The potential SuperCoach stars to watch in AFLX

YOU can ignore the Zooper goals, but AFLX matches will still offer lots of top-rate SuperCoach information. Here’s what — and who — to watch.

ZOOPER goals, silver footies and seven-man teams. AFLX will be very different — but what does it mean for SuperCoach?

Champion Data, which provides the stats that power SuperCoach, will be there to keep track of how many kicks and handballs players collect in the AFL’s answer to the Big Bash. But given the shortened matches (two 10-minute halves), the smaller field and modified rules (no boundary throw-ins, for starters), we won’t be reading too much into the numbers.

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But there is still plenty of intel to gather for astute SuperCoach watchers.

Most of that involves watching players we are considering for our starting squads.

Port Adelaide players Sam Gray and Karl Amon and Crows Jordan Gallucci and Rory Atkins help launch AFLX. Picture: Sarah Reed

You can lock Dustin Martin away without a worry, but what does Tom Doedee look like? Is Paul Ahern quick? How do star draft picks go playing against men?

We are looking at many of our likely rookie picks for the first time, and others for the first time in a while (anyone remember Dom Barry’s five matches for Melbourne in 2014?).

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Making sure they pass the eye test is crucial, but more important is getting a feel for who will be picked for Round 1.

Most AFL teams have picked inexperienced AFLX squads so we shouldn’t read too much into team selection. But those players will be jostling for positions in the selection queue starting this weekend. Here’s who we will be keeping a close eye on.

GROUP 1 — THURSDAY

POOL A

ADELAIDE

Tom Doedee ($123,900 def) is in 38 per cent of SuperCoach teams despite the fact most of us have never laid eyes on him — unless you went to watch some SANFL matches last year, where the young defender was the No. 1 intercept player. Let’s hope he plucks a few grabs to show us (and Crows selectors) he’s the man to replace Jake Lever. Up the other end of the rectangular field, Jordan Gallucci ($219,400 fwd) is a possible Charlie Cameron replacement.

COLLINGWOOD

Top draft pick Jaidyn Stephenson ($180,300 mid) finished last season like a steam train, hopefully he continues that form to push for a Round 1 spot. The Pies’ No. 39 draft pick Nathan Murphy ($117,300 fwd) is also in the squad — we suspect he’s more of a long-term project but he could prove us wrong. Brayden Maynard ($394,800 def) has been earmarked for a midfield role this season which makes him an interesting SuperCoach prospect.

New Magpie Jaidyn Stephenson meets president Eddie McGuire.

FREMANTLE

Lots of SuperCoach interest in the Dockers this year starting with breakout contender Connor Blakely ($490,300 mid). He averaged 110 from Rounds 6-18 before a shoulder injury ended his season. He’s back — in AFLX form. So is Michael Walters ($478,300 fwd/mid), who didn’t play after Round 18, so this will give us an idea of how they’re tracking. Meanwhile, No. 2 draft pick Andrew Brayshaw ($198,300 mid) was a ball-winning machine at junior level.

POOL B

GEELONG

For SuperCoach players, this might as well be called the Tim Kelly Cup. All eyes are on the $117,300 midfielder, who finished second in last year’s Sandover Medal. Will he step straight into the Cats’ side to replace Steve Motlop? We sure hope so. The Cats’ top draft pick Lachie Fogarty ($117,300 midfielder) is also in the AFLX squad and is aiming for a Round 1 debut. He averaged almost 10 tackles a game in the TAC Cup, will forward pressure be a factor in this form of the game?

PORT ADELAIDE

The Power has picked a strong squad which is good news for Dom Barry ($117,300 mid) who has a chance to push his case to be part of the best 22 after a standout summer on the training track. Another forgotten recruit Trent McKenzie ($347,800) is also in the squad and we’re rapt to see Robbie Gray ($504,200 fwd) play his first competitive match since his shock cancer diagnosis. Running defender Riley Bonner ($257,300 def) is another player to watch — he got his chance in the final two rounds last season and is hoping to become a regular this year.

WEST COAST

A super young squad with fewer than 100 games AFL experience. But no Liam Ryan ($117,300 fwd), which is a slight concern for the 25 per cent of coaches with him in their squad — or Nic Naitanui ($465,900 ruck). We might not see him before Round 1. Daniel Venables ($123,900 fwd), Willie Rioli ($123,900 fwd), Brayden Ainsworth ($117,300 mid) and Francis Watson ($123,900 def) will all fly the flag and should be on your SuperCoach watch list.

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GROUP 2 — FRIDAY

POOL A

CARLTON

If you have no other reason to watch AFLX, tune in to see the Blues who could provide us with a host of rookies this year. Paddy Dow ($193,800 mid), Lochie O’Brien ($162,300 mid) and Cam O’Shea ($166,000 def) will all play on Thursday night. Another interesting member of the Blues squad is Matthew Lobbe ($253,000 ruck). He was recruited from Port Adelaide purely as insurance and won’t impact Matthew Kreuzer’s scores — or will he? No Jarrod Garlett ($117,300 mid/fwd) in the squad.

