SuperCoach AFL 2025: Experts reveal their trades for round 4

Ryan Maric or Bailey Humphrey? Christian Moraes or Riley Bice? And what do we do with Jason Horne-Francis? See all our experts’ moves for round 4.

How do you fit five trades into three?

In another huge week of trades in SuperCoach, we have to decide between exciting rookies and promising cash cows – while fixing other issues in our teams before prices get out of reach, and with one week of best 18 scoring left.

See what our experts are doing this week below.

AL PATON

The sensible/boring version:

IN: Christian Moraes, Riley Bice, Ryan Maric

OUT: Lucas Camporeale, Ben Paton, Finn O’Sullivan

The YOLO version:

IN: Christian Moraes, Ryan Maric, Matt Rowell

OUT: Finn O’Sullivan, Xavier Lindsay, Jason Horne-Francis

We’ve learned over many years the smart way to play SuperCoach is to back your premiums, even if they drop a few bad scores, and focus on getting the best rookies and cash cows to fund those big upgrades in a few weeks’ time. And yet ...

There’s also something to be said for getting points on the board now. And in a world of 40 trades, surely we can take a wild swerve off the straight and narrow path occasionally. And, let’s face it, I never wanted Jason Horne-Francis in my team in the first place. I feel somewhat vindicated by his start to the year, but it hasn’t helped much since I’ve also copped those average scores. I do expect him to turn it around at some stage, but I can’t tell you when that will be. And there is a crazy temptation in grabbing Rowell on the bubble even after he derailed my team last year. We’ve known since his debut season he is a SuperCoach scoring machine. Can he do it for a full season? If he does, I don’t want to miss out.

So, I’m leaning to option two here. The thing I like the least about it is having to trade Xavier Lindsay, who I think will be a great money maker despite an injury interruption. Unfortunately, trading Lucas Camporeale doesn’t give me enough cash to get Moraes (BE -79), Rowell and Maric, who has an amazing role in West Coast’s defence. Although Mitch Knevitt does, so if he’s the sub again, he is out the door.

Matt Rowell has the best average of any SuperCoach midfielder. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

THE PHANTOM

IN: Ryan Maric, Christian Moraes, Riley Bice

OUT: Xavier Lindsay, Finn O’Sullivan, Ben Paton

The three easiest trades I’ve made in SuperCoach this year. The news Mitch Knevitt is out has just landed so he could make way instead of Lindsay – but it’s the same theory. Maric has taken 14 kick-ins and recorded 39 effective disposals playing in defence over the past two rounds, and that was alongside Jeremy McGovern, who is now out through injury. As good as Bailey Humphrey is going to be, Maric’s role has him cleary ahead in SuperCoach. At worst, he’s a stepping stone to a fallen premium in a month, who improves the bottom-end of my best 22.

TIM MICHELL

IN: Ryan Maric, Christian Moraes, Bailey Smith

OUT: Sam De Koning, Finn O’Sullivan, Mitch Knevitt

I am still tossing up whether I can get Bailey Humphrey instead of Moraes because my team needs every point it can get right now. But I like Maric more than Humphrey because of his filthy role in the West Coast backline considering the Eagles have conceded 91 scoring shots in three games and Jeremy McGovern is injured. So it’s whether I can somehow find an extra $160k to turn Moraes into Humphrey. Maybe someone like Jason Horne-Francis will be involved? Either way, I’ll grab Humphrey next week if he impresses against Adelaide. This will put me two boosts down, which is one less than I had used at this time last year.

CHLOE WILLIAMS

IN: Ryan Maric, Riley Bice

OUT: Sam De Koning, Conor Stone

It’s a bit rough on Stone, who has been decent and still has a relatively favourable Break Even, but I need someone to swap for Maric. Ideally, it would be a DEF rookie, but I need the money from SDK to get to Maric. I would love to grab Moraes too, but positionally, it won’t work unless I boot Knevitt, who I’m hoping will be back in the Cats’ 22 this week. If Lucas Camporeale isn’t selected, I will move him on instead.

This does mean playing three DEF rookies for this final week of best 18 ... but I will have upwards of $200k to spend next week, maybe on Humphrey if he excels once more.

Ryan Maric took nine kick-ins in round 3. Picture: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images

HAYDN ‘DOS’ KENNY

IN: Riley Bice, Christian Moraes, Matt Rowell

OUT: Sam De Koning, Sam Lalor, Finn O’Sullivan

Unfortunately, I can’t trade Chris Scott out of the Geelong coaching box. Instead, SDK is a sacrifice I am willing to make. While DEF-RUC status will be a handy addition, I think a rookie in Bice will provide similar output at a much cheaper price tag. Sam Lalor and FOS are future SuperCoach studs, but for now I bid a fond farewell. In comes Christian Moraes for some fast money making, and the Red Hulk... Matt Rowell! The SUNS are on a rampage and Rowell is in full beast mode. I’ll pick him up as a bona fide top-eight mid while the price is right at just $550k.

