Nick Daicos – I spent the opening month of 2023 without Daicos and it was horrible. Never again. I don’t care about the early bye or the early Finn tag, he’s in from the start this time.
Lachie Whitfield – Always a frustrating figure due to trading into him at the worst times. His average jumps up to 97 without the sub affected round 1 score, and is value for a guy who hasn’t averaged under 90 since 2016.
Jordan Ridley – Jake Kelly’s arrival a couple years ago was supposed to give Ridley a fantasy bump but it didn’t really eventuate. I’m more optimistic with the arrival of Ben Mckay this time and I think there’s a 90+ season in Ridley coming at some stage.
Keidean Coleman – The grand final was a sign of things to come and Daniel Rich has retired. Should be a popular pick.
Zac Williams – Remember this guy? Bargain if fit.
Nick Coffield – 2nd club and 2nd chance to make a fist of his AFL career. Great value if he gets a gig.
Daniel Curtin – Plays round 1 and will score better than Michallaney did this year.
Josh Gibcus – Rookie priced and will play every game in 2024. Won’t score a lot, but cash gen will be decent enough, especially with the rules around opening round.
Errol Gulden – Another player I hated not owning for the first part of 2023. Keen to start him this time.
Tim Taranto – He’s either under-priced if you look at his first half of 2023 or over-priced if you look at his second half. It really depends how you see it, but I think in his 2nd year as a Tiger, he’ll go huge again.
Andrew Brayshaw – Super consistent and even though slightly down on his 2022 numbers, I except him to go big in 2024.
Zak Butters – Looked unbelievable at times in his breakout season and is poised to improve again.
Neil Erasmus – Speculative pick but his 2023 average of 52 doesn’t really tell the story of his heavily sub-affected fantasy season. If he can secure a spot in the 22 and shrug the vest, he has 30 points upside.
Colby McKercher – Will be very popular.
Ryley Sanders – Another popular cash cow at this stage.
Jeremy Sharp – Will be a very profitable starting cow if named round 1.
Jhye Clark – Loved what I saw from him in his one quarter of footy this year. Cats will look to give him plenty of opportunity. Shaun Mannagh – Mature aged recruits always catch my eye this time of the year.
Max Gawn and Brodie Grundy – It took me several years and a significant price decrease to finally go set and forget with these two. Everyone knows why Grundy is value but Gawn went at an average of 113 once given sole ruck duties this year.
Nicholas ‘Loophole‘ Madden – A popular captain option last season and he can sit at my R3 for now.
Jackson Macrae – The Smith injury sealed it for me. Hard to see him hurting us at that price.
Taylor Adams – Lots of ifs for Adams but he can be in the top handful of forward scorers and is a bargain based on this.
Zac Fisher – It’s sounding like this half back role at North could be happening. Previous players in that role include Aaron Hall, Jack Ziebell and Harry Sheezel…
Jack Billings – When he plays, he scores. A fresh start at the Dees could be just what he needs.
Harley Reid – Doesn’t have to score huge, his job security is enough of a reason to pick him.
Orazio Fantasia – Pretty hard to ignore at his price, but the likelihood of him playing round 1 isn’t great.
Billy Dowling, Brayden George – Just placeholders for the time being but both will be considered at points next year.
After watching some of my fellow panellists drop their AFLFantasy team, MJ started bugging me for a team. I didn’t want to do it, but we’ve done Coaches Panel enough that I know there are only two ways to shut him up. One, just cave and give him what he wants. Or second, and my preferred, remind him of the 2017 AFL Grand Final result. So, whatever, here it is.
I’m not like MJ, and going to spend 30 minutes explaining my team to you. But here’s some thought about some of the players.
Everyone keeps complaining about the forwards, fine, whatever. But the lack of discussion around Jack Billings is disappointing. The kid can play and might just be the best of the mid-range guys.
If Zac Fisher has the role that Jack Ziebell or Aaron Hall previously held, you’ll want to start him and save yourself the in-season trade.
Something has to change at Port, and they’ve got a former Brownlow medalist playing outside of his strengths on the wing. Get him back into the midfield, and there’s a huge upside for scoring in AFL Fantasy.
I might have six Kangaroos on my side, but Jy Simpkin could be the best of the bunch. When fit, he is a walk-up 90+ scorer.
Lachie Whitfield is a fantasy stud! While everyone is picking Nick Daicos I’ll look elsewhere to the guy who’s flying under the radar.
That’s it; I’ve got nothing else unless MJ decides to pad this article out with more nonsense. Enjoy
The preseason has barely just begun yet AFL Fantasy have us, but not our families, a favour. The release of the format for the 2024 season has thrown not just one but many cats amongst the pigeons, with early bye rounds, best 18’s, and potentially huge price changes all in consideration for the early part of the season. With that said, it is important to balance selections for players, particularly premiums, who don’t have the early bye.
Tom Stewart comes in as the equal 7th most expensive defender yet presents more value than might meet the eye. He had an injury affected 2023 which is reflected in his price and might sting those who started him in the most recent season, but the early fixture might be too good to pass up. He faces notably friendly teams for defenders in St. Kilda and Western Bulldogs in the first four rounds and has a stake on being a top 6 defender for 2024.
Another two who have the ability to push into contention are Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera and Hayden Young. Both of these young guns have shown a reliably high floor and should benefit from role changes which increased their scoring in the back half of 2023.
Keidean Coleman is another who comes in underpriced based on his potential. His injured affected 2023 has in come in mid-priced, yet a potential 85+ season could be on the cards. He is also one you could look to trade into at round 3 given his bye in round 2.
