Finding the true value of your SuperCoach picks
It is always daunting picking a SuperCoach side in January.
It is hard to know how teams will line up.
I have run the ruler through the price list and found some guys I will consider and some who – at this stage – I will not.
OVERPRICED PLAYERS
Plenty of guys are going to score reasonably well and be top eight or 10 in their position, and ideally your final six onfield premiums will be made up of guys from there.
However, some of the players in those places will not be those you start.
Harry Sheezel ($556,200 DEF)
While it may feel harsh to knock the Rising Star after a stellar debut year, SuperCoach is no place for sentimentality. Sheezel has been elevated to the leadership group for North Melbourne and will retain his key role off half-back.
Whether or not he continues his scoring remains to be seen – $556,200 is a hefty price to pay for a young player still finding his feet at AFL level.
Clayton Oliver ($674,100 MID)
Unless you have been living under a rock, you know Clayton Oliver’s been in the headlines for the wrong reasons since the season finished. We will not go into them here, and I hope for his, Melbourne’s and SuperCoaches’ sakes he is back to his best by round 1.
He has been the poster child for SuperCoach for years.
Zach Merrett ($650,100 MID)
As a regrettable diehard Essendon fan, it hurts my soul to say Zach Merrett is too expensive but alas, he is. Essendon has spoken about its desire to increase the midfield rotations in Brad Scott’s second year and that does not bode well.
Luke Jackson ($547,000 RUC/FWD)
I love Luke Jackson, and his back-end to 2023 with Sean
Darcy off the park was nothing short of scintillating.
However, unless Darcy goes down with a long-term injury before the season begins I am not paying almost $550k for his understudy.
UNDERPRICED PLAYERS
Just as there are plenty of players who are not worth the money in SuperCoach, there are a huge number of guys who will bring value to our sides.
Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera ($475,500 DEF)
He was hyped last pre-season but spluttered out of the gates, with a top score of only 76 in his opening six rounds.
But with a third pre-season under his belt and a strong back end of the season, this could be the year he finally hits his straps.
Jack Steele ($529,500 MID)
Unbelievably, we are getting a bloke who has averaged more than 120 multiple times for less than $530,000 in 2024.
Jack Steele is a rolled-gold, bona fide midfield premium, having averaged 122.5 in 2020 and 126 in 2021, but last season the St Kilda skipper played injured.
Tristan Xerri: ($407,400 RUC)
An intriguing time for Tristan Xerri, who now has no challengers to the No.1 ruck role. It would be a bold play to pick the Kangaroos’ big man with so many other tasty options, but at least this year we know – it is Xerri or bust for the Roos.
Jack Macrae ($558,400 MID/ FWD)
Is it possible for the most expensive forward to actually be underpriced? Yes. Yes it is.
Macrae is a must-pick with a dearth of forwards in 2024 after the DPP gods cruelly stripped us of many familiar faces, but with Bailey Smith ruled out of 2024, Macrae looms as replacement for those midfield minutes after time on the outside in 2023.