SuperCoach 2016: Best trade, captain picks for Round 16

CHEAP defenders are up for trade and there is a ready-made replacement at Tigerland — see Champion Data’s inside stats. BEST TRADE AND CAPTAIN PICKS.

Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti has had a great season but struggled against West Coast. Picture: Kylie Else

THE honeymoon is over for our dearly beloved SuperCoach cash cows in defence.

They’ve done a power of work. Guided us to memorable victories and importantly, through consistent performances, ensured their prices kept ticking over. But all good things must come to an end.

SCROLL DOWN FOR THIS WEEK’S BEST TRADE AND CAPTAIN PICKS

Marcus Adams ($360,200) and Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti ($366,800), thank you from the bottom of our fickle SuperCoach hearts. You have been wonderful servants, pumping 70s and 80s week after week bar a couple hundreds and hiccups along the journey.

But Adams (foot) is out injured and McDonald-Tipungwuti needs a season-high 109 points to avoid a hefty price reduction after his lowly 37 last week.

Thanks, but no thanks.

The same can’t be said about contemporaries, pre-season bolters turned mid-season busts Brodie Smith and Kade Kolodjashnij. Dump and run, quick sticks.

The former averaging a miserly 58.5 in his past three, while KK has only been marginally better with 61-point average in his past three matches.

With the outs sorted, who comes in? Jarrad McVeigh stands out like a beacon in potentially stormy SuperCoach seas.

McVeigh is warming up just in time for SuperCoach finals (Round 20-23) after missing early games and no pre-season due to a knee injury.

He was always going to take time and the time is right. The Swans co-captain scored 114 last week, taking his past five-game average to 101. Lock.

Put your hands up if you thought Zac Williams ($473,900) would average 90-plus points this season? Liars. The GWS bolter is another handy option given the expansion side’s friendly draw in the run home.

Rory Laird could hold the key to your SuperCoach dreams. The Crows have a great run home including four of their last five at Adelaide Oval.

Jarrad McVeigh is finding form at the right time. Picture: Brett Costello

JUMP ON

Luke Parker $484,500 mid

Parker turned his form, and SuperCoach price, around with a massive 161 against the Dogs. Despite some poor games his price is still extremely low for a guy who has gone over 150 three times this year.

Jarrad McVeigh $463,600 def/mid

Another Swans bargain, the co-captain has scored 130 and 114 in his past two games and could be a great defensive option for the run home, especially for those strapped for cash. In just 6 per cent of teams, he’s a good point of difference.

Nathan Broad / Jason Castagna $117,300 def

Neither has set the world on fire so far in their AFL careers — Broad has scores of 66 and 53 in his first two games, Castagna scored 37 and 36 in Rounds 6 and 7. But both are cheap, set to rise in value and likely to get games as Damien Hardwick exposes youth over the final eight rounds. Watch selection and don’t plan on starting either of them on the field!

Is it time to make the tough call on Tom Liberatore? Picture: Michael Klein

JUMP OFF

Marcus Adams $360,200 def/fwd

Those planning to keep the Dogs mature-age revelation as an on-field option for the rest of the year were dealt a blow this week with news a foot injury will sideline him for at least the next two weeks. Time to go. With trade options limited at his price, try to find some cash to turn him into a premium scorer like Sam Docherty, Rory Laird or Jarrad McVeigh.

Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti $264,400 def/fwd

We love the way ‘Walla’ plays but last week’s 37 points is a stark reminder of why we are supposed to trade out rookies before now. With a break-even of 109 he’s set to leak more cash this week.

Tom Liberatore $487,500 mid

Tough call. If you’re low on trades keeping Libba isn’t the worst option but with a season average of 98 he’s below premium status. Last week’s 94 came on the back of a matchwinning third quarter and he has scored only five 100-plus scores this season. There are a host of A-graders that don’t cost much more — you need only $11k in the bank to get Rory Sloane (averaging 120 over his past five games), just $100 for Sam Mitchell (av 119 in his past three) or swap Libba for Luke Parker and you’ll actually make $3000.