Rounding out the back 6 are Heath Chapman and Zac Williams. These two both played minimal football in 2023 due to injuries, but I believe they both have a spot in their sides respective best 22. Chapman should have a spot either on the wing or half back flank available to him, while Williams only needs to be within 20 points of his 2019 season to present enormous value for coaches. Rounding out the bench is Arie Schoenmaker and Toby Pink, both players who should see time for their sides in 2024.
This is where the fun begins. The midfield is shaping up to be the line that presents the most variety for coaches to pick from. Andrew Brayshaw, Rory Laird, and Zak Butters were all amongst the top scorers in 2023 and should benefit massively from their fixtures. All three have a bye which coaches can benefit from and don’t miss early fixtures. Combined with them having VC/C potential most weeks, I feel that coaches might have to spend up for this season in order to ensure that they don’t fall behind early.
Next up we have Luke Davies-Uniacke and Sam Walsh. These two young guns have both shown they can match it with the best and have injury affected scores baked into their price. Should they have a fit and firing preseason, I would be hard pressed to not start them.
Lastly, we have the rookies. I have snuck Daniel Curtin into M8 using some DPP which should help provide some flexibility in the early rounds, whilst Colby McKercher and Ryley Sanders both possess enough junior pedigree that, should they be named round 1, they both should be on your field. Rounding out the bench is Jeremy Sharp, Jhye Clark, and Clay Hall. Much like most rookies at this stage of the season, we are picking based on names and the potential for a round 1 spot. I do like spending up on some rookies to allow for flexibility come round 1.
This is the line where I am the most settled despite how early in the preseason we are. Brodie Grundy moving from Collingwood to the Swans opens him up to the number one ruck spot once again. At his value, he feels to be the biggest “no-brainer” pick at this stage.
I have paired him with Tristan Xerri, another one that coaches who started with last season may feel some aggrievances towards. Todd Goldstein moving to Essendon means that he should have a lock on the ruck spot. I’ve chosen to handcuff him with Hamish Free at this stage, but should we have any cheap ruck named round 1 they will end up there.
Up until earlier this week, the F1 spot was one of the hardest to fill. With the news of an ACL for Bailey Smith, I have decided to put Jack Macrae into this position for now. He should be able to at least match his performance from 2023, with potential upside on the cards.
Next come a pair of cheaper forwards who present value due to a change in club in Taylor Adams and Zac Fisher. Both should be able to move into reasonable roles in their new sides and Fisher should, come round 7, pick up DPP and open up additional flexibility in our squads.
Elijah Tsatas worked his way into the Essendon team after injuries kept him away from an early debut and he didn’t disappoint. Another preseason under his belt should help stake him claim for a role with centre bounce rotations.
Finlay Macrae comes in at just over rookie priced with plenty of pedigree of scoring from junior numbers. Should he cement a B22 in the reigning premiers’ side, he will be sitting at F5 for most teams alongside the #1 draft pick from 2023, Harley Reid. I’m not massively interested in him as a pick at this stage, but his ownership should mitigate any risk in picking him. Lastly, Shaun Mannagh and Chris Burgess are more placeholders at this stage, much like the rookies selected in my defensive line.
So, what do you think? I feel like the overall structure of teams for the 2024 season will be significantly different to how most teams lined up for round 1 of 2023. I always strive to play each season on its’ merits and there is plenty to play out between now and the first bounce of round 1.
Join Lewy as he unveils his AFLFantasy team three months before the lockout. Get early insights and expert picks to supercharge your AFLFantasy football strategy for the upcoming season.
Nick Daicos: Fantasy jet. He comes at a premium but expects a large gap between his average and the next best. Lock it away early.
Tom Stewart : I Think Geelong will see more ball in the defensive 50 as they change the guard with their midfield. Has a great run of games to start the season.
Hayden Young: Move to the midfield is touted which should present some upside even at 90 price point.
Zac Williams: A nice role off half back in the preseason and it’ll be hard not to take a punt on him. Extremely underpriced if he can stay fit.
Nick Coffield: Former high draft pick, shown some fantasy chops in the past, 2 years out of AFL footy and at a new club. At a premium rookie price there’s plenty of value here.
Dan Curtin: Should get plenty of opportunity for the crows. Michalaney surprisingly turned out to be a decent starting pick in 2023 which gives me some confidence in Curtin given the far better junior fantasy numbers.
Jakob Ryan: A game last year for the premiers, may be in the mix for round 1.
Toby Pink: Plucked from SANFL as mature age player. Previously AFL listed. Won’t be a big scorer. Bit of a place holder hoping for something better to come along.
Caleb Serong: Captain option, high floor player. Nice fixture to start.
Zak Butters: Entering the beginning of the prime of his career, his 100 price tag seems a little unders and should squeeze some value out of it. Floor a little bit of a concern.
Jack Steele: Expecting him to bounce back from a disappointing 2023. If so he could be 10 points unders minimum.
Luke Davies-Uniacke: Didn’t quite click in 2023 but showed plenty of glimpses. Very keen on this pick in 2024.
Ollie Wines: Injuries and role have contributed to his fantasy decline over the last 2 seasons. I’m predicting a return to ~95 in which case he’s 20 points underpriced. Eagles round 1 match up could get his cash generation off to a great start.
Jy Simpkin: Injuries and role have played a role in his price tag as well. Showed quite a bit throughout the year and with some more consistency with his body in 2024 I think he’s potentially 20 points underpriced as well. Chance of FWD DPP too I reckon.
