SuperCoach AFL 2017: as tempting as it may be the first rule in SuperCoach is keep the faith

THE SuperCoach Commandments declare “thou shalt not make unnecessary trades” and the temptation has reached fever pitch. Plus, the best captain and cash cow picks.

THOU shalt not make unnecessary trades. Say it again.

After a tumultuous week in SuperCoach, the temptation to trade underperforming players has reached fever pitch.

But cooler heads here must prevail and hold fast to that which is good.

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Trading struggling Hawthorn skipper Jarryd Roughead and Jaeger O’Meara is in vogue — with about 15,000 already pulling the trigger — but equally, it is fraught with danger.

Roughead and O’Meara have too many runs on the board not to find their feet in a new-look — albeit slumping — Hawthorn outfit, especially with two of the next four games in Tasmania.

Both will come good after long lay-offs due to previously well-documented reasons.

Hawthorn captain Jarryd Roughead. Picture: Tom Huntley

Hawks star recruit Jaeger O'Meara. Picture: Tom Huntley

A patient SuperCoach on the eve of Round 5 could have a grin from ear-to-ear come the bye rounds when the money made on the Rougheads and O’Mearas of this fantasy world can be spent to bolster squads with more premiums.

While those with a bold and brazen streak might also consider keeping the Hawks as genuine points of difference late in the season.

Ghosts of SuperCoach seasons’ past are littered with tales of blown early trades.

Paging Michael Barlow, who started last year poorly before roaring back to form with six tons from his next eight games.

A lack of depth in mid-priced and cash cow pools makes offloading Roughead and O’Meara early a recipe for disaster.

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Gold Coast goal sneak Brandon Matera has been “reprogrammed” according to his coach but is this career best form sustainable?

Under schoolyard rules, who do you pick: Jarryd or Brandon?

The same could be said in the midfield: Jaeger or a largely-unknown rookie?

The exception, of course, is West Coast utility dual-position prospect Elliot Yeo.

Yeo must be respected after scores of 139, 102, 83 and 141 and ripe for the picking for SuperCoaches with cash to make winged Hawks into a flying Eagle.

JUMP ON

ELLIOTT YEO ($476,000, Mid-Fwd)

The cheapest of the top 15 scorers after four rounds and an obvious trade option if you’re fed up with the likes of Jarryd Roughead and Jaeger O’Meara. While Yeo has already gone up more than $66,000 after scores of 139, 102, 83 and 141, he’s still primed for more rises with a Round 5 breakeven of 55. Yeo looks to have found a permanent home on the Eagles’ half-back line that is perfect for SuperCoach scoring.

BRANDON MATERA ($331,900, Fwd)

A popular trade for Jarryd Roughead, coming in at $50k cheaper and off a huge 159 last week. But this comes with a huge warning: Matera has never consistently scored well in SuperCoach. In fact, he’s never even been guaranteed a spot in Gold Coast’s starting 22. Has the penny finally dropped? If the answer is yes this could be a matchwinning move. But it’s a massive gamble.

STEFAN MARTIN ($552,300, Ruck)

Is the No.1 scoring ruckman with an average of 120 a game and every chance to keep up that scoring. Unless you’ve still got Max Gawn he’s not easy to get since it’s too early to be trading in the likes of Aaron Sandilands or Jarrod Witts, but this is probably as cheap as we’ll see this year’s top big man for a long time.

Brandon Matera has been in scintillating form. Picture: Richard Gosling

JUMP OFF

We could easily stock this section with the likes of Jarryd Roughead, Jaeger O’Meara and Heath Shaw but our advice is to keep the faith in your starting picks. Underperforming premiums will come good (trust us!) and you’ll be kicking yourself when Adam Treloar pumps out a 150 the week after you get rid of him.

Even the disappointing rookies (Sam Powell-Pepper, Curtly Hampton, Tim Taranto et al) have more money to make. The exception could be non-playing rookies like Brett Eddy, Declan Mountford and Jake Barrett.

If they aren’t picked this week a swap to Balic makes sense. If you don’t have those guys you probably won’t be losing much by trading out a Jarrod Pickett or Tim Taranto early to get Balic or free up cash to snare a superstar.

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CAPTAINS CORNER

NAT FYFE

Hasn’t hit his former heights just yet but has scored in three figures every week and this could be the week he goes big. Really big. Fyfe is playing at home against the Kangaroos - his past two games against them have netted scores of 141 and 128 and he has a career average of 119 from 10 games against Brad Scott’s men.

SCOTT PENDLEBURY

Without old Anzac Day specialist Dane Swan, Pendles is the best option if you’re leaving your captaincy call until the last game of the round. Has scored 131 and 119 in his past two Anzac Day games and surely Bucks won’t let him sit on the bench for half a quarter this week.

TRENT COTCHIN

A great point of difference for his 3000 owners this year with a season average of 117, and while Richmond’s record against Melbourne in recent years isn’t great, that hasn’t been Cotchin’s fault. He averages 108 from his past three against the Dees.

MARCUS BONTEMPELLI

Has a lowest score of 115 this season to rank No.4 for overall points scored. The Lions are giving up some big scores this year and Bont posted 147 against them in 2015.

PATRICK DANGERFIELD

Still the safest choice despite last week’s disappointing return - although 90 was pretty good considering he was struggling to breathe after copping a knee in the kidneys from Jarryd Roughead early. Has scored 110 and 116 in his past two against the Saints but will be breathing fire this week.

Champion Data crunches the numbers for Round 5.