SuperCoach Formguide: Matt Priddis available at huge discount plus best trade, captain picks
FALLEN premiums are gold in SuperCoach and one Eagles superstar looms large this week. Plus best captain choices, trade advice, new podcast and exclusive Champion Data match-ups.
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SUPERCOACH might appear to be going to hell in a handbasket with injuries to popular picks Gary Ablett, Daniel Wells, Marcus Adams, Rory Laird and Michael Barlow banished to WAFL duties.
But all is not lost. Not yet anyway.
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A perennially under-rated and under-utilised midfield jet looms large as our collective saviour.
Matt Priddis is his name and contested possessions are his game.
The Brownlow medallist roared back into form last week with 28 disposals (22 contested possessions) and a season-best nine tackles for his second highest score of the year (123), stopping a slide that included three sub 87-point games after missing Round 4 with a groin complaint.
While frustrating for the existing 34,000-odd Priddis owners, the Eagle’s bumpy start has resulted in his price dropping $115,000 to $496,200 - the lowest it has been in three years.
Priddis is $64,500 more than Wells (Achilles) and $45,900 cheaper than Ablett (concussion).
While it would take a brave coach to replace Ablett with Priddis, the Priddis to Wells move looks a match-made in SuperCoach heaven.
Wells was always only ever meant to be a money-making machine, before hot early-season form prompted so-called “keeper” talk.
The veteran might well be a Rolls Royce - as coach Brad Scott is at pains to remind us all - but niggling injuries and 66 points last start makes him a risky proposition ahead of North Melbourne’s tough upcoming draw.
The Roos face nine games against current top eight sides including assignments in Sydney, Adelaide and Perth.
Priddis on the other hand is a blue chip, blue-collar worker that should rattle home in the second half of the season with the possibility of monster scores as the Eagles steam towards finals redemption.
The ball magnet should also take benefit from a moderate draw that includes four of the next seven games at Subiaco.
CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN
DAN HANNEBERY ($629,000, Mid) Sydney
The Sydney midfielder has been in fine form this season, reaching triple figures every week. Don’t expect that to change this week with Hannebery averaging 132 in his past three games against Hawthorn. Perhaps more of a vice-captain option given his Friday night fixture.
TODD GOLDSTEIN ($552,500, Ruck) Nth Melbourne
Trusting Goldy has let thousands of SuperCoaches down in the past two weeks but surely he bounces back this week against a Carlton team without a recognised ruckman. Goldy doesn’t mind the Blues either, averaging 131 in his past three against them.
LEIGH MONTAGNA ($530,100, Mid-Fwd) St Kilda
Perhaps a left field option but for the 6 per cent of teams with the Saints star in their team, a worthy choice. Montagna averages 129 in his last three against Essendon, including a 133 last season. Being the last game of the weekend adds a little bit of flexibility.
PATRICK DANGERFIELD ($654,000, Mid) Geelong
The No.1 player on the field and in SuperCoach. Plenty took advantage of his 132 last Friday night with a captaincy loophole and plenty more will look for a repeat performance with the Cats facing Collingwood in the first game on Saturday. Averages a lazy 129 in his past three against the Pies.
HEATH SHAW ($600,100, Def) GWS Giants
Looking for a point of difference option? This is it. Shaw has produced 132, 143, 102 and 143 in his past four games after a slow start to the season. The Dogs have been a SuperCoach curse at times this season but Shaw has scored well in the past, including a 144 last year.
JUMP ON
DARCY MACPHERSON ($102,400, Mid) Gold Coast
The No.1 trade target this week. While some have gone for the more expensive Jacob Hopper after his scintillating debut, we’ll wait until next week. MacPherson is on the bubble this week and with a price of $102,400 and breakeven of -75, he’ll skyrocket in price over the next month. Crucial as we look ahead to the byes.
SAM DOCHERTY ($512,700, Def) Carlton
Is there a hotter defender in the game right now? Docherty is running hot with scores of 120 and 147 in his last two weeks and looms as a much-needed upgrade in defence. A word of caution though with Carlton having the same bye week as Adelaide (Smith, Laird) and Richmond (Rance).
