SuperCoach Round 9 trade guide: Ball magnets Jack Macrae, Clayton Oliver and Josh Kelly loom as bargain midfield picks
Tim Michell, Herald Sun
9 minutes ago
Subscriber only
SuperCoaches are right in the middle of bargain season as we bolster our teams in preparation for the byes.
If you’ve been building your bank by bringing in cash cows such as Sydney Stack, Jack Ross, Will Hayes and Noah Answerth in the past month, you should be well placed to add two premium players to your team this week.
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There’s no shortage of quality options at attainable prices, headlined by Bulldog Jack Macrae, who is available for a $115,000 discount on his starting price despite averaging 116.5.
In-form mid-forwards Tim Kelly and Josh Dunkley are the pick of the targets up forward, while Dunkley’s return to midfield resulting in two scores above 130 in recent weeks.
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If you want a point of difference, consider resurgent Eagle Elliot Yeo or veteran Swan Josh Kennedy, who has six scores in eight games above 110.
If you don’t have the bank for two upgrades, you’ll need to hope Leon Cameron does you a favour at the selection table and recalls midfielder Jackson Hately.
The first-round draftee has twice been left out after scores of 95 and 85, but should come into calculations after GWS’ disappointing display against Hawthorn.
Carlton’s Liam Stocker and Melbourne’s Declan Keilty are the other players on the bubble.
Jack Macrae is the top SuperCoach trade target for Round 9. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images.
TOP TARGETS
Jack Macrae $574,000 Mid, Avg 116.5, BE 98
The No. 1 premium target of the week. Barring a score under 100 this round, this is as cheap as Macrae will come. He has three scores of 132 or better and four above 120 already this year and is available for $115,700 less than his starting price. His Round 12 bye means you’ll only get three weeks before his week off but every round you don’t have the prolific Bulldog you risk losing ground.
Jackson Hately $148,800 Mid, Avg 90 BE -92
Cross your fingers and hope Hately gets recalled after GWS battled against Hawthorn on Sunday. With scores of 95 and 85 he’s projected to rise sharply after game three and he’s scored like a reliable on-field option. The only issue has been his job security and he’s been dropped twice after performing well. With so few bubble boys this week, Hately will be very popular if named.
Liam Stocker $126,300 Mid, Avg 39, BE -3
Stocker had some nice moments in the second half against Collingwood but you have to wonder whether he will be squeezed out when Kade Simpson and Nic Newman return. He’s unlikely to make a huge profit but could provide valuable bench cover if he holds his spot during the byes as Carlton doesn’t miss until Round 14.
Could Josh Kelly be the premium POD of the year? Picture: Phil Hillyard.
Josh Dunkley $514,700 Fwd-Mid, Avg 98.1, BE 35
Dunkley has been thrown back into midfield in the past two weeks and flourished with scores of 134 and 136. Luke Beveridge is renowned for throwing the magnets around but it’s hard to see Dunkley’s role changing after he had a combined 71 disposals in the past two weeks. This is the last time he’ll be available below his starting price for at least a month.
Tim Kelly $533,300 Fwd-Mid, Avg 107.5, BE 34
Put simply, you need Kelly if you’re going to be a contender for rankings or league glory. The Geelong star is one of the hottest players in the league with three scores above 120 in his past four games — including Sunday’s 162. He was on two points just before quarter-time and still pumped out one of the best scores of the round. He’s almost certain to be a top forward come season’s end.
Clayton Oliver $568,000 Mid Avg 109.8 BE 66
If you’ve already got Macrae, Oliver should be next on your midfield hit list. He continued the recent trend of gun midfielders dominating against Gold Coast with 175 on Saturday. Check your bye plan as his Round 13 bye clashes with a host of other premiums, but if you want Oliver take the plunge now as he’s heading back toward $600,000.
