AFL SuperCoach 2024: Rating the best bargain picks for new season

SuperCoaches have finally got their hands on the 2024 prices – and there are a host of standout bargains. See our verdict on who the best ones to cram in your early team.

Is Zac Williams the SuperCoach bargain of 2024? Picture: David Crosling

There’s no better time than the SuperCoach off-season.

While we all love playing Australia’s favourite fantasy football game, this is the period of the year where no one is wrong.

Every potential bargain can be assessed, every pre-season training note analysed and ultimately, those opinions won’t be proven right or wrong for months.

One of the biggest talking points every off-season is the underpriced players every team should pick.

There are a stack of great options for 2024, headlined by returning Blue Zac Williams and breakout Lion Keidean Coleman.

This list, which coincides with the launch of the 2024 team picker for SuperCoach Plus subscribers, was meant to feature 11 names, but I struggled to cut if off at 16.

Some names will fall off the list as pre-season reveals more about roles, fitness and the pecking order at clubs.

But the list could also grow as players reveal themselves as pre-season bolters.

It’s going to be a big few months as we prepare for the 2024 season.

And with the wealth of bargains on offer, I can’t wait to get started.

Zac Williams is looking to shake off two years of injury pain. Picture: David Crosling

SUPERCOACH’S BIGGEST BARGAINS OF 2024

1. Zac Williams (Carlton) $216,100 DEF

The injury-plagued Blue and former Giant has endured a difficult two years, only featuring in nine games after his entire 2023 campaign was wiped out by a pre-season ACL injury. Williams’ lack of game time in the past two seasons means SuperCoaches can snap him up for more than $200k less than he was due to start last year and for a discount of more than $330k on his peak starting price from 2020. Despite the obvious injury concerns, Williams has not averaged less than 77 points since 2015 and looks likely to slot straight back into Carlton’s best 22. When he last played in 2022, he started the year with a four-game run of 44, 96, 107 and 135 KFC SuperCoach points. If he goes anywhere near that, his price will be $400k+ before you know it.

VERDICT: Will be one of the most-picked players of 2024. Essentially a rookie price for a player who has averaged 84 or more five times.

Keidean Coleman was one of the heroes of Brisbane Lions’ run to the Grand Final.

2. Keidean Coleman (Brisbane Lions) $398,800 DEF

You might re-call Coleman’s first half in last season’s Grand Final — 22 disposals (19 kicks), eight marks, four intercepts, three tackles. The 23-year-old was on track for the Norm Smith Medal before a quieter second half. Coleman has all the traits of a SuperCoach star in the making. He kicks the ball well, intercepts at will, is trusted with kick-outs and will become the general down back after Daniel Rich’s retirement. After successive scores of 127 and 127 in the preliminary final and Grand Final, he will be high on the priority list for many SuperCoaches — and understandably so. Brisbane’s round 2 bye isn’t ideal, but how often do you get a potential season keeper for under $400k?

VERDICT: Don’t miss out, even if you wait until round 3 after Brisbane Lions have had their bye.

Brodie Grundy is set to be a popular selection after landing in Sydney as the No. 1 ruck.

3. Brodie Grundy (Sydney) $481,900 RUC

This is the first time Grundy has started a SuperCoach season priced at under $500k since 2016. That’s down to the failed experiment of him partnering Max Gawn which led to the All-Australian spending a chunk of 2023 playing in the VFL for Casey. SuperCoaches should be buoyed by the three-game stretch where Gawn missed and Grundy averaged 138 SuperCoach points. Gawn was hurt in the opening minutes of Melbourne’s round 2 game against Brisbane, a match in which Grundy had 12 disposals and 45 hit-outs. In the next three weeks as the Demons’ No. 1 big man, he averaged 20.3 disposals (season average 14.3), 27.3 hit-outs (20.5), 5.6 clearances (2.9) and 4.3 inside-50s (2.7). Grundy will step straight in as Sydney’s No. 1 ruckman after Tom Hickey’s retirement, playing at the SCG where stoppages are often at a premium.

VERDICT: It’s really just a matter of which ruckman you pair with him — and for many, it will be Gawn. Set and forget might be back in 2024.

James Harmes has crossed to Whitten Oval. Picture: Michael Klein

4. James Harmes (Western Bulldogs) $258,300 MID-FWD

SuperCoaches are going to have to get creative up forward after a host of stars including Zak Butters, Connor Rozee and Tim Taranto become MID only. That means entertaining cut-price options such as Harmes, who averaged a career-low 46.2 last season. In the seven years prior his worst SuperCoach campaign was an average of 64.2 in the Covid-affected 2020 season. Therefore, you can make a strong argument Harmes is underpriced by at least 20 points. Who knows where he will play under Luke Beveridge, especially considering the Bulldogs coach’s love of flipping the magnets. But the opportunity is there for him to resume his role as a midfield bull after Bailey Smith’s ACL injury and his DPP status is sure to pique the interest of plenty of SuperCoaches.

