SuperCoach 2016: Trade tips, best captain picks for Round 14

UPDATE: THE exclusive stats that show why we all need to jump on Dustin Martin and Brett Deledio this week. Best trade and captain picks. NEW PODCAST

Is it ti, e to trade out Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti?

IT’S trade time.

No, this isn’t an ad for a car dealership or reminder of October’s AFL meat market.

What it is the three bye rounds and they now is the perfect time to splash the SuperCoach trades and finalise your line-ups.

Over the past two or three weeks we have been banking the cash in the hope of turning matured cash cows into elite scorers.

For example bringing in the likes of Jarrad Jansen, Jack Trengove or James Rose so that we can welcome the cream of the crop; Sam Docherty, Dan Hannebery or Brett Deledio.

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

This week is vital — the middle bye round — because six teams have now had their break and will hopefully play out the rest of the season.

Richmond, Carlton, St Kilda, Collingwood, Adelaide and Gold Coast players are ripe for the picking.

That means premiums such as Dustin Martin, Scott Pendlebury, Leigh Montagna, Rory Laird and even Gary Ablett (if you were silly enough to trade him out) are — barring injury — set to play every game from here to the SuperCoach Grand Final in Round 23.

For this week at least, it makes them far more valuable than Dan Hannebery or Matthew Priddis who are on the bye this week or Dayne Zorko and Joel Selwood who have the week off in Round 15.

However, a word of warning.

Keep trades up your sleeves for finals time.

All too often we here at SuperCoach HQ hear of high-flying teams brought low because of late-season injuries and restings.

The SuperCoach finals start in Round 19, that’s only four weeks after the final bye round and you’d hope to have about six trades heading into that four week period.

That should help cover any underperforming stars, injuries or unforeseen axings.

We should also be looking to have at least one reliable cash cow on your benches for these reasons.

A lot of top teams are expected to use reliable cheapies Sam Kerridge, Marcus Adams or Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti as bench cover for the rest of the season rather than cashing them in.

So, plan carefully.

There’s not much point finishing top four only to crash out in straight sets and be ridiculed by your mates.

Dustin Martin is in fantastic form. Picture: Mark Stewart

BYE RULES
A reminder that during the three bye rounds only the top 18 scoring players count towards your weekly total. Those 18 must come from your starting 22 so make sure all available players are on the field or marked as emergencies.

It’s also the perfect time to use the vice-captain loophole. Nominate a vice-captain who plays early in the round — if they go big, put the ‘C’ on someone missing with the bye (they have to be on the field). If the VC doesn’t get the job done, pick another gun as captain and get their double points.

FANS SURVEY: HAVE YOUR SAY ON FOOTY’S BIG ISSUES

CHAMPION DATA MATCH-UPS

All roads lead to Richmond this week as they return from the bye to face the hapless Brisbane at the MCG.

Richmond’s forwards could be in for a field day, with the Lions conceding more points to general forwards than any other side in the league.

From a SuperCoach point of view, this brings Dustin Martin and Brett Deledio into the mix. Both players have decent records against the Lions since 2010 as well, with Martin averaging 106 points and Deledio 119. Martin has dominated against bottom 10 teams this season, averaging 119 points, while Deledio has managed 99 points per game.

Hawthorn’s forwards are also likely to figure prominently this week against the Suns, a side that concedes the second-most points to general forwards this year.

Exclusive @championdata matchup stats - #supercoach points conceded per club by position. Get on Dusty + Lids! pic.twitter.com/W2IMaKLcok

— SuperCoach AFL (@Supercoach) June 24, 2016

ROOKIE RADAR

Trade plans have been put into disarray after the Giants dropped bubble boy Sam Reid for this week’s Carlton clash. This has been offset by the return of Rhys Mathieson, who will play his third game of the season.

Named on field, Mathieson has put up some decent numbers in the NEAFL after his omission, averaging 29 disposals, eight clearances and 129 points. With Dayne Zorko missing, he could be afforded more time in the midfield.