Elliot Yeo $554,100 Mid, Avg 100.4 BE: 82
Yeo has managed four scores of 114+ in his past five games after a slow start caused him to dip to $511,600. These are the type of numbers those who paid $585,500 for the top starting POD midfielder before Round 1 were expecting. Yeo has a three-round average of 121 and you want to be jumping on players when they’re in form. Like Oliver, he has a Round 13 bye, although you will have six trades to compensate if he matches too many of your other premiums.
Josh Kelly $594,500 Mid, Avg 115.2 BE: 83
One of AFL’s prime movers, Kelly’s injury issues mean he’s only in 3.6 per cent of teams, which makes him one of the PODs of the year. The only issue with the star Giant will potentially be soft-tissue problems he’s had in recent seasons, but if he stays fit he’ll have one of the best averages of any midfielder until the end of the season. Kelly also has a favourable bye in Round 14 and next comes up against Carlton, who he scored 205 against last year.
Matt Crouch is set to face a fitness test this week. Picture: Sarah Reed.
HOLD
Patrick Dangerfield $495,900, Mid-Fwd, Avg 98.9
Matt Crouch $509,800, Mid, Avg 100.8
Isaac Heeney $467,700, Fwd, Avg 90.4
Jeremy Cameron $511,700, Fwd, Avg 98.1
Willem Drew $321,800, Fwd-Mid, Avg 73.1
Reilly O’Brien $374,300, Ruc, Avg 89.3
Dangerfield might have dropped below $500,000 but there’s no reason to panic. Those who did and traded him to Joel Selwood or Sam Menegola at the weekend were burned badly. Monitor Crows midfielder Crouch this week after he suffered a corked hip during the showdown, but hold him regardless of whether he plays if you have cover. We’ve been here with Heeney already this season and those who traded him regretted it, while Cameron is unlikely to score as low as he did against Hawthorn again. Willem Drew will have a prominent midfield role for the next few weeks with Ollie Wines out, while Reilly O’Brien has at least another week of cash generation before you should move him on.
Angus Brayshaw’s scoring has suffered from a switch to the wing. Picture: Michael Dodge/Getty Images.
CHOPPING BLOCK
Tom Liberatore $429,100, Mid, Avg 94.8
Angus Brayshaw $456,200, Mid, Avg 89.9
Sam Walsh $439,000, Mid, Avg 92
Tom Atkins $256,100, Mid, Avg 52.8
Matt Parker $254,100, Fwd, Avg 58.1
Liberatore has scored 71, 58 and 72 in the past three weeks, a far cry from his dominant start to 2019. His value has tumbled from $493,800 to $429,100 and he’ll likely fall further with a break even of 124. He still had 23 disposals and five tackles against Brisbane, but the bulk of his midfield time appears to have been taken by Josh Dunkley. Brayshaw is struggling to match his scoring from late last season while playing on a wing, while Atkins (12) and Parker (25) are ready to chop after low scores on the weekend. The only issue is whether you have enough money to upgrade both. You can afford to hold Walsh until his Round 14 bye but be prepared he might burn some money.
Patrick Dangerfield at less than $500,000? Yes please. Picture: Alan Barber.
BARGAIN BIN
Best players under $500,000
Caleb Daniel (Fwd, $498,700) Avg 100.9
Daniel Rich (Def, $498,500) Avg 100.8
Patrick Dangerfield (Mid-Fwd $495,900) Avg 98.9
Michael Walters (Mid-Fwd, $491,100) Avg 96.1
Dustin Martin (Mid, $488,800) Avg 90.9
Hugh McCluggage (Mid, $477,500) Avg 96.9
Tom Rockliff (Mid, $467,500) Avg 100
Jack Billings (Fwd, $466,300) Avg 93.8
Under $450,000
Dan Houston (Def, $437,900) Avg 88.8
Jack Ziebell (Fwd, $435,200) Avg 79.6
Rowan Marshall (Fwd, $433,900) Avg 99
Jack Gunston (Fwd, $407,800) Avg 81.9
I'm a perfect example of this sort of thinking! In fact I think I'm guilty of all of the other aspects mentioned too...!! 
