Discussion 2025: AFL SuperCoach Discussion - OPEN

Do you start a $669k Gawn?

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Day swapped between midfield and deep forward in a potential sign of things to come in 2025, providing an extra target in a forward line that will start the season without Mitch Lewis and Calsher Dear.

Changkuoth Jiath continues to bank session after session this summer in a major positive, given his long history of soft tissue injuries. The 25-year-old starred as an intercept defender behind the ball.

Reigning All-Australian half-forward Dylan Moore and Battle were both confined to running laps at Waverley Park due to quad soreness from a session earlier in the week. Both are expected to return to full training during the Hawks' pre-season camp in Torquay next week.

Hawthorn captain James Sicily is closing in on a return to full contact training after undergoing a shoulder reconstruction in October. The All-Australian defender hasn't missed a training session this pre-season, but is yet to complete any match simulation.

https://www.afl.com.au/news/1264769...n-youngster-nick-watson-takes-must-see-hanger
 
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Coleman only put up 71 average in his last season. Would be relying on the spikes or PF/GF form. Their defense has also changed over that time and needs to perform off an ACL. They may even sub manage him.
View attachment 83161
Worth noting that he was heavily picked last year because Rich retired and he was to be the primary rebounder, basically the role that Zorko ended up in last year after Coleman's injury.

At his price though, 75+ is good enough, anything extra would be bonus.

That said, he's not expected to play round 1 so almost impossible to pick if that's the case coming off a major injury, only takes a slight setback and he's not playing for another 5 weeks.

If he comes back in round 2 or 3, you've got a couple of weeks of information and can then grab him, likely sideways, for a rookie if he looks like a great pick.
 
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Worth noting that he was heavily picked last year because Rich retired and he was to be the primary rebounder, basically the role that Zorko ended up in last year after Coleman's injury.

At his price though, 75+ is good enough, anything extra would be bonus.

That said, he's not expected to play round 1 so almost impossible to pick if that's the case coming off a major injury, only takes a slight setback and he's not playing for another 5 weeks.

If he comes back in round 2 or 3, you've got a couple of weeks of information and can then grab him, likely sideways, for a rookie if he looks like a great pick.
Yeh it's a wait and see. After R5 it may be worth splitting an underperformer for a Coleman and cash to target a fallen premo.
 
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Think I'll try something different this year and try to stick with this first attempt team until after the pre-season matches, and not keep trading players in and out for the next month.* I'm expecting to have a completely different side by R1 in any case, just interested to know how much it will change.

No idea on rookies, just picked popular options at this stage.

View attachment 83167

*(I doubt I make it through the long weekend without making a change, but we'll see...)
Sic and Meek?
 
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Is there a reason Heeney is at only 3%. I get the early bye and he tailed off a bit last season, but that still seems very low?
 
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Tinkering with a 3 ruck structure, Xerri ,Nank, De Koning

D4 will be a wait and see, Duggan at this time, but will be watch who PA and the Blues use as HB.

With the 3 ruck structure, i need this as a midfield to keep other lines healthy. All are well priced to make $$$, upgrade would be Cerra as early as possible to Green or Merritt type. Too weak.? Screenshot (1773).png

FWD; Macrae Smith Phillipou Daniel (4 rookies)
 
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Both good players, but a wait and see on the pre-season games for me which is why I hadn't picked them.

Not expecting Sicily to be a full time forward, but he may spend time there - prefer him back for SC. Reeves and Ramsden are both having good pre-seasons apparently, I doubt either replace Meek in the side, but could reduce his ruck time if picked.
 
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Both good players, but a wait and see on the pre-season games for me which is why I hadn't picked them.

Not expecting Sicily to be a full time forward, but he may spend time there - prefer him back for SC. Reeves and Ramsden are both having good pre-seasons apparently, I doubt either replace Meek in the side, but could reduce his ruck time if picked.
Just read on AFL Site "Will Day forward move" surely not, the lad is the best Mid at the club.?
 