Colby McKercher: Junior fantasy numbers makes picking him a no brainer if named R1. Talk of half back role significant.
Jeremy Sharp: At a new club where he should get far more opportunity. Has shown fantasy chops before and with a couple of preseasons under his belt he should be one of the better performed rookie priced players we have to choose from.
Ryley Sanders: Junior fantasy numbers makes picking him a no brainer if named R1.
Jaxon Binns: Was close to a debut last season. Fantastic VFL numbers. Should be a good pick if named r1 but still this stage a place holder.
Tristan Xerri: With Goldstein departed, Xerri will be the primary ruck. Has shown he is fantasy relevant before and could present serious value in 2024.
Jack Macrae: Hard not to pick with forward status. Feels like a 90 average is worst case scenario, with the potential to go 110+ again.
Sam Flanders: Warming to the pick with lack of options in the forward line. Preseason watch but price point easy to pivot from.
Zac Fisher: Cheap if he can get involved in North Melbourne’s chip chip. Has shown a ceiling in the past.
Elijah Tsatas: I think there’s an opportunity in the bomber’s midfield in 2024. I was impressed with his debut 65 average from very little CBA attendances. With more opportunity he could pop similar to Worpel a number of years ago.
Finn Macrae: Been flagged to get more opportunity at AFL level in 2024. He’s done a couple preseasons now and outs up great VFL numbers so he should make for a good pick.
Harley Reid: Not convinced the scoring will be huge but forward status really handy here. Should get all the opportunity at the eagles. Everybody will pick him so just jump on.
Shaun Mannagh: Mature age player from the VFL. Great numbers. Presumably drafted by Geelong to play immediately
Chris Burgess: Should get opportunity. Bit of a placeholder though
Darcy Wilson: Ross Lyon has already flagged him for opportunity in 2024. Preseason watch.
Join MJ as he unveils his AFLFantasy team three months before the lockout. Get early insights and expert picks to supercharge your fantasy football strategy for the upcoming season
Nick Daicos defined seasons early in 2023. If you started him, you were flying; if you faded him, you played constant catch-up. I’ve got the feeling that he’ll define seasons again, but will it be for owners or non-owners? I will wait to throw out all my thoughts on Nick; there’s plenty of preseason to do that. But I’ve got him starting, pending a strong opening-round performance.
I was on the HaydenYoung hype train in 2023 and got my tickets again for this season. A move into the midfield late in the year showed me he has a potential new and exciting gear. Additionally, the Dockers have one of the more exciting fixture/bye structures in the front half of the year. All aboard!
Kiddy Coleman had a stunning AFL finals series, but he was on my radar before that. Those performances merely confirmed that he’s primed to break out in 2024. The early bye isn’t ideal, but the prospects of his price point advancing quickly due to the opening round still make him a viable starting squad play.
The value keeps running at D4. Heath Chapman might not be a household name (yet), but he’s viewed incredibly highly inside Fremantle’s walls. He’s one of the players who could take the vacated wing role left by the departure of Liam Henry. Additionally, he could slide back into the defensive six of the Dockers and allow Hayden Young to become a midfield staple.
If Zac Williams can stay healthy throughout the preseason, watch the ownership percentage skyrocket. It is rare to find a player with a historical seasonal average of 90+ at such a low price point, but it’s exactly what we’ve got this year. The issue isn’t his scoring ability but rather his durability. Thankfully, his price point and likely high ownership should offset this. If he has an interruption-free preseason, then watch everyone jump on.
Rounding out the infield options in the backline is Dan Curtin. The departure of Tom Doedee to Brisbane opens up a spot for him to slide straight into the back six. I expect Josh Worrell, Max Michaelanney and Mitch Hinge to take a shared burden alongside Jordan Butts of the opposition’s tall forwards. That should allow Dan to use his intercept marking and elite kicking fully. As a Crows fan, he’s already got a round-one debut locked in.
So often, we target value in the midfield, even at the top end. Still, in 2024, there’s a highly viable play to lock in a few topline Uber premiums and still not limit the cash generation, scoring potential or on-field performance.
For multiple seasons, Andrew Brayshaw and Rory Laird have shown they’re almost bulletproof with the basement of their scoring and have as strong a ceiling frequency as anyone in the game. With both players locked into my M1 & M2, I’ve locked away not just a weekly VC/C option but also two players I’m confident will be among the top five midfielders again in 2024.
Maybe It’s just confirmation bias, but to see Josh Kelly at under $900,000, I find it hard not to have him in v.1 of my team. He consistently finds a way to average 100+, and midway through 2023, he was going at a clip nearing 110. That’s an excellent upside if he can start this year like last year.
Jack Steele and Sam Walsh would be among the first to admit they had frustrating seasons. However, at under $900k, given both have enormous proven upsides, they’re very easy to lock away if they can show that the injuries are behind them. You can build a strong case that Jack could rebound to the top of the scoring tree in 2024 while Sam could finally fully deliver on his potential and crack the 110 seasonal average. One flag worth noting with Sam is his round-two bye. Can you afford to carry him through this best 18-round? Or are you better off targeting him entering round three? It’s an undoubted conversation piece for much of the preseason.
I stay on the hunt for value and open up the MID/FWD DPP link with Elijah Tsatas. The former first-round pick showed he can pump out scores north of 80 with limited midfield minutes with relative ease. At under $500,000, I’m very happy to keep him high on the preseason watchlist and, if required, pivot from him to the ‘cheap guy’ that will pop.
