Who are Darcy Fort, Patrick Bines and Jordon Sweet? The most popular SuperCoach loophole picks of 2019
They feature in a combined 99,914 teams, are regularly named SuperCoach captains and have scored a combined zero points. Meet this year’s loophole legends.
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They feature in a combined 99,914 teams, are regularly named as SuperCoach captains, yet have scored a combined zero points.
Lachie Neale, Patrick Cripps and Marcus Bontempelli rightfully get plaudits each week for their lofty scoring feats, but where would our SuperCoach teams be without the loophole legends?
Geelong’s mature-age ruckman Darcy Fort (31,222 teams), West Coast category B rookie Patrick Bines (30,576) and Western Bulldogs Jordon Sweet (24,521) were the three most popular loophole starting picks this year.
The idea behind the loophole is simple enough.
Pick two scoring ruckman, such as $1.4 million duo Max Gawn and Brodie Grundy, then swap them with the likes of Fort, Bines or Sweet if your vice-captain fires early in the round.
As long as you name Gawn or Grundy — in this example — as an emergency, you then use Bines, Fort or Sweet as captain to double your vice-captain’s score.
Gawn or Grundy’s total then replaces your loophole on field, maximising your total score.
There’s hardly been a week this season where social media hasn’t exploded with praise for one of Bines, Sweet or Fort, despite them not scoring a point.
Geelong youngster Blake Schlensog (13,595 teams) is another player who has been a loophole regular.
Who are these unlikely SuperCoach heroes who help us boost our score while playing state league football or recovering from injury?
DARCY FORT (GEELONG, $117,300)
The 25-year-old ruckman was chosen by the Cats with pick No. 65 in last year’s national draft, winning plaudits for his efforts in the SANFL with Central Districts after graduating from Geelong Falcons and playing local football in Geelong with South Barwon. Fort averaged 124 rankings points per game in the SANFL last season and was tipped as a potential Round 1 bolter, but has been made to bide his time in the VFL. He has been vying with Rhys Stanley, Ryan Abbott and Zack Smith for the ruck role at the Cats, kicking three goals in his most recent VFL game. He might not be a loophole option for long, with coach Chris Scott saying this week: “He is (close). He continues to play well at VFL level and we are comfortable that our three ruck-forward types are ready to take their chance if it comes up.”
VFL averages: 94 ranking points, 12.8 disposals, 6.5 hit outs, two goals.
Patrick Bines #Supercoach Armband Count - 2
— EmprX (@Empr_X) March 28, 2019
PATRICK BINES (WEST COAST, $102,400)
Spotted by AFL recruiters while playing basketball in the SEABL with Melbourne Tigers, Bines chose to join West Coast as a category B rookie after reportedly attracting interest from four other clubs. The 19-year-old, who stands 196cm, played junior football in Melbourne for East Brighton. But he had not played football for several seasons, representing Australia at under-17 level in basketball, before his athleticism impressed AFL clubs. “To have the opportunity to come and play for the West Coast Eagles is something I will never forget. Basketball, for me, is put aside at the moment, and focus on footy 100 per cent,” Bines said after signing with the Eagles. Bines played state basketball with West Coast teammate Jack Petruccelle as a junior. He has been sidelined with a hernia issue in recent weeks. Bines’ Ruc-Fwd eligibility proved handy for many coaches who chose to bring in Adelaide’s Reilly O’Brien.
WAFL averages (one game): 31 ranking points, 2 disposals, four tackles
JORDON SWEET (WESTERN BULLDOGS, $102,400)
Another mature-age ruckman plucked from the SANFL, Sweet joined Western Bulldogs with pick no. 23 in the rookie draft last year. Capable of playing in the ruck and as a key forward, the 203cm big man started 2018 in the North Adelaide reserves but impressed in the latter rounds of the campaign for the SANFL premier, averaging 70 ranking points from six senior games. Sweet declared in December he hoped to claim the No. 1 ruck mantle from Tim English, but he has yet to debut despite featuring in the extended squad for the club’s Round 3 clash with Gold Coast. He enjoyed a strong start to his maiden VFL season but a three-week suspension for striking has hampered his bid for a senior call-up.
VFL averages: 67 ranking points, 18.5 hit outs, 1.5 goals, 7 disposals.
Early involvement for Jordon Sweet as well. He'll get to wear the captain's armband in Round 1. #SuperCoach #AFL
— Fantasy Freako (@FantasyFreako) March 21, 2019
BLAKE SCHLENSOG (GEELONG, $102,400)
The 198cm Schlensog is another category B rookie who arrived as the Cats through the Next Generation Academy system. Schlensog played in the forward line and ruck for Geelong Falcons in the TAC Cup and the Cats said they were impressed by his ‘good skills and aggression’. The 18-year-old is a developing tall who was expected to play in defence, as ruck opportunities would be limited with Stanley, Fort, Abbott and Smith ahead of him in the queue. He averaged 77 ranking points per game in the TAC Cup last year, along with 12 disposals. He was described as a “unique talent” and as someone who “offers attributes that most other TAC Cup players simply don’t have” in the Geelong Advertiser last year and kicked three goals against North Melbourne in the VFL at the weekend.
VFL averages: 60 ranking points, 11.5 disposals, three marks, 1.5 goals.
HOW THE RUCK LOOPHOLE WORKS
— Put your VC on a player who features before your non-scoring player. For example, if Brodie Grundy plays Friday night and Jordon Sweet on Sunday.
— If you are happy with your VC score (most coaches take 125+) move your non-scoring player onto the field and put the C on them.
— Put your second ruckman on the bench with the emergency tag (E) on them.
— Place your non-scoring ruck on the field and make them captain.
— When your non-scoring ruck’s team has played, your VC score will be doubled and your emergency score will return to the field and be added to your total.
— This loophole can also be effective in other positions, but be mindful you only receive your lowest emergency score unless you have more than one non-scoring player on field.
PAST LOOPHOLE LEGENDS
Tony Olango (West Coast, 2018, $102,400 Ruck) — 0 games
Max Lynch (Collingwood, 2018, $123,900, FWD-Ruck) — 0 games
Luke Strnadica (Fremantle, 2017, $102,400, Ruc) — 0 games
Mason Cox (Collingwood, 2015, $102,400, Ruc-FWD) — 0 games
Tom Read (Geelong, 2015, $109,900, Ruc, FWD) — 0 games
Mitchell King (Melbourne, 2016, $117,300 Ruc) — 0 games
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