We’re at the point now where we all comfortably know who the best of the best are and there is no point referencing them time and time again. Instead, today I’ve got something a little different for us! I’m going through a whole BUNCH of differential names that you MUST consider as your final premium upgrade or even as your all-important 23^rd or 24^th man on your bench to cover those pesky late outs and short term injuries!

Connor Rozee – $410k (MID) – 7%

The #1 one player on your shopping list should be simple this week. Being able to grab someone for low 400’s who averaged 108 ppg last year and 116 ppg after 5 games this season is insanity. Usually, a drop off like this is concerning if you can’t diagnose the root cause, but it’s simple with Rozee this year. Injuries. He looked back to his ball winning and tackling best against tough opposition in what was an absolutely crushing loss as well. The one thing I will say, if you’re choosing him as your 23^rd player, make sure you’re able to gain a 24^th as well, because the lack of DPP ruins him as sole cover. I prefer him as a cheap last upgrade for your M8 position or if you’re also able to gain a 24^th  player with DPP in addition to him, then Connor Rozee on your midfield bench is luxury at its finest! With tagging being in trend at the moment, grabbing a midfielder who won’t get tagged is an underrated bonus, and there’s no way Rozee will ever be tagged before both JHF and Butters. BUY.

Jye Caldwell – $476k (MID/FWD) – 4%

This guy has been the model of consistency this year without blowing us away. Although, with Will Setterfield dropped and a spike in CBA’s for Jye trending in the right direction, its time to stop turning a blind eye here. He had his highest CBA % on the year with 75% this week after 54% the week before. He has only had 5 games this year with over 40% CBA’s in them where he averages 104 points per game. Essendon have 5 favourable matchups for inside midfielder SuperCoach scoring in a row from here, including Geelong this week which is as good as it gets. He was drafted with serious pedigree before being traded away with high upside and I think he is finally showcasing the faith everyone had in him. Essendon are riding high and will do everything it takes to gain that finals spot and I believe Caldwell can be a catalyst for this. It’s safe to say we can comfortably rank him as the 6^th best FWD to own behind Heeney, Flanders, Zorko, Rankine and Fisher now. JUMP ON.

Trent Rivers – $451k (DEF) – 1%

There was always going to be a beneficiary to no Petracca or Brayshaw in this Melbourne midfield and Trent is now that man. He has only had 2 games where he has entered a CBA for the Dees this year, one was Round 5 where he had 33% of CBA’s and scored 101, then last week where he had 80% of them and scored 131. North are the third easiest for MID’s to score on in SuperCoach, so this number is potentially manipulated by the matchup, but the evidence is there for how you could easily see him going 100+ from here. The good news is his role seems pretty secure as there aren’t many names who can come in and claim it. Salem did it early on, but the fact Goodwin has given the nod to Rivers first with Petracca out is positive signs. Goodwin also raved about his job in the midfield and from that press conference I get the idea it’s a role that is here to stay. Whether it’s season over and you’re looking for a fun ride, or whether you need a POD to separate you in the finals of your SuperCoach cash league, Trent Rivers could easily be your man! TEMPTING.

Colby McKercher – $379k (MID/DEF) – 19%

This selection is the only player in this list who is owned by over 7% of the SuperCoach community, but I just had to add him. Non owners have been blessed with a great opportunity here to jump back on due to the fact he missed those 2-3 extra weeks and his negative breakeven was unable to take effect while coaches had to deal with other moves first. The stigma around his name being a rookie needs to be removed, its just not the case. The North half back line is SuperCoach piggery and Zac Fisher is an average footballer at best who even is thriving in it from a SuperCoach perspective. Colby averaged 109 SC points in 3 games without Sheezel in defence, playing alongside just Fisher instead. He will likely take the majority of kick outs and his (MID/DEF) DPP makes him the perfect 23^rd player in your team. North took the cautious approach with him which is positive for his future durability and he came back via the VFL where he had 31 touches, 22 kicks and 8 marks for 108 AFL Fantasy points in less than ¾’s played due to his managed minutes. He gets a tough matchup this week for defenders in the Dogs but that shouldn’t deter you. He has a -6 breakeven so it is now or never and I’m all for the now! GET IN.

