How to survive the byes with smart SuperCoach trades

THE bye rounds are almost here, and they have the potential to derail your SuperCoach season. But with adversity comes opportunity. Top trade options to get ahead of the pack.

THE byes are arguably the most pivotal time of the SuperCoach season.

Four rounds have the potential to absolutely derail our season. To ruin all our hard work; all the blood, sweat and tears gone to waste.

Not this year. A plan of attack is a necessary course of action to combat the dreaded byes, unless you want to start pre-season for SuperCoach 2019 in June.

TRADE TIPS: SIX CUT-PRICE STARS YOU SHOULD KNOW

BARGAINS: THE PHANTOM’S ROUND 10 REVIEW

Most players got through Round 10, when Port Adelaide and Gold Coast had the week off, with minimum damage. But wait until Round 13 and 14, when things really get ugly.

In Round 13, the likes of Max Gawn, Clayton Oliver, Devon Smith, Stephen Coniglio, Jeremy Howe and Stefan Martin will be unavailable for selection.

And in Round 14, it gets worse. SuperCoach powerhouses Patrick Dangerfield, Dustin Martin, Rory Laird and all Isaac Heeney have the week off. Ouch.

We must do our due diligence to navigate through the treacherous month, especially those vying for overall SuperCoach ranking.

THE BYES

Round 12: Carlton, Hawthorn, West Coast, Western Bulldogs

Round 13: Brisbane, Collingwood, Essendon, GWS, Melbourne, North Melbourne

Round 14: Adelaide, Fremantle, Geelong, Richmond, St Kilda, Sydney

With adversity comes opportunity. Many will struggle to field 18 players in the latter two weeks, giving astute SuperCoaches the chance to rise above the rest.

We have three trades per week from Round 12-14, so for those with trades in the bank, it is time to get busy.

Here are some tips and options to get you through the byes

1. Trade in players who have already had their bye

It sounds simple, but you would be surprised how many SuperCoaches don’t factor this in during the bye rounds.

Trading in players following their bye will give us as many players on field as possible for

the following bye rounds, particularly that nightmare final fortnight.

Unfortunately, we aren’t spoiled for choice in the early weeks, with players from Port Adelaide and Gold Coast (Round 10) and Hawthorn, Western Bulldogs, Carlton and West Coast (Round 12) being the viable options.

You could even afford to trade Round 12 bye players in this week if you are looking at fielding over 20 players that week.

OPTIONS THIS WEEK

Robbie Gray | FWD | $541,900 | Avg: 110 | BE: 138

Gray’s price is set to plummet the next time he steps on the park, so it’s worth waiting until Round 12 to trade in the Power star.

And if he scores poorly spending extended minutes forward like last week, a judgment call may have to be made.

Robbie Gray (left) with Port Adelaide teammate Tom Jonas — who has become a surprise SuperCoach star himself this season.

Justin Westhoff | FWD-MID | $524,000 | Avg: 107.1 | BE: 111

Despite concerns about Port’s Mr Fixit having a reduced role when Paddy Ryder returned from injury, ‘The Hoff’ has continued to score well, averaging 95.7 SuperCoach points from his past three.

Tom Rockliff | MID | $374,900 | Avg: 62.5 | BE: 26

For SuperCoaches with cojones. Appears to be back to full fitness, averaging 28.5 disposals and 100 points in the last fortnight. Ridiculously cheap — a possible downgrade option from Tim Kelly.

POST-ROUND 12 TRADE IN OPTIONS

Elliot Yeo | DEF | $539,700 | Avg: 104 | BE: 111

If you discount his one stinker, Yeo is averaging over 110 points with a low score of 94. Looking like finishing as the No. 1 defender.

Toby McLean | FWD | $526,300 | Avg: 111 | BE: 115

Incredibly consistent season so unlikely to come down in price too much. You get what you pay for, in this case the No.1 scoring forward.

Andrew Gaff | MID | $554,300 | Avg: 111 | BE: 84

His form cannot be ignored any longer. All nine of his scores have been above 92 and he hit a season-high 135 against the Hawks. Tremendous consistency for someone in just 2 per cent of teams.

