Herald Sun footy writers reveal their starting 2017 SuperCoach teams
YOU don’t win SuperCoach without taking a few risks. Herald Sun SuperCoach guru Al Paton has made a massive call on the eve of the season. See his final team here.
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IF you thought our footy experts were competitive in the Herald Sun Tipping competition, that’s nothing compared to their SuperCoach rivalry.
And in a rare display of peace, our experts are letting the readers — and their office rivals — see their teams on the eve of the 2017 AFL season.
CHEAT SHEET: HOW TO PICK A TEAM IN FIVE MINUTES
ROUND 1: THE PLAYERS YOU MUST PICK
Any prospective SuperCoaches could do worse than having a gander at these line-ups.
Who knows if there’ll be a few last-minute changes as Round 1 teams drop in the coming days? They won’t give that information away to one another.
But here’s how our panel think they’ll be lining up when the first ball is bounced
Can you beat our experts? Register now!
LISTENL: AFL CHAMPS MATTHEW LLOYD, KANE CORNES AND PAUL HASLEBY REVEAL THEIR STARTING SQUADS
AL PATON ON HIS SUPERCOACH TEAM
THE big move came at 11.13pm last night.
Max Gawn had been sitting at my No.1 ruck position since SuperCoach opened in January.
But confidence in the bearded giant has been tested over the ensuing weeks with new Demons coach Simon Goodwin apparently not only willing but dead-set keen to play a second ruckman in the form of Jake Spencer.
Spencer’s strong JLT form has come at the expense of Max, who is attending fewer centre bounces, winning less of the footy and producing lower SuperCoach scores (average 80 in three JLT Games).
We have seen this before - ask Daniel Currie about how much pre-season form counts when the real stuff starts.
That could very well happen again, but I’ve made the huge call not to start with probably my most successful pick of 2016 for a simple reason: He costs a bucketload ($645,000).
My plan close to midnight was to go back to my January idea of picking Paddy Ryder, who scored 108 in Port Adelaide’s final JLT game.
But with a clearer mind this morning I’m not so confident about Paddy and if I’m going to take a crazy risk in the ruck, why not go all in? Welcome to Don’t Argue Jarrod Witts.
The former Magpie is just $217,600 - that’s more than $400k cheaper than Gawn, and he will be No.1 ruck at the Gold Coast Suns which should guarantee at least 80-odd points a week.
More importantly, that extra cash has allowed me to fix problems all over the field:
- Zach Tuohy is out. Remember Heritier Lumumba. In comes Sam Docherty, who might not quite hold his high starting price but is a lock to be one of the top three defenders at the end of the year.
- Jack Steele is in, replacing a no-name bargain-basement rookie. Steele could be a mid-price trap but I feel a lot better with Tim Taranto as my last on-field forward. Rookie stocks in this part of the ground are as thin this year as I can remember.
- Another mid-price risk in the form of Jaeger O’Meara is out. In comes Gary Ablett. I had decided to start without him but just can’t go through with it. The greatest SuperCoach player of all time is in 7 per cent of teams. He has a point to prove. He averages 125 against Round 1 opponent Brisbane. Brain em, Gaz.
I blame this guy pic.twitter.com/pymgBqqdwR
— Al Paton (@al_superfooty) March 22, 2017
A key part of this brave/crazy ruck strategy is picking Tiger Toby Nankervis in the forward line and Docker Luke Strnadica on the ruck bench to provide cover if Sandilands is rested and during Witts’ Round 9 bye - if his value hasn’t appreciated enough by then to jump to Gawn (ideally this is about the time Goodwin realises the Spencer experiment isn’t working).
At the end of the day (literally), a key motivating factor in my selection choices was that at 11.12pm last night my team was looking solid but pretty boring. Writing an article of the 30 most popular SuperCoach picks this year earlier this week, I realised I had 24 of them. Snore.
Now Witts, Ablett, Bontempelli and even Docherty provide exciting points of difference.
It could blow up in my face. It probably will. But it will be a fun ride.
Bring it on.
ELIZA SEWELL ON HER SUPERCOACH TEAM:
“I’m feeling pretty confident. Gee, my team looks good. Cam McCarthy and Lynchy upfront. And then JK! It’ll be raining goals.
Treloar will win the Magpies’ B&F on the back of his performance for the Sky Rats and I’ve gone Jobe Watson ahead of Beama and Heppell. Jobe will tear it a new one and win the Brownlow.
I may be a little thin down back but Docherty, Rance and Laird should keep the young’uns on message.
Let’s hope I’m as up come Sunday.”
