SuperCoach Formguide: the in-form premiums to target for SuperCoach finals
IT’S SuperCoach finals time and bringing in the game’s hottest scorers is crucial to premiership success. Plus, Round 20 captain picks and trade advice.
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IT’S SuperCoach finals time. And, like the Western Bulldogs last year, you want your team running hot at the business end of the season.
If you’ve still got trades up your sleeve, there is a key indicator when deciding which premiums to bring in.
SC INVESTOR: IS FYFE THE MAN TO FILL DANGERFIELD’S VOID?
RISK-REWARD: THE PHANTOM ON TRADING DANGEROUSLY
FINISH STRONG: SCORING BOOST VITAL FOR SUPERCOACH FINALS
Three-week and five-week averages highlight the stars on a hot streak, such as Dayne Zorko and Clayton Oliver.
There are of course outliers to avoid, such as Shannon Hurn, but generally, these averages are pointers to strong point-scoring form.
Most SuperCoaches will already have the likes of Dustin Martin and Sam Docherty, so we’ve picked out some of the red-hot points of difference to watch heading into crucial qualifying or elimination finals.
With Patrick Dangerfield, Josh Kennedy and Jarrod Witts all out this weekend — and a number of other popular picks sadly out of form — you need to trade to move now to keep your SuperCoach grand final dream alive.
Returning Lion Dayne Zorko heads the three-week averages with 130 in his past three matches while Clayton Oliver’s last-start 170 boosted his average to 127.
While he’s had recent injuries issues, Gary Ablett features on both lists, averaging 123 in his past three games and a staggering 131 in his past five. He’s been named to return against the Dockers this weekend — now in fewer than 10 per cent of teams, could the greatest SuperCoach player of all time be your finals wildcard?
Patrick Ryder is the AFL’s most in-form ruckman and will be a popular trade target for those with Witts. He’s posted an average of 120 in his past five games and is also a good trade option for Toby Nankervis, who is still in more than 93,000 teams but is battling with ruck sidekick Ivan Soldo in the Tigers’ line-up. Ryder is a ruck/forward and is the highest-scoring player in both positions over the past five weeks.
If you’re looking to go far left-field, Bachar Houli and Mitch Duncan could be for you. The Tiger is in just 1.3 per cent of teams while Duncan has been stuck in the shadow of Dangerfield and Joel Selwood and despite being a top-10 scorer this season, is in just 1.7 per cent of teams.
CAPTAINS CORNER
DUSTIN MARTIN ($570,300 MID)
Average past three v opp: 131
The obvious replacement for the suspended Patrick Dangerfield. Dusty plays on Sunday, which gives you the chance to loophole a vice-captaincy option earlier in the round. If it doesn’t pay off, feel safe in the knowledge the Tigers superstar has averaged 131 in his past three against Hawthorn.
GARY ABLETT ($610,600 MID)
Average past three v opp: 129
The Little Master is back from injury and facing Fremantle, a club he has simply towelled up in the past. With no Connor Blakeley to apply a tag, Ablett should be free to roam Subiaco and pick up possessions at will.
NAT FYFE ($547,000 MID)
Average past three v opp: 142
Despite the revival of taggers last weekend, this game could be scorefest with no obvious shut-down candidates on either side. Fyfe is back to his Brownlow form, averaging 115 over his past five, and has an insane record against the Suns scoring 157 and 151 in his past two against them.
TODD GOLDSTEIN ($524,400 RUCK)
Average past three v opp: 154
A massive left-field option but the Kangaroos ruckman loves playing Collingwood. Loves it. He’s averaged a staggering 154 in his past three hitouts against the Magpies and is coming back from two weeks in the VFL, so expect him to be breathing fire.
MARCUS BONTEMPELLI ($513,700 MID)
Average past three v opp: 107
The Bont found a bit for form last week against Essendon and could run riot against Brisbane. He’s not usually one to beat up on the weak teams but a match-up against Lions stars Beams, Zorko, Rockliff and Martin should provide him the competition he needs to fire.
ON THE BUBBLE
CONOR GLASS ($117,300, Def-Mid)
The Northern Irishman has posted scores of 84 and 43 in his opening two games and gives SuperCoaches much-needed flexibility with defender-midfielder eligibility.
ALEX KEATH ($117,300, Def)
The former cricketer has looked at home in the Crows defence. Glass is obviously the better option in defence but stranger things have happened.
SAM SIMPSON ($102,400, Fwd)
The young Cat comes in for his third game in a Friday night blockbuster. He’s not going to score you big points - he managed 54 and 37 in his first two - but he’s a rare forward line downgrade option that isn’t a guaranteed doughnut.
JUMP ON
PADDY RYDER ($556,600, Ruck)
Is there a more in-form player in the AFL right now? Ryder has one hand on the All-Australian ruck position with six SuperCoach tons in the past sevens weeks, and the Power plays three of its last four at Adelaide Oval.
TOM MITCHELL ($614,800, Mid)
Seriously, if you don’t have this bloke, give yourself an uppercut. Mitchell is the fourth-highest scorer this season, averaging 117. His ownership is now 29 per cent, which means there’s thousands of teams missing his scoring power.
JACK MACRAE ($540,000, Fwd)
Speaking of not having blokes ... The No.1 scoring forward this season, Macrae has averaged 103 and scored 12 tons, including four straight in the past month.
JUMP OFF
JOSH P KENNEDY ($492,900, Mid)
The Swans skipper is out this week with a hamstring injury but it might just have been time to move him on anyway. Usually a SuperCoach stud, JPK has struggled this season and a move to the likes of Zach Merrett, Lachie Neale or Dustin Martin will pay immediate dividends.
JARROD WITTS ($474,900, Ruck)
We salute you, Jarrod. You are a contender for mid-price success of 2017 after starting the season at $217,600. Witts has averaged 94 and scored 95-plus 11 times. Sadly, it’s time to say farewell after the Sun was struck down by injury.
HEATH SHAW ($422,700, Def)
With the backline providing a plethora of high-scoring options, we simply can’t carry Heater any more. After his last-start 55, an upgrade on the eve of finals is a must. It might cost you a bit of dosh but Dylan Roberton, Jeremy Howe and Alex Rance are far safer options. If you don’t have a spare trade, stick Shaw on the bench with the emergency on him and see how he goes in the early Saturday game. If he makes a surprise return to form, throw a zero-scoring player on the field to take his emergency score.
FREE SHOT AT $200K!
Don’t miss your chance to win the $200,000 Perfect 9 jackpot this weekend. Pick the top-scoring SuperCoach player in all nine games in Round 20 and the money is yours — it’s free to enter and you can use the same login as your SuperCoach team.
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