Team Management 2009 SC
Hi all,
Just wanted to have something more substantial in my first post than celebrating Nick Maxwell getting one over the AFL tribunal. Well done son.
Each team is going to have a different strategy in 2009 SuperCoach.
Many already have thoughts of loading up one position with blue chip players (defence mainly). I have a word of caution about this strategy. Generally the best teams in SC have a balance, just like in AFL teams you need a strong defence, midfield, forward and ruck division.
The aim of the game is to be over 2000 points EVERY WEEK, and to get close to averaging 2300 late in the season, which means every member of your team needs to get to average 100 points-per-game.
The strategy I used in 2008 was simple.
10 blue chips who will get 100 points per game lock away (set and forget), 10 midrangers who might have averaged 50-85 points last year who will go close to getting to 100, and 10 rookies (under 150000) who will appreciate in value. Trades: 5 for injuries, 10 for rookie-cash cow-upgrade, 5 for elevator side swaps.
Blue Chips – look at past performance. Choose consistency and value. Get a captain you can trust – one of Hodge, Ablett, Judd and Bartel. Wait for the other 3 to have some form slump and trade in later.
Mid-rangers – look for guys either injured last season (Nick Stevens of 08 could be Paul Hasleby of 09), or those who will “come of age” during the season – players like M Murphy, Gibbs, Thomas and Ellis appear to be in this boat. These are critical selections and you will need to select players who will get averages more than their price.
Rookies – look at players who will get game time, particularly in the first 3 rounds. Watch the NAB Cup very closely for team selections. Set your team up ready to go, but then in that fateful 90 minutes after team selections are posted on the first Thursday of the comp, ensure you have most of your team playing week 1.
After that, it’s all luck and skill.
To highlight how many value options there are this year, here’s a team you can pick with $1.1 million still in the bank:
DEF – Luke Hodge, Sam Fisher, Xavier Ellis, Mark Nicoski, Shannon Hurn, Andrew Raines, Stephen Hill, Matt Maguire, Michael Hurley
MID – Joel Selwood, Bryce Gibbs, Daniel Kerr, Jordan Lewis, Steven Baker, Ricky Petterd, Daniel Rich, Dayne Beams
FWD – Matthew Pavlich, Leon Davis, Scott Lucas, Sean Rusling, Shaun Higgins, Chris Yarran, Ben Reid, Scott Gumbleton
RUC – Brad Ottens, Matthew Kreuzer, Jessie White, Daniel Currie
That team – plus a million $ to add your own flavour – will go close to the 2000 points needed in Rd 1
Man I want Ellis in my squad… why oh why did he get himself injured! ??
possible first round come-back… that is *so* unhelpful!
Anyone got any additional gos?
Does anyone have a list of players who will be suspended for Round 1?
Not Nick Maxwell …
I’m hoping that we will!
But my feed hasn’t sent any through yet… so… not us… yet. 
Players in that list I will never touch: Nicoski, Hurn, Raines, Lewis and Rusling.
Why not Raines, Brayden? I have him in at the moment. He looked pretty good against Freo.
Being a pies man, I thought long and hard about Leon, but look like settling on Daisy instead. He looks like he’s had a growth spurt or something as well as just being bigger. Am tipping that he’ll be getting a bit more hard ball this year and at 420k or so, is an alright gamble. I think he’ll at least hold steady and should save you a trade in a pinch by being there in rd22.
I agree with the Rusling call. There’s a few you can play forward for that price that are probably worth a better look. Skippy’s one, and then there’s Higgins from the dogs. Down at Lexus we have a young fellah by the name of Brad Dick who gets everything out of his stats and at 94k makes good sense – if he gets a game. I think Mick might like him though. Coming back from a knee done last pre-season, but still….
Since this is my first post, I’d like to thank Walesy for his efforts. Last year was my first go at the comp and I finished in the top 2% so I’m hoping to knock it up a notch this year. Only saw the site in the last couple of rounds, so will be around a lot more this year.
Good luck everyone!
I had Raines in ‘07, and didn’t enjoy one minute of it. Looking back he averaged 72, only 1 point of his best of 73 in ‘06. I just can’t see those 70’s being turned into 90’s.
But at his price, I spose you’ll be guannteed a price hike and with that chance of him breaking out. Possibly into the Richmond midfield. I don’t think its the wrong decision, just one I’m not choosing to touch.
But, if he backs up his Freo preformance I will be on the bandwagon, don’t you worry.
Leaning away from Raines for a bit, there is so much value down back though: Ryan Houlihan, Chad Cornes, Tarkyn Lockyer, Heath Shaw, Jed Adcock, Nick Malceski, Peter Burgoyne, Andrew Walker, Ricky Pettard and Andrew Raines. Plus some might say Lindsay Gilbee is underpriced. I love it.
Good list of value backs Bray…i’m not sold on Adcock tho…continually have him in my team then out. I’m just not sure if he will get the midfield time he had in ‘07 when he was a gun, i don’t think his price will move that much, whereas Raines, if he plays, is almost guaranteed to go up. Bock underpriced maybe?
Also, thoughts on J Brennan? Could he take the next step this year? Averaged 91 last season without really being on fire…very tempting i think to possibly pump that average up to the magical 100 mark…
After Jesus’ game on the w’end i’ve had to completely reshuffle my all all-star backline to get him in, dam him!
