AFL SuperCoach 2024: The Phantom’s burning questions and round 11 trade advice

Are there any rookie downgrade options? Will Jordon Sweet play? Is Christian Salem the real deal? Do you need to trade? The Phantom answers the big questions ahead of round 11.

Tear it up and throw it all in the bin.

To what might be a surprise to some, no, I am not talking about my SuperCoach team.

I am talking about the perfectly crafted burning questions I wrote before Collingwood dropped a bomb on the SuperCoach community.

In short, on Monday afternoon, it was all the rookie downgrade options suck, except Joe Richards.

Now, with the 24-year-old to miss at least a month with a foot injury, they all just suck.

Nothing perfectly crafted about that phrase, I know, but, it just about sums it all up, doesn’t it?

Joe Richards has been ruled out with a foot injury. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

Well, at least we got his 100 points last week, Phant…

Speak for yourself.

Wut?

That’s right, after trading Riley Garcia to Richards before the first bounce on Thursday night, I forgot to put the emergency tag on the Collingwood cash cow.

Blame Chris Burgess – long story.

But anyway, the weekend was a reminder our bench is actually important for doing what is designed to do – cover our on-field players if needed.

It was a reminder to always be careful when playing the loophole game.

As a colleague just stopped to tell me, it doesn’t always work out.

“I thought I was smarter than everyone else,” this veteran SuperCoacher said as he explained his Sam Flanders-induced zero after looping on Riley Garcia’s Thursday night 83 by fielding Coen Livingstone.

So, what do we do this week then?

It’s true, this ain’t no ordinary rookie week.

Richards’ breakeven of -36 is the sixth-lowest in the competition.

The five names above him this round are also not playing or – being slightly more positive – probably not playing.

Wil Dawson (BE: -46) and Leek Aleer (BE: -54) have the bye, while Sam Day, Ned Moyle and Dante Vistentini aren’t first-choice players and didn’t play in round 11.

That means you need to either go early on a one-gamer, look past the already-elevated price of, say, Kane McAuliffe, or pick someone who won’t score this weekend.

And with the return of best-18 scoring, and just four teams on the bye, the latter is a legitimate option.

Wil Dawson has played two impressive games so far. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos

Dawson, the 18-year-old Kangaroos draftee, has showed some good signs in his first two games at the top level, scoring 79 SuperCoach points, on the back of five intercepts and five spoils against the Power.

A downgrade to the $117k DEF-FWD would give you serious money to spend and, let’s face it, at the mid-way point of the season, that’s what it is all about.

If you don’t need the number on-field, and a Dawson trade gets you to your preferred upgrade target, then I’m all for it.

With Richards ruled out, McAuliffe (Breakeven -22) sits alongside Bulldog Joel Freijah (BE: -36) as the best elevated rookie buy ahead of round 11.

Freijah played forward went Aaron Naughton went down against the Swans and had some nice moments on his way to a season-high 76 SuperCoach points.

Big-bodied South Australian McAuliffe also recorded a season-high in round 11, tallying 16 disposals, eight contested possessions, five tackles, four clearances and 75 points in the Dreamtime at the ‘G clash.

Importantly, he operated at 81 per cent efficiency and registered just one clanger.

McAuliffe’s centre bounce attendance was down from 61 per cent to 38 with the return of Liam Baker, but he still appears very much a part of the Tigers on-ball rotation.

And, because of that role, while he might not increase in value as quickly in the very short term, I like McAuliffe over Freijah, if that’s where you’re looking this week.

Kane McAuliffe has settled in at senior level. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos

What about Harvey Harrison?

Good shout.

Another fellow South Australian, Harrison was named this week’s Rising Star nominee after an impressive 99-point performance against the Dockers.

Harrison booted three goals and laid nine tackles in what was his second score of 80 more in five games this season.

But, after starting as the sub and scoring five against the Eagles in round 10, he’s still available for $213k with a breakeven of -14.

So HH then?

I still prefer McAuliffe.

Is that what you’re doing, Phant?

I already have McAuliffe, so I’m leaning towards the Dawson option, with Sam Darcy, whose breakeven is now up to 95, going out.

Who’s the big upgrade then?

With Jordon Sweet looking increasingly unlikely to play against the Blues on Thursday night, it’s ti…

Jordon Sweet, right, is no certainty to play on Thursday night. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos

Hang on, what?

Unfortunately, after what was a solid, yet unconvincing, performance against the Roos, Sweet was spotted training with the B team during Port Adelaide match sim on Tuesday morning.

Ivan Soldo, after getting through his SANFL return unscathed on Saturday, led the ruck in the main side.

RIP the sweet money train.

But hello, Tim English.

The plan was to always trade Sweet to English at some point – ideally it was after the Bulldogs’ round 15 bye with Sweet worth close to $400k.

But that ain’t going to happen.

The good news, however, is English has only scored 87, 91 and 100 in his past three matches, bringing his price down to $565k.

Sweet is up $150k, English is down $150k – sold.

The Bulldogs play their next four games at Marvel Stadium and English is averaging 118 points at the venue in his past 13 matches.

Are you using a third trade?

Thinking about it, for sure.

As an early booster, the availability of a third trade in a bye round is a welcome sight.

Christian Salem has caught my eye, and how good was Jordan Ridley!?

But the first week of the bye rounds isn’t usually a big trading week – any premium you trade in will miss a game in the next month.

So, holding fire is definitely worth some thought.

Christian Salem is serious value in SuperCoach. Picture: Michael Klein

Yeah, boring, tell me more about Salem…

There was no centre bounce action, like in the week before when he scored 99 in his return from a hamstring injury against West Coast, but Salem dominated in the win over St Kilda, tallying 32 disposals, 14 marks and 121 SuperCoach points.

The neat-kicking left-footer owned the corridor at the MCG on Sunday, with the Dees playing through Salem as they picked their way through Ross Lyon’s defence.

Salem recorded 25 uncontested possessions in a display we’ve seen against the Saints multiple times this year.

But, even if isn’t allowed so much easy ball over the next two weeks, he might push his price close to $450k by Melbourne’s round 14 bye.

And then the Demons have North Melbourne at the MCG the following round.

At $345k – yes, I’ve buried the lead here – it probably doesn’t have to be a season-long play.

Lachie Whitfield to Salem?

Whitfield on the bye, following a second score of 69 or less in his past four games, is a worthy trade-out candidate.

You’ll make $150k with the move – in a week with limited downgrade options – and Swan James Jordon might, again, be waiting for the star Giant in round 15.

But an up-and-down Whitfield averaged 107 post-bye last year – does he still outscore Salem from here?

Unless you’re considering go up to Salem and using him as a stepping stone over the next few rounds, the answer to that question should determine whether it’s worth a trade or not.

What’s your answer?

I’m leaning to not doing it – but I only have 15 trades left.

Wut?

Goodbye.

Originally published as AFL SuperCoach 2024: The Phantom’s burning questions and round 11 trade advice