SuperCoach 2024: Experts reveal their trades before round 2
Who replaces Josh Gibcus, and which value players on the bubble need to come in this week? See what moves our experts are making.
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One round into the season and there are already big choices to make.
Almost 100,000 coaches are looking for a replacement for injured Tiger Josh Gibcus, but fixing problems in other parts of the field could be a higher priority.
Round 2 is the first of four early bye rounds, which adds another layer of strategy to this week’s trade calls.
Players who featured in opening round are on the bubble a week earlier than usual, so if you want a value pick like Jack Billings or a rookie like Tom Berry who are about to shoot up in price, this is the week to pounce.
Coaches are also questioning mid-price starters Zac Fisher and Nic Martin.
They have played only one game so we can wait one more week to make a call before their price moves – unless they are your path to Billings, a Gibcus replacement or a runaway train like Isaac Heeney.
Scroll down to see what are our experts are doing this week.
AL PATON
OUT: Josh Gibcus, Zac Fisher, Buku Khamis
IN: Massimo D’Ambrosio, Nat Fyfe, Tom Berry
Tricky week where I could do nothing or use a boost. You could sit Gibcus on the bench this week given it’s Best 18 scoring this week but with Zach Reid also in my backline I’m going to have to find some cheap replacements soon.
Fisher should rebound from his 50-point return in round 1 but I don’t think he’ll be a keeper, so I’m prepared to sacrifice him to free up the cash to get Gibcus to Hawk recruit Massimo D’Ambrosio. He’s unlikely to score 122 too often but I can’t see anyone who is likely to overtake him as the No.1 Gibcus trade next week, so why not do it now to give myself an extra number this round and clear space for other moves next week.
The trade I’m torn on is Fisher’s replacement. Jack Billings, Nat Fyfe and Riley Bonner are all on my radar and all would free up a similar amount of cash. Billings is on the bubble after scoring 119, but the Bulldogs paid him absolutely no respect (15 uncontested marks) – will he get that freedom again? Fyfe’s role looks fantastic – he attended 78 per cent of centre bounces in round 1 – plus he faces North Melbourne this week and he doesn’t have an early bye. I’ve chopped between the pair all week and Fyfe is just ahead ... for now. Bonner is likely to come in next week if he scores well again with Jack Sinclair in the team.
The third trade is a bit of a luxury but Berry can provide an instant cash hit – a projected score of 52 this week will result in a $58k price jump next week. Hopefully the Dogs show him as much respect as they did to Billings.
THE PHANTOM
OUT: Connor Budarick
IN: Massimo D’Ambrosio
It’s hard to be sold on Massimo completely after one game but after Budarick’s 17, it’s hard to pass up the $80k profit and looming cash injection. Budarick won’t have to play lockdown on Josh Rachele in the pouring rain every week, but he’s not going to be making much early cash, either.
I’m tempted to go early on Riley Bonner – from Jackson Mead – with that profit, but the smart play is to wait and see how he goes with the return of Jack Sinclair on Thursday night. But that temptation could prove too much before the bounce.
TIM MICHELL
OUT: Nic Martin, Charlie Lazzaro, Josh Gibcus
IN: Isaac Heeney, Jack Carroll, Jack Billings
Unlike The Phantom, who has flagged he’s willing to wait a week and pay more for Billings, I’m not sure I would be interested if he’s $40k more next week. Burning three trades after one round isn’t ideal, but I think each of these trades are necessary. I’ve got no doubt Martin will score well this week without Redman, but I’m worried about his ball use and long-term scoring when Ridley, Redman and Andy McGrath are in the side. Plus, he’s my only avenue to Isaac Heeney who could have scored 180 last week if he kicked straight. Carroll being on a bye means I can use him for a midfield loop and try and get the best scores possible into my best 18. It will also save me a trade next week when I am scrambling to get Massimo D’Ambrosio, Oli Dempsey, Marty Hore and any other targets this weekend who emerge into three trades. It does mean missing out on Caleb Windsor though...
DAN BATTEN
NO TRADES
Yep, a boring and conservative approach, but hear me out. Holding fire will give me another look at Zac Fisher and Nic Martin along with potential targets Riley Bonner, Massimo D’Ambrosio and Jack Billings. The big watch will be on Bonner as I may only be able to choose between one of Bonner and Billings before round three. Both Fisher and Martin were in a similar boat in round one, finding enough of the footy but using it poorly. If Bonner stinks it up tonight, I’ll likely end up pulling the trigger on Fisher to Billings this week to save that extra bit of cash.
MAX STAINKAMPH
IN: Caleb Windsor, Kallan Dawson
OUT: Cam Mackenzie, Josh Gibcus
At time of writing, I’m trying to play it really conservative with trades – which I think I can afford to do after a 2298 in round 1 (all praise Jesse Hogan and Caleb Serong). Like every year I think we absolutely need to nail the rookies, because if you stuff your cash generation up then you’ve hamstrung yourself for the rest of the season, so that’s my priority this week and next week.
Caleb Windsor seems a good shout from the Dees as they love him and he looks to be reasonably consistent on that wing. Kallan Dawson is the option no one’s talking down back who looked relatively solid in round 1 with a 68, and despite being 30k more than Gibcus is as close to a like-for-like as we’re going to get – I have to trade in a defender and with Charle Dean dropped and Bodhi Uwland not sparking joy, at this stage I’m going Dawson, with Zach Reid to Marty Hore on the cards next week.
I do really want Isaac Heeney though, and the only way to get him is to flick Nic Martin. Trading out a guy after one week goes against every fibre of my being, and after running out of trades and boosts early last year I really want to conserve them this year ... but I’m not known for my self-control when splurging on sweet treats, and Heeney is the sweetest treat going around. Maybe I indulge, just this once. What harm can it do? I’ll show restraint on trades next week. Or maybe the week after.
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