SuperCoach AFL 2024: Trade replacements for injured stars in round 23 rated
Tim English. OUT. Charlie Curnow. OUT. Clayton Oliver. OUT. Their replacements will decide SuperCoach prelim finals. Our experts rate the best options for your team.
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After sailing through the first 16 rounds of the season almost without incident, injuries have hit SuperCoaches like a truck in the run home.
Tim English, Charlie Curnow and Clayton Oliver have all been ruled out for preliminary final week, and Harry Sheezel is under a major injury cloud.
For coaches with trades up their sleeve, now is the time to take advantage on rivals who went too hard, too early.
So, who are the best replacements for this week’s injured stars? Our experts rate the most traded in players this week – and scroll down for full round 23 match-up analysis.
1. TRISTAN XERRI $683,900 RUC
Al Paton: BUY. Normally wouldn’t advise spending over $680k on anyone but if you have the cash, spend up on the best scorer in SuperCoach.
Tim Michell: BUY. Best ruckman in SuperCoach this year and could be up against Sam Darcy this week. Xerri is a legitimate captaincy option for the next two weeks and incredibly is the most expensive player in SuperCoach after round 22. He needs to score about 110 to eclipse $700k. It was only seven weeks ago he scored 141 against the Bulldogs.
Patch: BUY. Best ruck in the game and will be lining up against Sam Darcy on the weekend. Lock him in and C him.
Chloe Williams: BUY. Buy. Just buy.
2. DYLAN MOORE $501,000 FWD
AP: BUY. Not sure why I didn’t consider him with my 40th trade, which I used last week on Izak Rankine. Moore is the No.5 forward this year and could destroy Richmond this weekend.
TM: BUY. The Hawks are going to play finals with games against North Melbourne and Richmond in the next two weeks looking like they could be a SuperCoach feast. I like his captain James Sicily as a trade in this week for his high ceiling but Moore is a great option too.
Patch: BUY. He’s good! I really like him. Has a super run home.
CW: BUY. If you can get there, do it. He has Richmond and North Melbourne to come, and the Hawks are flying. A three-round average of 95.3 with a huge ceiling.
3. MAX GAWN $597,900 RUC
AP: CONSIDER. I prefer Rowan Marshall around this price based on fixtures, but even a banged-up Gawn can do what few others can in SuperCoach.
TM: PASS. I’d assume this is people trading out Tim English with one trade left who can’t get to Xerri. Gawn was heroic against Port Adelaide and although he’s determined to play out the season he’s doing so on one leg. Based on match-ups I’d go Rowan Marshall instead.
Patch: BUY. I prefer Xerri but if Big X is too dear for you, then Max will bring you home.
CW: BUY. If you can’t afford Xerri, Gawn could guide you to a finals win off the back of a 177 as he will look to galvanise the under-fire Dees.
4. TOM POWELL $425,700 MID/FWD
AP: PASS. Past three games have been what we were hoping for earlier in the year, but I still don’t trust Clarko.
TM: PASS. Four weeks ago he scored 39. I know his role has been better in the last three rounds but anything close to that score from round 19 and you can kiss your hopes of SuperCoach league glory goodbye.
Patch: AVOID. Well, well, well... look who’s come crawling back. (Us, we’ve come crawling back). He’s been really good the past few weeks, but that’s been with George Wardlaw out. I’m not sold on how they score together.
CW: BUY. Can we go back there? For two weeks, yes. Even if Wardlaw comes back in, Sheezel could well be done for the year. Worth the risk to win your finals.
5. ARCHIE ROBERTS $117,300 DEF
AP: CONSIDER. If you have two trades (!) and a downgrade gets you up to Xerri, go for it. Defensive bench cover might be needed, too, if Harry Sheezel doesn’t get up.
TM: BUY. If Brad Scott ruins Saad El Hawli’s price for next year after ruining Roberts two weeks ago I’ll be angrier than Patch was when Mac Andrew kicked that goal after the siren.
Patch: BUY. Yeah sure, although he’ll be sub at some stage.
CW: PASS. He could be the sub, with a low score, or even if you need a doughnut … I’m sure you will come across one with this week’s carnage!
6. IZAK RANKINE $552,600 FWD
AP: BUY. Now have Moore ahead of him but Izak can still bust out some big scores. Looked a bit rusty last week after four games out.
TM: BUY. Doesn’t need many disposals to score big SuperCoach points. Looked certain to ton when he had three early goal assists against the Western Bulldogs before slowing. He’s a point of difference pick and made for big stages like this week’s Showdown.
Patch: BUY. I think he’s neat. Bring him in if you can afford him.