Scott Pendlebury is having another brilliant season. Picture: Colleen Petch

CHAMPION DATA MATCH-UPS

Lance Franklin will have his work cut out this week as he embarks on his first-ever game at Simonds Stadium.

The Cats give up the fewest points to key forwards of any side in the competition, with the likes of Tom Lonergan, Harry Taylor and Lachie Henderson all capable of playing on Buddy. Franklin has scored a combined 8.8 from his two games against Geelong as a Swans player, scoring 107 and 119 points respectively.

At the opposing end, Tom Hawkins will need to be at his best to get through Sydney’s defence, with the Swans giving up the second-fewest points to key forwards of any side. He finished with four goals straight and 94 points when the sides last met at the Cattery in Round 19 last season.

Gold Coast key forwards Tom J. Lynch and Peter Wright will be looking forward to the Q-Clash, with the Lions giving up the most points to key forwards of any side in the league. Lynch booted 5.2 on his way to 113 points when these sides last met in Round 4.

Exclusive @championdata matchups - SuperCoach scores conceded by every club by position. Bad news for Buddy pic.twitter.com/oeOYUjJFqz

— SuperCoach AFL (@Supercoach) July 7, 2016

CHAMPION DATA ROOKIE WATCH

Carlton’s new sensation, Jack Silvagni enters the round with the lowest break-even of any player in the competition (-70).

He showed glimpses of his talent on debut last week against the Magpies, finishing with 15 disposals, six marks and a team-high seven score involvements. Silvagni has held his place in the side for this week’s Adelaide clash and won’t change in price until the following round.

Despite already increasing in price, Rhys Mathieson is still worth considering as a trade down target. With the third-lowest break-even score for the round, he was one of very fewer winners when the Lions last played in Round 14, finishing with 24 disposals, 14 contested possessions and seven tackles.

At the selection table, the Tigers have swung the axe. Bubble boy Nathan Broad has been dropped, but this has been offset by the return of Jason Castagna, with the latter averaging 26 disposals, five tackles and 115 points in his past three VFL games.

Daniel Rioli returns the side, while Liam McBean has also come in for his first game of the season. There is also one debutant, with Oleg Markov named to play his first game. He has been solid at VFL level, averaging 13 disposals and 64 points.

Aaron Francis and Ryan Clarke have also been named in extended squads and will debut if they make the final Essendon and North Melbourne teams.

On the flip side, popular cash cows Ben Keays and Tom Phillips have both been dropped, while Marcus Adams will miss with a foot injury.

CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN

Patrick Dangerfield

The No. 1 scoring player in SuperCoach this year deserves a crack at the vice-captaincy at least but his record against Sydney is slightly concerning with no 100-plus scores in his past three against the Swans. Midfield partner Joel Selwood scored 145 last time he played Sydney and loves Simonds Stadium.

Scott Pendlebury

We probably undersell the Magpies skipper by saying he’s a reliable 120-points-a-week scorer (as good as that is). He was a super captain pick last round with a 161 against Carlton and has dropped under 100 only twice this year, with a low score of 87. Definitely in the frame.

Heath Shaw

Playing in the same game, Shaw scored 127 last time against Collingwood and has averaged 113 for the season. He copped a defensive tag from Carlton’s Simon White in his last game — will be bounce back with a bang?

Gary Ablett

Ablett wasn’t needed last week in a big Suns win but we can forgive him one quiet game after averaging 138 over the previous month. Has a career average of 129 against the Lions.

Max Gawn

The Demons ruckman is capable of huge scores and for some reason they usually come interstate, which makes this week’s trip to Darwin very enticing, especially after a 167 in Alice Springs earlier this year. Fremantle’s depleted ruck stocks give Max another chance to dominate.

Matt Priddis

The Eagles midfielder returned to form with 122 last week, his best score for seven rounds. This week he faces the Kangaroos, a team he dominates every time — averaging 127 in 11 games with a high of 188.

PICK 9

SuperCoach Pick 9 is back after the byes and there is $87,000 up for grabs if you can pick the top SuperCoach scorer in every game of the round.

Click here to register and here to see our top picks for each game.

Originally published as SuperCoach 2016: Best trade, captain picks for Round 16