SuperCoach AFL: The stats to target to find a premium scorer
What is it that sets the best SuperCoach scorers apart from the rest? We’ve broken down the key stats that make a premium scorer in every position and who to watch for in 2024.
You don’t need to be a stats nerd to be a good SuperCoach.
Only a basic understanding of the numbers required is required to spot a SuperCoach premium in the making.
For example, there are seven key traits which make a great SuperCoach defender, such as their intercept ability, kick-to-handball ratio and disposal efficiency.
In the midfield, being able to win your own ball, create clearances and amass tackles are important.
And for ruckmen, hit-outs to advantage stand out above all else as the most important stat for SuperCoach scoring.
Here are the key traits you should be looking out for when scouring the stats sheet to find a SuperCoach star.
DEFENDERS
Intercepts + Marks + Disposal efficiency + Spoils + Metres gained + Kick-to-handball ratio + kick outs.
EXAMPLES
Tom Stewart (SuperCoach average 113.7): Ranked third in the competition for average marks (8.3), equal 10th for intercept marks (3.4), third for intercept possessions (8.5), 14th for kicking efficiency among top-200 disposal getters (81.7), top-20 for kick-to-handball ratio (4.1) and had 89 effective kick-ins.
James Sicily (SuperCoach average 114.1): Ranked first in the AFL for marks per game (9.9), equal eighth for intercept marks (3.5), second for intercept possessions (9.4), first for contested possessions (8.1) among key defenders and had a kicking efficiency of 83.1 per cent. Ranked second at Hawthorn for kick-outs behind Blake Hardwick.
2024 PLAYER TO WATCH: Connor Budarick — After he returned from injury late last season, Budarick’s kick-to-handball ratio of 4.8 ranked ninth in the league. Budarick had 35 disposals in two games, of which 29 (83 per cent) were kicks. A $301k defender, Budarick has a career kicking efficiency of 70 per cent and averages four intercepts a game. He has been earmarked for a prominent role in defence by Damien Hardwick.
MIDFIELDERS
Contested possessions + Score involvements + Disposal efficiency + Ground Ball Gets + Clearances + Tackles + Kick-to-handball ratio
EXAMPLES
Marcus Bontempelli (SuperCoach average 129.7): Ranked fourth (14.4) for contested possessions, fifth for clearances (7.6), equal 16th for ground ball gets (8.4), fourth for score involvements (7.7), fifth for tackles (7.5). Was slightly let down by disposal efficiency of 67.9 per cent.
Christian Petracca (SuperCoach average 119.5): Ranked equal seventh for contested possessions (14), third for ground ball gets (10.3), first for score involvements (8.4) and equal 17th for clearances (6).
2024 PLAYER TO WATCH: George Wardlaw — Despite low time on ground, the young Roo averaged 7.4 contested possessions, 4.4 ground ball gets, 4.1 clearances and 3.3 score involvements a game. Some are hoping for a second-year premium breakout to match Clayton Oliver but Wardlaw’s numbers are below Oliver’s debut season (9.5 contested possessions, 7.2 ground ball gets, 4 clearances and 5.2 score involvements).
RUCKS
Hit-outs to advantage, clearances, contested possessions, marks
EXAMPLES
Jarrod Witts (SuperCoach average 106.1): No surprise that Witt’s scoring spike in the past two years has coincided with career-best hitout to advantage numbers. He averaged 13 hit-outs to advantage a game in 2022 and 12.4 (ranked first) in 2023. He ranked 11th among rucks for contested possessions (8.6) and equal fifth for clearances (4.3).
Kieren Briggs (SuperCoach average 108.9): A more robust ruckman whose SuperCoach success was largely down to clearances (average 6.5, ranked #1 among rucks) and contested possessions (10.6).
2024 PLAYER TO WATCH: Matt Flynn — The new Eagle ranked seventh for hit-outs to advantage last season with 9.7 a game, two more than Max Gawn. Flynn also averaged 3.7 clearances and 7.4 contested possessions but was one of the lowest-ranked ruckmen for marks per game (1.7).
FORWARDS
Contested marks, Goals, Score involvements, Ground ball gets.
EXAMPLES
CHARLIE CURNOW: Most SuperCoaches will target midfielders listed FWD, but Curnow averaged 97.6 last year — ranked third of this year’s forwards. He led the AFL in contested marks (2.6 a game), was ranked 14th for marks per game (6.9), ranked seventh for score involvements (7.6) and scored big points from goals.
TOBY GREENE: A different type of forward, Greene picked up most of his points last year from score involvements (8.2, ranked #2 in AFL), contested possessions (7.7), ground ball gets (4.9) and 10.4 effective disposals a game.
2024 PLAYER TO WATCH: Tom Lynch — The returning Tiger averaged 2.5 contested marks a game last year (ranked No. 2 in AFL), plus five score involvements a match. Lynch has averaged 6.5 score involvements a match or more for most of his career, so has big room for improvement from a low starting price ($287k) which is discounted due to injury.
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