Discussion 2025: AFL SuperCoach Discussion - OPEN

[OnTopBar]

Equally you could pick another premium midfielder, and then you are effectively covering R1 and R2 with your M9 (the flex spot). You don’t actually need two rucks on field.

A thought occurred to me this morning - thinking about the flex feature as being a “position” may not be the best way to think about it.

For the most part, it’s just fielding an extra (23rd) player, and then dropping the lowest scorer.

In BBL, a lot of the talk about the flex position died down quickly - it doesn’t seem to matter as much as was initially speculated (at least in terms of having to choose it carefully, etc).

I've been trying to work out whether starting a premo there makes any difference as compared to a rookie.

If I start a rookie and he's the lowest scorer then he drops off, if not then his score counts.

If I start a premo there then the aforesaid rookie is on field, if that rookie is the lowest scorer then that drops off, if not, then the next worst scorer drops off.

I'm not even sure that an on field injury score of say 5 makes any difference either. The rookie score at Flex would be counted in that case, if a premo was at Flex then that rookie score is still on field and counted.

Sorry if the way I've described things is a bit confusing, it sort of like my understanding of it ie: a little confused.

 

[OnTopBar]

I agree. I think you just pick the best 23 players and put the most reliable in flex because there is no cover for the flex. If someone thinks 4 ruckman are part of their best 23 starting players than all good.

Why would you put one of your most reliable scorers in Flex when there's no cover? And is there no cover?

If your Flex goes down then you're still getting your best 22 scores, albeit losing your most reliable scorer. Even if that scorer is on field then you would still get the rookie score at Flex (if there's a rookie there)

 

[Under The Dome]

My aim is to have 6-7 defenders, 9-10 mids, 2 rucks and 5 forwards. Jackson is someone I've gone with in on that never again list and now can actually be in that least relevant spot of F6.

 

[7/11]

I've been trying to work out whether starting a premo there makes any difference as compared to a rookie.

If I start a rookie and he's the lowest scorer then he drops off, if not then his score counts.

If I start a premo there then the aforesaid rookie is on field, if that rookie is the lowest scorer then that drops off, if not, then the next worst scorer drops off.

I'm not even sure that an on field injury score of say 5 makes any difference either. The rookie score at Flex would be counted in that case, if a premo was at Flex then that rookie score is still on field and counted.

Sorry if the way I've described things is a bit confusing, it sort of like my understanding of it ie: a little confused.

The main difference to think about in using a premium/midpricer at flex rather than a rookie is that if you have another rookie go bezerk on your E, are you benching the rookie or a premium/midpricer?

If you have a late starting premo/midpricer and have locked in an average scoring rookie at the flex position already that round, it’s going to cause a lot of headaches and tears if the only way to take that outlier score is to bench someone more consistent.

That’s of course, if you are able to take the score with a dedicated loop.

At this early stage I’m thinking I want a defender/mid floating donut rather than a ruck/forward loop.

 

[OnTopBar]

My aim is to have 6-7 defenders, 9-10 mids, 2 rucks and 5 forwards. Jackson is someone I've gone with in on that never again list and now can actually be in that least relevant spot of F6.

If things pan out the way it's hoped then those 5 (6) forwards could possibly be locked and loaded already.

Would allow all cash generation to be focused on the highest scoring lines as you rightly pointed out.

 

[Herbie66]

imo the biggest advantage of the Flex initially is if you want to start 3 premium rucks onfield

so basically the third premium ruck instead of a similarly priced premium D , M or F

eg

Ruck : Gawn , Xerri / Boyd

Flex : Marshall (14th highest average last season)

If Marshall is a late out swap him with Boyd

That way you still get 23 onfield scores (best 22 count)

Alternatively it could be a mid priced Ruck (eg Conway or Flynn) or any other player from any other price or position.

It is not actually the Flex player that knocks out the lowest onfield score

Highest 22 onfield scores count (from ANY position)

23rd score gets knocked out

Was certainly a lot of confusion in BBL SC

 

[OnTopBar]

The main difference to think about in using a premium/midpricer at flex rather than a rookie is that if you have another rookie go bezerk on your E, are you benching the rookie or a premium/midpricer?

If you have a late starting premo/midpricer and have locked in an average scoring rookie at the flex position already that round, it’s going to cause a lot of headaches and tears if the only way to take that outlier score is to bench someone more consistent.

That’s of course, if you are able to take the score with a dedicated loop.

At this early stage I’m thinking I want a defender/mid floating donut rather than a ruck/forward loop.

