AFL SuperCoach trade guide round 19: What do to with Tristan Xerri, Jason Horne-Francis, Nic Martin and more

When it rains in SuperCoach, it pours. And coaches are pulling on the gumboots to deal with the flood of injuries and suspensions this week. Here’s who might be able to save your team – and your sanity.

We said last week trades are as valuable as your mother’s tears and this week is proof of why.

I came here to panic and trade – and I’m all out of trades.

With Jason Horne-Francis possibly missing the rest of the season, Connor Rozee battling a finger injury, Nic Martin doing his ACL, Tristan Xerri being handed a three-match ban – pending North’s appeal at the tribunal – and Touk Miller tearing his hamstring, it’s the most difficult week in SuperCoach this season.

So what the hell do we do?

Jason Horne-Francis’ season is over. Picture: James Elsby/Getty Images.

It’s okay, we’ve got this.

Just sit down, take a few deep breaths, and then scream as loud as your little lungs possibly can.

Then we’ll work through who needs to be traded – borrowing liberally from the Phantom’s burning questions format.

WHO HAS TO GO?

Nic Martin and Jason Horne-Francis both need to go – they’ll miss the rest of the season and there’s no use saving a trade by keeping them. Move them both along – more on who to in a second.

If you – for some reason – have a boost and enough trades left to use it, I’d consider using on Tristan Xerri, who will now definitely miss three weeks after a lukewarm appeal at the tribunal.

For those who went after Touk Miller as a POD, he should also go as he’ll miss three or four of the remaining six weeks of the season.

Please don’t mention Nic Martin around Bombers supporters during this trying time. Picture: Josh Chadwick/AFL Photos/via Getty Images.

If you’ve got both him and Xerri, I’d prioritise trading whichever you have the least cover for.

Port Adelaide haven’t ruled Connor Rozee out of this weekend’s clash with Hawthorn in Tassie but I’d be shocked to see him line up. However, if he does miss it sounds like it’ll only be for a week – if you have any cover at all I’d be holding, and even if you don’t and can patch up any other holes you’ve got I’d take advantage of flex and run with the 22.

So, to recap, here’s my order of who to trade: Martin, Horne-Francis, Xerri, Miller, and hold Rozee unless things are truly dire or you’ve got trades galore.

WHO DO WE BRING IN …?

That’s the potential $50,000 question, innit? Or at the very least, the one which could set you up for domination over your mates or colleagues in your leagues.

We’ll break this down into different parts of the grounds or else I’ll start tripping over myself.

… FOR TRISTAN XERRI?

We’ll start with the rucks, because they’re a bit more clear-cut. If you’ve got the cash – or trades to let you get the cash – there’s a pretty simple answer: Mr 200 himself in Brodie Grundy.

The Phantom called it on this week’s podcast that Grundy could well score 200 two times on the run home, and while I’m not so bullish, he’d be every chance to continue his blistering run this week against Brynn Teakle or Callum Coleman-Jones or Taylor Goad or whichever poor sod North are forced to throw to the wolves this week.

If you can’t afford Grundy and don’t have Max Gawn, he’s the obvious trade-in at basically the same price.

Brodie Grundy is the most in-form player in the competition. Picture: Kelly Defina/AFL Photos/via Getty Images.

Can you afford Brodie Grundy? Can anyone?

Max Gawn is the no-brainer option to swap to if you don’t already have him.

Many coaches are jumping on Lloyd Meek after a three-round average of 120, but with the No.1, 4, 5, and 6 hardest teams to come in the final six weeks, I’m not keen. I prefer Tim English or if you need to penny pinch Darcy Cameron. For those trying the dicier vintages, maybe Toby Nankervis might whet your palette.

Tim English could prove a safe bet if you already own Max Gawn.

… IN THE BACK LINE?

If you’ve got Nic Martin in your backline or flex and you have $20,000 precious SuperCoach dollars, I’ve got an easy, Lachie Whitfield-shaped fix for you.

To nab a guy averaging 106 at less than $490,000 is absurd value and I think he should be the top priority this week considering the Giants will carve the Bombers up under the lid. Remember how Bailey Dale had 49 touches a lil while back? I’d be VCing him if I had him.

