SuperCoach AFL 2024: Latest DPP stats and likely 2025 position changes

Who will gain, and lose, DPP status in SuperCoach for 2025? See the latest exclusive numbers for 25 fantasy guns in line for a position change.

SuperCoach stars in contention for position changes next season.

As we count down the final rounds of the 2024 SuperCoach season, shrewd coaches are already looking ahead to 2025.

And a big factor in what teams look like next season will be position changes over summer.

It’s never too early to start your SuperCoach pre-season, so get an early jump on the competition with exclusive time in position stats for 24 SuperCoach stars heading into round 23 – remembering that 35 per cent of game time is the threshold for a player to be listed in any position, either as their primary position or as a DPP (and players can have a maximum of two positions).

All stats courtesy of Champion Data.

NEW DPP – LOCK THEM IN

Baker (DEF/FWD to FWD/MID) Baker has never truly threatened to break through as a SuperCoach premium – but that could change as an Eagle. Assuming he heads west, and with a shallow pool of true forward premiums likely to be available, coaches might need to consider Baker if he wins a role at half-back or as a full-time centre bounce midfielder for West Coast. But that’s still to be seen with Baker yet to declare his intentions despite strong links to his home state.

NEW DPP - CROSS YOUR FINGERS

Damien Hardwick has ensured a stressful finish to the season for SuperCoaches planning for Flanders to be a DEF-MID in 2025. That looked a lock three weeks ago but after playing predominantly as a forward in the past two rounds – it was an 8 per cent midfield, 92 per cent forward split last weekend – things are a bit shaky. But even with his forward time receiving an unexpected bump, he should stay above 35 per cent in the midfield – but it would be nice if Dimma let him loose at centre bounces against Richmond just to be sure.

Sam Flanders has been one of the best SuperCoach picks of 2024. Can he repeat the dose in 2025? Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

One silver lining to Sheezel potentially missing the final two rounds of 2024 is it locks in DEF/MID status for 2025. If he returns this week – and we all hope he does, unless you’re one of the 21,000 coaches who traded him out last week – he should stay above 35 per cent in defence even if he plays as a forward-mid, as he has for the second half of the season. That would make him a must-have for 2025.

Stewart has now spent 34 per cent of the season playing in the midfield and another game in the role will push him over the 35 per cent threshold to deliver SuperCoaches a surprise DPP for next season. Normally over summer we look for younger players who have shown they are about to take the next step by increasing their output in the back end of the year. At 31, Stewart doesn’t quite fit the breakout category, but after averaging 92.5 to Geelong’s bye he has rattled home with a 109 average post-bye and shapes as an easy pick in defence in 2025.

The 23-year-old has crossed the 35 per cent barrier to be awarded a second position in SuperCoach after attending 67 per cent of centre bounces against Gold Coast. We’ll need to see his role when (if?) Christian Petracca returns before committing, but he looks set to be part of the midfield mix at the Dees going forward and won’t break the bank.

You can all but lock him in after missing again through illness, unless Ross Lyon has a change of heart in the final round. After being on the outer at St Kilda for a large chunk of the season, Philippou returned with three stellar games playing as one of the club’s main midfielders. That has pushed his on-ball percentage well above the 35 per cent required for DPP. He’d currently be priced at 56, too, although that average could rise as he showcases his talent in the engine room.

Mattaes Phillipou has been a late-season shining light for the Saints. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

John Longmire threw some spice into the DPP discussion by playing Mills exclusively as a defender against Essendon. Playing such a low number of games means percentages can swing wildly, and that’s exactly what happened with his defence percentage spiking from 10 to 31. Another game in the backline will push him over 35 per cent. On the other hand, if he plays 100 per cent as a forward against the Crows he could qualify for MID-FWD. Anything could happen! Forward options will be a lot thinner on the ground next year, so if you’re listening Horse we’d be happy to see him at full-forward.

Parker is also tracking towards DPP, but as a MID-FWD. The veteran Swan will be a big watch in pre-season, but realistically only someone we turn to if we’re desperate for forward options (and he snares DPP). He’ll be 32 at the start of next year and there’s no guarantee week-to-week that he’s in Sydney’s best 22. He won’t come cheap, either.

KEEPING DPP – LOCK THEM IN

Sinclair played exclusively as a defender last weekend, attending zero centre bounces, but it won’t change his DEF/MID status to start 2025. We’re more accustomed to Ross Lyon starting him in defence, using Sinclair for 4-6 weeks in the middle and him then becoming DPP mid-year. The addition of MID status isn’t as important for a defender though, it’s more the other way around when a midfielder picks up DPP in either the forward line or defence.

Wonder if next year is the one Holmes fully takes the leap from almost premium to full premium? He’s still only 21 years of age but has become one of the main men for the Cats, whether it’s dashing from defence or attending centre bounces. Holmes has spent the majority of the year in defence, but has done enough work through the middle to keep DPP status in 2025.

