SuperCoach wrap: The best and worst picks of 2018

FOR every SuperCoach boom, there’s a horror bust that probably ruined your season. Here are the 10 best and worst SuperCoach picks of the 2018 + THIS YEAR’S SUPERCOACH WINNER.

Who were the best and worst SuperCoach picks of 2018?

FOR every SuperCoach boom, there’s a horror bust that probably ruined your season.

Stars like Max Gawn and Brodie Grundy provided plenty of nitrous for your SuperCoach team.

But if you went with the likes of Michael Hibberd, Tom Rockliff or Dan Hannebery, you’ve probably struggled.

Here are the 10 best and worst SuperCoach picks of the season

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ALL-AUSTRALIAN: SQUAD OF 40 NAMED

10 bang for your buck SuperCoach stars

Player	Club	2017	2018	Differential	Starting price	End price	Differential
Max Gawn	Melbourne	91.3	127.6	+36.3	$503,700	$592,800	+$89,100
Josh Dunkley	Western Bulldogs	60.0	95.2	+35.2	$296,900	$576,700	+$279,900
Brodie Grundy	Collingwood	97.2	130.8	+33.6	$534,700	$684,900	+$150,200
James Sicily	Hawthorn	73.4	104.9	+31.5	$402,800	$508,800	+$106,000
Jaeger O'Meara	Hawthorn	63.7	92.6	+28.9	$315,800	$466,900	+$151,100
Brandan Parfitt	Geelong	53.7	80.0	+26.3	$295,500	$362,800	+$67,300
Jake Lloyd	Sydney	87.3	112.1	+24.8	$479,900	$582,500	+$102,600
Zac Fisher	Carlton	47.9	72.4	+24.5	$263,600	$314,500	+$50,900
Angus Brayshaw	Melbourne	72.7	96.7	+24	$316,700	$521,800	+$205,100
Luke Breust	Hawthorn	71.3	95.2	+23.9	$392,200	$448,300	$56,100

Starting with Max Gawn and Brodie Grundy in the ruck was a costly call, but it was also the right call, given they were two of the three best players in SuperCoach.

But grabbing guys like Western Bulldogs wunderkind Josh Dunkley, Geelong goalsneak Brandan Parfitt or Carlton’s Zac Fisher would have been a masterstroke.

Dunkley ended the season in just 2.3 per cent of teams, but almost doubled in price on his way to recording the second best season-on-season jump in SuperCoach.

There were 128,362 SuperCoaches who ended the season without Swan Jake Lloyd. Given he was the No.1 defender in SuperCoach, it’s safe to say, they probably weren’t in the top 10.

Josh Dunkley showed plenty of promise for the Dogs’ this season — and SuperCoaches were the beneficiary. Picture: Getty Images

Sydney’s Jake Lloyd was the No.1 defender in SuperCoach. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Hawk pair Jaeger O’Meara and James Sicily were popular at different times of the season. The midfielder at the start as his price sprang and the defender in the middle as he churned out big scores, before everyone jumped off when he busted his wrist. Parfitt and Fisher were among the game’s most improved forwards and many would have used them as stepping stones to premium attackers — perhaps Hawthorn’s Luke Breust whose stunning season translated in the SuperCoach world and should have him locked into an All-Australian berth. Popular young Demon Angus Brayshaw’s hard, contested game, combined with more responsibility, helped him record a big jump.

10 biggest SuperCoach flops

Player	Club	2017	2018	Differential	Starting price	End price	Differential
Dan Hannebery	Sydney	97.3	60.1	-37.2	$535,100	$279,200	-$255,900
Shane Biggs	Western Bulldogs	79.3	44.4	-34.9	$436,700	$292,400	-$144,300
Matthew Kreuzer	Carlton	109.9	80.0	-29.9	$603,700	$388,300	-$215,400
Joe Daniher	Essendon	86.0	56.7	-29.3	$472,800	$341,500	-$131,300
Michael Hibberd	Melbourne	99.1	73.3	-25.8	$545,200	$328,400	-$216,800
Toby Greene	GWS	96.1	72.7	-23.4	$528,100	$367,000	-$161,100
Taylor Walker	Adelaide	86.2	63.3	-22.9	$473,600	$293,400	-$180,200
Gary Rohan	Sydney	69.5	48.2	-21.3	$381,700	$260,900	-$120,800
Tom Rockliff	Port Adelaide	96.2	75.3	-20.9	$529,400	$371,200	-$158,200
Brandon Ellis	Richmond	91.9	71.3	-20.6	$502,500	$377,300	-$125,200

A few of these guys can be forgiven, with the likes of Toby Greene and Joe Daniher suffering injury-interrupted seasons and expected to be back better next season.

