Opinion 2024 AFL SuperCoach Planning Thread

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AFL 2024: Daniel Rioli talks shaking off injury, possible midfield move, Maurice Rioli
After a battling 2023, Richmond dasher Daniel Rioli is looking ahead to exciting times under new coach Adem Yze, which could involve a different role in the Tiger team.


Jon Ralph
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February 4, 2024 - 6:16PM



Richmond dasher Daniel Rioli says new coach Adem Yze has dangled the carrot of some midfield time as a shock weapon like cousin Cyril Rioli in his Hawthorn glory days.

It comes as Rioli backed in his close relative Maurice Rioli to put his new-found maturity on show in a make-or-break season at Punt Road.

Tigers defender Rioli has packed a full career’s worth of moments in his eight seasons as a triple premiership small forward with a Goal of the Year award before winning All Australian 40 honours in 2022 as a half back.


Now the 26-year-old has a new coach in Yze and potentially new challenges despite his desire to again dominate at half back after limping through 2023 with a niggling ankle injury.

Rioli said instead of spending time on the training track he too often had his ankle in a bucket of ice as fluid in the joint saw him playing hurt for interim coach Andrew McQualter.


McQualter missed out on the new role for former Demons star Yze, who honed his coaching skills in a side with star small forward Cyril Rioli during their premiership era.

Daniel Rioli is again injury free and told the Herald Sun he still wasn’t sure how to take Yze’s suggestion of some midfield minutes.

“He wants me to play mostly half back but he made a comment to me: “What is your nickname? What about ‘Silk”,” Rioli told the Herald Sun after the club’s intraclub clash on Wednesday.

“He said if we needed a ‘Cyril’ or a Shaun Burgoyne to provide spark in the midfield why not? They were ‘Mr Fix-it’ players. He did make that comment and obviously I want to play half back this year. I haven’t played a lot of midfield time in my AFL career so I am excited if that does come about. Midfield, forward, back to the backline, I am happy. He has got a lot of confidence in our players and I am thrilled to play under him.”

“Last year was a bit of a roller coaster for us. We all have confidence in Yze’s game plan and what he brings to the club.”

Last year Rioli’s stats were almost identical to his breakout 2022 as a defender – resulting in a fifth-placing in the Jack Dyer Medal.

But too often he hobbled into games and played through contests despite re-injuring his ankle.

“It was tough with the injury and I just tried to do the right thing for the team to get out there. A nice off-season helped. I got off my legs for a bit and I am cherry ripe now but there was heaps of fluid on my ankle that kept bugging me through the year,” he said.

“I couldn’t even walk on it at some stages. The ankle was a bit blue and I had to be at home with an ice bucket every night and that got me through but I had a good physio who looked after me.”

Post-season Rioli and partner Paris Lawrence escaped for some sightseeing to Tokyo before returning to his home in the Tiwi Islands over Christmas.

The club had urged third-year forward Maurice Rioli to rededicate himself to his fitness across the off-season given his tank did not allow him to get to enough contests in a ten-game 2023 AFL season.

He returned in adequate rather than outstanding shape but Daniel Rioli said he had made up for lost time since then.

“Obviously Maurice has got a long way to go. He’s still young and he’s pretty raw to this game so we know what a good pressure player he is. He is now (in good shape). I go home a lot and have a lot of bush tucker which puts me over that scale a bit,” he said.

“We both try to come back in reasonable shape but obviously the club has good programs through training. He has been good. He is still young and learning and if he doesn’t come back as fit he’s got a good program with physios and coaches who talk him through things

“He is still getting to that stage where he is maturing. He is only 21 years old and this year he needs to get into it and show the people what he’s made of.”
Jayden Short anyone?
 

Darkie

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I quite like the look of him, scored nicely when played down back - I think it was c. 106 in matches in which he took at least one kick-in, and he used to get a lot of them. Generally very durable too. At the moment I have a midfielder over him (currently Touk) but I’ve thought about making a switch.
 
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Are others keeping a flexible mindset regarding structure based purely on Rucks? I mean, for me I think my team hinges on Gawn and Grundy in round 0 and that first performance. It's a huge structure change and something I'll be looking to be ready for.
I'm not crash hot at this game, but I won't be pulling my team apart because of scores in round 0, Grundy and Gawn are up against each other and I think it would be folly to drop either from my starting team based on 1 round of data and considering the matchup.

