I have played AFL Supercoach for several seasons now.
I have my team settled in for round 1 (though scores don’t start counting until round 3). Here are my picks and reasoning behind them.
Defenders:
S Docherty (CAR)
H Shaw (GWS)
J Johannisen (WBD)
C Marchbank (CAR)
A McGrath (ESS)
C Hampton (ADE)
Interchange
M Hibberd (NTH)
T Stewart (GEE)
Midfield:
A Treloar (COL)
R Gray (PTA)
N Fyfe (FRE)
T Mitchell (HAW)
D Beams (BRL)
J O’Meara (HAW)
S Powell-Pepper (PTA)
J Barrett (BRL)
Interchange
B Ainsworth (GCS)
J Pickett (CAR)
O Florent (SYD)
Rucks:
M Gawn (MEL)
T Nankervis (RIC)
Interchange
B Preuss (NTH)
Forwards:
J Macrae (WBD)
T Lynch (GCS)
J Roughead (HAW)
T Cloke (WBD)
T Phillips (COL)
C McCarthy (FRE)
Interchange
D Houston (PTA)
B Eddy (PTA)
My thoughts going in were “youth policy”. As much of a champion as he remains, fitness and pressure to let the youth in his own club step up give me doubt. And there are a number of players one could easily back to post 100+ scores most weeks, but at the same time wouldn’t take a bet against them missing matches through injury before the season is done.
In the backline, Heater Shaw was always going to be my first pick. JJ was always going to be there too. Docherty was a late inclusion after changing my mind on my forwards and freeing up some funds there. Everyone else named is a player that is either breaking into the side, or missed significant games last season, thus reducing their price.
Midfield started with Treloar. As soon as it was announced that T Mitchell was moving to Hawthorn, while S Mitchell moved out, I wanted him. Fyfe, Beams and O’Meara are all players that have proven they can post big scores, but are coming off of injuries.
Salt-and-pepper Powell as I have now dubbed him, looks like the rookie lock of 2017. The biggest question is which of the other rookies will join him in the starting side?
Rucks! Some say pick 2 awesomenauts and ignore. Firstly, I would argue that other than the absolute cream, few ruckmen returned reliable high scores last season. Many were hit and miss and Goldstein’s knees do not fill me with faith. Poor Kangas, its almost a race to see which gives out first. Goldy’s knees or Waite’s hip.
Anyway, I went the one premium whose knees do not audibly creak when he moves, M Gawn (MEL). Then went looking for his partner. I had 3 in mind after the trade season. Unfortunately D Petrie (WC – prev NTH) was listed as a Forward only. Nankervis pre-season form suggests he will be the number 1 ruck for the tigers. My other option was J Witts (GCS – prev COL) but I found Nankervis a safer bet on pre-season form. Preuss on the bench purely as a cheap rookie ruck who is named in round 1. It will be interesting to see how the latest ruck rule changes affect ruckmen scores. Big ruck scorers in 2016 managed to do so through around-the-ground possessions more than ruckwork. Big Maxy could set some new records this season!
Forwards. I’ve pulled this apart and put it back together several times. My initial lock is TJ Lynch (GCS). He will be a champion for several years and I would be surprised if there isn’t a Coleman in there somewhere for him. Macrae (WBD) as one of the best dual position options. Roughy, Cloke and McCarthy all had reduced games last season and all look set to return on investment. T Phillips (COL) won me over on his preseason form. Houston and Eddy both being rookies named in the senior side in round 1 that I hope will turn into quick bolters and give me something to begin upgrading with.
So, the budget snuck in at $9,987,200, leaving about $12k in the kitty. I would normally like to have around $50k to provide a bit of flexibility in your first tactical trade(s). But there aren’t a huge number of underpriced players or expected bolters. So unless I trim back a premium…. nah.
Now the nervous wait. 2 rounds of “Oh please don’t get injured!” before head to head Supercoach matches commence in round 3.
Disappointed I didn’t end up with a St Kilda player. I would have taken Montagna instead of Docherty in my backline only Montagna is expected to miss a couple of games with injury.