MATT PRIDDIS ($496,200, Mid) West Coast
The fallen premium is gold in SuperCoach and few have fallen further than Priddis. Under $500k, the Eagles superstar presents terrific value for those looking to strengthen injury/form/suspension hit teams. After a three weeks of mediocre scores, Priddis returned to form with a 123 in the big win over St Kilda last week.
JUMP OFF
CALLUM MILLS ($320,700, Mid) Sydney
After scores of 36 and 59, it’s time to bank Mills’s $108,000 price rise. Sadly, those last two scores saw his price dip $15,000 last week and a breakeven of 95 this week. With a couple of juicy downgrade options, Mills is on the block. However, if you’ve got the cash he’s also a good upgrade option.
MARCUS ADAMS ($349,700, Def) Western Bulldogs
The standout cash cow will miss a second week after finger surgery and knowing Luke Beveridge’s selection policy, he’s no guarantee to return immediately. If you’ve got a bit of cash in the bank Adams is an easy upgrade after adding $232,000 to his starting price.
BACHAR HOULI ($454,300, Def) Richmond
The Tigers defender’s injury was revealed late last week and his diagnosis has now been confirmed to be in the vicinity of 10 weeks. It’s bad news for teams already hit by injuries, form and/or suspensions. Adding insult to Houli’s injury is the fact he’s dropped $61,000, meaning you’ll have to spend a bit to find a premium replacement.
.@championdata matchups: points conceded by position. Bad news for Dog, Pie mids.
— SuperCoach AFL (@Supercoach) May 20, 2016
Formguide: https://t.co/hQb1TASyl4 pic.twitter.com/y1eKjZxw3k
CHAMPION DATA MATCHUPS
This week’s clash between the high-flying Greater Western Sydney and Western Bulldogs promises to be a cracker. The midfield battle will go a long way in deciding the result, with the Giants and Bulldogs currently the hardest and second-hardest teams to score against for midfielders.
Last week the Giants didn’t concede more than 100 points to any Gold Coast midfielder; in fact, only 11 midfielders have exceeded that benchmark against them all season.
The Bulldogs on the other hand have conceded 100-plus points to seven midfielders, with Jack Viney’s return of 116 points the highest score overall.
Collingwood’s midfield ran rampant last week against the Lions, however, it will find it more difficult to score points against the might of Geelong.
The Cats give up the fourth-fewest points to midfielders of any side, so the likes of Scott Pendlebury, Adam Treloar, Taylor Adams and Steele Sidebottom will have to work hard for their points.
ROOKIE RADAR
Of the bubble boys, Darcy MacPherson should be the No.1 trade down target this round, with his break-even score of -75 points the second-highest of any player in the league behind Hopper. MacPherson’s defensive game has been his greatest asset, ranking third at the Suns for tackles with 15 across the past two rounds. With Gary Ablett and Aaron Hall both sidelined this round, midfield minutes are a real possibility as well.
At the selection table this week SuperCoaches have been handed a major boost with the pending debut of Lions gun Rhys Mathieson. He is joined in the side with another potential debutant in Jarrad Jansen, while fellow cash cow Jackson Paine has also been named for his first game of the season. At the Bulldogs, Kieran Collins will also make his AFL debut in defence.
— Champion Data
Hawthorn v Sydney: Sam Mitchell
Collingwood v Geelong: Patrick Dangerfield
Gold Coast v Adelaide: Rory Sloane
Port Adelaide v West Coast: Nic Naitanui
Fremantle v Richmond: Lachie Neale
North Melbourne v Carlton: Todd Goldstein
Melbourne v Brisbane: Max Gawn
GWS Giants v Western Bulldogs: Callan Ward
St Kilda v Essendon: Nick Riewoldt
Originally published as SuperCoach Formguide: Matt Priddis available at huge discount plus best trade, captain picks
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