We look at the top SuperCoach scorers against top eight and bottom 10 teams
AHEAD of preliminary final weekend, find out which SuperCoach stars step up against the big boys or beat up the easy beats. Plus, expert captain and trade advice.
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SUPERCOACH scoring can often be dependent on the quality of opposition, that is, are they one of the stronger top eight sides, or do they languish towards the bottom end of the AFL ladder?
In saying that, the elite players will score well no matter who they’re matched up against.
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Champion Data lifts the veil on SuperCoach scoring by breaking down the numbers to see which players score well against top 8 and bottom 10 teams.
Plus, get expert captaincy and trade advice ahead of the crucial SuperCoach preliminary final weekend.
AGAINST TOP 8
The cream always rises to the top, which is why Patrick Dangerfield averages 31.6 more points against top eight sides than any other player in the competition.
Scoring at least 130 points in all seven games, his 196-point return against the Giants in Round 15 remains a season-high return. Dangerfield comes up against GWS at Simonds Stadium in Grand Final week, so if he’s not in your SuperCoach side, then you may be up against it.
Dustin Martin ranks second overall, posting scores of at least 100 points in all but two of eight games, with his return of 155 points against West Coast in Round 3 his biggest haul.
Martin’s final two matches of the season are both against bottom 10 teams.
Sam Docherty and Zach Merrett rank equal-third in this measure, while Shane Mumford is the only ruckman to feature in the top 15 scorers as he prepares to return from a one-game ban.
His final two matches are both against top eight sides, playing West Coast at Spotless Stadium this week before he returns to his old stomping ground, Simonds Stadium to finish the year with a clash against Geelong.
AGAINST BOTTOM 10
Gary Ablett is the highest scorer against bottom 10 opposition this season with a return of 126.7 points per game, thanks largely to a massive haul of 210 points against North Melbourne in Round 6.
He has already been ruled out of this week’s home clash against Essendon with a hamstring injury, with his fitness for the final round of the year still clouded.
Patrick Dangerfield isn’t too far behind Ablett in second place, racking up scores of 140 or more in five of 12 games. His lowest score of the season was coincidently against this round’s opponent Collingwood in Round 6 where he could only manage 65 points.
He has a career average of just 87 points against the Magpies, exceeding 100 points in three of 11 career games which could be a concern for those putting the “C” on his this week.
Josh Kelly and Tom Mitchell rank equal-third overall, with Matthew Kreuzer the highest ranked ruckman in fifth place.
Kreuzer faces Ben McEvoy this week and looms as a smoky captain loophole option based on these numbers, scoring at least 125 in four of his past five games against bottom 10 sides. Team mates Bryce Gibbs and Marc Murphy both feature among the top 15 scorers in this measure.
CAPTAIN’S CORNER
DAN HANNEBERY ($470,500, Mid)
Average last three v opp: 124
According to Champion Data, the top captaincy option with an average of 124 in his past three against Adelaide. That includes a 129 in Round 4 this season. The Swans star has returned to form in recent weeks with back-to-back tons.
NAT FYFE ($583,100, Mid)
Average last three v opp: 117
The Dockers superstar is back. After a mid-season slump Fyfe spent a couple of weeks on the sidelines but has gone streaking since, scoring 84, 139, 126, 93, 132, 140 and 115. The Tigers don’t tend to tag and there aren’t many that can stop Fyfe in any case.
ZACH MERRETT ($514,100, Mid)
Average last three v opp: 111
The Bombers star is back from suspension and fired up to finish the year strongly. The Bombers have a cruisey run home, so there’s no excuses for Merrett to score well in the final two weeks. He doesn’t mind playing Gold Coast either, averaging 111 in his past three against the Suns.
DUSTIN MARTIN ($616,900, Mid)
Average last three v opp: 110
If you’re VC-ing Patrick Dangerfield, Dusty is the obvious back up. Not only does he love playing Fremantle - averaging 110 against the Dockers in the past three - he averages a whopping 115 against bottom-10 teams this year.
RORY SLOANE ($486,700, Mid)
Average last three v opp: 109
When Rory goes big, he goes big and he loves playing fellow top-8 teams, averaging 114 against them this season. The added bonus is he plays Friday night so it’s like a free swing with Dangerfield or Martin to back you up on the weekend.
JUMP ON
DYLAN ROBERTON ($442,100, Def)
We did have Michael Hurley in his spot but he revealed late Thursday that he has a calf strain and will miss a week. So instead we’ve gone with the unheralded Saint. Roberton is the sixth best defender based on average and has a reasonable run home against North Melbourne and Richmond. You could also go for Jeremy Howe (ranked seventh) who is in 6 per cent of teams.
MATT CROUCH ($617,800, Mid)
Outside of Danger and Dusty, is there a hotter SuperCoach scorer over the past couple of months? Crouch has strung together 11 consecutive tons with his of his past four going 130-plus. If you had picked Crouch up in Round 9 he would have cost just $491k. He’s now $617.800.
JACK BILLINGS ($480,200, Mid-Fwd)
Just imagine if he could kick straight. Billings has enjoyed a breakout SuperCoach season and has three straight hundreds to his name with North Melbourne and Richmond to come. The Saints also presents crucial flexibility for those lacking trades.
JUMP OFF
JOEL SELWOOD ($473,600, Mid)
If you didn’t trade him out last week, make sure you do it now. Unless you’re out of trades there’s no point having Selwood sitting on the bench when you could have another midfielder in his place. If you don’t like your options, perhaps look at bringing in a high-scoring defender or forward by DPPing a Taylor Adams or Jack Macrae.
NIC NEWMAN ($376,000, Def)
Even if the Swans youngster recovers from a hyper-extended knee for this weekend, we should still be looking to trade him out. And this goes for Alex Witherden as well. There are plenty of points on offer in the backline this season so we can’t be carrying liabilities into preliminary finals.
TOBY NANKERVIS ($375,800, Ruck-Fwd)
This may be a luxury for most of us but the Richmond big man is limping to the SuperCoach finish line. After a 94 in Round 17, “Nank” has gone 54, 66, 84, 61 since and the continuing presence of Ivan Soldo is undoubtedly hampering is scoring.
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