I've yet to sit down and actually put a lot of time into my Supercoach team but I know thousands of others take their pre-season for Supercoach way more seriously so at some stage I should see how my present early team compares with these tragics and see if there is anything worthwhile to be gained by making any adjustments to my own team as a result. This is from an article online so thought I post here also for others interested at the same time. SUPERCOACH TOP 50 1. Tom Liberatore ($357,300 Mid) WB Popularity: 55.36% The Bulldogs gun is back after a knee reconstruction and is reportedly flying on the training track. A SuperCoach beast, who is ridiculously cheap. He missed the squad for the Dogs’ first NAB Challenge game but don’t let that put you off. 2. Christian Petracca ($123,900 Mid-Fwd) Melb Popularity: 53.45% Without having played a game, the Demons youngster is the second most popular pick this pre-season. All eyes will be on the Melbourne team sheet come Round 1. 3. Sam Kerridge ($137,600 Mid-Fwd) Carlton Popularity: 51.05% The Crow-turned-Blue is a running machine and should walk straight into the Carlton line-up. Can rack up possessions and kick goals. Dual threat. No longer a secret after a huge score in NAB 1. 4. Gary Ablett ($623,200 Mid) GC Popularity: 48.14% The little master is almost as cheap as he’s ever been after an injury-ravaged 2015. We’re all expecting big things from the Suns’ skipper. Was only fully fit for four games last year and he averaged 155 points in them. 5. Mitch Brown ($117,300 Def/Fwd) Ess Popularity: 47.59% The former Cat walks straight into the Essendon line-up and will assume a key role in the Bombers’ defence — a place the ball is expected to spend a lot of time. 6. Dustin Martin ($569,300 Mid/Fwd) Rich Popularity: 42.28% He’s pre-season troubles are behind him and the always popular Tiger is primed for a big season. Retaining his midfield-forward dual eligibility a major plus. 7. Tom Rockliff ($550,100 Mid) BL Popularity: 37.22% Remember when Rocky cost more than $700,000? This year he’s available at an insanely cheap price when you consider his scoring potential. 8. Daniel Wells ($243,900 Mid-Fwd) NM Popularity: 31.66% Obviously, a lot of SuperCoaches enjoy taking risks. Wells’ body has let him down consistently but he’s one of the first picked at the Kangaroos if fit. 9. Matthew Lobbe ($389,500, Ruck) PA Popularity: 27.60 Paddy Ryder’s 12-month suspension has certainly put Lobbe front and centre in a lot of SuperCoaches’ plans. Can he return to the 100-plus average of 2014? 10. Nat Fyfe ($670,600, Mid) Frem Popularity: 26.53% The Brownlow medallist is the most expensive midfielder in the game but his scoring potential is unlimited. A NAB Challenge cameo reminded us all of his ability. 11. Scott Pendlebury ($627,200 Mid) Coll. 26.43% 12. Todd Goldstein ($695,100 Ruck) NM 25.24% 13. Michael Barlow ($505,300 Mid/Fwd) Frem. 25.16% 14. Patrick Dangerfield ($647,000 Mid) Geel. 25.10% 15. Jaeger O’Meara ($316,300 Mid) GCt. 24.37% 16. Brad Crouch ($306,100 Mid) Adel. 24.29% 17. James Aish ($275,700 Def/Mid) Coll. 23.93% 18. Darcy Parish ($202,800 Mid) Ess. 23.54% 19. Heath Shaw (607,800 Def) GWS. 23.15% 20. Lance Franklin ($470,100 Fwd) Syd. 23.04% 21. Elliot Yeo ($443,300 Def-/id) WC 21.02% 22. Jonathan Simpkin ($223,400 Mid/Fwd) Ess 20.56% 23. Brodie Smith ($415,500 Def/Mid) Adel 20.07% 24. Sam Grimley ($123,900 Ruck/Fwd) Ess 19.18% 25. Jed Anderson ($223,900 Mid-Fwd) NM 18.56% 26. Callum Mills ($211,800 Mid) Syd 17.19% 27. Aaron Francis ($198,300 Def/Mid) Ess 17.03% 28. Matthew Leuenberger ($310,700 Ruck-Fwd) 16.60% 29. Luke Dahlhaus ($563,600, Mid/Fwd) WB 16.48% 30. Jimmy Bartel ($470,400, Def/Mid) Geel 16.44% 31. Rhys Mathieson ($117,300 Mid) BL 16.42% 32. Jacob Weitering ($220,800 Def) Carl 15.37% 33. Kade Kolodjashnij ($482,200 Def) GC. 15.12% 34. Nick Kommer ($123,900 Fwd) Ess 15.04% 35. Mason Cox ($117,300 Ruck/Fwd) Coll 14.33% 36. Michael Hartley ($117,300 Def) Ess 13.85% 37. Ryan Crowley ($202,800 Mid) Ess 13.79% 38. Nathan Broad ($117,300 Def) Rich 13.76% 39. Riley Bonner ($117,300 Def) PA 13.70% 40. Nic Naitanui ($560,700 Ruck) WC 13.45% 41. Mark Blicavs ($562,700 Ruck-Mid) Geel 13.25% 42. Jarrad McVeigh ($542,600 Def-Mid) Syd 13.20% 43. Nakia Cockatoo ($172,700 Fwd) Geel 12.79% 44. Nathan Freeman ($123,900 Mid) StK 12.55% 45. Daniel Rich ($436,100 Def-Mid) BL 12.43% 46. Nick Malceski ($383,800 Def) GC 12.43% 47. Jacob Hopper ($193,800 Mid) GWS 12.06% 48. Stef Martin ($597,600 Ruck) BL 11.98% 49. Daniel Menzel ($260,600 Fwd) Geel 11.96% 50. Alex Rance ($523,700 Def) Rich 11.68%
