"THIS is the eight-year-old who is beating you in SuperCoach.
Josh Thorpe’s team rockstars is ranked in the top 7 per cent overall after five rounds, and was No.3 in the country last weekend with a score of 2528.
EXCLUSIVE STATS: PREMIUM SUPERCOACH FORMGUIDE
And he’s filthy a last-minute call to switch his captaincy from Scott Pendlebury to Dan Hannebery denied him the No.1 weekly ranking, falling just seven points short of the $3000 prize.
Josh’s mum Joanne says Josh has an assistant coach in father Michael, but he “makes all the decisions himself”.
Josh is a Hawthorn fan which gives him a headstart, but he spends plenty of time studying players from other teams as well.
“Sam Mitchell is his favourite player but he also likes Fyfe and Pendlebury and Selwood and he loves Bontempelli.”
This 8-year-old is beating you in SuperCoach
Josh (right) with dad Michael and younger brother Aiden.
Mitchell has proven an excellent SuperCoach selection this year, averaging 103 points a game. Josh also picked all the right rookies (Adam Oxley, Kamdyn McIntosh, Cam Ellis-Yolmen) and some unique choices that have paid off big time — Eagle Sam Butler is averaging 92 and jumped $67,000 in defence, Lachie Neale is the eighth-highest scoring midfielder and Cyril Rioli is averaging 104 up forward.
“He loves it as much as his father and his dad’s friends,” Joanne says.
“On Friday, Saturday, Sunday the computer doesn’t go off, he’s constantly checking his SuperCoach.
“It’s something good for him and his dad to do.”
Josh claimed $500 for third place, and plans to put $300 in the bank and spend the rest on a new pair of runners, a T-shirt and a round of golf with dad — where he might pass on some of his best SuperCoach tips.
“Whatever is left over will go into his money box,” Joanne says.
“He is the happiest eight-and-a-half year old boy at the moment.” "