Kade Simpson | DEF | $497,500 | Avg: 106.5 | BE: 87

May not be as reliable as previous years, but he will be among the best defenders at year’s end. After a couple of down weeks pumped out a 140 against Geelong.

James Sicily | DEF/FWD | $514,900 | Avg: 104.5 | BE: 147

A disappointing total on the weekend should see Sicily’s price fall over the next fortnight, perfect for a Round 13 trade. Almost a must-have with his dual-position status.

Shannon Hurn | DEF | $476,500 | Avg: 99 | BE: 99

Just four tons from 10 games but two of those were 130-plus and he has only gone under 83 once. Is this the year he finally becomes a genuine premium?

Nic Naitanui (right) is fresh and firing after his one-week suspension.

Nic Naitanui | RUCK | $485,700 | Avg: 99 | BE: 66

Here is your man if you are looking for a ruck option. Still affordable at only $20k above his starting price and his limited game time is the only thing holding him back from going bananas, and that should ramp up as the season goes on.

Jack Gunston | FWD | $454,900 | Avg: 90 | BE: 124

Appeared to hurt his groin early against the Eagles and his 47 will ensure a juicy price drop. Quiet achiever who gets the job done every year. Doesn’t need a massive scoreboard impact to score well, either. Safe pick.

HOLDING ON TO BYE-FRIENDLY ROOKIES

Just as we trade in players who have the early byes, we should look to keep bye-friendly cash cows — even if it means losing some cash.

It makes the decision easier for the 36 per cent of teams who still have Nick Holman, who has a break-even of just 13 after churning out 122 SuperCoach points in China.

David Mirra is another rookie who should continue to make us cash over the byes.

Tom Cole is the main example here, having appeared to cement a spot in the West Coast defence. While his break-even is climbing, it is worth holding him for coverage through the byes.

GUNNING FOR LEAGUE WINS

Rank isn’t important for all players, with bragging rights in their league being their No. 1 priority. The advice is simple for those looking to get wins on the board in their SuperCoach leagues: look at your opposition.

For instance, if your opponent you are facing in Round 14 hasn’t checked their side since Round 1, you can afford to trade in players who have their bye in Round 14.

However, if you are playing a strong SuperCoach player in the byes who you are hungry to knock off, prioritise this bye round with your trading.

Just hope you aren’t dealt the raw end of the stick playing three strong coaches from Round 12-14.

RISK TAKERS

Some thrill seekers might consider trading out a premium the week before their bye, with the hope of trading them BACK in soon after.

SuperCoach folklore forbids us to trade a premium, but it has some merit dodging a zero if the player has a high break-even.

Take Robbie Gray this week for example, who has the post-China bye. His price has just about peaked at $541,900, with a mammoth 138 break-even to contend with after scoring just 67 points in his last game. Rather than copping the zero, trading him for soaring Eagle Jack Darling ($583,600, 88 BE) — the top SuperCoach scoring forward in the competition — would require less than $40,000.

Another two poor scores could see Gray fall below $500,000, making him a bargain upgrade around bye time.

It is a bold move that could come back to bite you, but considering Gray’s lack of midfield minutes last week, it could see you reap both financial and scoring benefits.

Not for me, though. I want to be able to sleep at night.

FAQS

How many players is a good amount to have playing each round?

This is hard to say, as an 18-man team loaded up with premiums can score as many as a 22-playing side full of rookies. There is no hard and fast rule, but 19 is a solid amount, allowing your lowest scoring player to fall out of your score.

Most sides will have a greater amount in Round 12 with fewer teams having the week off.

Don’t feel as though you have to play 18 each week, either. Often trading in a player just to avoid a zero may only add 40 points, and will be detrimental to your side down the track.

Stick to your structures, trades are gold.

How many trades should we have at the end of the byes?

This will vary from side to side but generally speaking, the ultimate goal is having 6-10

trades and a full premium side at Round 15. But, like many things in life, it is easier said than

done.

CLOSING WORDS

For those who are already pulling their hair out: don’t fret, you are not alone.

All SuperCoaches are going through the same thing during this difficult time, so stay calm.

Best of luck, and happy trading!

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