SuperCoach Round 17 trade guide: Is it too early for luxury trades? Plus top trade targets and bargain picks

Need a SuperCoach player who ticks all the boxes? Joss Kennedy is in less than 3000 teams, has an average of 107 and will only cost you $514,000! ROUND 17 TRADE GUIDE

Darcy Moore will jump above $400,000 this round after his ton against Hawthorn. Picture: Michael Klein.

One of the most difficult calls at this point of every SuperCoach season is how long to hold onto players on the cusp of becoming a premium scorer.

Tough Hawthorn midfielder James Worpel is the prime example this year, averaging 88.3 points per game despite producing only two hundreds.

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The 20-year-old has been one of the most consistent scorers of the season in his second AFL campaign, posting between 70-110 in each of his 15 matches.

Most of the 45,281 coaches who have Worpel in their teams will have selected him as a forward, where his average would serve well as a F6-F7.

However, if you want to jump up the rankings, you can’t settle for an average of 88 when some of the top forwards are regularly pumping our scores above 110.

In Round 16, 14 forwards scored above 120 and 25 amassed 100+.

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If that remains the case from here until the end of the year, you’ll likely be conceding at least 10 points per round to the top coaches and potentially in league match ups.

While it doesn’t sound like much, the difference between a league win or surging up the rankings can often be just a few points.

In SuperCoach terminology, upgrading a player with an average close to 90 is considered a ‘luxury’ trade.

James Worpel has been a consistent scorer without breaking into the premium category this season. Picture: Michael Dodge/Getty Images.

With seven rounds left, if you’re in the fortunate position of having eight trades or more, you can afford to consider how to upgrade players sitting just outside the premium bubble.

You’ll need more than $100,000 to upgrade a player such as Worpel to Travis Boak or Josh Dunkley, but those extra points could make a world of difference come finals.

Oliver Hanrahan is the player to grab if you want someone on the bubble this week. Picture: David Crosling.

TOP TARGETS

Lachie Neale $571,700, Mid, Average: 123.5, Break even: 51

He’s the topscoring midfielder of the year by 52 points with an average of 123.5, yet Neale is somehow only in 50.9 per cent of teams. He returned to top form in a big way on Sunday against the Giants with 31 disposals, six marks and six tackles. He’s too cheap not to be in your side at less than $600,000 and you’ll pay the price if you don’t get him before league finals.

Dylan Shiel $483,500, Mid, Avg: 100.2, BE: 52

We don’t all have the bank to pay for the top premiums, but Shiel is well-priced for a player with a three-round average of 110.7. He’s scored 97, 112 and 123 in the past three weeks and had a disposal efficiency of 76 per cent against Sydney. That wasn’t one a one-off either. Since returning from injury, Shiel also disposal efficiency of 72.7 per cent against West Coast in Round 14.

Josh Kennedy $514,000, Mid, Avg: 107.1, BE: 62

With an ownership of only 1.2 per cent and eight tons in 12 matches, the Swans veteran is the ultimate POD midfielder. Five of his last seven scores have been 115-125 and the sole reason he’s available for $514,000 is scores of 68 and 77 when he was injured and then returned in Round 14. If you’ve got a midfield spot left to fill, strongly consider Kennedy.

Marcus Bontempelli $570,600, Mid, Avg: 115.6, BE: 62

The Bont is on a roll and plays his next three games against Melbourne, St Kilda and Fremantle under the roof at Marvel Stadium. His ability to rack up points quickly is his greatest strength. He had 85 in a quarter last weekend against Port Adelaide and scored 146 against Geelong despite being on 0 after almost 20 minutes.

Shannon Hurn $532,800, Def, Avg: 110.4, BE: 111

The perfect choice to finish your defence. You might get away with waiting one more week before bringing in Hurn, but if you have the money saved this is the round to jump on the West Coast skipper. His last four scores are 85-104 but Hurn will still finish as one of the top SuperCoach defenders.

James Sicily was back in defence and back to his best on Friday night. Picture: Christian Gilles.

James Sicily $437,700, Def, Avg: 96.6, BE: 36

Back in defence and back in the SuperCoach good books. Sicily was unstoppable across half back against Collingwood, finishing with 14 marks and 28 disposals for a team-high 141 SuperCoach points. Unless Alastair Clarkson sends him forward again, this is as cheap as he will be for the rest of 2019. Take the chance to add a cheap D6 to your team and hope he reproduces efforts like Friday night.

Isaac Heeney $496,400, Fwd-Mid, Avg: 95.9, BE: 43

Heeney is flying in the past month, managing scores of 102, 90, 117 and 134. Any fears he would spend more time forward with Lance Franklin injured have proven unfounded and he will help round out your forward stocks at under $500,000. If you already have a finished midfield and forward line, you could consider adding Heeney as a floating M9-F7 and loopholing his scores.

Derek Eggmolesse-Smith $102,400, Def, Avg: 77 (one game), BE: -93

Job security is the biggest concern for Richmond’s debutant from Saturday, who had 19 possessions and three tackles in the Tigers’ demolition of Gold Coast. With so many players vying for selection through the VFL, only consider him if you need a basement-priced downgrade in defence. Just ask Patrick Naish owners how fraught job security can be at Punt Road.