MATT FORREST

OUT: Ben Paton, Mitch Knevitt, Isaac Kako

IN: Riley Bice, Bailey Humphrey, Christian Moraes

Bice for Paton is a pretty easy straight swap. Knevitt sub has killed his cash generation, his role from the pre-season hasn’t been the same as the opening rounds of the season. Humphrey has an easy run in the next few weeks and has the midfield role, so he can make cash and score well. Moraes is cemented in Port’s best 22 now, which is great for us. Kako has the bye and while he still has the potential to make some cash, Moraes is a safer pick.

Bailey Smith is high on the target list for non-owners this week. Picture: Albert Perez/AFL Photos via Getty Images

DAN BATTEN

IN: Ryan Maric, Bailey Humphrey, Christian Moraes

OUT: Elijah Tsatas, Mitch Knevitt and Finn O’Sullivan

I had scores of 9, 20, 36 and 43 on-field last week, and we won’t have best 18 scoring to save us from next week. Humphrey and Maric can help improve this area and make bulk cash. Humphrey doesn’t need a lot of the footy to score well in an enhanced midfield role and Maric took nine kick-ins last week on the way to 123 points. I may have to trade away one of my boys to do it, with Knevitt firmly on the chopping block after starting last week as the sub, but it might be Xavier Lindsay instead if Knevitt is in the 22. I don’t feel great about cutting Tsatas on the bubble either following Jye Caldwell’s injury, but it’s worth it to jump on two cash trains before they leave the station.

SIMEON THOMAS-WILSON

IN: Christian Moraes, Ryan Maric, Connor O’Sullivan

OUT: James Leake, Lucas Camporeale, Sam De Koning

This could change if the Blues name Camporeale for the clash against the Pies, but I need to get some cash generation going. Moraes’ role looks nice as does Maric’s, I’ll be keeping a close eye on Bailey Humphrey though. I brought in Bice last week, so my defender options to replace De Koning were limited. I’m wary about Geelong players but O’Sullivan still has a negative Break Even and has scored well.

Finn O’Sullivan is averaging 45 points a game. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

TARQUIN OAKLEY

IN: Christian Moraes, Riley Bice

OUT: Finn O’Sullivan, Ben Paton

Targeting the cash cows again this week. Would’ve liked to hold onto O’Sullivan as I’m sure his breakout game will come as I let him go, but there’s better value out there. Trades could change if Knevitt or Hewett are dropped or sub again.

PATCH

IN: Bailey Smith, Riley Bice ... and maybe Ryan Maric/Christian Moraes/Bailey Humphrey

OUT: Jason Horne-Francis, Lucas Camporeale ... and maybe Elijah Hewett/Mitch Knevitt/Jack Henderson/Finn O’Sullivan

I’m absolutely locked into what I’m doing this week ... and what I’m doing is panicking. Forget being stuck in two minds, I’m torn asunder by indecision. Jason Horne-Francis has sucked us all in and let us down, so he’s out. I don’t think he’s a must-trade, but Bailey Smith is a must-have, as is Riley Bice. And so is Christian Moraes ... and increasingly I’m thinking so is Ryan Maric. As Al refuses to give me a SuperBoost for four trades, I’m gonna have to make a call on just one of them. And that’s if I use a boost at all – cash in the bank from JHF to Smith could come in handy when upgrade season arrives soon alongside some tasty new DPPs.

I’ve decided against Humphrey ... or have I? He’s played against two bad teams for big scores, but has two even worse teams in his next three games. Could he be a top-eight forward by the time byes roll around? Surely not ... unless? Or maybe I stick to my guns and pass on Bailey (Smith, not Humphrey, but also Humphrey I guess) and just bring in the rookies and don’t worry about mid-price options.

No, don’t be silly. Unless...? Hm. Hmmmmm. Or maybe I go the other way? If I ditch Bice and try to find a way to get Humphrey and Smith and Maric the week before we go back to Best 22? What if I were to buy mid-pricers and disguise it as my own guns and rookies strategy? Delightfully devilish, Seymour. Yes, that’ll fix it. Unless ... maybe I shouldn’t be burning through the boosts and just use two trades? Or maybe I should boost to set up my side with cash generation? But then I’ll run out of trades early again, just like last season. Stupid Patches, stupids. So I should use no trades? But we must use tradeses, our teams is bad! Shut up. No, you shut up. Stop it yo— Gah. Maybe if I tinker with it again that will solve it. What does this look like if I trade Sheezel...

Originally published as SuperCoach AFL 2025: Experts reveal their trades for round 4