A bit of both. Seem to use them very quickly to get off to a fast start or fix holes. Rather than chasing POD selections my POD is using the boosts and trades as much and as quickly as possible to hopefully keep the bank and points ticking over as I am not confident of using them astutely further down the track nor am I confident in chasing the pack.
Brilliant question and have had a look into when I have used the boosts amongst the competitions (Supercoach and Sportsdeck) that offer them in 2023.
AFL SC: Five boosts used by RD8 from a season length of 24 rounds. Overall rank of 19,951 from 190,972. Did help come back from a starting rank of 80k odd to hold rank around the 10k in the middle periods but was only delaying the inevitable later down the track.
BBL SC:
BBL13: Used the only two boosts in the first two rounds (9 round season) to finish 230th from 52,003
BBL12: Used two of three boosts in the final five rounds (14 round season) to finish 334th from ? (50k odd entrants).
NRL SC:
2023:5 boosts used by end of RD8 (earliest possible was RD6)- Season length is 27 rounds. Finished 1,768 from 157,496. Was about to be a personal best as I spent Rd15-RD26 between 400 to 800 but bulk rest, injuries ,etc In final round put a stop to that. Boost would not have helped.
2022: Personal best was 1,618 in 2022 which was my first season inside the top 10,000 and the first season in which boosts were available. Looks like I spent those by end of RD9 with four of five coming between RD6-RD9.
NFL Sportsdeck: 4 boosts used by RD6 (earliest possible is RD5)- Season length is 17 rounds, managed to sneak into the top 10 for three rounds (RD10 to RD12) to then finish 64th from 2,876.
EPL Sportsdeck: 6 boosts used by RD8 (earliest possible is RD7)- Season length is 38 rounds, hit a height of 23rd in Rd11 and currently 40th from 3,046 after 21 rounds.
NBL SC: 4 boost used by RD5 (earliest possible is RD5)- Season length is 20 rounds and my current rank at the end of RD17 is 30 from 24,672.
NBA Sportsdeck: 2023-2024: Five boosts used by RD10 with a season length of 23 rounds. Ranked 158th from 13 rounds so far.
2022-2023: Five boosts used by end of RD8 (earliest possible was RD6). Season length is 24 rounds and overall rank was 53 from 3,457. Treaded water around the 40-60 rank most of the season and may have been better served later on to try to make inroads. Was defending 4th spot from the season prior (no boosts).