SuperCoach AFL 2025: Josh Barnes and Jon Ralph name their starting squads

AFL writers Jon Ralph and Josh Barnes are taking very different SuperCoach paths in 2025. While one is fine-tuning his squad with precision the other is stacking their team with recycled gems looking for a second life.

Jon Ralph and Josh Barnes are taking very different SuperCoach approaches in 2025.

While Ralphy is meticulously refining his squad, Barnes is going all-in on his ‘yellow bin’ strategy - loading up on recycled gems chasing a second chance.

Caleb Daniel, Jack Macrae, Bailey Smith, Ben Paton and Jaxon Prior lead a team built on redemption stories and budget bargains.

It’s a gamble, but after last year’s mid-season holiday derailed Barnes’ shot at the Herald Sun in-office title, he’s fully locked in - no breaks, just relentless SuperCoach grind.

Compare their teams below.

SuperCoach AFL recycling plant: A ‘yellow bin’ strategy

By Josh Barnes

A returning SuperCoacher last season, I got sucked all the way in by North Ball.

It wasn’t an awful strategy and if you ask me, an untimely mid-season holiday cost me the Herald Sun in-office title.

So, I’m going on a theme again this year, with my full yellow bin team, chocked full of recycled gems.

They are the names every SuperCoach player knows off by heart by now - Caleb Daniel, Jack Macrae, Bailey Smith, Ben Paton, Jaxon Prior.

The low-cost players we all hope will dominate in old roles at new clubs.

Caleb Daniel is a name all SuperCoach players know off by heart. Picture: David Crosling

Prior has been locked into my defence from the first day I picked my team, he was always going to play in Essendon’s first game of the year and while he won’t be a monster scorer, he should consistently rise his price for me.

Not only am I all-in on the re-tread players, I’ve opened my door to the redemption stories.

Clayton Oliver surely bounces back this year, Adam Cerra is due a good run with injury, Tom Lynch just has to play consistently and Elijah Tsatas is another I had locked in the team after watching one training session at the Hangar in November.

These names again are all well known to SuperCoach afficionados.

My last call before round 1 was being so torn about dumping Tristan Xerri for Max Gawn, given Gawn has a dream start to the season.

I’m in the dark on the Flex position, and that is one spot that will likely come under scrutiny when I make my 1000th tinker before Thursday night’s first bounce.

But I was in early on the ground floor with Xerri last year so I’m sticking with one of my favourites and hoping he continues to tackle like crazy this year.

As I mentioned, I came home with a seriously wet sail after leaving the app for a few weeks during a holiday last year, but in 2025 I used up my annual leave early - we all need to get better at recycling and I am all-in on my yellow bin this year.

Josh Barnes' SuperCoach AFL side for 2025.

Surprise names in Jon Ralph’s ‘set and forget’ SuperCoach side

By Jon Ralph

You can’t beat the SuperCoach gurus every week.

Not with their forensic analysis on Break Even scores and bubble boys that are such a big part of the SuperCoach community.

So call my SuperCoach team the set-and-forget side.

Not in the strictest possible terms given you can’t play SuperCoach without trying to make the most of cash cows and young stars on the rise.

But the team I have picked gives me the best possible chance to go into most weeks with at least something resembling a side if I forget to attend to my team at the last minute each Thursday.

So laugh all you want about Griffin Logue as a cheap defender or Bo Allan in the side after failing to rack up points in his second pre-season game.

This is the no-fuss side which might still give me a chance to beat Al Paton or Tim Michell if everything goes right on a given day.

And speaking of giving, what a joy it is to give it to one of that pair if I can get a hold of them to remind them all the spreadsheets in the world don’t always win the day.

So, this team has plenty of popular SuperCoach cheapies or undervalued players.

You are just plain dumb to ignore Harry Boyd or Isaac Kako or Clayton Oliver or the Tackle King (Tristan Xerri).

No.1 draft pick Sam Lalor is set to make his debut in round 1. Picture: Michael Klein

The clear worries are the durability of Tom Lynch, while SuperCoach experts might laugh at Nick Larkey’s introduction.

But as much as Jack Darling is no one’s idea of a superstar, he showed against Fremantle he might release Larkey to get further up the ground.

He can still kick his 60 goals a year and win more possessions than in previous seasons to help his weekly scores.

At $328,000 he’s worth a punt, while fellow Roos Harry Sheezel, Finn O’Sullivan and Caleb Daniel are all no-brainers.

Richmond’s No.1 overall pick Sam Lalor might get stuck as a deep forward at times, so he’s expensive at $203,500, but he will play whenever fit.

Fellow Tigers draftee Luke Trainor has to play early and he showed against the Pies he can rack it up early in his career as a key-position defender who still knows how to find the Sherrin.

Again, set and forget.

Nick Larkey is a unique option in the forward line. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Essendon full back Zach Reid might be the silliest move in this side, so I reserve the right to blatantly steal a cheap defender after perusing Al or Tim’s side in coming days.

But the price is right and at 23 years of age if this isn’t his time to shine after an injury-cursed start to his career.

If he’s anywhere near fit, Brad Scott will play him every week.

There are also plenty of stars to enjoy in this team – Nick Daicos, Jason Horne-Francis, Luke Davies-Uniacke, Max Holmes.

If you can’t win, you can go down while enjoying yourself.

Jeremy Finlayson gets a run because the only way Port Adelaide wins the flag is with lightning ball movement into Ollie Lord, Mitch Georgiades and Co.

He can intercept mark but he will also set in motion the Power’s run and gun from the back half.

The beauty of SuperCoach is you can play it with footy nous, a mathematical bent or just by throwing darts at the wall.

My side has a bit of the former and some of the latter but is the best chance for me to win the odd game as nuisance value in leagues.

Jon Ralph's 2025 SuperCoach side.

Originally published as SuperCoach AFL 2025: Josh Barnes and Jon Ralph name their starting squads