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Just read on AFL Site "Will Day forward move" surely not, the lad is the best Mid at the club.?
Could spend some time off half forward, probably alongside Moore and MacDonald. I expect mainly mids though. Not sure who that benches though, as I can think of 5-6 others I expect to spend a lot of time forward in 3 spots.

Newcombe, Worpel, Nash, Mackenzie, Ward, Hustwaite, can all play mids with probably a couple of others as well too, you have to put everyone somewhere. The first four there are pretty much locks for the team, Ward would be unlucky to miss, and quite possibly might. Only 3 mid spots (at centre bounces in any case).

Very hard to fit everyone into the Hawthorn team. Try working out their best team and you'll see what I mean. There's quality players both on the bench, and not even in the team when you try it.
 
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Tinkering with a 3 ruck structure, Xerri ,Nank, De Koning

D4 will be a wait and see, Duggan at this time, but will be watch who PA and the Blues use as HB.

With the 3 ruck structure, i need this as a midfield to keep other lines healthy. All are well priced to make $$$, upgrade would be Cerra as early as possible to Green or Merritt type. Too weak.? View attachment 83169

FWD; Macrae Smith Phillipou Daniel (4 rookies)
You might be short a C option. Not sure Dale or Duggan will end up being keepers. Would suggest dropping one down to a Coleman or Doedee and turning at least one of your mids into a captain option.
 
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My opening shot for the season
I've always travelled (unsuccessfully) down the mid-pricer path & initially thought I'd change tack this year, but I definitely havent!
$50K left in the kitty

SC V1 2025.png

I have tried to steer away from players with an early bye but have included a handful that look to be really good value - ie Stewart, Day, Parish & Will Ashcroft. Possibly Stewart becomes Holmes and the R0 results could see me switch Ashcroft to Finn Callaghan.

My first thoughts were to go for a third ruck as Flex, but then if I wanted Boyd as R3, I was really limiting any creative opportunities that the Flex offers.

I have skipped over the 35 highest prices mids which leaves Rozee as M1. This obviously leaves me looking light on for Captn options and my M1-M5 arent as impressive as those put up by other SCS coaches. However I reckon the upper echelon are fairly priced and there arent too many of them I seriously considered.

A couple of spots namely Urquhart & Stone are based on pre-season hype articles.

There is plenty of time for more changes but I would expect this squad to be the framework of my final line-up.
 
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Could spend some time off half forward, probably alongside Moore and MacDonald. I expect mainly mids though. Not sure who that benches though, as I can think of 5-6 others I expect to spend a lot of time forward in 3 spots.

Newcombe, Worpel, Nash, Mackenzie, Ward, Hustwaite, can all play mids with probably a couple of others as well too, you have to put everyone somewhere. The first four there are pretty much locks for the team, Ward would be unlucky to miss, and quite possibly might. Only 3 mid spots (at centre bounces in any case).

Very hard to fit everyone into the Hawthorn team. Try working out their best team and you'll see what I mean. There's quality players both on the bench, and not even in the team when you try it.
Yes, the Hawks are stacked and had a great finish to the season 2024, but not what you want to hear this early in the pre=season when one of your MID locks for the season is touted as playing forward. Day has been in every team structure i have tinkered with thus far. Ohh well, that info is enough for me to change course.
 
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Yes, the Hawks are stacked and had a great finish to the season 2024, but not what you want to hear this early in the pre=season when one of your MID locks for the season is touted as playing forward. Day has been in every team structure i have tinkered with thus far. Ohh well, that info is enough for me to change course.
The upside is you'll get a bit of a sighter on his role in OR, which will give you the most valuable info of all!
 
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Richmond
Sitting on this team for the time being. Have gone with Rankine and Gawn (over Xerri) at this stage to even out my bye structure, which was becoming lopsided with too many from the round 12 and 13 byes.