VERDICT: High on the pre-season watchlist. Any hint of a midfield role and he should be in your team at F4-F6.

Tom Lynch battles Dustin Martin at Richmond training. Picture: Michael Klein

5. Tom Lynch (Richmond) $287,300 FWD

Key forwards are traditionally a no-go zone in SuperCoach. But recent history has taught us there is generally 1-2 underpriced options every year and if you choose right, it goes a long way to a strong overall ranking. Take 2022, when Charlie Curnow was $224k. He averaged 86.1, won a Coleman Medal and peaked at almost $260k more than his starting price. Or Joe Daniher in 2021 — $233k starting price, 82.7 average and a peak price of $432k. Both Curnow and Daniher were coming off long-term injury layoffs, similar to Lynch who didn’t feature after round 4 in 2023. If he can get his troublesome foot right, Lynch will be the focal point of Adem Yze’s attack. The only season he averaged less than 64 was his debut campaign in 2011. In his last full game against opening round opponent Gold Coast, Lynch scored 126. He also managed 93 points against Carlton in 2023.

VERDICT: No matter how successful you think the first year of Richmond’s rebuild under Yze will be, a player of Lynch’s quality at under $300k has to be considered. Just be prepared to jump off when his price peaks after a few big games.

Nick Coffield is hoping to kickstart his career after two injury-hit seasons. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

6. Nick Coffield (Western Bulldogs) $123,900 DEF

Another player on this list whose career has been cruelled by injury. The former Saint and top-10 draft pick has not featured at AFL level since round 23, 2021 when he scored 117 SuperCoach points from 21 disposals. Bulldogs list and recruiting boss Sam Power touted Coffield for a role in defence as he tries to reignite his career at Whitten Oval. Coffield score above 60 SuperCoach points in 18 of his 32 games across 2020-2021, a strike rate of about 56 per cent. If he can produce similar as a Bulldog as a rookie price, SuperCoaches will be thrilled. He averaged 83 ranking points in four VFL matches in 2023.

VERDICT: A lock for your defensive bench if he’s in the Bulldogs’ opening team.

Josh Gibcus did not play in 2023 after a promising debut season. Picture: Michael Klein

7. Josh Gibcus (Richmond) $150,700 DEF

The Tigers’ No. 9 draft pick from 2021 has never been this cheap in KFC SuperCoach. Gibcus started 2022 at $171k and made more than $150k for coaches who stuck with him until his price peaked. Gibcus has a nightmare run in 2023 with a serious hamstring injury then several complications which eventually ended his season without playing a game. He is a player with huge scope in SuperCoach due to his intercepting prowess. He averaged four intercepts a game during his debut AFL campaign and went at 78 per cent by foot. In his draft year, Gibcus averaged eight intercepts a game.

VERDICT: Thousands picked him at D6 a few years ago and we’ll probably end up doing the same in 2024 if he’s fit.

Jhye Clark should get more senior opportunities in 2024. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

8. Jhye Clark (Geelong) $123,900 MID

The local star Geelong snared in the Jack Bowes trade is ready to step up as the Cats transition toward a more youthful team. Clark played six VFL games last year and although his numbers weren’t huge, he registered 29 disposals and five marks in a game against Coburg. The No. 7 draft pick only featured once for Geelong as the sub in 2023, finishing with six disposals and five tackles against Richmond. Surely more opportunities beckon after the Cats missed finals last season.

VERDICT: Lock him in on your midfield bench.

James Jordon has joined Sydney. Picture: Michael Klein

9. James Jordon (Sydney) $275,500 FWD-MID

Sometimes SuperCoach works in cycles. In 2021, plenty of coaches jumped on Jordon when he made an impressive start to his career as a Demon. Three years later, the midfielder is again a player of interest after moving to Sydney in search of more senior opportunities. The Swans were bullish about Jordon after securing him as a free agent, saying they expected him to add to both their inside and outside midfield options. The key point which makes Jordon SuperCoach relevant, however, is his DPP status. In a year where there only appear a few standout forward picks, finding value options such as James Harmes (see above) and Jordon will be important.

VERDICT: Sydney doesn’t want for midfield rotations now with Taylor Adams and Jordon coming in. Watch Jordon’s role in pre-season and monitor the injury reports out of Sydney because if 1-2 first-choice on-ballers go down, he’ll be near the front of the queue for a lead role.

10. Touk Miller (Gold Coast) $545,500 MID

Can someone really be classed as a bargain at almost $550k? In Miller’s case, yes. We’re talking about a player who was $662k to start 2023, $677k in 2022 and has averaged more than 120 points in two of the past three seasons. Getting an uber premium for less than $550k is insane value. Due to injury, role and various other factors, Miller never hit those same heights in the 13 games he played in 2023. But at 27 years of age, which should be about the peak of his powers, it would take a brave SuperCoach to suggest Miller can’t get back there.

