SuperCoach AFL 2024: Experts reveal their round 3 trades
All six of our experts are activating a Trade Boost to get the players they want in a massive SuperCoach week. And one is taking a huge gamble. See their trades here.
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It’s boost time in SuperCoach.
With prices about to move for most of the competition following round 3, savvy coaches are using all three available trades to get their team in shape for the season.
But with rookies about to rise, mid-pricers ready to explode, defences in tatters and popular picks out of form, the decisions aren’t easy.
Here’s who our experts are trading this week.
AL PATON
OUT: Hayden Young, Tom Berry, Alex Sexton
IN: Luke Ryan, Tom Powell, Jack Carroll
Last week’s trade of Zac Fisher to Nat Fyfe cost me some points but it did leave enough money in the bank to turn Young into SuperCoach scoring pig Luke Ryan, and a bench cheapie into Tom Powell. I wasn’t planning on getting rid of Sexton this early – or Berry after only bringing him in last week – but after last week’s putrid scores they will take a while to make money even if they return to form. The fact they are both out with the bye this week makes the decision easier.
I like Carroll’s midfield role at the Blues and Powell could be a season-long keeper if he can average over 90 in the forward line, which is a real possibility. Worst case he makes some quick cash and I turn him into a premium in a month.
The fourth prong to this trade strategy is moving out two rookie forwards allows me to move James Jordon from the midfield to my forward line and bring his Swans teammate Matt Roberts off the bench – he’s been scoring far too well to be stuck there.
It does leave my defence exposed with Nick Coffield and Zach Reid on the bench but hopefully best 18 scoring will paper over those cracks until I figure out a solution.
TIM MICHELL
OUT: Hayden Young, Jayden Short, Brodie Grundy
IN: Luke Ryan, Tom Powell and Massimo D’Ambrosio
I waited the extra week for Massimo to make sure he was a must-have, which has now been confirmed. He’s outperforming Short and Young for $300k less and should jump to over $300k after round 3. I’m worried about trading Grundy, especially when he has West Coast next week. But he has a bye coming up and the aim of the game in SuperCoach is to build your bank while still getting as many points as possible.
Powell is playing like a keeper but realistically will be a money maker that is likely to outscore Grundy in the next month due to his bye. Anyone who has played SuperCoach for more than a year will know my feelings about Ryan’s scoring, but I am at the stage where if you can’t beat them, you should join them.
These trades leave me with $463k and a plan to trade James Jordon ($350k) and Jack Billings ($315k) to Touk Miller ($572k) and Lachie Whitfield ($544k) next week. I’ll need some luck – or maybe Sam Darcy – to make it happen. I’m concerned about being nine trades down after three rounds, but with so much value on offer it doesn’t feel like a year where you can afford to miss out.
THE PHANTOM
OUT: Alex Sexton, Sam Berry and Josh Gibcus
IN: Tom Powell, Jack Carroll and Toby Pink
A lot of Hayden Young traders out there – and in this story too – but I want to improve my team elsewhere. Yes, I know a price drop is imminent, but can he really be that bad for a third week in a row? I don’t think so. If he can clean up the errors and average 100 from here, it doesn’t matter what he scored in the opening two weeks.
Tom Powell was a SuperCoach star as a junior over here in South Australia before he was drafted and now that Alastair Clarkson has, seemingly, locked him into the same role he played then – a centre bounce midfielder – I’m on board.
Sam Berry is a chance to be dropped by the Crows, while Alex Sexton might not be safe next week, either. I’m improving my team, without ridding it of a potential premium scorer.
DAN BATTEN
OUT: Hayden Young, Nic Martin, Sam Berry
IN: Luke Ryan, Harry McKay, Sam Darcy
Go crazy? Don’t mind if I do. At this stage I think I may be going with McKay over Tom Powell as a best 18 points play. McKay faces the depleted defence of North Melbourne this week, who he has tonned up against in his last two matches, and he has passed the 100-point mark in his first two games this season as well as Carlton’s practice game.
The athletic key forward looks to be back to his Coleman Medal winning form of 2021 and has been used in the ruck as well to start the season, winning two clearances against Richmond and laying seven tackles. With a negative Break Even, I feel McKay has great short-term upside given he also plays Adelaide and Fremantle, who have their own key defensive injuries after a tantalising clash against the Roos.
On the rookies, I am concerned on Jack Carroll’s role and job security with Elijhah Hollands making his Blues debut, and I’m finding it difficult to get a read on whether Jeremy Sharp will remain in the Dockers’ side long-term. That’s why I might be going with Darcy a week early, who could be in for another big score against West Coast.
MAX STAINKAMPH
IN: Tom Powell, Massimo D’Ambrosio, Jeremy Sharp
OUT: Jesse Hogan, Hayden Young, Alex Sexton
He was expensive, silly and didn’t kick 12 goals against West Coast, but still, there goes the best damn forward I ever had. We’ve bid farewell to Jesse Hogan, which was always the plan, but instead of trading in Zac Williams, we’re welcoming Tom Powell who finally, after years of teasing, looks like the real deal in the Roos midfield.
Hayden Young has been bad, and if I ever get my hands on the Phantom he’ll get a good shouting at for convincing me he was a good pick. Jeremy Sharp is a must-have rookie, and Massimo’s stocks are rising.
I really wanted to get Luke Ryan in, but these guys present too much value – and give me a $620k war chest to go shopping with next week. My ticket on the Nick Coffield to Lachie Whitfield train is all but booked.
SWIZ
OUT: Jayden Short, Nat Fyfe, Tom Berry
IN: Zak Butters, Massimo D’Ambrosio, Tom Powell
After watching Butters demolish the Tiges and showing no issues of that pre-season ankle issue, it’s now or never for him.
Massimo has passed the eye test on every occasion and with his run and carry from half-back or the wing, he could be our best cash cow this season.
Tom Powell or Jeremy Sharp is the debate for the Boost. Powell gets the nod after having 53 CBAs in the first two weeks, one fewer than LDU. At worse he looks like making a quick $100k, though if he keeps this role, a season-long keeper isn’t completely out of the question.
Unfortunately, to do this Short, Fyfe and Berry need to make way.
Short was very disappointing against Port and doesn’t seem to have that juicy role we saw in the pre-season.
Fyfe being subbed against North hurt, and being managed in the future will stunt cash growth, while Berry spends one week in the team after a disappointing outing at Ballarat, though he may survive the axe if his namesake from Adelaide doesn’t survive his club’s selection chop.
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Originally published as SuperCoach AFL 2024: Experts reveal their round 3 trades
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