SuperCoach AFL 2024: Experts reveal their trades for round 4

One of Harley Reid’s biggest fans in pre-season is trading out the Eagles teenager after just three games. See who all our experts are trading before round 4.

“Your funeral if you leave him out.”

That was rookie expert Dan Batten’s verdict on Harley Reid in the pre-season SuperCoach rookie bible.

Barely a month later, he’s trading out the No.1 draft pick.

And that’s not the only big move our experts are making heading into round 4.

See their trade plans for this week below.

AL PATON

OUT: Nat Fyfe, James Jordon

IN: Sam Flanders, Sam Darcy

I started Flanders last year and watched him derail by season by averaging 45 over the first three rounds. And I’m ready to get hurt again.

Flanders is a different player this year, with a different coach. He’s also fresh off a bye with a Break Even of 73, which he should easily reach even with a tricky match-up against GWS.

I could wait a week until after Jordon plays the Eagles, but any price gain is likely to be minimal and with little margin for error the maths could go pear-shaped if he drops a really poor score.

I don’t really want to trade Fyfe, who still has a great role in the Fremantle midfield, but the cash has to come from somewhere and rookies aren’t going to get it done this early in the season. Darcy comes with the Bevo factor but is worth the risk for his huge money-making potential.

Damien Hardwick has backed in Sam Flanders this season. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

TIM MICHELL

OUT: Zac Fisher, Jack Billings and Blake Howes

IN: Lachie Whitfield, Touk Miller and Sam Darcy

or ...

OUT: Zac Fisher, Jack Billings and Blake Howes

IN: Lachie Whitfield, Touk Miller and Oliver Dempsey

I started the week set on trading James Jordon considering he has a bye next week. But, as several smarter coaches than me have pointed out, Jordon plays West Coast this week. Trading Fisher instead could turn into a Nic Martin/Hayden Young type situation but I’m not as concerned Fisher will pump out a 130 this week or end up as a top-six forward.

I banked $460k last week to grab Whitfield and Miller coming off the bye and although they are only projected to rise by $15-20k this week, every dollar matters in SuperCoach.

Sam Darcy looks to be a safe bet as a money maker, but although he has been making ridiculous Tiktoks about spending the rest of his career in the VFL, Rory Lobb is lurking. I just have this feeling Darcy might be managed this week and, if he is, I’ll pay up for Dempsey. He was awesome against Hawthorn and although I’ve been fortunate to have most of the key rookies this year, starting Shaun Mannagh over him looks to be an oversight.

Three weeks in. Three boosts. But I’m finally happy with my team. Almost...

THE PHANTOM

OUT: Ollie Wines and Blake Howes

IN: Lachie Whitfield and Sam Darcy

The news of Ollie Wines’ hamstring injury only confirmed what I was already thinking this week – the Brownlow Medallist is my way to a proper top-line SuperCoach premium. At first, it was Tom Green and only Tom Green. But the more I thought about it, his teammate Whitfield – while he might not be No.1 – is just as likely to finish in the top few in his position, with a permanent return to defence.

It allows me to take full advantage of the high-scoring rookie midfielders – I had Matt Roberts on the bench and Toby Pink on field last week. I don’t need to force another trade to make the extra $100k and it doesn’t expose me at the bottom end, either, with James Jordon holding his place in my side for another round.

DAN BATTEN

OUT: Jack Billings, James Jordon and Harley Reid

IN: Jack Steele, Tom Powell and Sam Darcy

Yes, I talked him up big time during the pre-season and haven’t shut up about him for the last 18 months. But I am seriously considering offloading Harley Reid early – as well as James Jordon. Jack Steele against an understrength Richmond at Norwood, which is a skinny and stoppage-heavy ground, might be too good to pass up. Richmond has given up monster scores to opposition midfielders this season – Matt Rowell (137) and Sam Flanders (128) in round zero, Patrick Cripps (135) in round 1, Zak Butters (175) in round 3 and Isaac Heeney (147) in round 4– and Steele could quite easily be the next to go above 125.

I am confident Reid will turn it around and the role is promising, but it is difficult for anyone to score well in that Eagles midfield and his time on ground has been low. Logic says to hold Jordon for another week with a favourable match-up against the Eagles, but with Taylor Adams back this week, it means even less time for Jordon in the midfield. I may opt to grab Tom Brown, Darcy and Powell, hold Jordon and Reid and wait a week on Steele, but I can see the Saints skipper going large.

Harley Reid hasn’t lasted long in Dan Batten’s team. Picture: Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

MAX STAINKAMPH

OUT: Caleb Windsor, Nick Coffield, Kallan Dawson

IN: Sam Flanders, Tom Brown, Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera

I have the good fortune to have come second in a beauty contest, awarding me $620k, and as such I’m going shopping this week for some treats.

I still haven’t decided exactly who I’m bringing in, but at this stage Sam Flanders is locked as an in for Caleb Windsor, Tom Brown (if named) comes in for Nick Coffield.

For my second boost of the year, my failed Kallan Dawson rookie experiment will bear fruit in the form of a $500k defender – probably either Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera or Freo livewire Jordan Clark, although Freo fans are warning me of Heath Chapman’s long-term impact on the latter.

I like the cut of Sam Darcy’s jib, but I don’t have space for both him and Flanders unless I rejig things.

Originally published as SuperCoach AFL 2024: Experts reveal their trades for round 4