But, if you haven’t already, it’s time to jump of Matthew Kreuzer as a SuperCoach commodity. Injury throughout his career has prevented him reaching his full potential and while he has been a fine servant and had a couple of great SuperCoach seasons, you simply can’t trust him to hold it together anymore. And don’t get sucked in by his cheaper price next season.

Two names stick out on this list — Michael Hibberd and Tom Rockliff.

Hibberd’s run and flair off half back were a feature for the Demons last season and, in a high octane game plan, he should have been one of the biggest beneficiaries. Yet his drop off has been staggering and it’s killed the hopes of SuperCoaches across the land.

Michael Hibberd left plenty of SuperCoaches with sore heads. Picture: Getty Images

Tom Rockliff realises he picked himself in his SuperCoach team. Picture: Sarah Reed

Ditto Rockliff. Once a gun inside midfielder who churned out tons in his sleep, many fell for Rockliff’s change of scenery. Big mistake. He started at a near premo price and ended a long way off that.

Poor old Dan Hannebery. St Kilda wants to throw five years at him, but they’d want to hope he can turn things around, and quickly. He had the biggest season-on-season drop of any player, dipping by almost 40 points per contest on 2017.

The Dogs had one of the big improvers in Dunkley and also one of the biggest drop offs in Shane Biggs. He only played five games, cracking 50 just once in those, before retiring at the end of the season.

Sydney’s Gary Rohan should never have been a SuperCoach consideration and, while he’s never been a fantasy gun, Adelaide captain Taylor Walker did owners no favours with a poor season that had many questioning his captaincy.

In a season where so many Tigers improved, Brandon Ellis was not been able to find any rhythm.

2018 SUPERCOACH WINNER + TOP 5

1. CHARCOLE CHICKEN - COLE - 53,852

2. tankasawrus - Mark - 53,790

3. SnowSky - Callan - 53,598

4. Throbbing Hotspurs - Robert - 53,509

5. Chrispys Critters - Chris - 53,461

ROUND 23 WINNER

1. BUCKAROOS - ROBERT - 2,892

2. On Tracc - Thomas - 2,860

3. The Nubs - Samantha - 2,855

4. Dunno’s Destroyers - Iain - 2,847

5. Mark’s Demons - Mark - 2,845

TEAM OF THE WEEK

Buckaroos - Robert - 2,892

Buckaroos: The SuperCoach Team of the Week for Round 23.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Patrick Dangerfield

Dangerfield finished the season off on a high after scoring a season and round-high 187 SuperCoach points in the big win over Gold Coast Suns. He had a team-high 34 disposals, 20 contested possessions and eight scoring shots, kicking 4.3. He also had five score assists and was involved in 15 scoring chains.

Patrick Dangerfield turned it on against the Suns. Picture: AFL Media/Getty Images

MARKET WATCH

Jack Macrae

Macrae exceeded 140 SuperCoach points for the seventh time this season last round, scoring 163 SuperCoach points against Richmond. He finished with 43 disposals, 14 marks, 30 uncontested possessions, four clearances and seven tackles. He also chipped in with one goal and was involved in an equal team-high 11 scoring chains.

Stephen Coniglio

Coniglio played a lone hand against the Demons, finishing as the top-ranked Giant with 150 SuperCoach points from 87% game time. He had 31 disposals, 21 uncontested possessions, five clearances, eight tackles and four inside 50s. He also kicked two goals and had one score assist.

Robbie Gray

Like Port Adelaide, Gray failed to reach any great heights against Essendon, managing just 61 SuperCoach points, his second-lowest return for the year. He finished with 13 effective disposals, nine uncontested possessions, five clearances, five inside 50s and one goal from 96% game time.

Lion Zac Bailey, right, with Hugh McCluggage, finished the SuperCoach season with a bang. Picture: AAP

YOUNG GUN

Zac Bailey

Bailey finished the season with a season-high 87 SuperCoach points against the Eagles, enjoying a price rise of $17,900. He finished with 20 disposals, 13 uncontested possessions, two tackles and three inside 50s from 84% game time. He was also one of two multiple goalscorers for the Lions with two goals.

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