SuperCoach AFL 2017: five reasons why mid-price madness might be good for your team

THE mid-pricer is a maligned animal when it comes to SuperCoach. Here’s five reasons why a little bit of mid-price madness is good for SuperCoach.

THE mid-pricer is a maligned animal when it comes to SuperCoach.

Usually, awkwardly priced and an inherent risk based on their past scoring or injury history.

We’re channelling a little bit of Gordon Gekko’s “greed is good” mixed with The Shining “all guns and rookies makes SuperCoach a dull game”.

We’ve picked five reasons why a little mid-price madness can benefit your SuperCoach team in 2017.

EARLY INVESTMENT

We’ll be honest, mid-price picks aren’t always going to be successes.

Don’t fret, a positive is just a quick click away. Before your mid-price gamble costs you money downgrade to a rookie.

This simple move will net you as much as $300,000, money you can then use to stabilise other areas of your team or keep up your sleeve for future upgrade plans.

For example, Jack Billings was seen as a breakout contender last year but failed to live up to the hype, if you traded down to Tom Papley before Round 3 you would have immediately pocketed an upgrade war chest but seen Papley appreciate $100k himself after the third week price rise.

There’s a few risks that stand out this year with David Swallow, Jackson Thurlow and Jarrod Witts “flying” on the track but if they don’t translate that form into the season proper, there’s sure to be a cash cow ready to moo.

Thousands of SuperCoachers jumped on Tom Papley before Round 3 last year. Picture: Phil Hillyard

STEPPING STONES

A stepping stone can be either a mid-price success or failure.

Much like the early investment, a mid-price failure can be simply traded up to a premium or sideways to a mid-price success (we know, sideways trades are almost as hated as mid-price pick but go with us here).

Last year, Michael Barlow failed to fire early but before a serious price drop, a trade to Aaron Hall - who was averaging 126 - would have actually made you money.

Meanwhile, a mid-price success doesn’t mean he is going to be in your team at the end of the year, instead he’s an early pick to quickly rise in price and provide an easy transition to a premium stud.

If all goes to plan, it’s quicker than waiting for your base-price cash cows to mature and allows you to upgrade your team quicker than your rivals.

The important lesson here and from the early investment is no pick is irretrievable.

BREAKOUT SUCCESS

Is there a better feeling than finding the next big thing?

Those that picked Zach Merrett or Lachie Neale last year will know what we’re taking about.

Not only do these mid-price risks turn out to be great scorers but they put you one step ahead of the competition who have to trade these blokes in.

This year there’s more than a few breakout options, headlined by Issac Heeney.

As we’ve said often in the past two months, watch the pre-season closely, if you can find this year’s breakout star, it could help you claim the $50,000 major prize.

Dayne Beams is a mid-price option with a long injury history. Picture: Jono Searle

RETURN TO THE MAX

Every year there is a former stud that is coming back from injury or a down season - or this year, a drugs ban.

These are certainly the most popular mid-pricers and easiest to identify and pick with confidence.

This year Bob Murphy, Dayne Beams, Marc Murphy, Aaron Sandilands and Jarryd Roughead are some of the popular choices heading into the JLT Community Series.

A 100-plus scorer available for under $450,000 is what SuperCoach dreams are made of.

Choosing wisely can save you some cash at the start of the year - allowing you to target premiums in harder to pick positions - and most importantly a precious trade or two as you don’t have to upgrade during the season.

THE GAMBLER

This isn’t so much a reason but a philosophy.

The chances to winning the $50,000 major prize is remote, instead its about the fun and enjoyment and beating your mates.

The gambler is a SuperCoach who enjoys picking the “next big thing”, spending hours researching and watching training and pre-season games to find value.

Admittedly, it doesn’t always work out and even the experts can get it wrong.

But don’t let the masses knock you for enjoying a little mid-price madness come Round 1, it all adds to the experience.