My midfield rounds out with two likely popular cash cows: Ryley Sanders and Colby McKercher. Both are unbelievably talented kids, and their respective teams want to get loads of game time this season. Don’t be shocked when heading into the first batch of DPP inclusions that we see both players pick up an additional position.
During 2023, a ‘set & forget’ ruck structure of Rowan Marshall and Tim English was the clear winning starting squad strategy. Entering the 2024 season, there’s a compelling case to be made that they’ll again be the topline pair. While they might be the top two, I’m not sold. They will be clear & supreme, the best by a distance. It’s just one of the reasons why I’m very happy to chase obvious value in the ruck division this year.
Brodie Grundy will be one of the most popular selections this preseason, and understandably so. The former Magpie and Demon has a history of being a safe 100+ scoring ruckman when playing as the sole ruck. He’ll get this opportunity at the Swans, and returning to his 120+ averaging days might be beyond him; it won’t shock me to see him get within five points per game of the topline rucks this year.
At R2, I’ve stayed in the value thread and picked Tristan Xerri. His points per minute when playing in the ruck is excellent, and with Todd Goldstein out of the picture at Essendon, he’s got a clear pathway to holding down North Melbourne’s top ruck spot.
Twelve months ago, AFLFantasy coaches were running deep for premium options; fast forward into this coming year, and I can see a world where coaches don’t start anyone who’s priced over $800,000 to start the year. It’s early days, but I’m not convinced going too heavy at the top end of forwards is the right play this season.
Nobody loves an injury, but the unfortunate news about Bailey Smith missing the 2024 season with an ACL gives me enough confidence to give Jackson Macrae the first crack at leading a more forward line. He’s got multiple years of averaging north of 110, and with at least one less competitor in line for midfield time at the Dogs, I can see a world where he’s one of a small number of options with a clear pathway to averaging 100+ of our existing forwards.
Taylor Adams is another player with a historical scoring pedigree with a triple-figure average and is coming in at insane value. At under $700k and with a move to Sydney for more midfield time as the catalyst of his trade, we can have confidence that when he’s playing, he should be able to push his scoring well beyond the 90 range. Durability has been a concern over his career, but he played 22 home and away games this year. That has got a count for something, right?
The Crows believe they’re ready to enter their finals race, and a key catalyst for the belief is around the human highlight reel, Josh Rachele. Over his first two seasons, he’s delivered multiple tons each season, has gone on runs averaging above 80, and has had some modest midfield minutes. Entering into his third season, the early word out of the Crows preseason is that Josh wants to elevate his midfield /forward split closer to 50/50. If the midfield push is legit, given the low threshold of forward premiums this year, he could well be the pick of the sub $700k forwards that become a bonafide premium.
At F4, I’ve gone left field; the Kangaroos have targeted Zac Fisher to add some extra speed and skill off halfback. Aaron Hall and Jack Ziebell’s retirements mean they’re a spot for him to play across halfback, a role he thrived in late last year at his former side, Carlton. He’s got 15-20 points per game of upside if he gets this role.
Speaking of getting a role, if Fin Macrae gets a crack inside the Magpies midfield next year, he might be the most selected cash cow entering 2024. Fin was a ball magnet at the junior level and has showcased a similar level of ball-winning pedigree in the VFL. If he can find a way into the Premiership Pies side, you should select him, but it’ll have to be on the field.
Lastly, on the field, I’ve got Harley Reid. He’s going to get plenty of games for the Eagles this year. And while we might get better prospects that score more, I’m happy to ‘pay up’ for Reid and then, if needed, drop down to a cheaper option.
On Monday, a poll was sent out on Twitter, and the question was asked, of the three formats, which side did you want to see revealed by MJ? You answered AFLFantasy, so here it is. My AFLFantasy Team Reveal for 2023.
40% of AFLFantasy coaches have Sam Docherty at D1; the motivation behind the selection is twofold. Firstly, I rank him clear & supreme as the best defender for us this year. Second, starting him means I no longer need to navigate how to get him in. Every coach will want to own him at some stage, so why endure the pain of navigating the how during the season? I’m locking him in and taking away the potential for pain.
D2 is one of the positions that’s seen the most players. I’ve had Jordan Dawson, Tom Stewart, and Hayden Young sit in the spot over the preseason. I’ve settled on Andrew McGrath. Not just for his price point, but his role & the Essendon game style seem conducive to him pushing an average towards 90.
Elliot Yeo is an undeniable value, given he’s a proven 100 guy in the past. His ownership of 40% now places him in the range where the ‘risk’ of him breaking down and forcing a trade is now less than ‘taking him on’ and going against him and playing the percentages here.
Charlie Constable has made that quarterback role his own in the Gold Coast team and looks to be a valuable money maker while the Suns continue to have others who have played that role recover from injury. Reuben Ginbey should get named for a debut. He looked excellent in the preseason games, and his halfback/midfield rotation means he’s worthy of placing on the field. Lachie Cowan has already been confirmed to debut and has won the race to take the role vacated by an injured Zac Williams.
Lastly, my bench cows are standard across the community. Both Darcy Wilmot and Campbell Chesser will see plenty of footy this year, and based on their preseason, they’ll be right in the mix for round one.