CW: CONSIDER. He didn’t have the greatest SuperCoach return last week, but it’s the Showdown.
7. MATTHEW KENNEDY $398,100 FWD/MID
AP: CONSIDER. Can score well if he gets midfield time but who knows who will play where for the Blues as Michael Voss tries to plug holes left, right and centre.
TM: PASS. What the? Where has this come from? I suspect with Harry McKay and Charlie Curnow ruled out that Kennedy is going to spend a fair bit of time forward against West Coast. Don’t go there unless you think he can kick 3-4 goals. Prefer James Peatling or Matteas Phillipou if you’re strapped for cash.
Patch: WHAT. A Kennedy being relevant in SuperCoach? What is this, 2016? I’ll defer to whatever Tim writes here, I got no clue.
CW: CONSIDER. I personally am a fan. He doesn’t have the best numbers this year, but his 119 last week proved what he can do with full midfield minutes. I would have said ‘buy’, but I’m almost certain he gets thrown forward among the Carlton carnage.
8. ROWAN MARSHALL $604,600 RUC
AP: BUY. Averaging 127.5 over his past four and has a fantastic match-up against the Cats this weekend.
TM: BUY. See above. I think he’s the best English trade option.
Patch: BUY. Yeah sure. He’s playing, which is more than you can say for Tim English.
CW: BUY. Another great English replacement. A three-round average of 129, with match-ups against Geelong – who give up a lot of points to ruckmen – and Carlton, who are struggling for numbers.
9. ISAAC HEENEY $506,000 FWD/MID
AP: BUY. Imagine trading in Heeney for Charlie Curnow in round 23.
TM: BUY. How are there still people who don’t have Heeney? That last quarter against Collingwood would have been seriously painful viewing for non-owners.
Patch: BUY. Who is buying Heeney who doesn’t already have him? Yes. Absolutely. But also, what are you doing?
CW: HUH. People … don’t have him? Why? Check the match-ups for someone who has a high ceiling, but you can’t go wrong with Heeney after an 80-point quarter last week.
10. DANIEL CURTIN $131,800 DEF/MID
AP: BUY: I want him to stay cheap for next year but can’t see the Crows dropping him after last week’s effort.
TM: BUY. If you’re using your last trade (or trades) it’s probably wise to go for Curtin’s DPP over Archie Roberts. But this is coming from a guy who traded in Curnow, McKay and Saad for depth only for them to be injured in the same game.
Patch: AVOID. Nah dawg. He’ll be sub again.
CW: CONSIDER. If you need DPP, and have trades to burn, why not
Ultimate SuperCoach match-up tracker
– Al Paton
Eighteen matches.
That’s what’s left to decide the fortunes of more than 180,000 SuperCoach teams in the 2024 rankings, and those still alive in head-to-head leagues.
If you have trades up your sleeve heading into a preliminary final, you already have a big head start.
But even coaches without trades can manage their team – selecting captains, vice-captains and emergencies – based on match-ups over the next two rounds.
Scroll down to break down the data for every match in round 23, and the players to target – and avoid this week.
Essendon v Sydney (Friday, Marvel Stadium 7.40pm)
The Swans have been the hardest match-up for opposition midfielders for much of the season. That ranking slipped to fourth-hardest, but they flexed their muscle again on Friday night – Nick Daicos was restricted to 66 and the only Pie mids over 100 were Jack Crisp (114) and Josh Daicos (106). That could mean a tough night for Zach Merrett and Jye Caldwell.
Essendon is also a difficult match-up for opposition midfielders and rucks, so it makes sense to pass on this game when looking for trade targets or captains.
Gold Coast v Melbourne (Saturday, People First Stadium, 1.45pm)
Melbourne’s midfield has become one of the easiest to score against, with Jason Horne-Francis (141) and Zak Butters (131) the latest to dine out after Marcus Bontempelli went bananas the week before, scoring 182 points. If we want to target Gold Coast mids, Matt Rowell has found form with back-to-back tons – and is very affordable at $458k – and Noah Anderson has one of the highest ceilings in the game. His scores this season include 155, 151, 150, 140 and 132 – all coming at the Suns’ home ground. To cap it off, last time he played the Dees, in round 8 last year, he scored 189.
Adding to the Suns’ appeal – in the final round they face Richmond, the easiest match-up for midfielders.
The Dees are also a favourable match-up for forwards and defenders, but the hardest for rucks.
The Suns, on the other hand, are a medium match-up in most positions but the third-easiest for opposition defenders.
