SuperCoach AFL 2025: Expert verdicts on the most popular trades of Round 5
SuperCoaches are starting to get fed up with some mid-pricers in their sides – but which ones should stay and which should go? The experts give their verdicts.
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After nearly 20,000 coaches were burned trading out Jason Horne-Francis last week, are coaches looking to make the same mistakes with Joel Freijah, Finn Callaghan and Connor Rozee?
With Gather Round crunching plenty of time, we’ve assembled some of our expert panel to help you decide to hold your players or to flick ‘em.
TRADED OUT
Nathan O’Driscoll $209,800 MID
Patch: Trade: Bye bye Noddy. You served us well.
Dos: Trade: I don’t know about you, but I need to use that coin elsewhere.
Tim Michell: Trade: He was only really relevant while Hayden Young was out and is now injured and will miss 4-6 weeks. Take the $110k profit and cash in.
Matt Forrest: Trade: Confirmed out for one, likely at least two and who knows? In a moon boot, can kick start upgrade season. Let’s get started.
Tarquin Oakley: Trade: Was just about the best rookie in the game until his ankle injury. 4-6 weeks is too long to hold.
Simeon Thomas-Wilson: Trade: It sucks given he was going so well and still looked like he was going to make cash. But 4-6 weeks means he’s gone.
WILL DAY $483,900 MID
Patch: Trade: Can’t be having him on your bench for four months.
Dos: Trade: Rotten luck for Will Day and SuperCoaches alike.
TM: Trade: Won’t play again until round 16-17 at the earliest which is a shame for the Hawks and SuperCoaches who held Day through the bye in anticipation of an easier run coming up.
MF: Trade: Out for the next 3-4 months, gotta go. Real sad for Will, watch out for Cam Mackenzie
TO: Trade: An absolute bust after two strong games to open the season.
Sim: Trade: Simple one, trade him
JOEL FREIJAH $386,800 DEF
Patch: Consider: Has been Bevo’d pretty hard and his 40-odd from the weekend stinks. But he should be lower on your priority list than getting rookies right and removing injured guys.
Dos: Consider: He is in line for MID DPP status, so you could consider holding if it helps get rookies off the field or cull a red dot MID next week (e.g., a Lucas Camporeale type).
TM: Trade: Pretty confident he will improve his scoring again when he goes back to halfback but he’s not making the money we hoped he would. Flip to Sinclair, Whitfield or Zorko and don’t look back.
MF: Trade: Bevo has thrown him around the field, and he isn’t playing that loose half back role that was promised. Ciao.
Sim: Trade: It looked good for a little bit but we got Bevo’d here.
FINN CALLAGHAN $440,200 MID
Patch: Hold: Remember Jason Horne-Francis?
Dos: Still getting big midfield minutes but will get more spike scores across the season. Stocks are down right now and I’d prefer to hold until they rise back up, even if it means a few more weeks of pain.
TM: Trade: I was leaning to hold but then realised Marcus Windhager awaits this week. Cut ties before he loses more money.
MF: Consider: What a cheeky little Giant Finn is. Sucked a whole lot of people in. I think most sides will have bigger problems, plus we saw Horne-Francis burn his traders.
TO: Hold: Copped attention in recent weeks but has shown at his best he can score big. May face Windhager on Sunday but I see the tide turning.
MITCH KNEVITT $181,200 MID
Patch: Trade: Honestly, even if he is actually fit and not injured, I don’t want any Chris Scott involvement in my SuperCoach team if I can avoid it.
Dos: Hold: Off the injury report and in the Cats best 22 when healthy, per Chris Scott. I’m willing to hold on a bit longer and get hurt by Scott again.
TM: Hold: Chris Scott said he’s best 22 and he’s a fair chance to play this week.
MF: Trade: Plantar fascia problems, out with injury, still the emergency? Chris Scott playing funny buggers, don’t hold in hope.
TO: Hold: A chance to return so if you held last week keep him now.
Sim: Hold: If you held him last week then hold him again and pray that he isn’t the sub on Thursday night
CONNOR ROZEE $511,200 MID
Patch: Hold: Fool me once, Port Adelaide premium, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. I won’t be shamed … on this trade.
Dos: Hold:Buy low, sell high. Not the other way around.
TM: Hold: I think. Rozee has a huge ceiling and should still be around the top 10-15 midfielders come the end of the year.
MF: Hold: Stop. Trading. Your. Premiums. Say it with me.
TO: Hold: Like Callaghan he copped a tag last week. He will have more huge matches to mitigate the down games.
LUKE JACKSON $557,500 RUC/FWD
Patch: Trade: Injured, and by the time he’s back Darcy will be around. Not ideal for those who started him as an incredible POD.
Dos: Trade: As an owner, I would absolutely love to hold – but I ultimately think he has to go. Sean Darcy is back, so even when LJ returns we’ll have a ruck share situation.
