AFL SuperCoach 2025: The Phantom’s ultimate premium upgrade guide by position

Stuck on how to finish your SuperCoach team? Or just can’t decide who to target this week? To help, The Phantom predicts his top players in every position for the run home.

The bye rounds are here, upgrade season is in full swing and there are premium bargains galore.

But who – and what – should take priority in SuperCoach?

To help you answer that question, The Phantom – currently ranked 452 overall – predicts his top players in every position for the run home.

Don’t start doubting Lachie Whitfield now. Picture: James Wiltshire/AFL Photos

DEFENDERS

1. Lachie Whitfield (GWS, $566,400)

Average: 113.5

Yes, the forward-line stint, no kick-in, and resulting 82-point score last week are concerning but it’s still 21 SuperCoach tons in the past 24 games for the Giants star. And the two other sub-100 scores were 97 and 86. Unless coach Adam Kingsley comes out and suggests a more permanent role change, he’s still the No.1. And after saying on Thursday he still “likes him as a half-back”, that probably won’t happen.

2. Jack Sinclair (StK, $573,300)

Average: 116.2

This guy won’t be far behind, though. Sinclair is back to his best with 143, 124 and 131 in the past three weeks, roaming around in a SuperCoach-friendly role, mainly behind the ball, and playing on from all 12 kick-ins. Melbourne this week – another side, like West Coast and Gold Coast in previous rounds – that ranks in the top-six for SuperCoach points conceded to general defenders. Still available for $19k less than his starting price.

3. Bailey Dale (WB, $552,200)

Average: 108.5

Couldn’t back up his huge 49-disposal, 144-point performance against the Cats down the highway. But he stood up late when the Bulldogs made a charge, proving he can win the ball in other ways. From here, the Dogs play nine of their final 12 matches at Marvel Stadium, including match-ups against St Kilda, Richmond and North Melbourne in the next six weeks – that’s why I’ve got him this high.

Dayne Zorko has one of the highest ceilings in SuperCoach. Picture: Russell Freeman/AFL Photos

4. Dayne Zorko (Bris, $575,400)

Average: 112.5

He added another $24k to his price tag after after 118 against the Hawks – but anything under $600k might still be good buying. Zorko has four scores of 130 or more this season and it could soon be more with the Lions hosting the Bombers on Thursday night.

5. Max Holmes (Geel $519,200)

Average: 104

Speaking of a softer fixture, Holmes and the Cats probably have the best run home of all – West Coast this week, six games at GMHBA Stadium, two matches against Richmond and trips to the MCG and Marvel to take on Essendon and North Melbourne respectively. So a number of big Holmes scores – he has the ceiling – could cancel out his trouble with consistency.

6. Harry Sheezel (NM, $556,900)

Average: 100.4

Less centre bounces than the week before, and less of the ball against Collingwood. The role is a concern, sure, but I’m not writing him off just yet – remember what he did last year after SuperCoaches traded him out following a role change?

Not far behind: Connor Rozee, Lachie Ash, Jordan Clark

MIDFIELDERS

1. Marcus Bontempelli (WB, $643,300)

Average: 129

Not a lot of explanation needed here. Bontempelli would sit at No. 1 even if the Bulldogs didn’t have a great Marvel run post-bye. Not going to get much cheaper, which makes a standard upgrade difficult. A sideways bye trade, or injury, might be your only way there.

2. Zak Butters (Port, $585,900)

Average: 118.4

Could be the buy of the SuperCoach season after round 12, if Giant Toby Bedford can restrict the star midfielder in the Power’s first appearance after the bye. Even a low SuperCoach ton will see Butters’ price fall by $40k – that’s when you should pounce ahead a three-game run at Adelaide Oval.

3. Andrew Brayshaw (Frem, $622,900)

Average: 121.9

Brayshaw has fallen back to the pack after failing to reach three figures in three of his past four matches. But there’s been significant opposition attention, and still only a low of 87. The Dockers host North Melbourne, Essendon and St Kilda at home after the round 13 bye. Yes, in a row.