SCOTT GULLAN ON HIS TEAM:
“As you can see the tried and true theory of stacking the midfield with guns continues.
For those who are scared of trusting Gary Ablett, I’d suggest you think again. Ablett, Dangerfield and Fyfe are must-haves in every team.
I agonised over the fourth key forward but went with Chad Wingard on the belief that he will play more midfield and if the Power are going to surge, it will be on his back.
The little gold nugget is Zac Jones from Sydney. While he’s an in-between price at 300K in defence, he has shown in the pre-season that he will spend time through the midfield.
As for the kids, everyone has the same lot although one smoky could come from Hawthorn with Tea Miles a cheap mid/forward.”
SAM EDMUND ON HIS SUPERCOACH TEAM:
“I deliberately delayed my team selection until the final week and yet I’m still exactly what I sought to avoid - an indecisive wreck.
So much so that the team you see below has undergone more surgery. However, the structure largely remains the same.
After an initially aggressive 2 premium-six rookie defence I have softened. The most trustworthy cash cows still exist in defence, but I’ve gone for a more balanced team.
Danger, Kennedy, Treloar, Selwood and Fyfe are the backbone and O’Meara picks himself. Though in an ideal world I’d like to only have one midfield rookie on the field.
I believe Nick Riewoldt will go beserk early and, hopefully, late as well. Jack Steele could be a trap but I’m willing to take the risk,
Down back I’m happy to pay the extra to get Docherty, who will be the top defender this year, while it’s a luxury to select Adams - a pure midfielder - in defence.”
JON RALPH ON HIS SUPERCOACH TEAM:
“Yet again we get to Round 1 and yet again every bloke who has done a bit of research has the same team.
I just checked Sam Edmund and Jay Clark’s teams and they only have two players different.
It’s why you need a point of difference.
For me it’s Tom Lynch in the forward line, Alex Rance in the backline and Brodie Grundy in the ruck.
Grundy averaged 100 in the last 10 weeks last year and is the running prototype as a ruckman, even if he can improve his overhead marking.
I know there will be times Lynch is quiet but if the Gold Coast midfield is up and running he kicks 80 for sure.
And Rance might not be the percentage play but if he goes nuts with intercept marks and rebound possessions I am halfway home each week.
The risk is still having David Swallow at 280K on the bench, but I am not sure I want to play Powell-Pepper if I get an early injury.
As usual, don’t fret too much about your team as long as you have the usual cash cows.
It’s when the injuries and form slumps hit that you can make up ground by astute selections down the stretch.”
LAUREN WOOD ON HER SUPERCOACH TEAM:
“It’s here again — the clock is ticking and the palms are getting sweaty. Had a roller coaster 2016 and am determined not to have a repeat year.
Midfield-wise, going for more guns than a shooting range. Reckon Watson will deliver in his return year and The Bont? Star. Say no more. Looking to lean on Danger heavily with the big C.
As for the tapwork, fear the beard. Big Max Gawn is in for another massive year and looking for him to shoulder the load alongside Sandilands. He’s tried and true.
To Taranto or not to Taranto? That is the question. There’s still time remaining so that could change. Saint Nick Riewoldt can always be relied upon and Jack Macrae — who averaged 100 last year — is on an upward trajectory. Buddy, well, Buddy.
Have chopped and changed things down back over the last day or two but have worked the funds to get new Cat Zach Tuohy in. Think he’s got a point to prove and will provide steadily with a few young guns chipping in. Marchbank and Hampton are locks.”
Sorry @ElizaJSewell. Knock On Wood has been in match committee all morning & is coming for the Sky Rats 😉 https://t.co/3DjGSE6iiz pic.twitter.com/wU9rZOu6Ul
— Lauren Wood (@LaurenA_Wood) March 22, 2017
GILBERT GARDINER ON HIS SUPERCOACH TEAM:
“Team Gardiner is all but settled for 2017.
A couple of changes still on the horizon but barring any mishaps this will largely be the squad we take into the home and away season.
Tried to cut costs in the ruck division in favour of a bolstered back six and midfield, after all that’s where most of our points come from.
Lots of captaincy options with Danger, Fyfe, Pendlebury and Hannebery in the mix.
Zak Jones my POD of difference down back and don’t mind Roos goalsneak Jy Simpkin to generate some pocket money.”
Cuttla spots still up for grabs.
— Gilbert Gardiner (@gilbertgardiner) March 22, 2017
Defenders: ðŸ”
Midfielders: 6/8 ðŸ”
Rucks: ðŸ”
Forwards: 5/6 ðŸ”#SuperCoach https://t.co/gtXTLWSb2K pic.twitter.com/Gmgu2XaTcb
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