I guess that sort of scenario would rear it's head once lines are completed. Early days we should have on field rookies that can be benched, depending on timing of course.

 

[FlatTrackBully]

I've had this team sitting in a numbers document for a good while, really liking the structure and just thought I'd share. It's still only January so plenty of water to go under the bridge, not locked into any of these picks individually but keen to keep this structure.

I don't really count premiums in a starting team but more the rookies on field, currently only have 5 which is a number I'd like to try and stick with or even bring down. Looking at my starting team from last year by round 6 I had 4 rookies that hadn't been affected by the sub rule so feel like it's going to be key getting them off field ASAP. It's probably been talked about enough and will be a popular strategy this year but I'm only targeting round 0 players if they present enough value to warrant starting. I was also burnt starting Bont and Daicos last year so trying to avoid paying up for guys that will inevitably come down in price.

Defence:
Fairly cookie cutter barring Sicily, currently 6% owned which is ridiculously low for what he can produce especially for the price. I see no reason why he'll play large chunks forward this year. The acquisitions of Barrass and Battle to me should help him to be freed up back to that 2023 type scoring. There will be times he's thrown forward but I can only really see that happening late in games when it's close and there's no matchup for him. If Hawthorn improve again this year and have less close games there's less of a reason to throw him forward.

Midfield:
Keen on all this mids as I believe they can all outperform their price, also keen on Ollie Hollands if it gets another rookie off field.

Rucks:
Very keen on Darcy with his soft run early. This whole structure sort of depends on a playing rookie/midpriced ruck so hopefully Flynn can fit that mould.

Forwards:
Very cookie cutter, would be happy to go without JHF but this seems to be the line with the least amount of fieldable rookies so unless something presents I'll probably stick with this.

 

[Herbie66]

51 days to go so will wait to look at Round 0 games & then Round 1 teams to finalise everything

Without much thought (rookies are just place holders for planning purposes) , need to start reading through the thread

SINCLAIR , CLARK , Mills , Coleman , Travaglia , B Allan / El-Hawli + 1

BUTTERS , SERONG , Oliver , Peatling , Lalor , Long , O'Sullivan , O'Driscoll / Smith , E Allan , Brodie

GAWN , XERRI / Boyd

Macrae , Smith , Philippou , Daniel , Lynch , Powell-Pepper / + 2

MARSHALL

PREMIUM = 7

Mid-pricers/Value = 8

Rookies = 13

+ 3 players tbc

$ 586,100.00 for 3 spots and final adjustments

 

[OnTopBar]

51 days to go so will wait to look at Round 0 games & then Round 1 teams to finalise everything

Without much thought (rookies are just place holders for planning purposes) , need to start reading through the thread

SINCLAIR , CLARK , Mills , Coleman , Travaglia , B Allan / El-Hawli + 1

BUTTERS , SERONG , Oliver , Peatling , Lalor , Long , O'Sullivan , O'Driscoll / Smith , E Allan , Brodie

GAWN , XERRI / Boyd

Macrae , Smith , Philippou , Daniel , Lynch , Powell-Pepper / + 2

MARSHALL

PREMIUM = 7

Mid-pricers/Value = 8

Rookies = 13

+ 3 players tbc

$ 586,100.00 for 3 spots and final adjustments

Set n forget in the rucks, like it.

 

[Under The Dome]

Oh nice they already added Boyd

 

[lommy]

first draft since supercoach opened today thoughts?

 

[freowho]

Why would you put one of your most reliable scorers in Flex when there's no cover? And is there no cover?

If your Flex goes down then you're still getting your best 22 scores, albeit losing your most reliable scorer. Even if that scorer is on field then you would still get the rookie score at Flex (if there's a rookie there)

It's a guaranteed score early in the round. I stand to be corrected but if your flex is a late out that you miss, that score is not replaced. But if your M8 is a late out you get the emergency score from your mid bench.
You also want to be looping your rookies. Once the flex is locked in it's one of the best 23 scores and you can't loop. Even though dropping the 23rd score softens the blow of a late out or early injury, it is still an advantage to have your best 23 scorers in play.

 

[Eagling]

There's a reason to keep your least certain player in flex if they have a late game; you can trade them to a player on any line.

