SuperCoach 2016: Top trade, captain tips for Round 12, 2016

ESSENDON players have hit the wall and it’s time to cut them loose. Plus this week’s top trade and captain tips and what to do with Aaron Hall?

Essendon cheapies Mitch Brown (left) and Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti (centre) are running out of steam. Picture: Colleen Petch.

HOMER Simpson was on to something with his ruthless tactics as a pee wee football coach.

In a heartless post-training outburst the cartoon buffoon cut a swathe through his low-on-talent squad, and it’s time to do the same with our Essendon players.

The top-ups have been terrific in tough circumstances, but the crashlanding has come. It’s time to take a broom through the wreckage and build towards SuperCoach perfection.

SCROLL DOWN FOR THIS WEEK’S BEST TRADE AND CAPTAIN PICKS

Homer said this was the easiest part of any coach’s job, so let’s give it a go.

“Mitch Brown is cut, Matt Dea is cut. Darcy Parish is gone.

“Tippa, I like your hustle. That’s why it was so hard to cut you.”

Of course, not all these Bombers can be axed this week. But Brown or Dea certainly should be in favour of bubble boy Sam Collins (Fremantle).

Collins pumped out 100 points last week and will rise by about $75,000 after he plays the Lions tomorrow.

And coach John Worsfold revealed that Tipungwuti is at risk of injury given his workloads and hasn’t trained fully in a month.

Tippa has been a SuperCoach superstar, but in his first year of AFL the legs are getting heavy.

He’s reflective of his side, too. Losing margins like Essendon’s last week will become the norm in the run home, and that translates to minimal fantasy fun.

Against the Dockers seven players failed to crack 50 and only A-grade midfielder Zach Merrett produced a worthy score.

And players brought in from this point forward must be rolled-gold stars. Keepers. Men you want fighting for the SuperCoach flag come Round 23.

Friday #SuperCoach formguide update: Avg points each team concede to opposition per position https://t.co/OCAyPIZT0p pic.twitter.com/OV30xnwziZ

— SuperCoach AFL (@Supercoach) June 10, 2016

That’s why we are drawn to Tom Rockliff. He’s a SuperCoach warrior and is fresh from a 204-point bonanza.

Rocky’s influence despite recording 48 disposals might have been questioned on radio and in the votes, but his SuperCoach impact was as strong as we’ve seen in some time.

He’s at $500,000 and will most likely be at nearly $600,000 in a fortnight. The question mark on Rockliff is those troublesome hamstrings, but it’s a risk worth taking.

I’ve flung axed Sun Aaron Hall from attack to the midfield and then punted him for the Lions’ leader.

And Rocky’s little midfield mate Jarrad Jansen looked OK in debut last week, too, wearing Jonathan Brown’s 16.

There’s your bubble watch for next week, the first of three wretched bye rounds.

Do’h.

Darcy Parish will find the going harder in the second half of the season.

JUMP ON

Tom Rockliff

The Lions skipper has had his injury worries over the past 12 months but put them behind him with a mammoth 204 against the Blues. Normally we’d say don’t expect those scores every week but Rocky has a history of going on huge scoring runs including the end of last year when he scored 135, 115, 145, 122, 146 and 152 over the final six rounds. At $500,400, he’s nearly $50k cheaper than Round 1 — and we thought he was a bargain then. One word of caution — keep a trade up your sleeve in case he breaks down again.

Sam Collins

The Freo defender is about to burst out of the bubble when he plays his third game this weekend. Collins scored 100 against Essendon after a 59 in game one and is projected to jump in value by $75,000 after facing the Lions. Perfect downgrade option for a burnt-out Essendon rookie.

Jack Trengove

Speaking of injury risks, this guy has barely played in two years because of repeated foot issues but his comeback was meticulous and he looked at home in his first game back at AFL level last weekend after dominating for weeks in the VFL. Risky to jump a week early but if you need cash in the midfield he looks a safe option.

