The pre-season games offered plenty of insights but it’s important to not get too carried away and completely overhaul your team based on that. Then again, there’s also plenty to learn from them.
So we called in the SuperCoach experts to offer a few tips on players who’ve firmed up or shot into their Round 1 starting squad calculations and those who’s fallen out, with a stocks up, stocks down panel.
Our expert panel is:
- Janath Fernando, three straight top 1.5k SC finishes, best finish 146th in 2020,
- Big J From The Centre Bounce, ranked 549th in 2022 SuperCoach,
- Joe from The Centre Bounce, ranked 119th in 2022 SuperCoach,
- The SC Bull, seasoned SuperCoach veteran,
- Casey McDonald, former SC round winner & three-time top 1000.
Janath Fernando @JanathFernando4
Sean Darcy ($562k RUC) – There were probably more PODish players I could’ve chosen here but Darcy’s two pre-season games have me almost locked in on him and Rowan Marshall as my ruck combo for Round 1. Darcy dominated Scott Lycett in the ruck, highlighted by a forward 50 set play leading to a Sam Switkowski goal to go with 127 SuperCoach points. Perhaps most impressive about Darcy’s performance was his eight tackles, which in terms of SuperCoach scoring count for four points each. Even with Luke Jackson’s eventual return to a strong Fremantle side following concussion symptoms, Darcy resting forward as opposed to on the bench is an ominous sign for non-owners given Darcy’s ability to take a pack mark and get on the scoreboard.
On the flipside, my interest in Toby McLean ($179k M/F) has dipped. Mclean’s strong performance in last year’s elimination final (100 SuperCoach points including nine tackles) appeared to be a mirage when compared to Sunday’s efforts against North Melbourne. McLean appeared to be passive with the ball, and although he spent 85% time on ground, only had 45 SuperCoach points to go with just one tackle. Given his role as a winger is not conducive for SuperCoach scoring, I have downgraded him to a cheaper forward bench rookie, using the funds freed up (~30-50k) to upgrade other positions within my team.
Big J from the Centre Bounce @bounce_centre
Liam Jones ($228k DEF) – Teams don’t usually sign 31-year-old key defenders if they’re expecting them to play in the VFL but there were some real concerns for Jones as a selection in my side. We had heard some impressive things about him when he initially arrived at the Dogs but news had gone quiet over January and February. He did well in the intraclub game but his performance against North cemented him into my team. Currently priced at a 41 average, Jones has scored over 65+ for multiple years during his time at Carlton and with a fantastic role and something to prove at the Dogs he’s a no brainer.
Stocks down on Sam Draper ($398k RUC) – I was a huge Draper fan heading into the pre-season games but after learning that he’d be sharing ruck time with other talls in the team I’ve been put off the pick. Witts in 2022 worked because he was the clear solo ruck at GC but there are clear warning signs for owners that I’m trying to avoid. Not keen to take on the risk and potentially have to try and sideways to other 400k options during the early weeks of the season.
Joe from The Centre Bounce @chabby_joe
Gotta love Errol Gulden ($472k M/F) – My. Word. What in the world did we witness? I’m sure that the coaching staff at Sydney weren’t as shocked as we were when we saw him show off his prowess in what has to be the greatest preseason performance of all time, but we have to hope that they were impressed enough to give him more CBAs this year. He’s a household name in Supercoach with his sensational 139-point debut, has shown that he has the ceiling and averaged 83 off 10% of CBAs. If he gets 20% CBAs with Kennedy’s retirement and their inclination to mess with Mills’ role, I reckon he can bump his average to the 95-100 mark.
Dom Sheed ($332k MID) – The mid-pricer we had hoped to shine and flourish in the dream role unfortunately didn’t play as well as we had hoped. To the eye, it looked like he was too slow for the modern game, and was visibly annoyed the more the game went on. West Coast’s opponents, the Crows, are definitely a much-improved side, but you would expect to see more from a premiership player whose boundary line kick for goal has to be the among the greatest in AFL history. Thankfully, we are absolutely spoiled for choice in the mid-pricer department this year, to the point where I’ve seen some run a 2 premo midfield!
The SuperCoach Bull @the_SC_bull
Finn Callaghan ($244k MID) – I love a good POD, and Callaghan was one high on my radar this pre-season. With role the only question mark on his potential, he ticked all of the boxes on Saturday afternoon against the Gold Coast Suns. With both Taranto and Hopper departing the Giants in the off-season, there’s now room for someone like Callaghan to rotate through the midfield. Callaghan was at 3.1% ownership on February 15, and after punching out a score of 110 has shot up to an ownership of 11.8%. His mouth-watering performance included 2 goals, 22 disposals (at 91% DE) and 6 marks. At his price, Callaghan could easily score around 80-90+ points per game, which is enough to justify paying extra for the young bull.
Stocks down Conor McKenna ($167k DEF) – Right now you’re probably thinking to yourself “what are you smoking Bull?”. The answer is VALUE! Connor McKenna was in my initial Pre Season side, however has made way after an average performance against Geelong on Friday night. Having scored only a 53, I have a gut feeling that dropping McKenna out, and swinging Constable down back is the move which will help my side moving forward. With players like Callaghan, Ashcroft and Mackenzie all performing across the weekend, my money is better invested here. Whilst I still think McKenna is a solid selection, it comes down to the eye test, which for me he did not pass. At this moment in time Tom Cole is currently my D4, but to release funds I may opt to look at McKenna very late in the piece
Casey McDonald @NaCheers
Stocks up for Will Setterfield ($348k MID) – This guy is absolutely busting for some opportunity and that is what he is going to get at The Bombers! I have been bullish before pre-season and he has backed it up with some good games. Tricky price, but capable of 100s as we have seen. He managed 25D (14 contested), 87 TOG and 6 tackles. Bombers need a big bodied mid and I had some spare coin to afford him. I’m taking a punt on him at this stage. 1.9% ownership.
Stocks down for by Toby McLean ($179k M/F) – Toby has shown some signs in the past but with so many rookies showing amazing potential over the last fortnight he has had to make way. He had plenty of TOG but was only able to manage 45 points. So I have gone a cheaper option to be able to fit in Setterfield.
