SuperCoach: AFL players with injury and form clouds ahead of Round 1

THESE 10 players are in a lot of SuperCoach teams. But some might not even play in Round 1. See our danger ratings. PLUS NEW PODCAST

Mitch Brown (left) at training with Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti (middle) and Jake Long. Picture: Colleen Petch

TAKING calculated risks in SuperCoach might be crucial but the simplest of mistakes can bring about a swift demise.

And it doesn’t take too many blunders to end a SuperCoach season before it even starts.

We all get sucked in especially during the pre-season.

It’s only natural.

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Some players live up to the expectation and justify their selection.

Think Sam Kerridge — the most popular player in SuperCoach at 56 per cent ownership — and Daniel Wells who has put in a power of work to silence his critics.

Set and forget both of them.

Pity the same can’t be said for several others inside the top 30 most popular SuperCoach selections.

Here’s 10 risky SuperCoach selections ahead of Round 1.

How risky are your SuperCoach selections? Graphic: Supplied

SUPERCOACH DANGER RATINGS

Code Red: Catastrophic. The worst conditions for SuperCoach. Trade. Trade. TRADE!

Extreme: Use your head not your heart ... sometimes you just got to let go.

Severe: Ask yourself ... is he going to score enough points to warrant selection?

High: Trouble. Not what you need so close to Round 1. Consider trading.

Moderate: Worried. Player has done just enough to warrant his selection ... at this stage.

Low: Be alert not alarmed. Not ideal preparation but player has enough runs on the board to overcome interrupted pre-season.

Mitch Brown (left) at training with Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti (middle) and Jake Long. Picture: Colleen Petch

Mitch Brown (Ess) $117,300 def-fwd.

Coaches’ Choice: No.3 (49.58%)

Danger rating: Severe. Thought to be a prized cash cow but scores of 46 and 13 in NABs Two and Three are cause for concern. Michael Hartley (24% ownership) and top-up defender Matt Dea (15%) look to have gone past the former Cats defender who was outstanding at VFL level last year.

Dea looks to be the pick of the Essendon top up defenders, currently with 16 disp (94% efficiency) and 70 #SuperCoach points.

— Fantasy Freako (@FantasyFreako) 13 March 2016

Christian Petracca marks over Daniel Cross. Picture: Michael Klein

Christian Petracca (Mel) $123,900 mid-fwd

Coaches’ Choice: No.4 (47.98%)

Danger rating: High. Considered a lock in SuperCoach for the best part of the pre-season but we’re yet to see him even kick a ball in anger at AFL level. No NAB games, no practice matches, no nothing. A knee reco ruined his debut season and this time around it was a shootaround on the basketball court that brought the precocious Dee undone. Petracca, hard to ignore at this price, is expected to play in a VFL practice match on AFL Round 1 weekend. Take on trust.

Gary Ablett (GC) $623,200 mid

Coaches’ Choice: No.7 (42%)

Danger rating: Moderate. Used to be the undisputed champion of SuperCoach but is Old Father Time starting to catch up with Gaz? Tread carefully as we’re sure he too is doing after a minor ankle complaint turned into ligament damage. If Gaz is anywhere near 80% his output will justify selection.

Tom Rockliff leaves training at Coorparoo. Picture: Claudia Baxter

Tom Rockliff (Bri) $550,100 mid

Coaches’ Choice: No.12 (30.58%)

Danger rating: Low. Played with busted ribs last year so hamstring tightness shouldn’t stop Rocky from leading the Lions out in Round 1. His record speaks for itself but don’t expect any 130s in the early rounds given his limited preparation.

Sam Grimley (Ess) $123,900 ruc-fwd

Coaches’ Choice: No.17 (25.52%)

Danger rating: Severe. He will be starved of opportunities making it difficult for him to not only score SuperCoach points but importantly make money. Dual position status the only plus for the top-up Bomber. Scored 31 from a handful of disposals in NAB 3.

Darcy Parish (Ess) $202,800 mid

Coaches’ Choice: No. 21 (21.71%)

Danger rating: Extreme. Will be gun in due course but needs time to develop. Might bob up a couple of times during the year but your money is better spent elsewhere at this early stage.

James Aish fighting to break into Collingwood’s best 22. Picture: Hamish Blair

James Aish (Col) $275,700 def-mid

Coaches’ Choice: No.22 (19.81%)

Danger rating: Severe. Spent most of NAB 3 on the bench and scored 10 when called upon in the last quarter. Was handy against the Roos in NAB 2 but job security and potential output makes him an awkward mid-priced selection.

Rhys Mathieson (Bri) $117,300 mid

Coaches’ Choice: No.26 (17.11%)

Danger rating: High. Tough for the kid as he was tracking nicely towards Round 1 before Jeremy Cameron’s shoulder put an end to that dream debut.

Matthew Lobbe put through his paces at training. Picture: Sarah Reed

Matthew Lobbe (PA) $389,500 ruc

Coaches’ Choice: No.27 (16.03%)

Danger rating: Code Red. Was all the rage during the pre-season after the Court of Arbitration for Sport banned 34 Essendon players including Power recruit Paddy Ryder. Started well but his 54 and 73 in NABs Two and Three leave a lot to be desired.

Crouch finishes with 40 touches. #SuperCoach

— The Phantom (@ThePhantomSC) 12 March 2016

Brad Crouch (Ade) $306,100 mid

Coaches’ Choice: No.29 (15.21%)

Danger rating: High. Was on track to play NAB Three but had too many West Ends at Clipsal which put him on the wrong side of Adelaide’s leadership group. Took his medicine racking up 40 disposals in SANFL practice match. Barring any more injury setbacks he should be one of the big improvers this season.