TM: Trade: Much less relevant now Sean Darcy is back and he’ll be playing mostly as a forward.
MF: Hold: Hopefully one week out, we’ll see. Sean Darcy back doesn’t fill me with confidence though.
TO: Consider: On the downside he is out for 2-3 weeks. On the upside he was the second best forward in SuperCoach before his injury. On the downside Sean Darcy is nearing a return. Lots to consider.
Sim: Hold: Saints tagged him but surely other teams go to Butters or the Horny one. There’s other issues to fix up surely?
FINN O’SULLIVAN $207,400 MID
Patch: Consider: If it suits you to trade him out, then do it. If you’ve got rookies who are injured or not playing, flick them instead.
Dos: Hold: As someone who traded out Sam Lalor last week, please stick with the top-end talent as they will find their feet (if he’s straight back into the team, of course).
TM: Hold: Back from illness this week and is going to produce a spike score soon to get his cash train rolling.
MF: Consider: He’ll be a slow burn, but he should play this week. Only jump off if you’re getting a quick cash grabber, but you probably missed the Riley Bice type boat, no one else as exciting.
TO: Hold: Like Knevitt, if you held last week when he was out keep him when he is picked.
Sim: Like Knevitt if you held him keep holding.
CONNOR STONE $166,00 FWD
Patch: Consider: If he’s named I’ll hold. If he’s dropped we can move him on.
Dos: Trade: If he’s out of the team, I’ll happily trade. Just been doing cardio out there lately.
TM: Trade: Got to wonder how long he’s going to hold his spot with about eight players racking up 25+ disposals each week in the VFL.
MF: Hold: Still playing, if he’s dropped then you can kick him. But he was always going to be a slow burn.
TO: Consider: Shouldn’t lose money if you hold but if you need to lose a rookie for a better cash cow it doesn’t look like he’ll hurt you.
Sim: Consider: Still could make some cash but there looks to be better rooks out there
IZAK RANKINE $526,000 FWD
Patch: Hold: Cop the week of pain when he’s a late out.
Dos: Hold:It’s just a corky, even if he misses a week he’ll be back dropping tons in no time.
TM: Whether he’s playing or not he’s a top-six forward. You’re only going to burn a second trade getting him back.
MF: Hold: For now, he’s in doubt this week but we’ll see. If he’s missing a few weeks then you can boot him, but 0-1 isn’t worth a trade for one of the best forwards at the moment.
TO: Hold: He might miss this week but a definite hold as Rankine is set to be a top-six forward.
Sim: Hold: Plan for him to be a late out but he should only miss one wee
TRADED IN
CLAY HALL $129,500 MID
Patch: Buy: Come on down, Clay. I’m somewhat worried about the fact Andrew McQualter dropped him after Round 2, but surely they’ve got to play the kids. Plus, he actually showed some ticker.
Dos: Consider: Job security still seems shaky after being dropped after his first game, but Harley Reid’s sudden move to defence re-opens a spot for Hall in the midfield.
TM: Buy: Loves a contested possession like I love a dud mid-pricer. Job security is iffy but he’ll make cash on your midfield bench.
MF: Consider. Lowest breakeven of the week.
TO: Buy: The best buy on the bubble this week. Shown he can score, selection the only issue.
Sim: Not 100 per cent convinced about JS but looks to be a good option on the bubble.
RILEY BICE $203,400 DEF
Patch: Buy: He’s still the must-have money maker this week despite one price rise already.
Dos: Buy: Bice, Bice, Baby is a must-have.
TM: Buy: Looks like he could be an on-field option every week for a touch over $200k. Hurts to pay $90k more than others did but swallow your pride and get him in before it’s too late.
MF: Buy: I don’t think it’s too late, but you should’ve bought him last week. That being said, still has a solid D6 capability and should make another $150k.
TO: Buy: Not too late, but you’d be kicking yourself if you didn’t get him on the bubble.
Sim: Buy: Still not too late to get him in.
ISAIAH DUDLEY $99,100 FWD
Patch: Consider: If you need a forward then he’s your man, and I think the job security is good, but the scoring is an issue and I suspect he’ll be the sub at some point.
Dos: Buy: I don’t mind it as a short term play given the price, just still unsure of job security.
TM: Buy: But not ahead of Hall. Destined to make money and seems to have locked down a role in the Dockers forward line. Would be handy if he can score well against Richmond this week.
MF: Avoid: Small forward is going to be a serious rollercoaster, with the DPPs coming in this week I don’t think forward rookies are the play. Levi Ashcroft, Murphy Reid both locked in.
TO: Consider: Not against this pick. Plays Richmond this week so could make some quick cash. Don’t trust the small forward role however.