 

[Under The Dome]

imo the biggest advantage of the Flex initially is if you want to start 3 premium rucks onfield

so basically the third premium ruck instead of a similarly priced premium D , M or F

eg

Ruck : Gawn , Xerri / Boyd

Flex : Marshall (14th highest average last season)

If Marshall is a late out swap him with Boyd

That way you still get 23 onfield scores (best 22 count)

Alternatively it could be a mid priced Ruck (eg Conway or Flynn) or any other player from any other price or position.

It is not actually the Flex player that knocks out the lowest onfield score

The 22nd highest scoring player (from ANY position) knocks out the 23rd score

Was certainly a lot of confusion in BBL SC

Keep Marshall at R2 with Boyd R3(E). You can always get the score and put the (C) on Marshall with a good VC.

 

[Under The Dome]

 

[Ricky Bobby]

Equally you could pick another premium midfielder, and then you are effectively covering R1 and R2 with your M9 (the flex spot). You don’t actually need two rucks on field.

A thought occurred to me this morning - thinking about the flex feature as being a “position” may not be the best way to think about it.

For the most part, it’s just fielding an extra (23rd) player, and then dropping the lowest scorer.

In BBL, a lot of the talk about the flex position died down quickly - it doesn’t seem to matter as much as was initially speculated (at least in terms of having to choose it carefully, etc).

My thinking on the Flex position is that it is better off to have a strong “Premo” type player rather than a rookie or cheap mid pricer as we are looking for someone with a good ceiling and consistent scores in order cover the lowest score on field on any line. Does that sound about right ?

 

[Herbie66]

Keep Marshall at R2 with Boyd R3(E). You can always get the score and put the (C) on Marshall with a good VC.

That's probably a better way to set it up

I haven't read much at all so far but isn't the intention that Boyd rucks and Marshall primarily plays as the second forward to support King ?

Trying to get back to the Ryder/Marshall set-up when King had his best years.

Not suggesting Boyd will be as good as Ryder though.

Don't think this was the exact article (Ratten was still coaching , so probably a completely different game plan /structure now)

Interestingly the games I watched them play last season they were "pin balling" out of defence , can Macrae handle that fast pace now or will he just sit in between the arcs ?

From memory they liked the ball in NWM's hands as much as possible as the distributor

Can't remember now when Sinclair went back into the mids and what their setup will be with Macrae , Philippou , Sinclair , Steele & Windhager.

Probably missing some one as well.

Didn't think he (Macrae) was that quick of a mover when he was in his prime.

https://archive.sen.com.au/news/2021/06/29/how-saints-pair-help-get-the-best-out-of-king

 

[OnTopBar]

It's a guaranteed score early in the round. I stand to be corrected but if your flex is a late out that you miss, that score is not replaced. But if your M8 is a late out you get the emergency score from your mid bench.
You also want to be looping your rookies. Once the flex is locked in it's one of the best 23 scores and you can't loop. Even though dropping the 23rd score softens the blow of a late out or early injury, it is still an advantage to have your best 23 scorers in play.

Bear with me, sometimes writing things out helps me comprehend.

I'll use JHF as an example, if I place him in the Flex position then I'll have to field my F7 which more than likely leads to that score from F7 being knocked out. If JHF is a late out then that score from F7 (now on field) would count.

If I fielded JHF then I'd have a rookie at Flex, if JHF was a late out then the score at F7 would cover him. Even if I had another premo scorer at Flex then that would lead to a different rookie on ground but the outcome would be the same.

 

[Darkie]

I've been trying to work out whether starting a premo there makes any difference as compared to a rookie.

If I start a rookie and he's the lowest scorer then he drops off, if not then his score counts.

If I start a premo there then the aforesaid rookie is on field, if that rookie is the lowest scorer then that drops off, if not, then the next worst scorer drops off.

I'm not even sure that an on field injury score of say 5 makes any difference either. The rookie score at Flex would be counted in that case, if a premo was at Flex then that rookie score is still on field and counted.

Sorry if the way I've described things is a bit confusing, it sort of like my understanding of it ie: a little confused.

Not a problem. I agree that it can take a while to wrap your head around it - those who have used it in BBL effectively have a pretty big headstart in that regard. The good news is that it’s probably not a big advantage, because it isn’t a game changer as a feature.

Again, I think it might help you to think of it less as a position and more like a new feature of the game. It’s probably closer to a loop than a position, the way I’m thinking about it.

You basically get to add one extra player on field (from any position), and then drop your lowest score … that’s pretty much it.

Who you have sitting in the flex position is not that important (other than ensuring they play, because there’s no emergency applicable for the flex) … for the reason you mention. It’s less about who sits in the flex spot and more about who has come on field as the 23rd player.