Midfield
The most expensive player in the game is Rory Laird. Since he moved into the midfield midway through 2020, he’s scored forty tons, twenty-one of which have been over 120; in just four of these matches, he’s gone under 90 and averaged 115. He’s been the most reliable premium midfielder of the past 50 games! I know some are concerned about the flagged round-one tag by the Giants, but I’m not just starting Laird because of his round-one matchup in isolation. I’m convinced he’s the clear #1 midfielder this year. Will he likely be cheaper at points in the season? Yes! Even if he drops $100,000, he’s still north of $900k; that’s a ton of cash to get into in the opening handful of rounds. But the key in salary cap games is this. The price only matters if you are trading into or out of a player. So I’m removing the headache of finding a way to get him.
Have you looked at the Fremantle fixture? From round two, they play North Melbourne (home), West Coast (home), Adelaide (away), Gold Coast (home), Western Bulldogs (home), Brisbane (away) & Hawthorn (home). That is as good as a run can get. Andrew Brayshaw has shown he’s got the captaincy potential with big ceilings, and I’m banking on him tearing it up during this stretch.
Jackson Macrae isn’t unique, but having him at M3 probably is. The most overused word in the AFLFantasy community this preseason has been value. Yes, it’s important, but only some important variables to consider. You can have a successful season and invest big chunks of your salary cap on the expensive guys. In 2021, I finished with a top 30 rank & had a very similar philosophy. Of course, investing big cash requires them to score well early. Still, the relative ‘risk’ is comparable to going heavy on stepping stones and ‘value’ premiums and making multiple ‘corrective moves’ early. Remember, AF is a ‘trading game’, and that’s where your success/failure is linked.
Finn Callaghan is an important piece to my structure for multiple reasons. Firstly, because he does present significant value, he’s priced at 45, and from what I’ve seen from his junior days right through to his limited AFL opportunities is that with the right role, he could clear an 80 comfortably. In addition, Adam Kingsley has stated he’ll have the wing/inside midfield rotation, and that’s perfect for his scoring potential to be realised. But it’s not just the upside about Finn; it’s the fact that he’s a perfect parachute option If I need to pivot and fore a restructure on any line.
Post round one; I could easily pivot him down to the cash cow I missed that’s popped and pocket an easy $100,000-$150,000. That money can be instantly used on any of the other mid $700k players I’ve selected and get them to a topline option. Also, suppose some of my basement cows aren’t named like Darcy Wilmot. In that case, he will become the first man to create the necessary salary cap to make the changes I need without sacrificing my premiums.
Every man and his dog should have Will Ashcroft & Cam Mackenzie on the field; while Will Phillips will be popular, I’ve chosen to phase him onto my bench. While I’m convinced he plays loads of footy this year, his exact function is still being determined in that deep midfield mix. So I’d rather watch and learn with him on the bench. Lastly, Alyn Davey Jnr opens up the DPP link between my midfield and forward lines.
Rucks
Rowan Marshall should be in every serious AFLFantasy coach’s team. Last year he averaged 105 when he played without Paddy Ryder as the #1 ruck, and he’ll hold down that spot this year. We’ve even seen in his preseason game that he’ll dominate in this role and isn’t someone I’ll try and take on. Darcy Cameron was a popular pick early in the preseason, but the community has cooled on him for multiple reasons. I’m not bullish on him, but he’s a functional pick for me. At best, he is my stepping stone to a potentially cheaper Tim English, who has a tough early fixture. At worst, I abandon him this time next week & use one of my parachute plans to make it happen.
Forward
Over the preseason, we’ve talked about the fantastic four: Stephen Coniglio, Tim Taranto, Connor Rozee and Josh Dunkley in the forward premiums. But the practice games of Errol Gulden and his subsequent ownership mean it’s now the fantastic five. You’ll need a minimum of three, but I’ve settled on four and faded Stephen Coniglio for my team. If the ‘tagger’ talk insinuated from GWS is true, then at least one of Stephen Coniglio, Josh Kelly & Tom Green must receive a CBA clip for the negating midfielder to squeeze in. For me, Cogs is the most likely, and it’s just one of the reasons I’ve opted out of him.
Harry Sheezel is a popular cash cow on the field & looks like the best-scoring prospect of the forward class. However, I can’t believe Jye Menzie is in just 2% of teams! To me, he’s one of the best cash cow forward prospects we have. I’d be shocked if he isn’t named & he could be one of the most traded-in players in round two. His matchup against Hawthorn in round one as a small/medium forward is one I’m very excited to see unfold.
Fergus Greene will be a gift for us and is worthy of an onfield spot for those needing it at F6 if required. He’ll see plenty of game time this year for the Hawks. Luke Pedlar has been one of the Crows standouts on the track. Talent has never been an issue; it’s been getting atop his body. Under Darren Burgess, he’s fit, firing and ready to deliver on his potential. Finally, Kade Chandler is an interchangeable casement cow based on selection news.
Round one is just a few days away, so it’s time for me to reveal the SuperCoach side for the upcoming 2023 season. Enjoy it!
Defenders
James Sicily and Sam Docherty are the two premium defenders I am the most comfortable with. Elliot Yeo picks himself. Liam Jones, I struggled with it. I am uncomfortable having him at d4 and feel he is the most likely to burn a few trades early to fix if he fails. At least he is gaining popularity. Reuben Ginbey and Charlie Constable pick themselves if they get named.
Midfield
I decided to go a little thinner in the mids to fit in the big five forwards. I also think there are big questions around many of the top mids. The two that I don’t have questions about are Rory Laird and Clayton Oliver. Tom Green will take the next step in SC this year and end the season as an uber mid. Jacob Hopper is a clearance beast and should thrive in the Richmond setup.
The jungle drums have been beating loudly about Finn Callaghan for a while now. I usually hate starting players around the 250,000 range, but with 36 trades and boosts, it can be rectified easily enough this year. Finally, will Phillips start on the field I have more faith in him than a forward rookie in SuperCoach.
