SuperCoach AFL 2024: Experts reveal their trades for round 16

Trades are at a premium in SuperCoach ahead of round 16 – but that hasn’t stopped our experts making some big calls as they enter the run home. What moves are you making?

Trades are at a premium, but that hasn’t stopped some of our experts making some huge moves this week.

Scroll down to see all their trades for round 16.

AL PATON

No trades

I’ve got six trades left, which feels like a lot compared to some of my colleagues, but after finishing my team last week with 22 premiums on field, I’m not in a rush to use them.

The other issue is the only player on my bench worth more than $123k is Alex Sexton, who can provide bench cover in defence and the forward line, plus the midfield (if Marcus Bontempelli misses a week, for example, I can swing Isaac Heeney into the mids and bring Sexton on as a forward).

So the decision is whether to keep solid cover across three lines, or get very good cover in one in the form of Rozee.

THE PHANTOM

OUT: Toby Pink, Christian Salem

IN: Jordan Ridley, Saad El-Hawli

It was all coming up Phantom – until it wasn’t. The plan for a while had been to trade Tom Powell to Izak Rankine after the Crows’ bye to finish my forward line, and confirm Clayton Oliver’s place as my 23rd premium. But then Toby Pink got injured and subbed out against the Demons, adding $5k to his price tag and not the $8k that I needed to execute the trade. As a result I’ve been torn all week as to where to go. Is it Charlie Curnow instead of Rankine? And, yes, I need to trade Pink to get Hayden Young back into defence. Then the Demons confirmed Christian Salem would miss Friday night’s clash with knee soreness. “Hopeful” he’ll be right for next week, they said. But do I really want to field Billy Dowling instead? Not really. So, at this stage, Jordan Ridley it is. Or maybe Jack Sinclair. The Powell to Rankine/Curnow move will have to wait another week.

Does Alex Sexton stay or go? Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

TIM MICHELL

OUT: Alex Sexton

IN: Connor Rozee

Could I hold Sexton? Probably. But with only four trades left it would be foolish to burn two just to get Rozee this week. Punting Sexton is really my only way to get Rozee in as I’ve moved on any rookie with value during the past month.

The Port Adelaide skipper’s value is undeniable. We’re talking about a player who averaged 107.6 last year, was averaging 116.6 after five matches this year but is the 173rd most expensive player in SuperCoach! Josh Battle, Mark Keane, Tom McDonald and Eric Hipwood cost more.

The dreaded tag also seems to be going to Zak Butters, and I loved what Rozee dished up in a dismal display from Port against Brisbane – 28 disposals, eight marks, seven tackles and 111 SuperCoach points. With a Break Even of 52 this week, you’d have to be mad to miss out.

Connor Rozee is available at a bargain price. Picture Mark Brake

DOS: PHANTOM JUNIOR

OUT: Chad Warner, Jason Horne-Francis

IN: Luke Davies-Uniacke, Lachie Neale

I’ve been aggressive to this point in time and it’s paid off so far, so why not go again? With nearly $200k in the bank heading into this round and a mere five trades remaining, I’m going all in yet again.

Out goes Warner, who gets hammered by the tag every week and still has likely dates with Windhager, Phillips, Berry, Drew, and Michalanney before the end of the year – yuck! Horne-Francis has done his job but I need the top dogs to fly home.

In comes LDU, the in-form mid of the competition, who I pray doesn’t burn me as he has so many times in the past. Neale also enters the fray upon the realisation he is owned by just 31 per cent of the top 1 per cent of coaches (where this ever-so-humble writer is currently sitting pretty).

Lachie Neale is a nice point of difference in the midfield. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

CHLOE WILLIAMS

OUT: Touk Miller, Alex Sexton

IN: Marcus Bontempelli (finally), Dayne Zorko (also finally)

We finally made it here. Touk wasn’t my first choice of “premium” to upgrade, but it made the most sense. He had a stellar game on the weekend but still struggled SuperCoach wise, so I’m pulling the pin to make room for Bont, who I desperately need. Yes, there’s concern around his back, but I shirked the trade when he was sick and he went, well, sick ... so I’m doing it.

Sexton could also be a great hold, but Zorko should easily outscore him for the remainder of the year and is also a necessity. I could’ve added a POD instead, but how can I go on without the super seagull?

Now I can add Rozee next week and ride my four remaining trades home ... I wonder how that plan will work out!

PATCH

This is me, yelling at me as SuperCoach lockout lifted on Sunday night. Just replace the word capes with trades. I’ve got FOUR left and have promised myself not to make any unforced trades under any circumstances over the next NINE rounds – with a minor exception for the last two or three weeks. So no trades for you. Unless.... maybe.... no. No. Ha ha. Hmmm? No.

Three hours after writing that, I’ve made a trade. Elliot Yeo is in doubt for the weekend after the death of his father during the week, and I have no defensive cover, so Arie Schoenmaker comes in for Zach Reid. I am ashamed of myself. I couldn’t even last until midnight.

Originally published as SuperCoach AFL 2024: Experts reveal their trades for round 16