I definitely wouldn’t say Bock is under-priced, but he is also most definitely not over-priced. And, I say that because his average of 90 last year doesn’t sound like much. But, he was one of the stand-out players for the year and seriously could not have played any better. Neil will be using him in exactly the same role, so don’t expect anymore than a 95 average at years end.
I had Brennan in my side last week, but after non-stop abuse from my mates I removed him. He did really break-through last year. But can he go any higher? Well, Chris and I seem to think so. But there is a massive risk. And, he will be extremely frustrating at times – consistent and Brennan do not mix.
I must say that the proviso for the team was one with $1 million to spare.
Good value backs are plentiful. You just have to work out the mix of injured players. I’m a sucker for the “comeback kids” across the board in my team (not just defenders). Who? Rusling, Baker, Hasleby, Smith, Raines, Dick, M Brown, Lucas, Chornes, Petterd, Reilly, Hurn … and the list goes on.
On Brennan, I’m a no bordering on a “no way”. That said his trend line is up. Can’t understand him being FWD-MID and not RUC as well. If he were a ruckman, he’d be in calculations.
On Ablett I’m just on the side of “too expensive”. I’m going to sit with Corey/Judd and lie in wait.
Houlihan – finished, Chornes is a lock, Lockyer is probably an either-or with Chornes, Adcock will get the midfield game time under Voss (as vc), Malceski – injured flash in the pan, P Burgoyne is a good option, Walker – not yet for me, Petterd – great astute selection,
Raines – Will appreciate in value – I hope he takes Bowden’s role…and is the Newman of 2009.
Bray I think you are harsh on Lewis and Rusling (fitness pending):
Lewis – stepped up markedly late in 2008 (Last 6 wks avg 103); averaged 94 2007; costs 81.
Rusling – if he plays…and I’m a Pies man too…he will get ball and score regular 65s; costs 43.
I tend to think Rusling represents the X factor Pies are missing up forward. If fit, get on board. Maybe a Round 3 trade before revaluation.
That said, in my team so far neither of these two are in there…
Leon vs Daisy vs Didak – all have claims. Just think that there are probably better options in teams that will win more than Collingwood – e.g. Steve Johnson.
Deledio is in most teams as mercifully he’s again a forward. Are any of Leon/Daisy/Didak at his points scoring level? I don’t think so.
Agreed Higgins and Skipworth are two very strong low-priced forwards. Dick is a good option but must get some NAB Cup game time. Gumby, Grant and Ziebell all look stronger at the moment. I’m hoping for Sidebottom/Beams/Dick to be the cash-cow trade-ins as they come into the Pies 22 from Anzac Day onwards.
Bock – I think slightly overpriced, particularly if he is forced to cover forward gaps.
Gilbee – Probably very slightly underpriced but with Chornes/Burgoyne, Goddard/Fisher, Milburn/Mackie/Enright, Hodge in the mix for blue chip defensive spots I say NO.
You and I definitely have opposite opinions when it comes to SuperCoach, but they both work. Haha.
If there has ever been a SuperCoach no-go, its Lewis.
Leon is definitely out of question, but Daisy and Didak are still hovering.
I have heard rumours that Skipworth might struggle for game time come the home and away season and with Lucas and Gumby already two Dons up forward, I think number 3 might be too much. Like my three crows down back last year never worked.
Any change on Raines now Bray?
Cousins – looked mighty rusty, as predicted. Will get better but I’d think he’d have to go under 330 for me to pounce.
Lewis I have just done my investigation on – he is one of the Hawthorn injured who may not be back for Round 1. Hence I’ll sit back and not get him. No loss – he wasn’t in my side anyway. Just think if he goes under 400k he is value.
Rusling – I still think the best Pie forward setup is Reid/Anthony, Cloke, Rusling, Medhurst, Dick and one of the rotating mids. Rocca to rotate off the bench.
Skipworth – he is value but decisions, decisions – Lucas and Gumby are the best two.
I’m now going to throw another player into the mix – Buddy Franklin. I think he’s going to be playing 20 matches this year, and will average over 100. So I’m going to pick him – unless I get spooked with him not being in the 22 Round 1. Many will think “I can get him cheaper later”…but surely that’s devaluing the value of a trade.
I’ve always priced trades at $200000 each and to have to wait to get Buddy by a later trade is going to cost me flexibility later like it did last year.
It’s a matter or Franklin v Pav v JB v Roo. Roo – too expensive now, Pav – very close, JB – watch at least for first 3 rounds, and Franklin – get on board.
I will cover him with consistency but just think he is right on the mark and as everyone will want him anyway, save the trade and lock him from the start.
Franklin is no chance of being in my side in Round 1, and I would be tipping he will be there by round 22. Like I have said a million time, most of my upgrading is down down forward. I’ve got four forwards below 350k.
Raines in locked in now, for Hill. Meaning only the two rookies left. I’m happy.
On Cousins: With Kerr, Knights and Boak three midfields in my side I don’t have any room for another 450k-500k midfielder. Before you question Boak and Knights. Well Knights is in the top 30 for points per minutes, and game time at about 75%, he should get alot more gametime if Scott Thompson is used forward, like I am predicting. And, Boak, I don’t have any stats to back up my decision, but fingers crossed.