, mid, average: 105.1

While an upcoming game against Geelong immediately rings alarm bells, Zorko has a superb record against the Cats. His last three scores are 118, 196 and 111 against the ladder leader. Don’t expect another total close to 200, but at three per cent ownership he could be a decisive POD.

5. Zach Merrett $514,100, mid, average: 107.1

Any player who can amass 116 in a team beaten by 104 points should be considered. Merrett has a strong record against his next opponent Fremantle (123, 95 and 133 past three) and posted 130 & 114 against Collingwood last season.