Rucks
Sean Darcy is SC proven to a point. He is the fittest I have ever seen him. Rowan Marshall picks himself.
Forward
I’m starting the fab five forwards. Josh Dunkley, Stephen Coniglio, Connor Rozee, Tim Taranto and the newest member to the five, Errol Gulden. It just feels right to start this year. Having Alwyn Davey Jnr on the mid-bench allows flexibility to swing them into the mids if required. Harry Sheezel rounds out the on-field forwards.
Six players in DreamTeam start with a seven-figure price tag. In this team, I have two of them. The only million-dollar man in the backline is Sam Docherty, and after averaging 110 last year, I’m starting him because he’ll be in a similar range again in 2023. He might be $50,000-$80,000 cheaper a few rounds into the year, but I’ll remove any headache and lock him in from the beginning.
Tom Stewart could easily become Jack Sinclair or Jordan Dawson. But I’ll start with Stewart for now. If the formats view the round thirteen bye round as a ‘best 18’, then starting Cats/Suns premiums will become a very strong play.
Hayden Young has a DT game and is already ranked inside the top twenty defenders by average. His weapons are his kicking and aerial intercepting. If the Dockers’ key position defenders can stay healthy, I can see him being freed up and pushing his average well into triple digits.
Nick Coffield is only $35,000 more than Will Ashcroft, and I believe he’ll thrive under a new coaching regime. After missing the whole of 2022 through injury, he received a health discount. Historically Coffield is a safe 60+ averaging defender. I’ll drop him down if more cash cows emerge, but he’s my cheap stepping stone for now.
Connor McKenna is dirt cheap, and if he’s best 22, he will be a staple of good team on field backlines. He wouldn’t have returned to Australia to play in the minor leagues. At the very least, the Lions have told him the spot is his to lose.
Campbell Chesser will be popular after not playing in 2022. The Eagles will be desperate to get games into him. Darcy Wilmont might not be the lock he was with the arrival of McKenna, but at worst, he’s a placeholder. While I couldn’t leave out Will Gould from a team reveal.
Regardless of the opposition matchup, you can bank on Jack Steele and Touk Miller as captaincy options weekly. It would be best to have multiple captaincy options in your starting squad. Others might like Andrew Brayshaw, Rory Laird, Callum Mills or even Clayton Oliver. Whoever they are, it might be more personal preference. But, again, you need at least one of those six in your starting squad. All of them are capable of 110+ seasons. I’m just investing in two of them immediately.
Jackson Macrae historically has been a regular and 110+ midfielder. The popular narrative amongst the DT community is that he possesses significant value and can easily head back there. Darcy Parish had a stunning 2021 and an excellent start to 2021 before he hit a few injury hurdles. Barring injury, I don’t see how he doesn’t become a 108-115 midfielder next season.
In the midfield, I normally don’t go for ‘unproven premium’ players in the range of Caleb Serong. In this range, you have to be bullish that a player in the high 80’s can become a triple-digit performer. If they don’t, it’s a failed selection. When it comes to Caleb, he has the scoring pedigree to match the current trend. He’ll average between 100-105 by the season’s close.
Cooper Stephens should return some significant return on investment. His move to the Hawks was increased opportunity, and at the rebuilding club, he should get it.
Every man and his dog will have Will Ashcroft, and with good reason. It should be similar ownership numbers for Will Phillips. After missing the 2022 season with injury and sickness, the former early draft pick should be used as a critical part of the North Melbourne rebuild.
My bench cows are placeholders, but all should get some opportunity this year.
What happens in the rucks might decide the destiny of teams in 2023.
Of all the ‘premium’ rucks available, I have the most confidence in Tim English. He increased his average by twenty-one points per game. Before sickness and injury halted his run last year, he was unstoppable. Seven of his first nine games were tons, and his lowest score in that stretch was 95. He should not just maintain but improve his scoring.
I’m not a fan of ‘set & forget’ as a strategy in the rucks this year. Many are bullish on Rowan Marshall, and I agree he’ll have a strong year. But even if he goes 100, is that sufficient? Nobody knows the scoring impact of ruck sharing for Brodie Grundy and Max Gawn. Does Luke Jackson help or hurt Sean Darcy? All of Gawn, Grundy & Darcy are capable of 110+ seasons, and I’d hate to lock myself out of getting into one of these three.
It’s for that reason I’m chasing some value at R2. Scott Lycett has multiple years of averaging 80+ at Port Adelaide. In 2021, in the first thirteen games of the year, he posted four tons, and his scores dipped under 80 on just three occasions. He’s the Power’s best ruck, and starting with him enables me to get a clear view of the best R2 for the year.
Jacob Edwards is my DPP RUC/FWD, who’s there primarily as my VC/C loophole execution.
Nobody should be surprised to see Josh Dunkley on this side. The former Bulldog enters the year as the most expensive forward, and his average of 108 feels like value, given the forecast of more midfield time at the Lions. He genuinely could be the top-scoring player this year.
Plenty of options could be landed at F2, but I settled on Tim Taranto. Tim has a history of going 110+ before, and now at Richmond, the permanent midfield role he’s craved should come into effect. Again, no downside with this pick, as I can’t see him averaging under 95.
Over the final 18 rounds of the 2022 season, Connor Rozee averaged 98 and nine tons. However, in the last seven games of the year, he posted six tons and averaged 110. Priced at 88, he is a premium forward that gives coaches some value upon investment.