Sam De Koning – $350k (DEF) – 1%

This one is as out there as it gets, a true punt that is not for the faint hearted. The lack of DPP hurts but being able to grab a 350k defender who could be #1 ruck at their club is insane cover for your backline. The issue is Chris Scott. He has given absolutely no continuity to his ruck position this year rotating it between, Conway, Stanley, Blitz and now SDK. An insight to Stanley and Conway’s true availability over the weekend would be nice, Stanley was an emergency but there were rumours that he was still carrying an injury and wasn’t ready. If he was ready, and Scott just named De Koning over him then that’s absolutely huge in reassuring this pick. The Cats injury report and teams’ sheet is definitely something to monitor closely this week as the upside in a pick like this is enormous. We have all seen what his brother can do as the #1 ruck at Carlton, maybe they want to test the waters with their own version? PUNT.

Jy Simpkin – $400k (MID/FWD) – 3%

This selection doesn’t scream excitement but the value in this pick is high. I picked him up for $360k last week, although the $40k price rise shouldn’t put you off this pick completely. In 2022 Simpkin averaged 83% CBA’s, in 2023 he averaged 60% and then in 2024 this has dropped right down to 39%. Is this North investing in youth or is this them managing a recurringly injured captain of their club? He has a bad concussion history, and he took that nasty hit from Jimmy Webster in the pre-season which saw him miss Round 1 and then he sustained a quad injury in Round 8 which he missed a month of footy with. He then missed another week with hamstring awareness just last week… So, the injury risk is huge, yes. Although delving into this, he averaged 24.5% CBAs in his first 4 weeks after the concussion (clearly eased back in) which then jumped up to 55% in his next two games before the Saints injury match. Since coming back from that injury, his CBA’s have climbed back to a promising 65% and 40% again. This is a very positive upwards trend for someone who you can select as a budget FWD. Yes, we know we aren’t buying the old 70-80% CBA Simpkin from a few years ago as North are clearly investing in youth, but he is the captain of the club, he is in his prime age of 26 and his pressure and attack on the ball these past two games symbolises the positive boost in Norths performances. I prefer him as an F7 with his ideal DPP, but if you have cover, taking him as a cheap F6 has the potential for high upside. As long as the role sticks, I think you’re getting a 90 average at worst, with the upside for more. KEEN. 

Jack Sinclair – $581k (MID/DEF) – 6%

Sinclair is an old SuperCoach favourite that has completely flown under the radar due to his substantial pre-season injury. It took him a little while to get going as well, with his first 5 games post injury being quite underwhelming. Although, he is hitting his straps now with an 8-round average of a monstruous 115! The Saints also play 8 of their final 9 games at MRVL stadium which is honestly ridiculous and why I’ve been keen to hold both Steele and Marshall, so targeting Sinclair on top of these could be an unreal differential. I know most teams have had their defence full for a while now with so many good options back there, but if you are in need of one still, I’d have Jack right near the top of your list for that juicy POD alternative. If you were stacked for cash, aiming for a (MID/DEF) like him to swing between your benches for both loops and injury cover would be an unbelievable advantage on your opponents. UNDERRATED.

Rory Laird – $527k (MID) – 6%

A little bit of a nostalgic differential option has emerged here as he is very budget friendly and has seen an unexpected role change. Most of the season he has been a CBA midfielder who rested forward or on the bench when not in rotation. Matt Crouch then got injured and in the first game without him this saw Laird attend his highest CBA percentage for the year with 77% of them. Although this didn’t stick, in his last game this dropped all the way back down to a measly 22% and yet, he still scored a monstrous 141 against the Swans. How was this? The difference is this game he played the majority behind the ball and racking it up in the D50, almost like vintage old Laird while pinching in the middle. The most interesting part to this was Laird as a midfielder has always been a low 70-75% TOG player, yet against the Swans in this new role it spiked to over 90%! Unfortunately, he didn’t take any kick ins, and his role seems to be changing quite frequently. So, this makes picking him up this week very much a shot in the SuperCoach dark…  But he is rock bottom price, and the new role has shown to be more friendly than the taggable midfield role we have always seen as optimal. Its genuinely at the point now where we’d rather a half backer than a midfielder in our sides! What has happened to our game. In saying that, Rory Laird should definitely be high on your radar. WATCHLIST.