Very surprised Polec isn't in the top 50 - similar price to Crouch and JOM but hasn't got the fitness doubts hanging over him like the other 2
Last pre-season's favourite Jack Newnes is only in 0.42% of teams. Damien Cavka is more popular, even though he recently retired from footy due to foot injuries, because he's in 0.54% of teams. Or Cam McCarthy who is on indefinite leave from AFL, yet is in 0.68% of teams.
No Robbie or Ebert in my mids and Chad is up forward where he should be - only Port mids are Ollie and Polec. Anyone that has been considering JOM and/or Crouch should be looking at Polec considering the fitness clouds hanging over those 2 - neither of them have played yet in pre-season whereas Polec has got through three quarters in both the Port internal trial and the game against Sydney - it's a no-brainer if you ask me!!! But hey, i'm happy to have Polec as a pod while others hope JOM and Crouch make it on the park - while they both are future guns, we all know a compromised pre-season can often lead to the player breaking down again at some stage during the season simply because they haven't had that solid base to build on. Of the 2, it sounds like Crouch may be the better chance of playing early - but he would be very wary if his first game was against the Power (or even the Port Magpies in the SANFL considering both his past 2 seasons have been shot through injury against the Alberton mob)
Not sure if Polec has a 100 average in him though, does he? (Though I don't see that coming out of Crouch either)
Tbh, Polec probably doesn't, but we have seen him punch out 100's in his first season at Port and I can see him getting a few again this year. The only one of the 3 that you would've seriously been hoping for a 100 average and a permanent spot in your team (albeit most likely as a bench player once fully upgraded) would've been JOM - but it's starting to look more likely that he'll be on our radars when it's time to slaughter some of our mid cows. Crouch won't average 100 this year (in fact going by all reports coming out of the swamp I would say little bro is more likely to do it than big bro), and with him being held back from some work on the track over pre-season he'll be a little rusty. And with Adelaide's #1 contested ball winner now at the Cattery, I think the Adelaide midfield is in for a bit of a wake up - you don't replace a Danger type player overnight, especially not with a young fella who has been in the injury wars the past 2 seasons and hasn't had a solid pre-season!!! I honestly think Adelaide will ease him in early with a couple of SANFL games. We could quite realistically be looking at both JOM and Crouch as targets come slaughter time because there is absolutely no certainty that they will be selected during the first few rounds. This would mean Polec would've earnt me some $$$'s (and let's face it, at his start price and scoring history he will make $$$'s) and be a perfect conduit into either JOM or Crouch at the same time as providing some much needed extra cash. What would you prefer from these: - selecting JOM and Crouch in your starting side and hoping they play from round 1 (highly unlikely at present); - selecting 1 of JOM/Crouch in your starting side with the same hope that they will play in the first few rounds; - selecting 2 more rookies who are no certainty of being pick each week early in the season; - selecting Polec and 1 rookie knowing that Polec is best 22 at Port and will provide some cash generation as well as a better than rookie score knowing you can take the cash when JOM/Crouch return to the park
cheers bear = I think you have made a strong case for Polec over Crouch and JOM based on his tog so far this preseason I am less than convinced that midpricers in the mids are worth it, as I generally prefer to pick midpricers in the forward line or defence Wells, JedAnderson and Simpkin are currently very popular in the forwards at the moment (ie top 25 overall), it will be interesting if any midpriced defenders besides Aish get popular
Libba will be a definite cash cow, but I'm not 100% sold on whether he will be a keeper after missing an entire season.