What I do want to see is the clarification of roles for those MP's that I'm considering in rnd 0, Williams, Adams, Billings, Jordan, Sexton etc.

There's not too many rookies from those rnd 0 teams to consider, maybe Gibcus & McAuliffe from the Tigers, Windsor at the Dees, Roberts at the Swans
 

Ben's Beasts

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I'm not crash hot at this game, but I won't be pulling my team apart because of scores in round 0, Grundy and Gawn are up against each other and I think it would be folly to drop either from my starting team based on 1 round of data and considering the matchup.

What I do want to see is the clarification of roles for those MP's that I'm considering in rnd 0, Williams, Adams, Billings, Jordan, Sexton etc.

There's not too many rookies from those rnd 0 teams to consider, maybe Gibcus & McAuliffe from the Tigers, Windsor at the Dees, Roberts at the Swans
Also Hore, Laurie, F Macrae, Cadman, Wehr and possibly Sexton who is also rookie priced.
 
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Are others keeping a flexible mindset regarding structure based purely on Rucks? I mean, for me I think my team hinges on Gawn and Grundy in round 0 and that first performance. It's a huge structure change and something I'll be looking to be ready for.
My whole team is flexible, with the rucks part of the puzzle.
No1 for me is what rookies are available in Rd 1 and work back from there.
 
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I'm not crash hot at this game, but I won't be pulling my team apart because of scores in round 0, Grundy and Gawn are up against each other and I think it would be folly to drop either from my starting team based on 1 round of data and considering the matchup.

What I do want to see is the clarification of roles for those MP's that I'm considering in rnd 0, Williams, Adams, Billings, Jordan, Sexton etc.

There's not too many rookies from those rnd 0 teams to consider, maybe Gibcus & McAuliffe from the Tigers, Windsor at the Dees, Roberts at the Swans
I won't be pulling my team apart, I'll have 2 teams ready to go. If Grundy and/or Gawn spud it or get injured, I'll be making changes I think but yr right, there's a difference between a poor game and something bigger but unlike other positions, these 2 guys are not easily changed out for a like for like replacement.
 
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It's such a shame they couldn't make it work for a R0 start. Best 10 in R0, or 10 trades between R0 and R1. It doesn't feel right being able to see 8 teams play before picking our teams.
Can't say I'm overly fussed.
Same rules for everyone, potential for some false dawn wrt grabbing a player that did well in Rd0 or fading a player that had a bad game.
Good players are going to adapt and use the new rules to their advantage.
People like me are still going to think they know what they're doing. :ROFLMAO:
 
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It's such a shame they couldn't make it work for a R0 start. Best 10 in R0, or 10 trades between R0 and R1. It doesn't feel right being able to see 8 teams play before picking our teams.
It really is terrible. People would get annoyed when their players did well in pre-season games and gained ownership. Now we get to watch rookies like Roberts/Sexton/Trezise/Finlay become locks, and premiums like Flanders/Dusty/Grundy/Gawn/Daicos/Walsh ease everyone's doubts with big games. :LOL:

Of course I am sure there will be some advantages for those who either resist a big Round 0 score player, or stick with someone who has a down game Round 0, but I am envisioning those players dominating :sleep:
 
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Not sure where to post this but thought I would post it here as it is kinda SC planning.
Need some sage like advice.

In a SC draft cash league with 12 keepers. I have built this team up over the last 4 years to win the GF last year.

But my problem is who would you keep out of the team below? 10-11 pretty much pick themselves but it is the last 2 I need some help with.
Do you got go with someone proven like Guthrie or Simpkin or do you go with an up and comer like Callaghan? Or do you keep bazlinka? Let us know your thoughts and who you would keep.

Team:
Bont - Keep
Butters - keep
Gawn - keep
Curnow - keep
McBags - keep
Young - keep
Warner - Keep
Docherty - keep
Heeney - keep
Rivers - keep ? just getting better
Wardlaw - keep? Primed for big 2nd year

Last spot

Bazlinka - ACL (just put on bench as VG player)

Cam Gutherie - proven performer main mid for cats but probably only 2 years left

Simpkin - proven performer- does he get pushed out of mid to give kids more opportunity? Has mentioned this already

Callaghan - up and comer saw what capable of in final against pies.