4. Tom Liberatore (WB, $595,200)

Average: 119.2

A 31-disposal, 18-contested possession, 129-point performance against the Cats made it 10 SuperCoach tons from 11 matches this season. And, importantly, it was Liberatore’s seventh score of 120 or more. The answer to the age old SuperCoach question of whether you can have too many Bulldogs is no.

5. Zach Merrett (Ess, $553,300)

Average: 112.8

Back with a bang, as predicted, against the Tigers. Merrett dominated through the midfield and then went behind the ball to make sure of victory – like he did against North Melbourne earlier in the year – in the final term. And he did it in style, tallying 13 disposals, six marks, and even one kick-in to finish on 156. Good news is Essendon plays Richmond again in five weeks.

How big will Lachie Neale go on Thursday night? Picture: Albert Perez/Getty Images

6. Lachie Neale (Bris, $571,300)

Average: 107.4

Sure, there have been four sub-100 scores, but Neale’s 143-point performance against the Hawks was the Brownlow Medallist’s fourth score in excess of 130. And it would take a brave person to bet against Neale – who has scored 166, 109 and 198 in his past three games against Essendon – and Brisbane not improving on the march towards September.

7. Nick Daicos (Coll, $536,000)

Average: 107.4

If there haven’t been clangers early in the game, forcing Daicos to play catch-up in SuperCoach, there’s been a 50 metre penalty or free kick late, bringing his score to a halt. But he’s threatening – and the SuperCoach dam wall might burst soon with St Kilda, West Coast and Carlton to come after intriguing games against the Hawks and Dees in the next two. He’s great buying at the price.

8. Jordan Dawson (Adel, $556,600)

Average: 109.1

Back-to-back 130s and the Crows skipper is flying. Might run into Swan James Jordon this weekend, but he’s one I’m targeting after Adelaide’s bye – and before the round 16 clash with Richmond at the MCG.

Not far behind: Ed Richards, George Hewett, Noah Anderson

RUCKS

Max Gawn (Melb, $731,600)

Tristan Xerri (NM, $731,200)

Daylight.

Enough said.

Tristan Xerri has a five-round average of 153. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

FORWARDS

1. Bailey Smith (Geel, $621,600)

Average: 120.1

Only Gawn, Xerri, Bontempelli and Brayshaw average more SuperCoach points than Smith this year. And giving how hard the new Cat’s running power is proving to stop, that might not change too much. The most-owned player in SuperCoach for good reason.

2. Christian Petracca (Melb, $541,300)

Average: 101.3

The Melbourne star has now scored 92 or more in the past eight games to well and truly put the slow start behind him. Since bottoming out at 481k, Petracca, who has recorded six goal assists in the past three matches, has averaged 115 points per game.

Izak Rankine hasn’t scored a SuperCoach ton in three games. Picture: James Elsby/AFL Photos

3. Izak Rankine (Adel, $520,900)

Average: 103.1

Rankine has failed to reach three figures in the past three matches, but, importantly, with a low of only 87. And giving his scoring power and ceiling, that floor will be key to his final standing in the top six.

4. Nic Martin (Ess, $568,800)

Average: 106

Do you watch Buy, Hold, Sell every week? If so, you might have jumped on the high-scoring Bomber ahead of the Richmond clash. But, don’t worry, it’s not just about last week. Essendon face the Tigers again in round 18 and another big Martin score there – coupled with one or two other spike games – could be enough to keep him inside the top six, regardless of his consistency.

Anyone go Nic? 🚀 #SuperCoachhttps://t.co/THDEJVr81k

— The Phantom (@ThePhantomSC) May 23, 2025

5. Chad Warner (Syd, $531,600)

Average: 98.6

An almost month for the star Swan. Warner has scored 140 an 126 against GWS and Carlton, respectively, but failed to crack three figures against the Bombers and Demons, despite seemingly similar raw stats. The key? Hitting targets by foot. I don’t think he’s far away from a barnstorming run, making his price a good one if you’re still a non-owner.

6. Luke Jackson (Freo, $584,000)

Average: 118.6

This feels low. And it might be come year’s end. But it all depends on Sean Darcy. Or is that a myth now? Let’s revisit next week.

Originally published as AFL SuperCoach 2025: The Phantom’s ultimate premium upgrade guide by position