Collingwood youngster Tom Phillips is also an option this week after he held his place in the side. A dual-position player, he scored 64 points on his AFL debut in Round 12, recording 15 disposals, eight contested possessions and five tackles. Even though he doesn’t change price until after his third game, he has the added appeal of already serving the bye.

JUMP ON

Brett Deledio $535,300 fwd

A SuperCoach hall of famer, Deledio hasn’t averaged under 100 points a game since 2007. Now is the perfect time to recruit him off the back of Richmond’s bye and $83,500 below his starting price. He has averaged 105 in his past five games and could explode against the Lions. A cheaper option with similar scoring potential is Saint Leigh Montagna at just $479,600 but the Cats this weekend might be tougher going. If money isn’t an issue Dustin Martin is $566,500.

Rory Laird $471,900 def

Bargain of the week. The Crows backman offers great value after a broken toe briefly derailed his season, but he’s back — scoring 112 in his last outing on the back of 25 disposals and 10 marks. The Crows have an attractive fixture and he’s great cover for the next two weeks with his bye behind him. Plan B — Alex Rance is just $6000 more and is as reliable as you can get for a key back.

Tom Phillips $117,300 fwd/mid

The risky buy of the week but will be popular with SuperCoaches looking for cash in a week of very limited downgrade options. Scored 64 in his first game against the Dees and his dual-position status will be very handy in the run home to help cover short-term injuries when the trade cupboard is bare. Just need him to get picked this week — and next week as well thanks, Bucks.

Rory Laird wins plenty of the ball in defence. Picture: Calum Robertson

JUMP OFF

Darcy Byrne-Jones $328,400 def

After failing to break 50 against Fremantle DBJ has a break-even of 92 when the Power next plays, which isn’t for another two weeks. He’s done his job, now is the time to turn him into Laird or Rance.

Ben Kennedy $321,200 mid/fwd

‘BenKen’ is still in more than 42,000 teams despite leaking cash the past few weeks. With the Demons having the bye this weekend, now is the time to cash him in for a premium forward or midfielder.

Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti $384,200 def/fwd

Tough call on one of the best SuperCoach picks of the year but there is no sentimentality in this game. ‘Walla’ has jumped in value by $281,800 but has reached his ceiling and if you can swap him to Laird/Rance you’ll pick up an extra 20 points a week. If you can find the cash to get Sam Docherty the difference could be double that.

Gary Ablett had 45 disposals against Hawthorn in 2014. Can he repeat that on Sunday? Picture: Jerad Williams

CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN

Patrick Dangerfield v St Kilda

The new ‘perma captain’ in SuperCoach for his 144,000 owners after scoring 229 and 173 in his past two games. He scored 117 against St Kilda last year but he is on an absolute tear.

Gary Ablett v Hawthorn

Gazza is back in town with an average of 130 in his past three games and is fresh off the bye. And he loves — LOVES — playing the Hawks. He has come up against Hawthorn 13 times in his career for an average score of 134 including 148 in his past three. Perfect back-up for VC Dangerfield.

Scott Pendlebury v Fremantle

Mr Reliable is back with no scores below 118 since Round 6. He averages 110 in his past three against the Dockers and is a nice VC option early in the round especially if Ross Lyon frees Michael Barlow from his recent tagging role.

Tom Rockliff v Richmond

Rocky is hot, averaging 146 over his past three games, and the Tigers don’t have a tagger. His past three scores against Richmond are 115, 141 and 126. Expect more of the same.

Trent Cotchin v Brisbane

The Tigers skipper is in fewer than 5000 teams but that might change this week — he’s a great midfield upgrade if you’re looking for a point of difference coming off the Round 13 bye. Cotch is having his best SuperCoach season since 2012, averages 117 over his past three games and feasts on the Lions every year, scoring 144, 134 and 133 in his past three games against Brisbane. Have a feeling Mitch Robinson will go to Dusty, leaving Cotch off the chain.

This week’s key numbers from Champion Data.

Originally published as SuperCoach 2016: Trade tips, best captain picks for Round 14