KEEPING DPP – CROSS YOUR FINGERS

Thank you, Liam Reidy. Jackson was teetering dangerously close to losing FWD status, but the inclusion of the ruck debutant allowed him to spend most of the game against GWS in the forward line. That might not be great for his scoring in this year’s SuperCoach finals, but it’s likely to mean we get Jackson as a FWD option again next season. Will we take the plunge again? That’s going to be a fun debate in pre-season.

Can Luke Jackson hang onto RUC-FWD status? Picture: Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

When it comes to SuperCoach, nothing hurts more than watching one of your breakout stars be so good that they lose DPP the next year. Think about when we had Zak Butters, Connor Rozee and Marcus Bontempelli as FWD-MIDs, and Caldwell is heading down the same path. He has been a difference maker for many SuperCoach teams in the home stretch, with seven 100-plus scores from rounds 15-22.

LOSING DPP – LOCK THEM IN

At least we got to enjoy Isaac as a genuine SuperCoach superstar in his last year as a FWD ... unless John Longmire sends him back to the forward line next year. After spending more time forward against Collingwood, he was back in the guts against the Bombers, and that’s where we’ll have to pick him next year.

Spent some time in the forward line to help spark Collingwood’s comeback against Brisbane but he’s now a full-time midfielder. We have been blessed with three years of premium-level scoring in defence, and it’s easy to forget he’s still only 21. Will be high in consideration as a starting pick in the midfield in 2025 – and for many years beyond.

Dayne Zorko’s move to half-back has been a big success. Picture: Albert Perez/Getty Images

It took most coaches a while to catch on that Zorko was an elite defender this year after a surprise switch to half-back paid off in a huge way. At round 9 he still featured in just 15,000 of SuperCoach teams – he’s now in more than 85,000. We couldn’t pick him next season at age 36 and with a history of soft-tissue injuries, could we? He has played 22 of 23 possible games this year and averaged 111 – and is coming home strong (five-round average 117).

The Phantom talked him up in the pre-season and now says he’ll pick him again in 2025 when he’s MID only. The former half-back moved into the midfield in the final month of 2023 and has really found his groove in the new role, and won’t be going back to defence.

The seventh-highest scoring defender for the season for under $500k? That’s a successful pick in our books. Martin has frustrated his owners at times this season, but he’s producing when it matters with scores of 104, 130 and 135 in SuperCoach finals. He won’t represent the same value next season and will be DEF only, but add him to the list of elite scorers down back to consider for our starting sides.

Nic Martin has been used at both ends of the ground. Picture: Morgan Hancock/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

One of the more intriguing players to consider as a starting option in 2025. The No.2 draft pick has demonstrated his elite scoring power in his first season, but his role going forward remains something of a question mark. He spent some time forward last week against the Bulldogs (while still taking six kick-ins), but following Harry Sheezel into the midfield seems a more likely move. Will be DEF only but his price – and talent – will still make him very tempting.

A surprise magnet move by Luke Beveridge that has paid off for the Bulldogs and the 6000 SuperCoaches who took the punt on him. Unfortunately, his defence percentage is headed in the wrong direction for him to be any hope of maintaining DEF/MID eligibility.

Powell has been thrown all over the field by Alastair Clarkson – last weekend he attended 77 per cent of CBAs. The 42,000 coaches who jumped on in round 3 would have loved that earlier in the year. Will be MID only next season, and a very awkward price.

Was listed as a DEF/MID to start the season but hasn’t spent any time behind the ball. What he has produced is a remarkable 106 average, matching his numbers in the Eagles’ premiership year. If you were told before round 1 he would miss only three games to this point you would count that as a win, but he turns 31 in October and surely the risk is too great to go there in 2025.

Elliot Yeo is a 2024 SuperCoach success story. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

More than 130,000 coaches started with Reid in 2024, mostly in the forward line. He’ll be a huge POD next year as a MID only, probably priced around the $400k range. We’ve seen the talent and he’ll be the Eagles’ No.1 man in the middle – put him on the watch list.

Fisher made a timely return last weekend for the 18,000 coaches who held him over his three-week injury absence – while the 16,000 who traded him out had to watch him return to his friendly role across half-back and score a SuperCoach ton. With no DPP he’s unlikely to come into consideration in 2025.

What a pick-up by the Hawks. D’Ambrosio moved to Hawthorn in exchange for pick 61 last year and a fourth-rounder this year, and he has gone on to play 20 games on a wing and make more than $200k in SuperCoach. He was well worth the $224k investment, hopefully we find someone of similar value who turns out this well next season.

One for the bargain hunters in 2025, especially if the forward pool is as shallow as we fear it will be. Garcia has shown strong scoring ability when he has been given a chance by the Saints, starting as the sub in three of his eight games. Currently priced at $210k and set to retain FWD-MID status – keep him in mind if he’s in the best 22 in round 1 next year.

Originally published as SuperCoach AFL 2024: Latest DPP stats and likely 2025 position changes