The latest news from the training track and how it impacts your SuperCoach selections
ON the day we open SuperCoach for hardcore fans to get the jump on their mates, check out who’s “flying”, who’s copped a niggle and which youngsters are ready for Round 1.
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AFL SUPERCOACH is back for 2018, bigger and better than ever.
Today we open the game for the hardest of hardcore fans to get in and test out the changes and improvements before the official launch next week.
Australia’s best fantasy game was rebuilt from the ground up in the off-season, making it faster, sharper and easier to use across all devices.
Herald Sun subscribers get the added benefit of LIVE scores during games.
CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE HERALD SUN
SuperCoach Stats, formerly known as SuperCoach Gold, will again be available to all players, up until Round 2, from which time only subscribers will have access to the statistical goldmine.
The suite of changes for 2018 includes:
* new design
* slick mobile and tablet interface
* upgraded trading facility
* reimagined “Gameday” and player cards.
SNEAK PEEK OF SUPERCOACH 2018 AND START YOUR SQUAD
It’s a cliche but knowing who is “burning up the track” is crucial to SuperCoach success.
Every Wednesday until Round 1 we’ll be bringing you the latest news from the training track.
SUPERCOACH 2018 - SIGN UP AND START PICKING NOW!
Who’s “flying”, who’s struggling, who’s training a new role and which young guns are ready to step up.
It’s all crucial information if you want a shot at $50,000.
THE GOAT: TO PICK OR PASS ON GAZZA
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CHEAP AS: HIGH RISK, HIGH REWARD MID-PRICE PICKS
JACK VINEY (Mid, $496,900)
The Melbourne co-captain admits he came back too early from a foot injury last year.
Viney underwent surgery on his plantar fascia mid-last year but suffered a stress fracture in his foot as a result and is now taking a cautious approach to his recovery.
“In hindsight I probably would not have done anything differently (because finals beckoned), but yeah, no doubt it contributed to where I am now,” he said.
“I ended up running a little bit differently on it and I ended up having a stress fracture in the same foot.”
Viney expects to be ready for Round 1 but will not have the same running base.
KYRON HAYDEN (Mid, $117,300)
DESPITE undergoing AC joint surgery, Hayden is determined to make an impact in his first year.
The No.62 draft pick has certainly picked a good role model in captain Jack Ziebell and has impressed coaching staff in his recovery and running capacity.
Six weeks into his recovery, Hayden is now ramping up his preparations.
“At the moment I’ve just started running,” he said.
“I just need to build up my conditioning base and check off the little things like that so I can get back to training.
“It’ll probably be another six weeks until I join in with the main sessions.”
JARRAD McVEIGH (Def, $454,800)
We thought McVeigh’s time as a SuperCoach star was over. That could be about to change.
The Swans veteran has struggled through two injury-plagued seasons that saw his average drop to 88 and 82 after eight consecutive seasons of 90-plus averages.
However, McVeigh has been a man on a mission this pre-season as he eyes Round 1 for the first time since 2014.
The former captain hasn’t missed a session and is determined to help the Swans return to premiership contention.
“I haven’t missed a session so far. I put in a lot of effort during the break to get my body right,” he told the club website.
“It’s good to stay injury free (as) a good pre-season usually leads to a good year so that’s what I’m looking forward to.”
MICHAEL HURLEY (Def, $563,500)
With Sam Docherty ruled out for the season, Hurley is now the top-priced defender.
The Bombers’ key defender underwent hip and wrist surgery in the off-season but the good news is he’s back in full training.
Essendon high performance manager Justin Crow said there was nothing holding Hurley back.
“He has had a good pre-season, his hip and wrist surgery went well so he will be on some match play and we are really happy with how he is going,” he told the club website.
Hurley took his SuperCoach game to a new level in 2017, breaking the three-figure average for the first time.
WILL BRODIE (Mid, $187,700)
GARY Ablett is impossible to replace but it could open the door for young Sun Will Brodie.
The 2016 No.9 draft pick played just three games in his debut season as he struggled to win the ball on the outside, scoring 32, 32 and 64.
However, that means he’s available for just $187,700 - cheaper than some of this year’s top draft picks - and a serious cash cow option.
The Suns have been impressed with Brodie’s determination to balance his game on the inside and outside this pre-season.
“Will’s got some speed and can really work and he’s starting to push that envelope a little bit more, so he’s taken some strides forward,” assistant coach Shaun Hart told the AFL website.
“He’s starting to add another string to the bow and get a lot more footy on the outside and use his legs and not just be the guy who can mix it up on the inside and win the footy.
DOM BARRY (Mid, $117,300)
Barry is back and could be one of the cash cows of 2018.
The former Demon stepped away from the AFL for a short time before an outstanding return with Glenelg saw him drafted by Port Adelaide.
The midfielder has wasted no time making an impact at Port Adelaide’s finishing second in the Power’s time trial behind Karl Amon.
Barry looms as a dangerous addition to Port’s midfield and forward group and looks a ready-made replacement for Jarman Impey.
“I put my culture first – I went home and did that - I felt a lot more settled after I had gone through it. I felt at peace with who I was,” he told FIVEaa.
“It gave me the extra motivation to give AFL footy another crack.”
JACK REDDEN (Mid, $437,900)
After a strong finish to 2017 - averaging 97 in his final eight games - Jack Redden is well placed to help fill the shoes of retired duo Matt Priddis and Sam Mitchell.
After a lacklustre start to his Eagles career, Redden is now a veteran in the West Coast engineroom and hopes to get back to his best.
During his time with the Lions, Redden averaged 90-plus from 2011 to 2015, including three years of 100-plus averages.
Redden said he would still have to earn his place but a full-time return to the midfield must surely be good of his SuperCoach potential.
“With Mitch and Pridda out, that’s the aim for me, to fill one of those spots and build off the back of last year,” he said.
“I thought I played some decent footy last year at the end of the year so just keep building on that improve my footy.
CHRISTIAN PETRACCA (Mid-Fwd, $433,300)
Petracca might have figured out the missing piece of the puzzle.
The former No.2 draft pick has significantly improved his running over the off-season, cutting 10 seconds off his time trial personal best.
Petracca has been training with the Demons midfielders in the hope of pushing up the ground in 2018.
“I have improved my running a lot. That was my biggest focus throughout the off-season and pre-season,” he told the AFL website.
“I could always compete in games and sessions but it’s more about getting from contest to contest at a good pace and not getting there and being stuffed.”
Petracca averaged 78 in 2017 but more midfield time would dramatically improve his SuperCoach scoring potential.
JOSH BATTLE (Fwd, $123,900)
Battle made his AFL debut as a schoolboy last year and is hoping for more in 2018.
At 193cm and an elite tank, Battle is seen as the natural replacement for Nick Riewoldt and has impressed with his professionalism in his first full-time pre-season according to assistant coach Rohan Welsh.
“His professionalism has been brilliant, you can’t fault him in that area,” he told the club website.
“It’s been a real learning curve for him this pre-season. Because he’s such an elite runner, he thinks he needs to run up and back, whereas we need him to play as a key forward.
“We want him to get the ball in the vicinity of the goals and not 100 metres away. He’s in a real learning phase of his footy.”
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