NewsBite

SuperCoach AFL: Al Paton’s 13 best bargain buys for 2026

From stars returning from injury to trade recruits, rookies and breakout contenders, see the top SuperCoach targets for 2026.

Al PatonAl Paton
@al_superfooty
6 min read
December 2, 2025 - 8:27AM
News Sport Network

The countdown to SuperCoach 2026 is on, and it’s never too early to run your eye over the players set to deliver the biggest bang for your buck next season.

See my full list below – and check in over pre-season as more bargains emerge.

1. SAM FLANDERS

2025 average: 73.3 (21 games)

2026 predicted price: $395k

We loved owning the former No.11 draft pick in 2024 when he averaged 119 points a game for Gold Coast, playing a freewheeling role across half-back then moving into the midfield. He was frozen out of the centre square at the Suns last season and will start 2026 at a ridiculous price for a player with $600k-plus potential if he’s a regular alongside Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera in a new-look Saints onball unit. Make him the first player you pick in your SuperCoach forward line.

2. JAGGA SMITH

2025 average: – (0 games)

2026 predicted price: $136k

Carlton’s junior ball magnet was shaping as one of the top rookie picks last pre-season at almost $200k before suffering an ACL injury in an innocuous training accident. Now he is nearing a return to full training with a round 1 debut against Richmond firmly in his sights – at a discounted price in SuperCoach. If you need a reminder of his talents, Smith averaged 34 disposals (including 50 in one game) and 154 SuperCoach points in the Coates league, 135 SuperCoach points at the national championships and 103 in three VFL games before being drafted.

Sam Flanders at St Kilda pre-season training. Picture: Michael Klein
Sam Flanders at St Kilda pre-season training. Picture: Michael Klein
Saints teammate Mattaes Phillipou. Picture: Mark Stewart
Saints teammate Mattaes Phillipou. Picture: Mark Stewart

3. MATTAES PHILLIPOU

2025 average: 34.6 (7 games)

2026 predicted price: $186k

Forget last year’s numbers, when Phillipou was injured very early in one game and played severely underdone in the last three rounds. SuperCoaches can fall into the trap of looking at only the good numbers in a players’ resume – and Phillipou’s are very good if you narrow in on scores of 112, 101 and 85 when he was given a chance in the midfield late in 2024. But even a 65 average, which the hugely talented 20-year-old managed in his three injury-free games last year (on the back of almost no centre bounces), would make us money. And that is the absolute floor of his potential – if he can get his body right.

4. HAYDEN YOUNG

2025 average: 71.9 (8 games)

2026 predicted price: $388k

Young’s laser left boot is a huge weapon for the Dockers and a powerful scoring avenue in SuperCoach. And he will start the 2026 season $200k underpriced based on his scoring potential. The big question is: Are you prepared to roll the dice on a player who missed 17 games last year due to repeated soft-tissue injuries? The dilemma was summed by his performances in rounds 20 and 21 – scoring 120 off limited game time then posting 12 points the next week after his body failed him again. But Young says he is fealling “really optimistic about 2026” after a week at the elite Doha facility visited by Elliot Yeo before his premium 2024 season.

5. JORDAN RIDLEY

2025 average: 77.4 (10 games)

2026 predicted price: $418k

Speaking of injury curses, Ridley has had one of the worst runs in the competition. “It’s incredibly frustrating, devastating, all the words that you can possibly think of to describe it,” was coach Brad Scott’s reaction after his star defender suffered yet another hamstring injury in July. Ridley has played 19 of a possible 46 matches over the past two seasons, but the early reports from Essendon pre-season training are positive for the 27-year-old, who led the club for kick-ins in his last full season and can also score from intercepts and pinpoint long kicks. Ridley averaged 103 in 2024 and 90-plus in the four seasons before that, but is priced at 77.

Update:Ridley is on light duties after another hamstring setback.

Jordan Ridley is looking fit. Picture: Michael Klein
Jordan Ridley is looking fit. Picture: Michael Klein

6. HARVEY LANGFORD

2025 average: 71.1 (22 games)

2026 predicted price: $384k

An outstanding debut season from the Demons’ top-10 draftee – can he back it up with a second-year spike? That’s harder than it sounds, with only a select number of SuperCoach stars vaulting into premium status in their second season (think Marcus Bontempelli, Clayton Oliver, Harry Sheezel). But Langford has the tools – he was an elite ball-winner at junior level – and a potentially lucrative role change, with the departure of Oliver and Christian Petracca leaving a gaping hole in the Melbourne midfield. The arrival of Jack Steele will help, but expect a big bump from Langford’s 10 per cent centre bounce attendances in 2025.

