Another week closer to SuperCoach finals, and another important week for picking the right captain. There are only six rounds left to climb the rankings, so nailing your captaincy will be very important.
Read on to hear my discussion on the best players of the week.
Follow me on Twitter @Pig_Mentality for more SuperCoach VC/C chat.
Vice Captains
1. James Sicily
James had a disappointing return game last weekend, being tagged by Eddie Ford to a 58. Prior to his suspension, he had scores of 136, 172, 134, and 134. This week he plays against Richmond, who give up the second most points to opposition defenders in 2023. Sicily’s last three scores against the Tigers are 118, 141, and 128. He returns to the MCG, where he is averaging 115 this year from 4 games. If he performs how I expect him to, I think the SicDog has the potential to be my highest scorer of the week. As discussed in last week’s article, that means he gets my VC armband.
2. Tim English
Tim has the highest three-round average in the league, at 143. He averages 127 against Essendon in his four games against them. English’s highest-ever SuperCoach score is 204, which came against the Bombers in 2020. Andrew Phillips is a tough ruck matchup this season, as he wins the Hit Out 53% of the time (this is second only to Sean Darcy for pure ruckmen). However, I can’t see Phillips keeping up with English around the ground, and he should have access to plenty of marks, which should see him continue his trend of 133, 127, and 130 in his last three games at Marvel Stadium.
3. Marcus Bontempelli
Marcus once again makes my Vice-Captain list, despite scoring only 125+ twice in his last nine games. This week he plays Essendon, who tend to restrict inside midfielders, but give up big points to outside midfielders that spread from the contest and deliver inside 50. Players such as Isaac Smith (98), Dawson (127), Rozee (141), Farrell (131), Brayshaw (129), and Cerra (132) have all done well against Essendon. I expect The Bont to add to that list.
Captains
1. Nick Daicos
Nick has only played Port Adelaide twice in his career, for scores of 149 and 77. The 149 came in Round 2 of this season. Add this to the fact that he averages 121 at the Adelaide Oval (from three games), and I think you could be very comfortable Captaining Daicos this week. Additionally, the Power have kicked the most behinds in 2023, and if Daicos continues to rack up the kick-ins, he could boost his tally in this game.
2. Errol Gulden
Errol has a three-round average of 128 (fifth highest in the league). This week he plays against Fremantle, which is a matchup he loves. He has only played against them three times in his career, for scores of 156, 113, and 127. The only flag here is that he has only played at Optus Stadium twice in his young career, for scores of 113 and 84. Gulden is in such good form that I think he blows those two attempts out of the water. Fremantle give up the second-most points to opposition midfielders this year (which includes wingmen).
3. Max Gawn
Max rewarded his owners last week with the highest score of the year, a monster 215. He now goes into this game as the sole ruck, again without Brodie Grundy. Reilly O’Brien is not an easy ruck matchup, as he wins the Hit Out 50% of the time (4th highest among pure ruckmen). However, Gawn has shown he can dominate all aspects of the game and produce points through contested possessions and clearance work. He has scores of 100, 124, and 107 in his last three matchups against the Crows.
4. Jarrod Witts
Jarrod is someone who relies on winning the Hit Out battle to get big points. In difficult Hit Out matchups he has scored poorly (against Adelaide, Carlton, Hawthorn, and Collingwood). He has recently played two teams that don’t win many Hit Outs (Port Adelaide and St Kilda), and he produced scores of 121 and 126. This week he matches up with Kieren Briggs and Callum Brown, who only win the Hit Out in 38.8% of their contests. This should leave plenty of points on the board for Witts.
5. Jordan Dawson
Jordan has a season average of 118, a three-round average of 118, and a 5-round average of 120. He has been very consistent for us this season. Coming up against Melbourne with no Rory Laird, the Crows skipper will have to shoulder a larger load this week. These are very low sample sizes, but his only other game against Melbourne in an Adelaide jersey (144) and his only other game at the MCG this year (149) bode well for this matchup. Additionally, the Demons give up big points to both midfielders and defenders, which should suit Dawson in whichever role he plays.
POD Captain?
1. Charlie Curnow
Charlie has a three-round average of 96 and even scored a ton against Port Adelaide last round. This week he plays against the depleted Eagles, whom he kicked 9 goals against in Round 7 and scored 186. This wasn’t a fluke either, as he scored 142 and 86 against them in their last two matchups. With Jeremy McGovern and Harry McKay out, this is likely to be a 1 on 1 battle between Curnow and Tom Barrass. Barrass is an excellent defender, but I expect King Charles to have dozens of opportunities to score. If you are one of the 6% of coaches who own him, this could be a very profitable VC or C option (VC preferred).
My moves
I scored 2,355 last week which had me climbing up to rank hovering at rank 421st for the season.
Last week I chose English as Vice-Captain (173) into a Daicos Captain (130). I took English’s score as Captain.
I predict Sicily to be my highest scorer of the week, and as such I will have him as my Vice-Captain. Daicos will be my fall-back Captain option.
Read Thursday’s injury/selection news with updates on Cameron, Dunkley, Young, Cripps and more
Find out all the Round 18 role changes with our analysis. Read here