Not particularly happy with the backline, which may get an overhaul once we get closer to games and have more information.

Of the early bye players I would like to have Flanders and Green, but at this stage can't see it being worth being a premo down in round 2. Flanders would give me more confidence in my backline though and Green does look to have some value. Gotta love those byes! 🙄
IMG_20250124_092026.jpg IMG_20250124_092044.jpg
 
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Melbourne
My opening shot for the season
I've always travelled (unsuccessfully) down the mid-pricer path & initially thought I'd change tack this year, but I definitely havent!
$50K left in the kitty

View attachment 83170

I have tried to steer away from players with an early bye but have included a handful that look to be really good value - ie Stewart, Day, Parish & Will Ashcroft. Possibly Stewart becomes Holmes and the R0 results could see me switch Ashcroft to Finn Callaghan.

My first thoughts were to go for a third ruck as Flex, but then if I wanted Boyd as R3, I was really limiting any creative opportunities that the Flex offers.

I have skipped over the 35 highest prices mids which leaves Rozee as M1. This obviously leaves me looking light on for Captn options and my M1-M5 arent as impressive as those put up by other SCS coaches. However I reckon the upper echelon are fairly priced and there arent too many of them I seriously considered.

A couple of spots namely Urquhart & Stone are based on pre-season hype articles.

There is plenty of time for more changes but I would expect this squad to be the framework of my final line-up.
Structure wise I think it is fine, I won't comment on particular players as most of these are personal preference.

Only comment would be that if you are running De Konig and Flynn in R1 and R2, is that I would prefer a reliable ruck or R/F in Flex or forward line to give you options if it goes pear shaped. I personally prefer the R1, De Konig R2, Flynn on R3 or Flex.

As I said, much comes down to personal preference, so if you are happy then I don't see any reason not to run with this structure.
 
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$310,300 in the kitty.

I think its fairly strong in every position given the $ leftover. Mid-priced forwards and midfielders who i think take another step up are the backbone of my side. Im sick of chopping and changing rucks over the course of a season so ive gone with 3 guns and hopefully they stay fit for the whole season or at least vast majority of it. Flynn is tempting but i dont have a spot for him unless i upgrade Boyd which i dont think ill do.

My 440-530k selections will determine how well i go. Usually i wouldnt be so bold to start so many in that price range but i like each of them individually so im hoping they can all improve on their averages from last season. The $310k gives me a lot of flexibility for early season adjustments but i realise my approach carries significant risk given the amount of below premium level players.

I feel like this year is the best year for midpricers for a while, particularly in the forwardline. I was probably going to go with the cash in hand tactic anyway but i do feel that it is a good season for it given my confidence in the mid-pricers.


Screenshot 2025-01-24 at 8.26.08 am.png
 
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Your defence & forward lines worry me.

Defence - Whitfield bye round 2 & has a double bye, Humphries & SDK round 3 bye & have double byes - don't really see the appeal as mid price options tbh.

Maric at F3 is scary - I would be looking at Phillipou & B Smith in that fwd line. Maybe drop Sanders to a rookie like Jagga Smith to free cash up.
Yeah thanks Shannon.

I had haven't run the bye checker over my team this week and even though I do like those 3 round zero defenders and was hoping to avoid Sinclair, will only be running one of them in my team.

Leaving the forwards for now and will use $300K to adjust as the roles of Kennedy, Bolton etc become clearer.
 
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Been looking a lot closer at Rankine the last couple of days. Everything I am reading indicates that he will be playing mid this year. Has shown a natural progression in scoring over the last few years, and if playing more mid this year, I am inclined to think that trend continues. Hard to know with Adelaide what they will do, but they do seem to have a lot of the same, slower mids, that Rankine would o***et reasonably well. Also seems to miss a few games each year so far in his career. Haven't looked yet whether they are all injury related. Preseason games will give a good indication I guess. As with all the forwards this year, I don't see him getting out of control, price wise, so definitely won't be a must have.
 
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