The SuperCoach Investor’s best cash cow picks and tips to safe guard your team through the byes

THE bye weeks will soon be upon us. The SUPERCOACH INVESTOR has some handy tips to safeguard your team, plus the best cash cow picks and how to handle Patrick Dangerfield.

Kade Simpson looms as an ideal bye buy. Picture: Colleen Petch

THE dust has finally settled on a tough round of SuperCoach action that saw many coaches, including some of our finest, score below the 2000-point pass mark.

The act itself – scoring sub 2000 points – is considered sacrilegious among the SuperCoach community and an issue that must be rectified immediately.

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There are leagues – literally all of your friends – that rely on your consistent week-on-week contributions ... so it’s time to lift.

Our resident expert, DAN BEGALA, shares his insights on the rookie pipeline, upcoming byes and the weekly muse, Patrick Dangerfield.

ROOKIE PIPELINE

Investing is an art form and one that’s reliant on a pipeline of carefully researched and identified investment opportunities. This we refer to as the investment pipeline.

Rookies are no different, so it’s essential that we take a longer-term view on the upcoming crop of youngsters set to forge their ways into our sides as downgrade candidates.

It’s essential that you forecast at least two, if not three, weeks into the season to ensure you identify the best up-and-coming talent and plan your acquisition accordingly.

The SuperCoach Investor – although strongly opposed to insider trading – has an inkling that Ed Phillips ($123,900, Mid), Brayden Ainsworth ($117,300, Mid) and Isaac Cumming ($123,900, Def) are the next string of must-have rookies that you’ll need to consider in Rounds 9 and 10.

The standout target – despite only playing one game thus far – is Phillips from St Kilda, who was sensational on debut, registering 24 touches.

The SuperCoach Investor – given the plight of the Saints – is planning to acquire Phillips this week given Alan Richardson’s preference for youth and the lack of standout “bubble boy” options on the eve of Round 9.

Patrick Dangerfield at Geelong training. Picture: Peter Ristevski

PATRICK DANGERFIELD

With Tom Mitchell and Dustin Martin suffering the ill effects of pesky taggers, it’s time to turn your attention to the elephant in the room: Patrick Dangerfield.

He’s back and there’s no ifs, nor buts, about it, after registering another ton (137).

Dangerfield’s still yet to tear any matches apart, but to the naked eye, it looks as though he’s rekindled his pressure and explosiveness that have been hallmarks of his lofty career.

If you’re batting six deep in the midfield, lock him in and throw away the key.

But if you, like The SuperCoach Investor, have already overcapitalised your midfield with seven premiums there may be a very challenging decision to be handed down to his teammate, Tim Kelly.

With a breakeven of 119, a heavily discounted price tag and an upcoming fixture with Essendon, it’s time to jump on.

Elliot Yeo looms as a top buy in the backline.

BYE, BYE, BYE

With the Gold Coast and Port Adelaide en route to China, there’s no better time to consider the upcoming bye period (Rounds 12, 13 and 14).

Every decision that you make from now on, whether it’s an upgrade or downgrade, must focus on your team dynamics for the lop-sided scoring frenzy that is the byes.

It’s imperative that you model your side across each week of the byes – who’s in, who’s out – to ensure that each subsequent trade decision helps bolster your side’s depth for where you foresee weakness and player shortfalls.

There should be no issues, however, during the first week of the byes (Round 12) with only Hawthorn, Carlton, West Coast and the Bulldogs missing in action.

Your attention – once these teams have served their bye – should be the prompt acquisition of players such as Elliot Yeo, Kade Simpson and Jack Macrae who will be ripe for the picking and guide you through both remaining bye fixtures.

You will then rinse and repeat in week three of the byes by acquiring all of the stars (and rookies) who have served their byes in Round 13.

How do you do this, SuperCoach Investor, you may ask?

Step One: Build a war chest.

Step Two: Take advantage of the trade generosity (three per week) that is offered to SuperCoaches throughout the bye period.

Step Three: Enjoy the spoils of a mid-season surge up the overall rankings.

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