SC Expert Panel: How to get ahead during the bye rounds – Ford, Briggs & the key trade targets

The bye rounds are here and they can be a minefield for SuperCoaches but also a brilliant opportunity to rise up the ranks, assuming you’re organised and shrewd with trades.

Thus we called in a few SuperCoach experts to offer their wise words on their trade plans and how to get ahead.

Our expert panel is:

• The SuperCoach Bull, seasoned veteran,
• Joe from The Centre Bounce, ranked 119th in 2022 SuperCoach
• Dylan Bolch, Herald Sun and SC scribe and former top 1000 finisher
• Big J From The Centre Bounce, ranked 549th in 2022 SuperCoach

@The_SC_bull

How many trades do you have left? 14 Trades (no boosts)

After trades this round, what’s your bye structure? 19/23/19/18

What are your bye plans? This week I’m targeting Ford and building a warchest to grab premiums coming off their bye. I’m also looking at utilising players who may be coming off their bye and on the bubble.

Any key trade-in targets across the byes and why? Rookies will be critical here. I’m targeting Lachlan McAndrew, Oisin Mullin and Lewis Melican (smokie pick) off their byes and pre price rise to maximise on field points.

One piece of advice for SuperCoach newcomers about playing the byes? It’s too late to have a succinct plan in place, but focus on trading in players that suit the rounds you may struggle with. For example, players like Lachie Neale and Stewart will help you in the latter bye rounds should you not own them given they have an early bye.

@chabby_joe

Trades left? 8 (no boosts)

After trades this round, what’s your bye structure? 21/21/18/16

What are your bye plans? I’m cementing in the cash gen this round which will allow me to trade in the top dogs by the end of the byes whilst also getting in a premo who is in the round 14 which I can afford to trade into. I will then bring in players who are coming off their bye next week or on the bubble so that I can keep adding to my available roster. Upgrading each week and finishing my team by the end of the byes is definitely a must.

Any key trade-in targets across the byes and why? You cannot go past Kieran Briggs and Eddie Ford this week. I think the Freo boys are also really good value; Andy Brayshaw first followed by Caleb Serong the next week when he drops under $600k is really good. Darcy Cameron, the person I’m bringing in this week, is primed to pop off with stats showing that he’s about to explode similar to before his injury. Definitely must leave a spot and a way to get Clayton Oliver back after the King’s Birthday clash.

One piece of advice for SuperCoach newcomers about playing the byes? This is an awesome opportunity to rise up the ranks if you can field 18 each week. There are many who are bound to fail in this respect, especially in Round 15! If you have an option to trade in a premo who is in a bye that suits your structure more, I would lean towards them.

Dylan Bolch @BolchDylan

Trades left? 17 (3 boosts)

After trades this round, what’s your bye structure? 18, 22, 19, 15

Any key trade-in targets across the byes and why? This round I will probably hold fire. There is a temptation to trade Darcy Wilmot and Will Ashcroft to Jack Macrae and Oisin Mullin, but I’m not sold on Mullin’s job security and I think having Wilmot and Ashcroft as playing players late in the byes will be helpful. I’ll aim to target players like Lachie Neale, Luke Ryan and Caleb Serong following their bye this week. These sorts of players look to be amongst the best performers in their respective lines and will assist me greatly in the coming weeks when I look light on with numbers.

Any key trade-in targets across the byes and why? The main target for me this week is Jack Macrae, but any rookies that pop their heads up will be a priority. At the moment it looks like slim pickings, but I don’t mind the look of Lewis Melican and hopefully we get a few others who stand out. I think Ford is a must-have and given the scarcity of rookies on the horizon, it’s probably worth jumping on George Wardlaw too, despite the elevated price tag.

One piece of advice for SuperCoach newcomers about playing the byes? Try to target players coming off the bye. There’s more merit in buying a player like Neale in Round 14, rather than someone like Sam Walsh, who would have the bye in the following week. Both players probably average similar numbers, but you’d essentially be getting an extra game out of Neale.

Big J From The Centre Bounce @bounce_centre

Trades left? After this round’s trades I’ll have 8 left.

After trades this round, what’s your bye structure? 19,20,18,15

Any key trade-in targets across the byes and why? This round I’ve used three trades. Currently I’ve brought in Jack Macrae, Kieran Briggs and Eddie Ford in for Will Day, Alwyn Davey and Sam Simpson. This gives me 3 players with low breakevens who should either score well on field or make enough money for me to bring in premiums and finish off my team. I’m also using Briggs as cover for Sean Darcy as he recovers from his hamstring injury.

Any key trade-in targets across the byes and why? Avoiding donuts and lost points is key for me, so I’ll be doing my best to try and make sure that I have a minimum of 18 playing every week. As I have a low amount of trades left I’ll be grabbing premiums with value to finish my side. Oliver, Neale, Brayshaw, Serong and Sicily are five players I’m currently looking at.

One piece of advice for SuperCoach newcomers about playing the byes? Money management matters!

Be careful of trading your rookies early. With less teams picking players in the mid-season draft we may not have many downgrade options in the next few weeks. You don’t want to get stuck bringing in ‘dead’ rookies to finish your teams, so always have some money in the bank for more expensive rookies ($102k vs $123k+). Be wary of forcing trades because a player you want is at their lowest price point, especially when you have viable downgrade options that week.