SuperCoach Investor Dan Begala looks at the ‘Norm Smith’ Medal contenders for grand final week
The Round 23 fixture has been released and when planning your last SuperCoach trades, you need to consider who will dominate in grand final week. SuperCoach Investor Dan Begala looks at the top picks.
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The dust has settled on the first week of SuperCoach finals and it was one for the ages with many — including yours truly — having their fate decided by less than the equivalent of a kick, mark or handball.
Some coaches may have rejoiced. Some were left in despair. Some may still be reeling from their Mad Monday shenanigans.
For those who survived elimination, press on and reinvigorate your side for Rounds 21, 22 and 23 (grand final week).
The SuperCoach Investor, Dan Begala, shares his last-minute tricks for supercharging your team at the business end of 2019.
TAKING THE EASY WAY OUT
We’re encouraged from an early age to challenge ourselves, aspire to achieve and never take the easy way out.
This, however, does not apply to SuperCoach and should be disposed of in an environmentally friendly manner.
Forget it. Quash it. This is the SuperCoach finals series.
Trades are a scarce and rare commodity these days, but if you’re modus operandi has always been leagues, it’s time to wreak havoc on your opposition with the careful use of your remaining trades.
For those patient coaches among us, it’s about to pay handsome dividends.
If you’re looking to one-up your opposition in a do-or-die elimination final this week, it’s essential that you forensically analyse the fixture of any trade-in targets that you are considering.
You’ll need to identify the teams with the “softest” draw for Rounds 21, 22 and 23 and determine the players — if you’re boasting any trades — that could become your Finals MVP.
They are your mercenaries. They are your “temps”. They’re here for a good time, not a long time.
According to Fantasy Freako — of Champion Data — the easiest run home — based on fixture difficulty — belongs to St Kilda, GWS and Collingwood who boast the following string of opposition:
STK: Fremantle (H), Carlton (A) & Sydney (A)
GWS: Hawthorn (H), Western Bulldogs (H) & Gold Coast (A)
COL: Melbourne (A), Adelaide (A) & Essendon (H)
If you’re looking for three red-hot scores to round out your season and hopefully pinch the holy grail, it’s worthwhile paying heed to the cattle at St Kilda, GWS and Collingwood as your first priority.
GWS — for instance — face a languishing Gold Coast in grand final week so a game-breaker like Josh Kelly (if fit), Toby Greene or Lachie Whitfield will be must-have acquisitions.
The SuperCoach Investors envisages the popularity of the following STK, GWS and COL players will spike over the coming weeks:
STK: Rowan Marshall ($627K), Jack Steele ($496K) & Jack Billings ($499K)
GWS: Josh Kelly ($614K), Lachie Whitfield ($522K) & Toby Greene ($515K)
COL: Brodie Grundy ($686K), Adam Treloar ($606K) & Jack Crisp ($446K)
Study the fixture. Study the form. Take home the holy grail. It’s that easy.
…. And it could be on the back of someone you least suspect such as Rowan Marshall against an undermanned Sydney rucking division.
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THE ‘NORM SMITH’ CONTENDERS
Grand final heroes will always be remembered.
Their heroics are etched in folklore. Their memories burn bright for generations to come.
SuperCoach is no different.
If you’re looking to take home a flag it’s going to require a combination of role players, coaching prowess (i.e. loopholing) and an unforgettable effort from a star player.
As we’ve touched above, it’s imperative that you study the fixture and identify the players with the softest draw, match-up and absence of any key taggers.
The SuperCoach Investor considers Brodie Grundy as the outright favourite for Norm Smith honours given his direct opposition on Grand Final day will likely consist of Essendon ruckman, Zac Clarke.
Outside of the rucking extraordinaire, it’s all about GWS players and their pre-finals training run at Metricon Stadium where it’s expected that Kelly, Greene, Whitfield and co. will run amok and chalk up season-high scores.
The early market for SuperCoach grand final honours has Adam Treloar (177) and Marcus Bontempelli (166) leading with Jack Macrae (155) and Nat Fyfe (144) breathing down their necks.
They are the game-breakers and those that will take you along way towards SuperCoach immortality.
Forget price. Forget averages. It’s all about the game-breakers and taking advantage of the “softness” of their upcoming draw.
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