Jack Sinclair is a few thousand bucks cheaper and also excellent value despite his recent form slump.

Lachie Whitfield was back for the Giants against Geelong. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images.

Is Lachie Whitfield the best buying option for this week?

Obviously if you have the money, Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera is the best defensive option, while Max Holmes’ run is also stellar to end the season. I can’t see him being rest on the Cats’ run to September. Does he get subbed out of a big win? Maybe, but it wouldn’t stop me trading him in.

Holmes and the Cats have a delicious run home.

… IN THE FORWARD LINE?

This is where most trades will be happening this week, and Jason Horne-Francis hasn’t done us any favours with his $430,000 price tag, while Nic Martin wasn’t much better at $469,000.

What the bloody hell are we supposed to do here?

The in-form forwards are an eclectic mix, including 2025 rookie MVP Max Hall, Dan Curtin from nowhere, and … Jake Melksham?? Righto.

If you have the money and didn’t trade him when he was injured around the byes, Jack Macrae is the best forward or midfield option this week. With the Demons, Roos, Bombers, and Tigers to come in his last six he’s set to ooze points.

Patch thinks Jack Macrae is the best forward option this week.

Izak Rankine has recaptured his stellar form from earlier this year.

Izak Rankine has also hit a purple patch and is probably next on my list behind Macrae,

If you need someone a bit cheaper, Sam Darcy ($455,800) has Essendon, Melbourne and West Coast on the run home for some possible spike games, but if you want to really roll the dice with an massive point-of-difference, Riley Thilthorpe ($462,500) is right in the Coleman race and has West Coast and North Melbourne on the run home, plus Collingwood and Gold Coast leak more points to forwards than you might expect.

Could you ride the Riley Thilthorpe rollercoaster? Picture: Graham Denholm/Getty Images.

Riley Thilthorpe could go massive on the way home … but is a key forward.

And – dare I suggest it – Bailey Humphrey doubled his centre-bounce attendances last week with 18 as Touk Miller went down to come away with an 86. I’m not expecting bulk tons but he could go nicely. Maybe? If you really squint hard enough at it when he scores 38 against Brisbane in two weeks? But he may well make up for it against Richmond and Carlton in the two following weeks. I dunno, I’m not endorsing it but also desperate times call for desperate measures.

Could you play with fire and bring in Bailey Humphrey?

And, because you’ve been so good, here’s a $280k treat who we considered during the byes – Tyrell Dewar. He’s gone 90, 81, and 84 in his last three and looks to have slid into a role off half back.

If you’re desperate, Tyrell Dewar is an option.

… IN THE MIDFIELD?

Honestly – I’m not gonna get complicated or fancy or cute here – get the best dang midfielder your hard-earned money can buy. Andy Brayshaw and Ed Richards are extremely affordable in the 550k range.

If you’re on a budget, see if you can flick a DPP from another line into the midfield and have a geez at some of the other options listed above.

Andrew Brayshaw is coming off a 121. Picture: Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

Andrew Brayshaw is very affordable this week.

If you simply refuse to go without a midfield option, try Jake Soligo on for size – his final three games are great matchup for midfielders and the Crows are red-hot.

Otherwise like, I dunno, Elijah Tsatas plays the rest of the season for Essendon but I wouldn’t go there. If you want a Brayden Fiorini recommendation you won’t get it out of me. Would rather Sean Lemmens.

WHAT IF I NEED A CHEAPIE?

Bad week to need a cheapie, partner. Cooper Harvey is the best we’ve got on offer this week coming off a four-goal 84. Max Heath played his first game on the weekend at $119,900 but unless one of the 99k Essendon cheapies spark your interest (they shouldn’t) I’d just buy a 99k cheapie with whichever DPP suits you best.

Cooper Harvey is the best option on offer for playing cheapies.

ANY OTHER WORDS OF WISDOM?

In the fabled words of Fetcher from Chicken Run, “put your head between your knees and kiss your bum goodbye”.

I’m not sure if this is wisdom, or even helpful, but if none of that above has helped then this is all I’ve got for you, traveller. Godspeed out there.

Originally published as AFL SuperCoach trade guide round 19: What do to with Tristan Xerri, Jason Horne-Francis, Nic Martin and more