SuperCoach AFL: Heath Shaw’s team for season 2024 revealed
Heath Shaw has tapped up his old teammates for SuperCoach intel — with limited success. But he’s still come up with a team he thinks will fire from the opening rounds in 2024 — with value a big focus. See his team here.
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Like most of you, I have been throwing names around at the selection table more than Phil Taylor does darts at the dart board — Supercoach selection is tough this year.
But whatever version I come up with, what I keep coming back to is the value on offer.
I’d love to start Marcus Bontempelli, James Sicily and Nick Daicos.
We all know they are likely to average at least 115.
But I keep looking at the break evens and thinking how I can probably get all three cheaper midway through the season.
Which is where my value selections come in.
I doubt we’ll see too many defences with Nic Newman at D1.
Or too many midfields with Sam Walsh and Stephen Coniglio in the top-two spots.
The reason I have gone down this path comes back to breakevens.
Walsh’s is 103. Coniglio’s 102. At the very least, they should maintain their starting price.
I just can’t be as confident that the big dogs on each line will.
Like most off-seasons, I have been bugging my former teammates for SuperCoach intel and trying to get a nugget or two to help my team.
Unfortunately, they are giving me absolutely donuts.
Or, they tell me to put them in my team or ask what they are worth (like they don't know).
I’m a loyal person and sometimes you pick with your heart over head — that’s why I’ll be picking a few Giants in my team.
A major reason for going heavy on GWS players is their early draw — playing North Melbourne and West Coast in the opening two rounds.
But of course, the round 3 bye is a worry.
If Toby Greene kicks bags in both those games, or Kelly and Coniglio go bananas in the middle, I’ll have enough of a headstart to offset some pain in round 3 when the Giants and Suns share a bye.
James Jordon and George Wardlaw are my two mid-price gambles, but the Swans have liked Jordon for years and he should get plenty of opportunity after being on the fringes at Melbourne.
Wardlaw is a young star in the making and Clarko loves him.
I know a few SuperCoaches have questioned whether he can do something similar to what Clayton Oliver did and produce a premium breakout in year two.
I hope so.
Most of the rookies pick themselves this year but I’m surprised Nathan Kreuger doesn’t seem to be in many teams.
There’s a decent chance he gets a look in early in the season as either the back-up ruckman or in the Daniel McStay role up forward.
The other cheapie I’m keen on is Brayden George, who I’ve been told is making good progress at North Melbourne after recovering from an ACL.
The word out of Arden St is he’s a huge talent and should get games in 2024.
The last call I made was to turn Jack Macrae into Sam Flanders and upgrade a rookie to Nat Fyfe.
It got my forward line some extra star power and even better, left me with exactly $0 in the SuperCoach budget.
It’s shaping as a challenging but exciting year of SuperCoach and I can’t wait to get started.
HEATH SHAW'S SUPERCOACH TEAM
DEFENDERS
Nic Newman $559,900
Harry Sheezel $556,200
Jordan Ridley $530,300
Harry Himmelberg $450,400
Zac Williams $216,100
Denver Grainger-Barras $137,200
BENCH: Josh Gibcus $150,700, Nick Coffield $123,900
MIDFIELDERS
Sam Walsh $576,800
Stephen Coniglio $568,400
Josh Kelly $568,000
Jordan de Goey $539,900
George Wardlaw $365,400
James Jordon $275,500
Harley Reid $207,300
Ryley Sanders $184,800
BENCH: Daniel Curtin $175,800, Jhye Clark $123,900, Clay Hall $117,300
RUCKS
Kieren Briggs $608,800
Brodie Grundy $481,900
BENCH: Nathan Kreuger $123,900
FORWARDS
Luke Jackson $547,000
Toby Greene $508,600
Sam Flanders $494,200
Finlay Macrae $152,600
Nat Fyfe $283,200
Darcy Wilson $130,800
BENCH: Shaun Mannagh $117,300, Brayden George $123,900