Under-performing popular options, injured rookies, multiple suspended players and high flying ‘must-have’ selections… It was an eventful opening Round for SuperCoach and I’m here to dissect all the burning trade questions we have for our sides, to help you navigate your trades with ease!
Josh Gibcus – $150k (DEF) – 60%
This one hurts. First night of the SuperCoach season and we watch a kid selected in over 60% of sides go down in such a tragic and excruciating manner. He has been confirmed as rupturing his ACL and will miss the entire 2024 season so therefore he is a must trade for us. You will have to determine if you want to pull the trigger off one week’s data or prefer to hold and trade next week. I think to save your team room for the boost next week, it’s better to shift him this week. If you have the cash, Massimo D’Ambrosio should be your number one target, otherwise Howes (64), Hore (60), Uwland (57), Dean (57), Coffield (49) and Toby Pink (44) could all be on your radar as replacements.
Zach Reid – $123k (DEF) – 52%
Another rookie defender bit the dust early on into our SuperCoach weekend… This one isn’t as clear cut as Gibcus as the early word was, he was subbed with “Hamstring Awareness” rather than a tear. Listen out for the news out of Essendon early in the week. If he is out for 2-3+ it’s a must trade to continue the importance of early season cash gen. The same names I’ve mentioned above should be your priority trades in if the worst is confirmed.
Nic Martin – $492k (MID) – 26% and Zac Fisher – $378,600 (FWD) – 37%
Urgh where do I start… I’ve roped these guys together purely as they’re two picks that have absolutely frustrated the entire Supercoach community this weekend after promising preseasons, just for them to dish up these abysmal displays. Although, I don’t think its time to panic yet. Both of these guys had the role we were looking for at the end of the day. They had 25 and 21 touches respectively which are great numbers in itself, Martin just went at 53% disposal efficiency while Zac Fisher had 7 clangers himself. I understand there’s a lot of cash tied up into Fisher, so freeing his money up could definitely help facilitate other trades, but I don’t think its wise to move either on yet.
James Sicily – $637k (DEF) – 18%
This one is a killer. It’s a tough one to give advice on as the harsh reality is I think he was a terrible pick to begin, due to the uncertainty and injuries in that Hawthorn backline. Not only did he give owners 43 SuperCoach points, but he has also now gone and gotten suspended to rub salt in the wounds. Although, you can’t ignore that best 18 next week does certainly help lessen the blow of the suspension… As much as this goes against all SuperCoach rules, I think in this scenario you may have to bite the bullet and look to offload him to someone like Stewart (105), Houston (114), Sheezel (130) or Yeo (96).
James Harmes – $258k (MID/FWD) – 10%
Scarily similar to Sicily, Harmes has gone and dished out a 35-point score for owners and looks likely to be suspended for his headbutt on Steven May as well… I think this one is a very easy trade with some decent options around in Jack Billings (119), Nat Fyfe (103) and James Jordan (84). You can also look at downgrading him to a rookie to help facilitate any other moves you’re considering.
Issac Heeney – $483k (FWD) – 24%
This one was an incredibly tough watch as a non-owner, so if you’re in the same boat as me I can imagine your finger is itching on the trade in button. The main issue is he has Essendon, Richmond, and West Coast to come before his bye which is a great fixture run. If you passed on Heeney, I would imagine you had Flanders or Jackson, if not both, who both had very good weekends themselves. Yes, Heeney will gain a nice cash boost, but I think now you’ve missed that score and you’d just be trading him in knowing he’ll miss for you in 3 weeks’ time, seems a little bit silly. There is also the ‘who do you trade out’ factor for him. Fisher with cash banked? There aren’t many options. I think we have to accept we missed the boat and watch it sail into the sunset and move on as unfortunate that is.
Massimo D’Ambrossio – $224k (DEF) – 9%
One of the biggest bolters to come from the round. As a Hawks fan, seeing what he did honestly shocked me. 29 touches, 13 contested at 73% disposal efficiency for 122 SuperCoach. Let me start by saying his role isn’t ideal. Most assumed he racked it up playing behind the ball when in reality he was a starting winger who prioritised the defensive side of the footy. In saying that, it doesn’t need to be perfect. He’s 224k and we are all trying to get out of Josh Gibcus. From what I saw I think there’s a great chance he can average 80+ from here and I think that is enough to trade in. I wouldn’t be moving mountains for him, but if you’re like me and left cash in the bank for this move, I would go ahead with it. You potentially can even wait a week if you’re tentative on him and go Gibcus or Reid to him the week after for more information or reassurance on the pick.
Sam Flanders – $494k (MID/FWD) – 40%
‘Stupid Sexy Flanders’ has come out and shown his absolute piggery while averaging 30 touches, 4 marks, 4 tackles and 126 SuperCoach points across his first two games. We were all concerned that potentially he just beat up a poor Richmond midfield, but he has gone and backed it up against a great Crows group. Personally, I think he’s in a very similar mould to Heeney where yes it would be amazing to have him and his price rise coming, but is it worth moving mountains to get him with a bye in a couple weeks? I’d strongly consider how many early bye premiums you have already and who you’d be trading out in order to get him before pulling the trigger. If there’s room in both these categories, I’m all for it. Flanders is the real deal.
Tom Green – $621k (MID) – 46%
The Green machine is one player I’d absolutely break all rules to get in. GWS are a well oiled machine on route to winning this year’s flag and Tom is the spearhead, 84% of CBA, Brownlow potential winning midfielder for them. The thing that non owners need to consider is yes, you’d be trading in a player with a bye coming out soon, but can you really watch Tom Green do this every week? He has the Eagles this week so is a great VC/C option again and looks to have really cleaned up his disposal game this year which was his knock at times last year. Yes, consider your byes, yes consider if the player you’re trading out is really worth trading, but if you’re still convinced you want a premium, Tom Green should absolutely be the top of your list.
Matt Rowell – $571k (MID) -14%
This one is a little tougher to read than Green for me. Yes, he’s averaging 146 SuperCoach points per game which is 4 more than Green, and yes, he has the same terrible bye while being cheaper. But am I as confident in him? Absolutely not. I personally still think there’s question marks on his outside game and the Dimma coached Suns as a whole. I personally would much rather wait until after his bye and see if he continues this form rather than rearranging things to get him in now. If you started him, its bloody unreal, huge congratulations to you. I just couldn’t confidently recommend him to anyone yet. The tight CBA rotation that Dimma is running at Gold Coast is definitely enticing and something to continue to monitor as 89% of CBAs for Matt Rowell is unbelievably good.
Jack Billings – $243k (FWD) – 5%
What a frustrating watch this was today. If you were anything like me who had Billings locked into their sides all pre-season just for him to be named sub and score 11 SuperCoach points in Round 0 than today absolutely killed, you. He ran riot on the Bulldogs today with 23 touches (20 kicks), 15 marks 5 tackles, 2 frees for and 1 goal for 119 SuperCoach points all without attending a centre bounce. So yes, the role isn’t ideal, but he plays the link up game between the midfield and the forward line so perfect which is what the Dees have been crying out for years. The issue is because Billings played that sub game, he now has a breakeven of 5 which is due to increase after this week. He is a tricky price to get to unless you started Harmes, have cash left over to get up from a rookie or are willing to cull Fisher early… Do you prioritise Billings or Massimo first? A lot of teams are requiring defensive help but if you don’t get Billings this week you miss his price rise. Ideally, I think you find a way to get both…