Tom Rockliff was back to his huge scoring best against Carlton. Picture: Darren England

JUMP OFF

Mitch Brown

Once the most popular player in SuperCoach, Mitch has fallen to No.14 and that ranking is about to plummet. After scores of 46 and 29 in the past two weeks he has to score 99 against the Hawks to avoid a big drop in price. Has done his job.

Matt Dea

The mid-season revival is over. Dea followed up his 126 against St Kilda with scores of 60 and 48 and now his breakeven is even higher than Brown’s at 121. Has reached his maximum value at $383,400 - time to make the most of it.

Aaron Hall

Massive fall from grace for one of the top-scoring forwards early in the year who now finds himself in the NEAFL to work on some aspects of his game. A disaster for more than 82,000 SuperCoach owners who have seen Hall produce a meagre 68 average over his past three games, including a season-low 52 last round. If you can switch Hall in the midfield, he’s almost a straight swap for Rockliff. But with the Suns’ bye next week it might be a wait and see approach — if he doesn’t return in Round 14 it’s time to go.

Aaron Hall has been sent back to the NEAFL. Picture: David Clark

CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN

Tom Rockliff v Fremantle

If you take the plunge on Rocky this week, why not go all in and put the C on him? Coming off a 204 and with scores of 158 and 170 in his past two games against Fremantle, it all points to an immediate payoff.

Gary Ablett v Richmond

Why did we ever doubt the Little Master? Ablett is back in a big way with 143 and 121 in his past two games and he won’t have any fears about playing Richmond with scores of 140, 120 and 133 in his past three against them.

Dan Hannebery v GWS Giants

The No.2 scorer in SuperCoach this year still hasn’t dropped below 100 points, which is a remarkable achievement. He looks good for another big score this week against GWS, a team he piled on 125 against in Round 3 and 136 last year.

Dustin Martin v Gold Coast

After being up for five weeks Dusty had a downer last round with a 74, but expect him to bounce back against the Suns. He scored 123 against them at the MCG last year and averages 115 in his past three.

Patrick Dangerfield v North Melbourne

Has scored below 120 only once in his past seven games, making him a safe pick. Also scored 123 the last time he faced the Kangaroos.

Todd Goldstein v Geelong

Goldy has scored 154 and 145 in his past two games against Geelong. We just need him to play!

OTHER PERFECT 9 TIPS

There’s every chance a Hawthorn player will score big against Essendon on Friday night, the question is which one? These teams haven’t met since Round 13 last year, when Jarryd Roughead scored 150, Liam Shiels posted 132 and Jack Gunston 108. Cyril Rioli has scored at least 100 in his past three against the Bombers.

Matthew Boyd and Mitch Wallis were joint top-scorers with 137 the last time the Bulldogs and Port Adelaide met. Chad Wingard has found form with three straight 100+ scores and scored 105 last time against the Dogs.

Heath Shaw averages 136 in his past three games against the Swans.

Carlton and St Kilda haven’t played since Round 4 last year, when Patrick Cripps scored 172. Bryce Gibbs scored 153 against the Saints in 2014.

Matt Priddis averages 109 in his past three against the Eagles, including a 128 last year. Nic Naitanui scored 132 in that game.

THE PERFECT 9 JACKPOT THIS WEEK IS $80,000! DON’T MISS OUT

CHAMPION DATA MATCH-UPS

After notching its first win of the season last round against Essendon, Fremantle should make it two in a row this week against Brisbane. Considering the Lions give up the second-most points to midfielders of any side behind the Bombers, bumper scores are expected for Dockers midfielders this week.

One player that continues to pile on the scores is Lachie Neale, adding a further 138 points to his season tally last round.

He ranks fourth overall for total points scored among midfielder’s behind Scott Pendlebury, Dan Hannebery and Patrick Dangerfield.

At the opposite end, the Giants concede the fewest points to midfielder’s and this week they will set themselves for a clash against cross-town rivals Sydney.

When the two sides last met in Round 3 they were unable to contain the Swans, with Luke Parker, Josh Kennedy and Dan Hannebery all exceeding 120 points. Tom Mitchell also got among the points, exceeding the 100-point mark.

Originally published as SuperCoach 2016: Top trade, captain tips for Round 12, 2016