SuperCoach AFL 2017: SuperCoach expert Jock Reynolds’ ‘hunting the next midfield beast’

THE SuperCoach midfield jungle is littered with traps for the unwary. Never fear Jock Reynolds is here to lead you on the “Hunt for the Next Midfield Beast”.

Today the Father of Fantasy Footy, Jock Reynolds, leads us on a safari into the midfield jungle in search of the next SuperCoach Beast.

The following is a summary of the “Hunting the Next Midfield Beast” article featured in the 2017 Jock Reynolds Fantasy Footy Magazine.

Without further ado ... “Hunting the Next Midfield Beast”.

RISKY MOVE: RADICAL SUPERCOACH LOOPHOLE TACTICS

ON THE UP: SUPERCOACH 2017’S BREAKOUT CONTENDERS

RULE CHANGE: MAX-IMISING YOUR SUPERCOACH RUCKS

You don’t need me to tell you how important the proven “Midfield Beast” is to every SuperCoach team.

Slotting a proven beast into your starting team is one thing. Hunting for the next is a completely different kettle of fish.

I’ve been in this caper for a long time kids and let me assure you – the midfield jungle is littered with traps for the unwary. Do not under any circumstances attempt this hunt without learning as much as you possibly can about this majestic species.

Zach Merrett elevated his game to Beast status in 2016. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

Adam Trealoar was a beast in his first season with Collingwood.

Numbers don’t lie folks. The numbers will tell you that the proven beast displays distinctive statistical marking at all stages of its development.

IT hungers for the contested ball. By the time it is just 10 games old it will have collected an average of 40% of its possessions in a contest, increasing to 50% by the age of 50 games.

IT tackles its prey. Takes them to the turf almost five times a game by the 50-game mark.

IT’S born with the knack of clearing the ball out of a stoppage.

WHILE it isn’t a prolific goalkicker, it does hit the scoreboard in the majority of games its plays.

WHILE its SuperCoach points-per-game progression tells part of the story, its points-per-minute played progress can tell you a hell of a lot more about how likely a beastling is to reach full maturity when its time on ground increases.

On average, it will harvest 1.1PPM (points per minute) at the tender age of 10 games.

It will steadily increase its PPM output to reach an average 1.6PPM by maturity at 50 games.

How does that young bloke ‘training with the midfield group’ at your club stack up against these numbers at this stage in his career?

Put this in the book right now – if he doesn’t win enough contested ball, doesn’t tackle, hasn’t proven his ability to clear the ball out of the contest, hasn’t shown you solid PPM progress ... He. Will. Fail. Simple as that, kids.

So who does fit the profile of the Beast?

Matt and Brad Crouch could be future beasts. Picture: Tait Schmaal

We all know that Patrick Cripps is a ripper. But the degree to which he is dead set off the statistical charts is staggering.

At just 44 games of age he exceeds the benchmark set by our proven beasts by a mile for every metric except goals-per-game, where he still meets the benchmark of 0.8.

Both Brad, and more surprisingly, Matt Crouch carry the unmistakeable mark of the beast.

They comfortably reached their benchmarks for PPM, contested possession, clearance rate and tackles last year despite very low (70-74%) time on ground. The numbers suggest that an increase in TOG is all that stands between them and breaking bread at the table of the beast.

With a permanent move to the midfield on the cards, the jungle drums are beating for Isaac Heeney in 2017.

Don’t get too carried away though. He played plenty of midfield during the finals, but in those games he missed the benchmark on contested possession, clearances and tackles despite 85% time on ground.

Put these names on your watchlist – Clayton Oliver, Connor Blakely and Jacob Hopper.

Each of them smashing early benchmarks to ribbons despite TOG percentages in the 60s in their early games.

Sam Menegola delivered the most impressive first half dozen SuperCoach games since Michael Barlow in 2010 last year but it would take sizeable spuds to start him at $486,400 – at the same time, statistically, we could see him emerge as a real option during 2017.

Let me tell you, nailing a young emerging midfield selection is one of the most rewarding achievements in SuperCoach. It’s also very dangerous.

Clayton Oliver looms as a breakout player at Melbourne. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

Get it wrong in the $380,000 – $520,000 price range and you’ll find yourself with a very hard to remove stain in the underpant of your team.

If you are up for this dangerous hunt, whatever you do, make sure your breakout contender carries the statistical mark of the beast.

What’s the best way to learn about this species in a game ruled by stats and numbers? Very simple – have a real close look at those stats and numbers.

We’ve unpacked the data to within an inch of it’s life in this year’s Jock Reynolds Fantasy Footy Magazine. Here’s what we’ve done.

IDENTIFIED the current crop of tried and tested midfield beasts.

OBSERVED, in incredible detail, the statistical footprint each left behind in the SuperCoach jungle on their way to trouser stretching ultra-premiumhood.

COMPARED the data to some young up-and-coming potential Beastling whelps at their current stage of development.

Jock Reynolds is the self appointed Father of Fantasy Footy, spiritual leader of the Jock Reynolds SuperCoach Community atjockreynolds.com.au and host of the Jock Reynolds SuperCoach Podcast.

For the complete article and lots more, secure your copy of the 2017 Jock Reynolds SuperCoach magazine here.

Originally published as SuperCoach AFL 2017: SuperCoach expert Jock Reynolds’ ‘hunting the next midfield beast’