MELBOURNE

Can’t wait to see Charlie Spargo ($117,300 mid) in action. He hasn’t played much the past two years because of injuries but he was a freak at under-16 level. Angus Brayshaw ($316,700 mid) could be a SuperCoach star if he can get a clear run without injury and Christian Petracca ($433,300 fwd) is primed to explode — will it happen this year? Also keep an eye out for mature-age recruit Bayley Fritsch ($117,300 fwd).

NORTH MELBOURNE

The Kangaroos have picked their best available players which is good news for Paul Ahern ($123,900 fwd/mid) who gets a chance after two knee reconstructions. Top draft pick Luke Davies-Uniacke ($189,300 mid) is also in the squad — and 44 per cent of SuperCoach teams. It would take a brave coach to pick Luke McDonald ($461,100 mid) but he dominated in the middle at the Roos’ intraclub game.

Andrew McGrath could become a full-time midfielder in 2018.

Mature-age Carlton recruit Cam O’Shea.

POOL B

ESSENDON

Andrew McGrath ($38,400 def) is the one to watch. He will graduate from the backline to the midfield this season and there has been talk of a Clayton Oliver-like spike in his SuperCoach scores. His form here will give us some indication of how likely that is. Adam Saad ($388,800 def) made Gilbert Gardiner’s top 40 SuperCoach picks and should get more of the footy than he did at Gold Coast, but will it be enough to make him a premium pick?

HAWTHORN

David Mirra ($102,400 def) is a 26-year-old from the Hawks’ VFL side hoping for a chance at AFL level. James Worpel ($117,300 mid) is 19 but plays like a 26-year-old, winning clearances and kicking goals. We’ll get a look at both in AFLX along with James Sicily ($402,800 fwd) who could be a sneaky pick this year. He dominated in the air at the Hawks’ intra-club.

ST KILDA

The Saints’ top two draft picks Hunter Clark ($175,800 mid) and Nick Coffield ($171,300 mid) have both been named. We think Coffield is ahead in the race for a Round 1 start, but this game could prove us wrong. Luke Dunstan ($485,200 mid) is a (very) low-profile breakout contender — he had a fantastic finish to last season — and another name that caught our eye is father-son pick Bailey Rice ($123,900 def) who dropped off the radar last year but is still available at a rookie price.

Kangaroo Luke McDonald (left) is another member of the ‘more midfield time’ club.

GROUP 3 — SATURDAY

POOL A

GWS GIANTS

The Giants have picked a squad full of rookies and most of them will probably head straight back to the NEAFL. The exceptions could be Will Setterfield ($195,700 mid), who recorded excellent numbers as a half-forward in the second-tier comp last year, and Isaac Cumming ($123,900 def), another second-year cheapie who could fill the void left by Nathan Wilson and Zac Williams down back.

BRISBANE LIONS

Allen Christensen ($267,300 fwd) hasn’t played an AFL game since Round 11, 2016. The former Cat has been training the house down and represents a potential SuperCoach steal if he can recapture his form of 2013-15. No sign of No. 1 draft pick Cam Rayner but pick 15 Zac Bailey ($139,800 mid) will get a run.

RICHMOND

Jack Higgins ($130,800 mid/fwd) watch. The midfielder/forward is one of the most popular picks on SuperCoach based on his insane junior stats. He just needs to force his way into the Round 1 side — why not start here? Lots of other rookie-priced players in a very inexperienced squad but not many likely to break into the best 22 for a while.

Former Carlton player Nick Holman (right) will bring this kind of pressure to the Suns this year. Picture: Calum Robertson

POOL B

SYDNEY

The SuperCoach focus at the Swans this year is on underpriced guns including Lance Franklin, Josh Kennedy and Dan Hannebery, but we won’t see any of them in action on Saturday. Hard to spot a likely SuperCoach steal in the Swans’ squad; even last year’s favourite Nic Newman is now $454,500. Will an unknown player put his hand up?

WESTERN BULLDOGS

Another low-profile squad with the Dogs leaving all their recognised stars at home. It does give a chance for the young pups to impress and we’re most interested in the Dogs’ top two draft picks who could both be handy SuperCoach recruits. Aaron Naughton ($166,800 def) put up excellent numbers last year playing against senior opposition in the WAFL and Ed Richards ($135,300 def) is a chance to fill the role formerly occupied by Bob Murphy and Matthew Boyd.

GOLD COAST

Nick Holman ($102,400 mid), come on down. The former Blue has another shot at the big time after spending two seasons in the SANFL. He’s as cheap as they come and pushing for a Round 1 start — and we’re right behind him. Aaron Young ($313,400 fwd) should provide good value after swapping from Port Adelaide but that is a very awkward price.