Sim: Consider: Just because of how cheap he is and playing Richmond
TOBIE TRAVAGLIA $172,000 DEF/MID
Patch: Avoid: Yeah, nah. Ripping kid and good footballer, but job security is a bit too iffy for mine.
Dos: Buy: Another defender rookie worth considering, if you have room!
TM: Avoid: There are enough defensive rookies still scoring well to give Travaglia a miss at $172k. Always the threat Ross Lyon makes him the sub.
MF: Consider: Probably the best rookie priced option this week, outside of Bice. But I don’t love him as a prospect. In saying that, I’m bringing him in for Leake, so cash gen wins.
TO: Consider: There’s enough quality defender rookies going around now to pass on Travaglia but he could slot into a midfield slot if required.
Sim: Consider: Passed the eye test last week but didn’t score well. Price is a bit awkward.
LACHIE WHITFIELD $607,500 DEF
Patch: Buy: If you’re in the market for an expensive upgrade, Lachie or Jack are your guys.
Dos: Consider: I prefer to hunt for value until late in the season but the form is undeniable.
TM: Buy: No better week to buy a backline pig than when they’re about to face St Kilda. Whitfield has scored 17 tons in his last 19 games and averaged 122 since the midyear bye last season.
MF: Consider: A shoo in for a top 6 defensive option, he’s been uber consistent this year so far.
TO: Buy: Just one of the prolific half-back scorers we’ve seen so far this year.
Sim: Buy: My number one trade target this week. Yeah he’s expensive but he’s getting it done.
SANDY BROCK $99,100 DEF
Patch: Avoid: Not this week.
Dos: Avoid: His price won’t be changing this week, hold off for now.
TM: Avoid: But only for now. Always worth waiting the extra week to see if a cheapie can replicate a strong debut score.
MF: Consider: One for next week, with another game before he’s on the bubble. But he looked good for the Eagles and scored well, he could be a great downgrade option.
TO: Avoid: At least for one more week. Can’t trust his job security yet after one game.
Sim: Avoid: Could be a consider next week
JACK SINCLAIR $639,600 DEF/MID
Patch: Buy: Just like Whitfield, both are flying and both are good trade-ins.
Dos: Avoid: A weekly tag threat. I can’t be paying close to $650K for a guy that is bound to drop at some point in the season with a hard tag (maybe even this week with Bedford).
TM: Buy: Absolutely flying this year and St Kilda has the best of the midyear byes in round 13. It’s a lot to pay but he’s worth it.
MF: Consider: I’m not spending $640k on a defender, or an upgrade at all to be honest. But you do you.
TO: Buy: The No. 1 SuperCoach player in the game right now!
Sim: Buy: He’s expensive but it’s worth it
SAM DARCY $504,00 FWD
Patch: Consider: This is as cheap as we’ll get him for a while and he’s flying. Are you bold enough to zig when everyone else zags to grab Warner or Petracca in the forward line next week?
Dos: Buy: Lisan al-Gaib. Wemby. Unicorn. GOAT. Call him what you want but this man is built different. He will score 200-plus SuperCoach points in a game this season.
TM: Buy: Announcing himself as one of the AFL’s (literally) biggest talents and still a great POD in SuperCoach.
MF: Consider: We’ve got to stop thinking of him as a key forward, and start thinking of him as a genuine option. But there are a heap of new DPPs coming next week, I’d hold and see who’s available.
TO: Consider: Has put in enough of a body of work to prove he can be an option. The key forward pick is always a risk if the goals aren’t flowing.
Sim: Consider: There’s the risk of what happens if the goals dry up but my goodness he is good
JAKE SOLIGO $501,200 MID
Patch: Buy: Full credit to Simeon Thomas-Wilson on this one – I thought he’d be good, but not this good. Being heavily considered for a trade-in by yours truly this week, but my question is if he slides back to a 110 average or a 100-105 for the rest of the season.
Dos: Buy: Pretty cheap for a guy who hasn’t scored under 108 this season!
TM: Buy: Love a midfielder who’s not going to cop tags and he’s flying under the radar despite a brilliant start to 2025. Lair favourite Five Names Thomas-Wilson was right.
MF: Consider: Beat up on bad teams, but then scored well against Gold Coast and their great midfield? He’s certainly tempting.
TO: Buy: A nice POD option.
Sim: Buy: I’m biased because I started with him and yes I want him to still be my POD but he can score
CONNOR O’SULLIVAN $268,200 DEF
Patch: Avoid: You’ve missed the boat.
Dos: You (and I) missed the boat on this one. Find the next gem.
TM: Avoid: Still has money to make but you’ve missed the boat here. Move on and wait for the next rookie in defence.
MF: Avoid: He’s been impressive, but Jack Henry will miss 3-4 weeks with a hamstring injury, which could impact his role. Cheeky chance for the Rising Star, though.
TO: Avoid: Missed the boat here and not jumping on now.
Sim: Avoid: Too late to get him in
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