VERDICT: Surely Damien Hardwick will be doing everything he can to get Miller back to being one of the league’s most dominant endurance midfielders. Regardless of the early bye, don’t hesitate to start him. He’ll be one of my first picked.

Jeremy Sharp will be in the mix to fill Liam Henry’s wing role. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

11. Jeremy Sharp (Fremantle) $123,900 MID

You know how I keep referring to 2021? That was the year Sharp played his way into a host of SuperCoach teams and averaged 65.4 in nine matches. That included a run of 76, 79, 57, 115 and 96 in consecutive weeks. But after those five games he only played another 16 games for the Suns and didn’t feature at all in 2023. He’s crossed to Fremantle as a delisted free agent and will be one of the contenders for the wing role left vacant by Liam Henry’s move to St Kilda.

VERDICT: Monitor the wing pecking order during Fremantle pre-season. It’s rare to get a player heading into their fifth season for a rookie price.

Could Ash Johnson step up in SuperCoach with Dan McStay out long-term? Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

12. Ash Johnson (Collingwood) $277,900 FWD

Coming off a season where he averaged 49.7 points, how can Johnson be a bargain? Well, bargain might be a stretch, but there’s no doubt he is underpriced. The 26-year-old will have a prominent role to play in Collingwood’s forward line after Dan McStay’s knee injury. That combination of job security — and the likelihood he becomes a greater focal point in attack — point to Johnson boosting his SuperCoach average in 2024. The question is though, by how much? With a lead role in a strong team, a 70-80 average should be achievable.

VERDICT: One for those who like a point-of-difference selection. I’d be inclined to watch his form/role in the opening two games of SuperCoach before committing though.

13. Chris Burgess (Adelaide) $129,100 FWD

The interest in the VFL’s leading goalkicker of the past few years will be whether he’s needed to plug a gap in Adelaide’s injury-hit defence. After losing Nick Murray to an ACL and Tom Doedee in free agency, the Crows will likely consider using the versatile Burgess in the backline. That could have twofold benefits in SuperCoach. Scoring is generally more consistent playing behind the ball as Champion Data values intercepts highly. And he would likely be a DEF-FWD in the first round of DPP additions, giving your team greater flexibility.

VERDICT: Keen to see where the Crows think he fits. If it’s as a forward, then it’s a hard pass.

21-03-2023 Geelong Cats training at GMHBA Stadium. Cam Guthrie. Picture: Brad Fleet

14. Cameron Guthrie (Geelong) $420,800 MID

A toe injury restricted Guthrie to six games in 2023 and after three years averaging 99 or better in SuperCoach, he dipped to 83.7. At 31 years of age, the most likely scenario would be that Guthrie’s best scoring is behind him and 2021 — when he averaged 113 — remains the peak of his powers in SuperCoach. But honestly, who would right off a player of his calibre? If he gets a full pre-season in, or close to, and is deployed in midfield then he’s still good enough to push his average back toward triple figures.

VERDICT: Not sure it’s a risk we’ll need to take with so many quality midfield picks. Different story if he was $320k like Jacob Hopper, Dom Sheed and James Worpel last year.

Tom Brown debuted in round 24 for Richmond. Picture: Michael Klein

15. Tom Brown (Richmond) $154,200 DEF

SuperCoaches collectively cringed when Richmond’s round 24 team was named and Tom Brown was in it. The No. 17 pick from the 2021 draft looked like he would start 2024 at basement rookie price until Andrew McQualter handed him his debut. Brown looked assured too, tallying 16 disposals, six marks and six intercepts. It seemed certain he would be one that got away, but at $154k he should still be in your defensive considerations. He went at 71 per cent by foot in the VFL in 2023 and averaged 77 ranking points.

VERDICT: Whether you need him will probably come down to how many defensive rookies priced $123k or under play early.

Will Finlay Macrae be the player to step up after Taylor Adams left Collingwood? Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

16. Finlay Macrae (Collingwood) $152,600 FWD

One of the factors SuperCoaches should be watching every off-season is the collateral left after a star moves clubs. Taylor Adams joining Sydney might be what finally allows Collingwood to unleash Finlay Macrae in his preferred midfield role. Macrae’s only senior performance was as sub in round 24, when he had seven disposals and laid eight tackles in 42 minutes against Essendon. He has averaged 106 and 102 ranking points in the past two VFL seasons and importantly is listed as a forward in SuperCoach.

VERDICT: Job security might still be a problem at the reigning premier, but he will be hard to resist if he's in the team early in the campaign.

Originally published as AFL SuperCoach 2024: Rating the best bargain picks for new season