Toby McLean is a proven performer, and if he’s named for round one will be on every good team’s side. Mattaes Phillipou should create a new dynamic in the Saints midfield and forward lines and get games early.
The final three cash cows are placeholders. More information as the preseason is required to lock into anyone. But Luke Pedlar, Fin Macrae and Josh Sinn will all be around the mark for breaking into their respective sides.
The defensive premiums in 2023 look like a mixed bag, and I expect a lot of diversity in the ones that coaches will start. The standout for me is Tom Stewart, who has shown he has the ceiling that you would be envious of in midfield premiums. Having an inbuilt injury-affected game in his price and a ridiculously high percentage of games where he tons up, Stewart is one who I don’t see moving from my backline at this stage.
The biggest watch of the players in my backline is Angus Brayshaw. When his CBAs spiked in the last few games of the season, he averaged over 110 and went at 105 from round 11 onwards. Brayshaw might need CBAs to push a higher average, but he has shown that even without midfield, he can push near to the 100 mark and, given the losses in defenders this year, that might be enough to push top six.
The breakout candidate in Hayden Young is one I’ve been watching since the middle of the season. From round 8 onwards, he went below 78 once and had supreme consistency in scoring output. Fremantle will likely continue to give Young a more prominent role as he develops, including more kick-in responsibilities. With free reign to do as he pleases across HB, Young is one to monitor.
Both Elliott Yeo and Connor McKenna are underpriced, but for different reasons. The watch on these two will be fitness and whether they are best 22, respectively. If Yeo remains fit through the preseason, he might be one you have to start, whilst the price tag of McKenna means that, should he be named round one, he will be in most teams.
The rookies in Campbell Chesser and Darcy Wilmont won’t surprise many, though as it is with all rookies, we wait to see whether they are named when the season starts. Corey Wagner is a sneaky one to monitor for the 2023 season, as the departure of Blake Acres might leave a free wing spot for him to stake claim to at Fremantle.
Callum Mills, Jack Steele and Darcy Parish all present value for 2023 based on injury affected games last year, while I’m predicting a big bounce back for Jackson Macrae with the departure of Josh Dunkley. All four of these should be captaincy options in any game, and have shown they can match it with the best.
Much like most other team reveals, the one mid-pricer I am looking at here is Jacob Hopper. The difference between his price coming into the season and his proven scoring potential means that he would’ve been a lock in many sides if he had stayed at GWS. The move to Richmond cements his position in my team at this stage as there should be plenty of opportunities for him.
The rookies in Ashcroft, Humphrey, Phillips, and Hewett are all ones to monitor in the preseason and almost certainly pick if they start. Dowling and Baker are also track watches and might be less likely to start, but they should be considered if they do.
There will be a reshuffle in the best rucks for the 2023 season with Max Gawn and Brodie Grundy together at the Demons. Grundy’s departure allows Darcy Cameron to maintain the number one ruck mantle at the Pies. His season is defined by the disparity in scoring before he was the ruckman and after. There is enough upside and proven scoring with Cameron to show that he can push over the 100 barrier which should put him up in the top few.
The decision between Tim English and Rowan Marshall will be one that I’ll be thinking about most of the preseason. Both players can push over 110, but at this stage I will be going with English because he has slightly more security in role. Should I want both, I may even be interested in restructuring and moving Cameron to my forward line as additional Ruck security.
Jacob Edwards is among the few rookies who could get a game as a ruckman in 2023. With DPP flexibility and a low price, he can hold that spot for the time being.
I’ve thought about which of the big premium forwards are best to start with in 2023 for a while, especially after it was revealed last week that all of Josh Dunkley, Tim Taranto, and Connor Rozee held the DPP. As a result, I couldn’t at least try to see what a team looked like with all three of them. Given where the more probable rookies look, I could see many teams rolling out with these filling F1-3 when the season starts.
Nathan Fyfe and Toby McLean both provide immense value as forwards, but much like Yeo and McKenna in the defence, Fyfe needs to show fitness and an uninterrupted pre-season and McLean needs to prove that he is best 22. Should they show this, they’ll be popular starting selections and both in my team.
Jacob Van Rooyen and Sinn are players who, with another preseason, will push for selection in their teams round one lineups, while Mattaes Phillipou is a player who oozes class and could see an early call up from Ross Lyon and he looks to mix-up their midfield dynamic.
You asked for it, and I caved! With the SuperCoach team picker now open, I decided to share my current SuperCoach team and tell you why I’ve picked every player. Enjoy!
Defenders
People will pass over Jack Sinclair in starting squads this year despite him being the top-priced option. He ranked seventh last year for total points in the competition and scored thirteen tons from the final fourteen games of the season. The Saints love the ball in his hands, and the move of Brad Hill up to the wing will make him the man off half-back. People will be apprehensive about starting him because he’s under a new coach. But Ross Lyon has always been a defence-first style of coach. So he should be given more support and structure around him even if the tag comes. I’ll pay up for him, but I’ll move there if the pre-season reveals a comparable scoring option that’s cheaper.
There aren’t many certainties in SuperCoach, but Tom Stewart’s game being perfectly suited to SC’s scoring model is one of them. He spoils, intercepts, marks and uses the ball by hand and foot extremely well. Any defender that can score 161, 174 & 187 within an eight-game stretch like he did last year is a damaging prospect.