Brayden Campbell DPP - only getting better

Brennan Cox - high scoring defender

Brodie Smith - racks em up

Jarman Impey - hawks distributitor

Zac Fisher - plumb role for roos out of def

Jayden Hunt - key distributor

Miles Bergman - nice role last year

Marcus Windhager DPP - up and comer - great back half last year

Matthew Johnston

Or do I take a DPP?

Draft is later in month so need to lock in keepers b4 then.

Let me know your thoughts who u would take for the last 2-3 or why you wouldn't keep one of the keep players above?

At the moment I just can't decide on who to keep in the last spot.

Thanks.

1. Bont (mid)
2. Butters (mid)
3. Gawn (ruck)
4. Young (def)
5. Warner (mid)
6. Wardlaw (mid) (already showing signs of being a legit gun, injury issues but worth it).
7. Callaghan (mid) (probably goes close to 100 this year, will be massive for years to come).
8. Bazlenka (bench) (can afford to hold, will be a star).
9. Curnow (fwd) (assuming Charlie, gun)

Those (in my mind) are the obvious 'keepers.'
The way I think about it, is who would likely be snapped up in the first round of the upcoming draft? Who are currently (or will likely become in the next 1-2 years) top-liners in their respective positions?

The remaining 3 are a bit more subjective. From the above 9, you already have some future stars, so can probably afford 2-3 'now' picks.
McBags = Harry McKay? Gun player, but has never gone 80+ in a SC season. Maybe. Helps he's a forward.
Guthrie? Safe for 100 if stays fit.
Simpkin - Meh. Can easily replace an 80 mid. I'd rather punt on a 100+
Smith - Safe for 80+ as a def, not bad but not special.
Campbell - Gun. Might be a year away still and can probably pick up later in the draft.
Cox - Nice 85ish def.
Heeney - 85ish. Forward helps.
Docherty - Phasing out, but still worth keeping.
Rivers - Not really special SC-wise. No one will be rushing to snap him up.

If it were me, tough choice but I'd go:
10. Docherty (safe for 100 for now)
11. Heeney - Forwards at a premium, safe for 85 = lock this year.
12. Guthrie/Cox - Depends on who else is available in the draft. 80s defenders aren't too hard to pick up usually, but 100 mids are a bit more of a premium, so leaning towards Guthrie.

It all depends on how deep your draft goes I guess.


Good luck!
 
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1. Bont (mid)
2. Butters (mid)
3. Gawn (ruck)
4. Young (def)
5. Warner (mid)
6. Wardlaw (mid) (already showing signs of being a legit gun, injury issues but worth it).
7. Callaghan (mid) (probably goes close to 100 this year, will be massive for years to come).
8. Bazlenka (bench) (can afford to hold, will be a star).
9. Curnow (fwd) (assuming Charlie, gun)

Those (in my mind) are the obvious 'keepers.'
The way I think about it, is who would likely be snapped up in the first round of the upcoming draft? Who are currently (or will likely become in the next 1-2 years) top-liners in their respective positions?

The remaining 3 are a bit more subjective. From the above 9, you already have some future stars, so can probably afford 2-3 'now' picks.
McBags = Harry McKay? Gun player, but has never gone 80+ in a SC season. Maybe. Helps he's a forward.
Guthrie? Safe for 100 if stays fit.
Simpkin - Meh. Can easily replace an 80 mid. I'd rather punt on a 100+
Smith - Safe for 80+ as a def, not bad but not special.
Campbell - Gun. Might be a year away still and can probably pick up later in the draft.
Cox - Nice 85ish def.
Heeney - 85ish. Forward helps.
Docherty - Phasing out, but still worth keeping.
Rivers - Not really special SC-wise. No one will be rushing to snap him up.

If it were me, tough choice but I'd go:
10. Docherty (safe for 100 for now)
11. Heeney - Forwards at a premium, safe for 85 = lock this year.
12. Guthrie/Cox - Depends on who else is available in the draft. 80s defenders aren't too hard to pick up usually, but 100 mids are a bit more of a premium, so leaning towards Guthrie.

It all depends on how deep your draft goes I guess.


Good luck!
Great stuff. Thanks.
Sorry McBags is McCluggage and Curnow is Charlie.

14 teams 12 keepers each so 170 off the board before start of draft everyone else back into pool - fair game with all the new players for 2024.

I will be 14th pick each time.
 
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