GWS Giants v Fremantle (Saturday, ENGIE Stadium 1.45pm)
The toughest tagger in the game features here in reborn small forward Toby Bedford. Which Fremantle midfielder is in the gun this week? Caleb Serong is a hot favourite, but could Adam Kingsley try to blunt attacking midfield weapon Hayden Young?
The Giants are the hardest match-up for defenders – a potential red flag for Luke Ryan and Jordan Clark.
Fremantle is the hardest match-up for forwards – can they stop Jesse Hogan’s hot streak? – and third-hardest for midfielders, so Tom Green won’t have it easy.
Collingwood v Brisbane Lions (Saturday, MCG 4.35pm)
The Magpies are a favourable match-up for defenders and midfielders this season – with Chad Warner (164), Isaac Heeney (144), Nick Blakey (117) and Matt Roberts (92) the latest to take advantage. After a month of lower scores by his standards, including some hard tags, Lachie Neale should get a reprieve here. He scored 129 against the Pies in round 3, while Dayne Zorko put up 127.
The Lions are the hardest midfield to score against, and Oscar McInerney is the second-hardest ruckman to score against. Good luck Nick Daicos and Darcy Cameron.
Port Adelaide v Adelaide (Saturday, Adelaide Oval 7.30pm)
Not a standout game for either team, with the Crows a moderate match-up for midfielders and the fifth-hardest for opposition defenders.
In a bizarre statistic, Port Adelaide is the sixth-hardest match-up for defenders, midfielders, rucks and forwards.
St Kilda v Geelong (Saturday, Marvel Stadium 7.30pm)
Geelong has given up some huge scores to opposition rucks in recent weeks, although Luke Jackson couldn’t continue the trend on Saturday. Nevertheless, this is a great week to target Rowan Marshall, who has flown under the radar in the past month while posting scores of 123, 135, 126 and 126.
The Saints, meanwhile, are the fourth-easiest team for defenders to score against and a medium match-up for midfielders, good news for Tom Stewart – he has scored 105-plus in his past three against St Kilda.
Western Bulldogs v North Melbourne (Sunday, Marvel Stadium 1.10pm)
The Kangaroos are the fifth-easiest match-up for midfielders this season – look for big games from Marcus Bontempelli and Adam Treloar. The Bont has scored 157 and 169 in his past two against North Melbourne. Ed Richards ($522,500 MID/DEF) scored 116 when these teams met just seven weeks ago.
With Tim English injured, Tristan Xerri should have a field day in the ruck.
It might be a tougher day at the office for Harry Sheezel and Luke Davies-Uniacke – the Dogs are the second-hardest midfield to score against.
Hawthorn v Richmond (Sunday, MCG 3.20pm)
James Sicily is the man to target here. Richmond gives up more points to defenders than any other team, and Sicily loves this match-up. His past three scores against the Tigers are 147, 171 and 141. If you’ve got $519,800 to spend on a defender, get on!
The Tigers are also the easiest match-up for midfielders, the second-easiest for forwards and fourth-easiest for rucks.
West Coast v Carlton (Sunday, Optus Stadium 4.40pm)
Massive watch on Charlie Curnow this week. The Eagles are the third-easiest match-up for forwards and Curnow scored 186 and 178 in his two matches against West Coast last year. But after hurting his ankle against Hawthorn, he’s no certainty to line up on Sunday.
West Coast is giving up some absolutely massive scores to rucks – 185 to Tristan Xerri and 161 to Jarrod Witts in the past two weeks. If you’re behind in your prelim going into the final game of the round, Marc Pittonet could be the ultimate SuperCoach Hail Mary.
FIVE TRADE TARGETS
NOAH ANDERSON $491,800 MID
The Suns have finally broken their away hoodoo and return to People First Stadium, where Anderson averages 133 this season.
JAMES SICILY $519,800 DEF
Richmond has paid rebounding defenders no respect all season – remember Luke Ryan’s 197 and Sicily’s 147 in round 14? The Tigers tried using Liam Baker as a defensive forward that day, and it didn’t go well.
LACHIE NEALE $590,100 MID
Ignore his average of 96 over his past four. Collingwood doesn’t tag and he’s $85k cheaper than he was a month ago.
ROWAN MARSHALL $604,600 RUC
Loving not having to leave Marvel Stadium. If you have an underperforming ruck like Brodie Grundy (five-round average 92), a late switch to Marshall could deliver instant rewards against the Cats this week.
ED RICHARDS $522,500 DEF/MID
The low-key third prong of the Bulldogs midfield, he scored 81 against Adelaide from just 11 disposals. Expect him to have plenty more against the Kangaroos.
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