SuperCoach AFL 2024: Biggest winners and losers from round 23

Some big names fell short on the big stage but others rose to the occasion in spectacular style. And what’s up with Brodie Grundy? See all the SuperCoach heroes and villains here.

Patrick Cripps produced a true captain’s performance. Picture: Mark Stewart

It was all on the line in the second-last week of the SuperCoach season.

Who fired and who flopped? Check out all our winners and losers from round 23 below.

SUPERCOACH WINNERS

BRENT DANIELS – 195 POINTS

OK, who had the Giants small forward nearly cracking 200 SuperCoach points on their bingo card? Daniels has been in good form, but this was something else – 29 disposals, 13 tackles, seven clearances, three goals. He even managed to win four free kicks and not give any away. Huge result for his 1700 owners (1 per cent).

ZAK BUTTERS – 156 POINTS

More than 70,000 coaches were able to enjoy Butters’ Showdown Medal-winning performance, but that number is still way too low for the third-highest scorer in the game this year. A Showdown-record 42 disposals and 20 contested possessions made up for kicking only one goal from five shots.

Brent Daniels was enormous for the Giants. Picture: Phil Hillyard

ROWAN MARSHALL – 146 POINTS

A sneaky captaincy choice based on the points Geelong has been conceding to opposition ruckmen, and he didn’t let his owners down. Now averaging over 130 in his past five.

SAM DARCY – 146 POINTS

Coming out party for the Dogs’ young father-son gun, booting seven goals – and missing a shot after the siren for his eighth. Unfortunately, his ownership is now under 20,000 after peaking mid-season at over 80,000. Next year’s forward pool will be shallow – keep him in mind.

PATRICK CRIPPS – 143 POINTS

Carried the Blues on his back, and not for the first time. Recorded a game-high 21 contested possessions plus 35 disposals, 10 clearances and 12 score involvements.

TRISTAN XERRI – 141 POINTS

His owners might have been hoping for more after Tim English’s injury but you can’t be unhappy with his fourth score in a row over 140. Won 44 hitouts to a combined 18 from Rory Lobb and Darcy, and added 17 disposals, five marks, six tackles and a goal.

DYLAN MOORE – 139 POINTS

This is the kind of ceiling game we knew Moore had in him – and his owners would have hoped for on prelim final weekend. Two goals from 20 disposals plus seven tackles and nine marks as he roamed far and wide.

NIC MARTIN – 135 POINTS

Is he a SuperCoach finals specialist? The Bombers running machine has woken up from a mid-season malaise with scores of 130 and 135 in consecutive weeks when coaches needed him most.

JESSE HOGAN – 124 POINTS

What’s that rule about not picking key forwards in SuperCoach? Still follow it (remember Charlie Curnow!) but coaches brave enough to back Hogan would be over the moon. He is now averaging 119 over his past five games and is on target for the Coleman Medal.

Dylan Moore cashed in as the Hawks thrashed Richmond. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

NICK DAICOS – 116 POINTS

Most of Daicos’s points came in one blistering quarter, when he ignited Collingwood’s comeback with 14 disposals and two incredible goals, including a contender for goal of the year – which came with some added points for two running bounces.

MATT ROBERTS – 112 POINTS

One of the best rookies of the first half of the year, Roberts has been in great form since returning to the team following a stint in the VFL. In the past six weeks his lowest score is 85 and this was his third over 100, logging 21 disposals at 90 per cent efficiency against the Bombers.

LAWSON HUMPHRIES – 105 POINTS

Coaches with Lawson on field as cover for Harry Sheezel were laughing at halftime when he had 97 points to his name. Things got a lot tougher after that as the Saints roared to life, but this is still a great return from a player in his eighth AFL game.

SUPERCOACH LOSERS

ZACH MERRETT – 74 POINTS

Copping a hard tag from James Jordon is rough at any time, but the fact it was SuperCoach prelim final week adds salt to the wound. Take note – the Swans face Adelaide next week.

MATT ROWELL – 71 POINTS

The late-season revival was short-lived. Couldn’t make the most of a supposedly easy match-up against a depleted Melbourne midfield.

BRODIE GRUNDY – 68 POINTS

We’ll cut Grundy some slack after carrying a heavy ruck load for the whole season, but his form lately is ... not good. In fact, he has hit the 100 SuperCoach point mark just once in his past eight games. This was his lowest for the season after spending plenty of time on the bench – is this John Longmire keeping him fresh for finals?

A season-low 76 minutes game time for Brodie Grundy last night - 24 fewer than the previous round. #SuperCoach#AFLFantasy

— Fantasy Freako (@FantasyFreako) August 17, 2024

JORDAN CLARK – 60 POINTS

Freo’s running defender has had a fantastic season but ran into GWS, which has been the most restrictive team for defenders, and they enhanced that reputation by keeping Clark and Luke Ryan (68) extremely quiet.

Jordan Clark chats with Dockers coach Justin Longmuir. Picture: Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

JAMES SICILY – 53 POINTS

Sicily’s past three scores against Richmond coming into Sunday’s clash at the MCG were 147, 171 and 141. But he wasn’t required this time, finishing with 15 disposals and just four marks.

IZAK RANKINE – 49 POINTS

Disaster for Rankine and his SuperCoach owners when he was ironed out by Dan Houston in the third quarter. Seems certain to miss the SuperCoach grand final – and Houston is likely to be sitting in the stands as well.

WILL DAY – 10 POINTS

His season may have ended when he hurt his shoulder just minutes into Hawthorn’s big win against the Tigers, and the finals hopes of just over 5000 SuperCoach teams might have gone with him.

Originally published as SuperCoach AFL 2024: Biggest winners and losers from round 23