My only ‘breakout’ premium in the team. Hayden Young. He’s coming off the back of averaging 92 last season, but he started to showcase his excellent ceiling (142 & 139) and an improved scoring basement. He had just four scores last year under 80. If Fremantle gets some stability back in their key position defenders, it should allow Young to be freed up even further to intercept mark and use his beautiful kicking to set up the play. I’m backing him to average triple digits this season.
One of the keys to success in SuperCoach last year (and every year) is taking advantage of the obvious value that comes through player discounts. In the case of Elliot Yeo, he is one of the best bargains of the year IF he can level up to his proven capacity. For years Yeo was a safe 100+ performer and a reliable premium. But the past three seasons have been cursed with injury. Nevertheless, I won’t hesitate to select him if he gets through the pre-season without concerns. After all, he’s priced 40 points per game under what he’s capable of.
When the team picker opened, I was pleasantly surprised to see how cheap Connor McKenna was. At under $170,000, he does have a history of scoring in the mid-’70s, which is exceptional for a cash cow price tag. Some might be concerned that he’s not in the Lions best 22, and there’s some merit to that. He wouldn’t have returned to Australia to play in the minor leagues. At the very least, the Lions have told him the spot is his to lose.
Campbell Chesser will be popular after not playing in 2022. The Eagles will be desperate to get games into him. Darcy Wilmont might not be the lock he was with the arrival of McKenna, but at worst, he’s a placeholder. While I couldn’t leave out Will Gould from a team reveal.
Midfield
Straight out of the gate, I’m selecting four of the best premium midfielders I can buy. Clayton Oliver, Touk Miller, Jack Steele and Jackson Macrae. All are VC/C options weekly, and barring an injury, I can’t forecast how they don’t see how they miss out on being a top-tier midfielder.
Macrae and Steele are arguably underpriced, but I’d still pick them even if they weren’t. History says they are some of the most reliable and durable options available. Miller should become invaluable, given his Suns, alongside the Cats, have the round 13 bye. Finally, Clayton Oliver is coming off three consecutive seasons averaging 122 or higher. Recent history will tell you if you don’t start him, it’s very challenging to get him into your team during the year. So I’ll remove the incoming migraine and start him.
Just the one stepping-stone midfielder for me this year. From 2019-2021 Jacob Hopper averaged 96, 91, & 97. He’s priced at an average of 60, so for $332,000, that could be north of thirty points per game of value. I don’t expect to own him for the season, but the Tigers round 15 bye means I could run him for 2/3 of the year if I require it.
Every man and his dog will have Will Ashcroft, and with good reason. It should be similar ownership numbers for Will Phillips. After missing the 2022 season with injury and sickness, the former early draft pick should be used as a critical part of the North Melbourne rebuild.
The final four cash cows are all placeholders who will come and go as required. But all four should get games at their clubs next season.
Rucks
What happens in the rucks might decide the destiny of teams in 2023. Tim English improved his scoring by 22 points per game last year to average 105. While his final 5-6 weeks of the season were under, he started the season on fire. He averaged 121 over the first five weeks and had just one score under 96 in his first nine games. We shouldn’t see the experiments late last year with Rory Lobb in the side to play relief ruck. Instead, English will play as a pure and primary ruck. There’s an upside, and he’s one of the few premium rucks I trust investing cash into.
I’m not in love with the Sam Draper pick. I considered not even doing the team reveal just because of it, but allow me to explain why he’s there.
I don’t trust going ‘set & forget’ rucks this year. Many are bullish on Rowan Marshall, and I agree he’ll have a strong year. But even if he goes 110, is that sufficient? Nobody knows the scoring impact of ruck sharing for Brodie Grundy and Max Gawn. Does Luke Jackson help or hurt Sean Darcy? All of Gawn, Grundy & Darcy are capable of 115-120 seasons, and I’d hate to lock myself out of getting into one of these three.
I thought of investing more in R2 and getting up to Darcy Cameron, but at this stage, I’ll resist. The theory with Draper is to get a guy that should hold and make some cash while not costing me a significant salary cap. It’ll give me a look at the impacts of the great ruck share and then give me the information to make an in-season upgrade. I hope a better option becomes apparent as the pre-season roles on.
Lastly, I’m running a RUC/FWD option in Jacob Edwards as my bench cow. He’s there more for VC loopholes and DPP flexibility. But if he plays, that’s not a bad thing.
Forwards
Nobody should be surprised to see Josh Dunkley on this side. The former Bulldog enters the year as the most expensive forward, and his average of 108 feels like value, given the forecast of more midfield time at the Lions. He genuinely could be the top-scoring player in SuperCoach this year.
Plenty of options could be landed at F2, but I settled on Tim Taranto. Tim has a history of going 100+ before, and now at Richmond, the permanent midfield role he’s craved should come into effect. Again, no downside with this pick, as I can’t see him averaging under 95.
I hit the value in the forward lines pretty quickly, but when you have Nat Fyfe as a forward-eligible selection and barely $100,000 more than Will Ashcroft, you cannot ignore that. Remember that between 2013-2021 he averaged between 100-122. So even with the injury ‘risk’, it’s mitigated by his price tag and likely sky-high ownership.
If Tarryn Thomas has a full pre-season and can roam through the midfield, he’ll be a handy stepping stone. Remember back in 2021, from round ten onwards he averaged 96.7. You must pay attention to that for under $300,000.
Then it’s into the cash cows. Toby McLean is a proven performer, and if he’s named for round one will be on every good team’s side. Mattaes Phillipou should create a new dynamic in the Saints midfield and forward lines and get games early. The bench cows are placeholders, but Luke Pedlar and Jacob Van Rooyen have been standouts for their team on the track.
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