SuperCoach AFL shake-up: Fixture chaos unlocks 8 must-have stars

SuperCoach is facing a major shake-up after the AFL postponed two opening round games due to Cyclone Alfred. See what it means for the game, and the players you should pick.

SuperCoach is set for a major shake-up after the AFL postponed two of the four Opening Round games due to Cyclone Alfred.

While SuperCoach was not scheduled to start until Round 1, the AFL’s decision will mean Brisbane Lions and Geelong may no longer have an early bye.

SuperCoach best 18 scoring applies if fewer than nine games are played in a round.

Should the Brisbane v Geelong match be rescheduled to round 3, one of the options being considered, this would still be the case with Sydney and Collingwood still down to have a bye that week.

Any announcements on bye rounds or changes to the SuperCoach fixture will be made after the AFL confirms when the Brisbane-Geelong and Essendon-Gold Coast games will be played and communicated to SuperCoaches.

The flow-on effect for SuperCoaches will be that players from Brisbane, Geelong, Gold Coast and Essendon become live options to start with in SuperCoach. Lions and Cats players are especially tempting given greater uncertainty about when the Suns v Bombers game will be rescheduled to.

Our thoughts are with all those in Queensland and New South Wales impacted by Cyclone Alfred. Here are eight players you must consider now.

Lachie Neale. Picture: Getty

1. LACHIE NEALE (BRIS | MID | $645,900)

One of the premiers scorers in SuperCoach for years and now takes on West Coast, Richmond and Geelong in three of the first four games. Neale has scored 142 and 143 in his last two matches against West Coast and 162 and 143 in his last two against Richmond. Sadly for coaches like The Phantom, he’s no longer going to be a POD.

2. DAYNE ZORKO (BRIS | DEF | $595,100)

Prepare for an early-season Zorko feast. Keidean Coleman will still be sidelined with Brisbane takes on the Eagles and Tigers, who the veteran scored 161 points against last year. Pairing him with Harry Sheezel will be a popular move.

3. WILL ASHCROFT (BRIS | MID | $441,200)

There’s no shortage of mid-pricers to consider this year. If the round 3 bye was the only reason you were leaving Ashcroft out, that’s likely to no longer be an issue. Can you squeeze him in with so many midfield rookies putting their hands up in pre-season?

Nick Daicos. Picture: Getty

4. NICK DAICOS (COLL | MID | $631,400)

The Round 3 bye looked tricky, but realistically shouldn’t be hard to juggle if only two teams have the week off – Collingwood and Sydney. That will mean carrying Daicos won’t be the problem it might have been and you can start him with more confidence – and save two trades trying to bring him in after the bye.

5. ZACH MERRETT (ESS | MID | $621,100)

The Essendon skipper has averaged 115-116 in four of the past five seasons. He rarely scores less than 100 and had scores of 108, 127 and 136 in games against the Bombers’ round 1-3 opponents last year. It’s a big watch on where the Bombers-Suns fixture slots in though and seems likely Essendon will still have an early bye.

6. HARRY PERRYMAN (COLL | DEF | $417,500)

Another mid-pricer to throw into the mix now there are less early-season byes. The former Giant is set to play as a midfielder at the Magpies and has impressed in pre-season.

Isaac Heeney. Picture: Phil Hillyard

7. ISAAC HEENEY (SYD | MID | $629,200)

Like Daicos and Perryman, Heeney still has an early bye in round 3. But the postponement of the Brisbane-Geelong game has made it easier to pick players with that bye than it would have otherwise been. Heeney started hot last year, averaging 144.2 in his first five games. Right now he’s in just 5.8 per cent of teams.

8. NOAH ANDERSON (GCS | MID | $574,900)

The new Suns captain excelled in pre-season and looks primed for a big year in his first season as skipper. Wait for an announcement on when the Suns-Bombers game will be played before committing. For now, the Suns still have a tricky bye in round 2.