MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 14: Max Gawn of the Demons marks the ball during a Melbourne Demons training session at Gosch's Paddock on December 14, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Martin Keep/AFL Photos for AFL Photos)
We have potentially the captain pick of the season in Round 1! After all the research, tinkering, and discussions on social media, it’s time to lock in this crucial double points decision.
ROUND 1 VICE CAPTAINS
Patrick Cripps
Richmond is fielding three debutants who are relatively inexperienced in the midfield, and I expect Cripps to capitalise on this. In the preseason matchup against Richmond, Collingwood’s on-ballers performed exceptionally well, with Nick Daicos scoring 153 points from 59% time on ground (TOG). Cripps boasts a remarkable record against Richmond, averaging 133 points over his last four games, including a season-high of 144 in 2024. I’m anticipating an even larger score this time around.
Jayden Short
Consider this: Wanganeen Milera recorded 31 disposals against Carlton in the preseason despite only taking three kick-ins. Additionally, Ash (81% TOG) and Whitfield (70% TOG) were top possession getters against Carlton, with 27 and 28 disposals, respectively. Ash finished with an impressive SuperCoach score of 125 points. Could this be an early trend? Carlton kicked 16 points in the preseason match and I am predicting plenty of scoring opportunities which hopefully means plenty of kick-ins for Short. Although this pick carries some risk, Round 1 is often a gamble, so why not take a chance?
Caleb Serong
This is the first time I’m starting Serong, and I’m quite excited. He has a solid record against Geelong, with scores of 114, 125, and 110 in his last outings. In the Indigenous All-Stars game, he played 78% TOG and secured 27 disposals. He followed this with a strong performance against Melbourne, scoring 93 SuperCoach points from 59% TOG. Notably, Serong has been pushing forward and scoring throughout the preseason. I anticipate a 120+ average this season, positioning him as a top three midfielder come season end.
ROUND 1 CAPTAINS
Tristan Xerri
Xerri was my favorite player to own towards the end of last season. His strength at contests and ability to follow up with tackles are impressive to watch. Last year, he scored 141 SuperCoach points against the English-less Bulldogs and matched this score in the preseason game against West Coast. While there isn’t a vast amount of data supporting this choice, sometimes you have to trust your instincts.
Harry Sheezel
We don’t have much historical data on Sheezel against the Bulldogs, as he has faced them twice, scoring 103 in both instances. In the preseason game against West Coast, he attended 16 centre bounce attendances (CBAs) and nearly split his disposals evenly between the defensive and forward halves, with 36 disposals at 89% efficiency. He scored a remarkable 170 SuperCoach points. With the Bulldogs lacking depth in the midfield, I expect Sheezel to take full advantage.
Nick Daicos
I usually have complete confidence in locking Daicos in for a VC or C choice. However, he had plantar fasciitis in the preseason, which impacted his readiness for Round 0 when he cramped early in the third quarter. Despite this setback, his performance against Richmond in the preseason was outstanding, scoring 153 SuperCoach points from just 59% TOG. Daicos has averaged 141 SuperCoach points in his last two games against Port Adelaide. Since you’ve invested heavily in him, even with the early bye, it’s worth trying to gain some extra points!
Max Gawn
There’s not much to say here. For those without him, it could be a nerve-wracking watch, as he may very well be the captain pick of the season. With Briggs out and Keefe likely matching up against him, we could see a repeat of Darcy Cameron’s 164 SuperCoach points from the weekend. Could we be looking at a potential 200 points?
ROUND 1 POD VICE CAPTAIN
Dayne Zorko 12% ownership
Who will James Jordan match up against? I predict it will be Neale. Zorko is Brisbane’s primary kick-in taker and successfully played on from all eight against Adelaide. His kick-to-handball ratio was exceptional, with 24 kicks and only four handballs, resulting in 123 SuperCoach points. In his last three games against the Swans, he has scored 129, 120 and 114 points. Given the limited preseason data, Will Powell playing across halfback was the top-ranked player against Sydney, scoring 125 SuperCoach points, making Zorko a promising pick.