Kyle Dunkley $102,400, Mid, Avg: 58 (one game), BE: -55

Dunkley didn’t have a great impact after halftime on debut but had done enough to the main break to still score 58. If you can hold off another week, you could downgrade his Melbourne teammate Oskar Baker or Dylan Clarke and make about $170,000 to help finish your team. With injuries mounting again at the Demons, Dunkley should get a chance to prove his wares.

Isaac Quaynor $153,500, Def, Avg: 82 (one game), BE: -73

A brilliant start for Quaynor, but can you afford to pay the extra $51,000 rather than downgrading to Eggmolesse-Smith?

Oliver Hanrahan $123,900, Fwd, Avg: 64.5, BE: -56

The sole bubble boy this week, Hanrahan is projected to jump by $54,000 if he scores 65 this round. With a lack of forward cover, you could do worse than trading a midfield rookie, swinging a Mid-Fwd into their position and bringing in Hanrahan to cover for any late outs (such as Travis Boak on Saturday night). His 85 against the Magpies came from 16 possessions and two goals.

WAIT A WEEK

Jake Lloyd $552,000, Def, Avg: 113.3, BE: 143

Tim Kelly $529,300, Fwd-Mid, Avg: 105.2, BE: 112

Lachie Whitfield $564,100, Def, Avg: 110.9, BE: 155

Nat Fyfe $596,700, Mid, Avg: 117.4, BE: 131

James Worpel $434,000, Fwd-Mid, Avg: 88.3, BE: 94

Kelly and Fyfe might hit their break evens this week, but their price won’t rise by more than $10,000 unless they manage 150+. Whitfield was a late withdrawal from GWS’ squad to face Brisbane Lions after initially being named, giving coaches another week to build their bank in preparation for a defensive upgrade. Jake Lloyd at under $550,000 will be too cheap to resist if you’ve overlooked the prolific Sydney half-back flanker to this point. Worpel, who is discussed above, is a wait and see on whether you should punt him before finals or not. He’s currently in 45,281 teams.

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Marty Hore is a priority trade out this round after his collarbone injury. Picture: AAP Image/Daniel Pockett.

CHOPPING BLOCK

Reilly O’Brien $544,200, Ruc, Avg: 96.2, BE: 124

Marty Hore $357,600, Def, Avg: 76.3, BE: 133

Matt Parker $265,100, Fwd, Avg: 53.7, BE: 57

Xavier Duursma $353,200, Def-Mid, Avg: 71.3, BE: 96

Connor Rozee $361,400, Def-Fwd, Avg: 76.3, BE: 99

Sam Walsh $422,800, Mid, Avg: 88.9, BE: 85

Hore is the first trade priority after his collarbone injury against Carlton, which caused him to score three points and drop by $51,400. It was a disastrous result for those who held off a week before upgrading him to Shannon Hurn. Adelaide ruckman O’Brien has likely maxed out in price and unless Max Gawn isn’t named again and he’s your R3, this is the best time to cash in. You can mount a case for holding Parker, Duursma, Rozee and Walsh for bench cover, but if you’re relying on them on field it’s time to look at upgrading with many teams at full-premium status.

Darcy Moore will jump above $400,000 this round after his ton against Hawthorn. Picture: Michael Klein.

HOLD

Jordan Clark $300,400, Def, Avg: 61, BE: 4

Noah Answerth $253,500, Def-Mid, Avg: 56.5, BE: 7

Darcy Moore $399,200, Def-Fwd, Avg: 80.5, BE: 33

Dylan Clarke $259,600, Mid, Avg: 70.4, BE: 36

Griffin Logue $273,800, Def, Avg: 78.3, BE: 45

Jackson Hately $238,300, Mid, Avg: 68.8, BE: 46

Sydney Stack $439,800, Mid, Avg: 83.7, BE: 57

Will Setterfield $302,600, Fwd-Mid, Avg: 58.6, BE: 33

Brodie Smith $383,500, Def, Avg: 84.6, BE: 65

Each of these nine players should meet their break evens in Round 17, with Clark (87) and Answerth’s (80) impressive efforts at the weekend ensuring their respective BEs crashed to four and seven. Moore will get above $400,000 thanks to his 103 against Hawthorn and his flexibility will be valuable with trades running low. Clarke and Logue still have money to make despite disappointing scores on Saturday, while Hately should hold his place at GWS if Josh Kelly is out injured. Sydney Stack (106) continues to produce top results, while Brodie Smith (97) returned to form and is still an option for your D6-D7 role.

BARGAIN BIN

Under 500k

Isaac Heeney $496,400

Tom Stewart $486,400

Robbie Gray $474,600

Luke Ryan $467,000

Bachar Houli $464,400

Under 450k

Brad Sheppard $440,500

James Sicily $437,700

Ed Curnow $427,900

Marc Murphy $423,100

Ryan Burton $416,500