7. COLBY McKERCHER

2025 average: 83.1 (23 games)

2026 predicted price: $448k

If McKercher lines up at half-back in round 1 next year, he’ll be locked into my backline in SuperCoach. The former No.2 draft pick struggled in the first half of last season as he was tried on a wing and half-forward, averaging 63.5. A switch to defence changed everything as he averaged 104.6 over the final 12 rounds. Hopefully Al Clarkson can see that’s where McKercher’s talents most benefit the Kangaroos ... with SuperCoach value a happy bonus.

8. ADAM TRELOAR

2025 average: 72 (4 games)

2026 predicted price: $350k

A player who was priced at $649k less than 18 months ago for almost half that figure – where do I sign? Unfortunately, it’s not quite that simple. Treloar was one of the SuperCoach stars of 2024, averaging 117 over 22 games. But the injury probems he has battled over his career returned in 2025, missing most of the year with calf problems. One positive, apart from his huge price discount, was Treloar spending enough time in attack to likely earn FWD-MID status next season. There is a world he is one of the biggest steals of the season, but at age 33 can his body hold up, and where does he fit into Luke Beveridge’s plans? A big pre-season watch.

Can Adam Treloar beat his injury demons? Picture: Morgan Hancock/Getty Images
Can Adam Treloar beat his injury demons? Picture: Morgan Hancock/Getty Images

9. DAN CURTIN

2025 average: 72.5 (23 games)

2026 predicted price: $391k

A top-10 draft pick entering his third year after posting averages of 32.7 and 72.5 in his first two seasons. Expect another jump this year, the question is how much – it needs to be another 20 points plus to justify paying almost $400k. But that is well within Curtin’s capabilities – in a purple patch from rounds 16-20 last season he scored 153, 71, 117, 132 and 100 SuperCoach points. One potential red flag – based on game time in position last season he’s likely to just miss out on DPP so we would have to pick him as a MID only – making him an even bigger point of difference.

10. ANDREW McGRATH

2025 average: 83.9 (23 games)

2026 predicted price: $453k

Hear me out on this one. McGrath has never been a viable SuperCoach pick in eight years since his debut season, but that could be about to change if the final month of last season is a guide. After playing as a defender for the entire season (and most of his career), McGrath was given a chance in the Bombers’ depleted midfield and grabbed it with both hands, averaging 28.5 disposals, five clearances, five tackles and 119 SuperCoach points – including a monster 159-point game against the Saints. I would take that in a heartbeat at his price, but it’s all about the role. Zach Merrett staying doesn’t help his cause.

11. DEVEN ROBERTSON

2025 average: 13.5 (4 games)

2026 predicted price: $119k

The young Western Australian midfielder has finally made the move back to his home state after 47 games over six seasons at Brisbane, with his SSP paperwork signed off on Tuesday. Robertson won the Lions’ VFL best-and-fairest last season, averaging 118 SuperCoach points a game at state league level, but the AFL premiership side was a tough nut to crack. Robertson started as the sub in all four of his senior appearances last year and averaged 16 per cent time on ground (which explains his low SuperCoach average), but should enjoy much greater opportunities as part of a young Eagles onball brigade.

Finn Callaghan hits the ground running for pre-season. Picture: Phil Hillyard
Finn Callaghan hits the ground running for pre-season. Picture: Phil Hillyard

12. FINN CALLAGHAN

2025 average: 111.9 (20 games)

2026 predicted price: $604k

It may sound strange to suggest any player priced over $600k is a bargain, but Callaghan could be just that. After a blazing 144 in Opening Round last year, the GWS gun had a frustrating start to the year that included hard tags, a bye and a short injury lay-off. But after returning in round 14 he didn’t miss a beat, flying home with an average of 120 after the Giants’ bye – which would price him closer to the $650k mark. In that time he had a low score of 94 and four 130-plus returns. Will the arrival of Clayton Oliver eat into his points, or provide more opportunities to get on the end of clearances before slicing apart the opposition? After attending 91 per cent of centre bounces in the elimination final, it’s Callaghan’s midfield now.

13. WILL BRODIE

2025 average: – (0 games)

2026 predicted price: $119k

An easy bench picks when the early Team Picker opens next month. Will he still be there in round 1? Let’s wait and see. The dream is Brodie finds a spot in the Power’s best 22 with some time in the midfield, where he has shown he can score at whatever level he plays – averaging 102 for the Dockers in 2022 and 109 in the WAFL over the past two seasons. The Phantom will probably pick him whatever happens.

Originally published as SuperCoach AFL: Al Paton’s 13 best bargain buys for 2026

More related stories

Original URL: https://www.thechronicle.com.au/sport/afl/supercoach-afl-al-patons-13-best-bargain-buys-for-2026/news-story/b87b7fda2505cf2dbce54739bca5bf32