Patch’s 2025 team reveal: How to build the perfect SuperCoach side with $100k left over

SuperCoach veteran Patch had his side rocked by injuries to Zak Butters and Marcus Bontempelli – but has finally settled on a line-up with a massive war chest left over.

I finally feel settled on a SuperCoach team. It’s taken some time, and I was hit for six by Zak Butters and Marcus Bontempelli being ruled out, but it’s here.

I’ve cooled on shunning of mid-pricers, which I did earlier in the preseason, but have more faith in the rookies than some others do - with two each in the forward and defensive lines and four on-field in the midfield.

For anyone struggling with less than 24 hours to go - my suggestion is to clear your team, and go through filling every rookie you want. Then go through and add the premiums and mid-pricers you’ve locked in - after that, you’ve got a far more manageable number of positions to fill.

But enough rambling, I hear - give us the names!

DEFENCE

Harry Sheezel $635,600

Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera $543,700

Matt Roberts $434,800

Harry Perryman $417,500

Jaxon Prior $169,200

Ben Paton $133,400

Bench: Zach Reid $119,900, Luke Trainor $113,500

The backline has been the most settled line across the preseason the only major change has been that third defender - it was a rookie for a long time, and then split between Joel Freijah, Jayden Short and a few others, but Matt Roberts is the man. My only worry here is if I go with Jaxon Prior or Bo Allan.

Harry Sheezel has been locked into Patch’s side all pre-season. Picture: James Worsfold/Getty Images.

I think Sheezel has more growth to come - and if he doesn’t I’ll take the 115 average, I guess. Wanganeen-Milera has scope to improve and I love watching him play. Perryman should be a top 10 defender, and one I can upgrade around as we head towards the byes. Jordan Clark was one I considered, but Dayne Zorko just has a few too many question marks on his age, injury and suspension history and role when Kiddy Coleman returns.

MIDFIELD

Lachie Neale $645,900

Andrew Brayshaw $591,800

Connor Rozee $529,400

Clayton Oliver $451,600

Finn O’Sullivan $199,000

Ed Allan $194,000

Elijah Tsatas $191,200

Mitch Knevitt $149,800

Bench: Nathan O’Driscoll $198,000, Levi Ashcroft $185,500, Lucas Camporeale $113,500

As mentioned before, I had the Bont and Butters locked into M1 and M2 for most of the preseason, but with injuries ruling them out of the early stages I was all at sea. Enter Cyclone Alfred. A tragedy for Queensland, but a boon for my SuperCoach side - allowing Lachie Neale to take his place at M1. Clayton Oliver hasn’t moved from my side and if you don’t have him you’re doing it wrong, and Andy Brayshaw and Caleb Serong have swapped through the preseason.

Patch wants to get Finn Callaghan into his side - but likes the GWS young gun. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

I’ve been going pretty rookie-heavy here all preseason, and despite loving everything Finn Callaghan has shown I’m passing for now in favour of the rookies. I think Will Day will be good but drop some stinkers, and Adam Cerra hasn’t ever really entered my thinking.

Connor Rozee’s spot at M3 is the one up in the air. I have 100k leftover from this side, and was Nick Daicos until he showed he struggled with the tag in Opening Round. Jordan Dawson, Caleb Serong, Christian Petracca and others have rolled through there this pre-season, but Rozee’s early run and value is simply too good to ignore… for now.

RUCKS

Tristan Xerri $645,900

Tom De Koning $547,100

Bench: Archer Reid $119,900

FLEX

Matt Flynn $261,900

I have a rule in my SuperCoach ruck lines. Set and forget. You set ‘em, and then you forget about ‘em. That ruled Matt Flynn out of the R2 spot, but I think he’s so much value that I struggled to avoid picking him, and he’s too expensive to keep on the bench so Flex, come on down. I’d much rather use the Flex on a mid-forward dpp player, and he could become a Sanders or Garcia, but not yet.

Tom De Koning is in Patch’s side. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images.

Xerri and Gawn keep flipping but I’ll start one of them, and at the moment a Xerri feels like he has more avenues to scoring through tackles, but Tom De Koning is the one testing my rules. He’s set - his early run is incredible and he’ll score like a freight train - but what about when Marc Pittonet is back? And he will be back. Maybe then - and only then - I’ll consider a trade. But that’s a consideration for a month from now.

FORWARDS

Jason Horne-Francis $537,000

Izak Rankine $521,600

Jack Macrae $392,200

Caleb Daniel $269,100

Sam Powell-Pepper $180,500

Sam Davidson $113,500

Bench: Isaac Kako $149,500, Conor Stone $119,900

Four of the best six forwards for 2025 are under 550k, and one of them is half that. It’s bargain hunting season up forward and I consider The Horny One and Rankine to be bargains considering both are likely to be full-time mids. All four are locks, and that’s put a little strain on the budget - meaning Bailey Smith has been cut.

I think Smith is value and a top 10 forward come season’s end, but he’s the one I’m slightly less excited by than the four I haveand happy to let slip for now.

Patch's team reveal for 2025

LEFTOVER CASH

This team leaves me with $124,600 left over, which is the most I’d have ever gone into a season with if it stay like this (it won’t). But there will be a chunk - which would allow me to make a decent corrective trade if required. That could be Matt Flynn to Ryley Sanders, or a cheap rookie to an expensive one, or an expensive premo into Hugo Garcia — or James Peatling if I’m lucky.

It gives me wriggle room which I feel much more comfortable going into the season with, so lock it in.

It’s not changing before lockout. Well, not much. Maybe a little. Shush.

Originally published as Patch’s 2025 team reveal: How to build the perfect SuperCoach side with $100k left over