SuperCoach formguide: Champion Data’s best trade options and players to watch in Round 3
OUT-of-form premiums are a SuperCoach nightmare, but there are higher priorities this week. The stats gurus at Champion Data name the top trade targets including a left-field Magpie who could get your season off to a flyer.
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AN out-of-form premium is the stuff of SuperCoach nightmares.
The likes of Tom Rockliff, Taylor Adams, Dayne Beams and Michael Hibberd have all been out of sorts and now boast a break-even score in excess of 170 points. All will plummet in price, but the question is — do you hold or trade?
Trades should be treated like gold in SuperCoach and with 30 at our disposal across the year, it’s very easy to get trigger happy and dump Hibberd for the in-form Kade Simpson.
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At this stage of the season, having a full set of rookies appreciating in price is more important, so they should be the No. 1 priority, not trading out Hibberd.
SuperCoaches with Matt Crouch, however, need to move him on this week after he was ruled out for up to three weeks with a hamstring injury.
There is no shortage of viable replacements around his price, with Clayton Oliver, Rory Sloane and Nat Fyfe at the forefront. But a SuperCoach veteran could be the best option of them all.
Scott Pendlebury is the 37th-most selected midfielder and looms as a top unique selection.
His record against Carlton makes for enticing reading, averaging 124 points against the Blues from 19 career games — his best return against any side. Pendlebury has scored 143, 161 and 91 points in his past three games against Carlton.
If money isn’t an issue, then it’s hard to overlook Dustin Martin or Tom Mitchell. Both have started in blazing fashion and look like rivalling Patrick Dangerfield for SuperCoach supremacy this year.
Mitchell has a break-even score of just 69 points, while Martin needs 87 points to keep his price. The two will also go head-to- head on Sunday afternoon at the MCG and we’re all looking forward to the points-fest.
ROOKIE WATCH
SuperCoaches were ruing the poor performance of several rookies in the season opener, but a couple of them bounced back in Round 2, led by Luke Davies-Uniacke.
The North Melbourne midfielder scored 77 points in the win against St Kilda and he’ll now be looking to build on that against Melbourne on Saturday. No. 1 draft pick Cameron Rayner, on the other hand, struggled yet again, managing just 20 points against Melbourne. He has a break-even score of 61 points which looks to be out of reach, which means he will actually fall in price.
That’s not what you want from a cash cow.
With prices changing after Round 3, there are a host of must-have basement price rookies SuperCoaches should be targeting.
If you don’t have Tim Kelly (-166), Nick Holman and Tom Doedee (-128), Jeremy Finlayson (-120) or Liam Ryan (-84) in your side, then you need to address that this week.
Kelly’s start to his AFL career has been eye-catching to say the least, finishing with 27 disposals, 13 contested possessions, seven inside-50s and 117 points against Hawthorn.
He also attended 18 centre bounces, the most of any Cats player behind the “Big Three”. If he can maintain his numbers, then there is every chance he could end up being a long-term option, not just a short-term cash grab.
Starting the wrong rookies caught several SuperCoaches out yet again in Round 2, with both Doedee and Finlayson warming the bench for some. Ryan’s 115 points against Western Bulldogs was also wasted on the bench for plenty, as SuperCoaches opted to start Bayley Fritsch and Zac Giles-Langdon instead.
PLAYERS TO WATCH IN ROUND 3
CARLTON v COLLINGWOOD
Marc Murphy has averaged 29 disposals, four tackles and 108 points against the Magpies since 2015. Scott Pendlebury has dominated in these games, averaging 33 disposals, six tackles and 136 points from five games.
PORT ADELAIDE v BRISBANE LIONS
Ollie Wines led the Power to victory last round with 35 disposals, 19 contested possessions and a game-high 147 points against the Swans. Allen Christensen booted an equal team-high three goals in his 100th AFL match, scoring 101 points.
MELBOURNE v NORTH MELBOURNE
With scores of 172 and 111 points in his past two games against North Melbourne, Max Gawn will be looking to this round’s battle with Todd Goldstein. Shaun Higgins finished with 28 disposals, one goal and 109 points when these sides last met in Round 19 last year.
GOLD COAST v FREMANTLE
Nick Holman leads the AFL for tackles after the opening two rounds, posting scores of 96 and 92 points. Andrew Brayshaw was a lot more productive last round, finishing with 16 disposals, five tackles and 62 points against Essendon.
SYDNEY SWANS v GWS GIANTS
Lance Franklin has averaged 16 disposals, three goals and 97 points from 10 career games against the Giants. Jeremy Cameron finished with 24 disposals, two goals and 139 points when he last faced Sydney in Round 5 last year.
ST KILDA v ADELAIDE
Jack Billings was one of several Saints that struggled against the Kangaroos, finishing with 18 effective disposals and 79 points. Rory Sloane stepped up after once Matt Crouch went down injured, finishing with 25 disposals, two goals and 141 points.
RICHMOND v HAWTHORN
Trent Cotchin’s last three figure score against Hawthorn was in Round 19, 2013. Tom Mitchell finished with 35 disposals, 10 clearances, four score involvements and 131 points when these sides last met in Round 20 last year.
WESTERN BULLDOGS v ESSENDON
Jack Macrae was one of very few winners in last round’s heavy defeat to West Coast, finishing with 28 effective disposals and a game-high 142 points. Devon Smith battled manfully against Fremantle, finishing with 20 disposals, 13 tackles and 111 points against Fremantle.
WEST COAST v GEELONG
Luke Shuey was important in the win over Geelong in Round 13 last season, finishing with 32 disposals, 16 contested possessions and 114 points. Joel Selwood finished with just 75 points for the Cats, his second-lowest score against the Eagles from 12 career games.
TRADE TRACKER
ROUND 3 MOST TRADED-IN PLAYERS
1. Tim Kelly
2. Jeremy Finlayson
3. Liam Ryan
4. Riley Bonner
5. Kade Simpson
MOST TRADED-OUT PLAYERS
1. Cameron Rayner
2. Matt Crouch
3. Michael Hibberd
4. Aaron Naughton
5. Paddy Dow
MOST POPULAR TRADES
Michael Hibberd to Kade Simpson
Cameron Rayner to Liam Ryan
Aaron Naughton to Riley Bonner
Matt Crouch to Tom Mitchell
Cameron Rayner to Tim Kelly
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