The byes are almost over now, thankfully, and after a mass of high scores last week saw many teams with a 400+ point differential between the opening two bye rounds for me it can't come soon enough. SuperCoach is always a game of chance, but these bye rounds really seem to magnify that dramatically. This week we look at some of the better options going around the traps in an effort to give tooserious teams a leg-up on the competition, and unfortunately have to look at some 1 game rookies to fill it out. Hartung is the only rookie option on the bubble this week, prior to team announcements anyway, so this week could be the one many coaches take a risk.

Ducky is this week's Best Buy, after avoiding Crowley on the weekend and pumping out a 140 in his first game back after the bye. Looking at his numbers from last season, it was around this time that he really started to hit his stride and average 130+ for the remaining games. On top of that, he's as cheap as you'll likely find him, except for maybe last week, and offers excellent value all round.




DEFENSE
ROOKIES
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<p style='margin-bottom: 0pt;]Jed Bews (GEE) DEF 123.9k 60
<p style='margin-bottom: 0pt;]Bews hasn't made it onto the bubble just yet, having played just the one game last round for 60 points. As always caution is advised when looking at players who haven't played their first 2 games yet, but with no real rookie options to pick from a fair few coaches will be looking to take a punt with a second gamer this week and Bews is the man in defense. Has the potential to be a good player but will struggle to keep a spot in the 22.

MID-PRICERS
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<p style='margin-bottom: 0pt;]Brodie Smith (ADE) DEF 461.5k 96
Smith continues his rise to fame, now averaging 96 for the season with a healthy price of around 460 grand. With only 4,000 selections for the season so far and a price rise of around 25 grand on the way this week he may well be a popular inclusion for those looking for risks, but with Jaensch seemingly back to near full fitness he could see his scores drop off again.

PREMIUMS
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<p style='margin-bottom: 0pt;]Shaun Burgoyne (HAW) DEF 502.6k 104
<p style='margin-bottom: 0pt;]Burgoyne continues to perform for the Hawks, and with a raft of injuries over at Hawthorn the valuable backman will be expected to continue to do so. Priced at just over 500 grand and averaging a nice 104 for his 50,000 coaches, Burgoyne could well finish the season out amongst the league's leading defenders.
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<p style='margin-bottom: 0pt;]Kade Simpson (CAR) DEF 531.2k 104
<p style='margin-bottom: 0pt;]Simmo has been a solid contributor this year, not reaching the same heights as some of his contemporaries but regularly topping the 100 and providing some consistency in the backline. Averaging 104 with a price of 530 grand he isn't quite the value some would like, but with 22,000 picks so far and his overall consistency Kade is still a pretty good bet and already a leading defender for 2014.
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<p style='margin-bottom: 0pt;]Jimmy Bartel (GEE) D/M 519.8k 101
Abrtel was a very popular trade in last week, making his way into my side as well, but unfortunately it looks like that was a week too soon. A poor (by Jimmy's standards) match last outing sees him priced at just under 520 grand this week but now in 79,000 teams. Expected to lose a paltry $1,000 this week, Abrtel should again be a popular pick this round.

REGULARS
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<p style='margin-bottom: 0pt;]David Swallow (GCS) D/M 508.9k 110

MIDFIELD
ROOKIES
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<p style='margin-bottom: 0pt;]Billy Hartung (HAW) MID 117.3k 48 +32k
<p style='margin-bottom: 0pt;]The only rookie this week to actually be on the bubble, Hartung looked good in his opening 2 games for the Hawks and by numbers alone will likely be another popular pick this week. Priced at 117 grand and averaging 48 from his first 2 matches Hartung is expected to gain around 32 grand in value this week, but with the injury list at Hawthorn currently he is most likely just keeping someone else's spot warm for them at the moment.

MID-PRICERS
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<p style='margin-bottom: 0pt;]Joel Selwood (GEE) MID 549.5k 119
<p style='margin-bottom: 0pt;]The Best Buy of the round this week, Ducky bounced back against the Dockers on the weekend (Crowley went to Stevie J) with a nice 140 after struggling in the 3 games prior. Now costing under 550 grand but still averaging 119 for the season Selwood is a fantasy gun and can be expected to make his way into the majority of sides over the remainder of the season. Looking at his stats last year, Ducky was poor to start the season before averaging around 130 after his bye, and many will be hoping he follows that same pattern this year.
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<p style='margin-bottom: 0pt;]Callan Ward (GWS) MID 540.4k 111
<p style='margin-bottom: 0pt;]Cal Ward has been close to breaking into premium status for a fair while now, and the stats so far this year suggest it could be time. Averaging 111 for the season with a couple of poor games thrown in there he provides a bit of value at 540 grand, but even more as a POD with only around 8,000 selections so far. As captain of the much improved Giants Ward can be expected to lead by example, and may well end the season as their highest SC scorer.
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<p style='margin-bottom: 0pt;]Daniel Jackson (RIC) MID 525k 109
<p style='margin-bottom: 0pt;]Dan Jackson continues to slip under the radar, with many coaches (except for SCSS) overlooking him completely. Averaging 109 for the season for his roughly 1,000 coaches he offers good value for his 525 grand price tag, and many pundits are asking how long the Tigers can keep playing this poorly for. Lower than expected outputs from Lids and Cotch could be part of the reason for his scoring to date, but if Richmond can put together some better games of footy Jackson can also be expected to lift his game even further.
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<p style='margin-bottom: 0pt;]Oliver Wines (PTA) MID 480.7k 106
Wines continues to take the competition by storm, averaging 106 in his second season and priced at a bargain basement 480 grand (roughly speaking an average of 100 is worth around 500 grand). He is slowly gaining more selections, now just shy of the 30,000 mark, and with Port playing such good footy he probably won't drop off anytime soon. A lock for many sides next season, Wines could well be one of the top POD's this year as well.

PREMIUMS
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<p style='margin-bottom: 0pt;]Nick Dal Santo (NM) MID 577.2k 116
<p style='margin-bottom: 0pt;]NDS was talked about a bit last week, especially with North's upcoming draw, and for those that took the punt on him he immediately rewarded them with a 140 on the weekend. Priced almost spot on for his 116 average at 577 grand Dal will likely only rise by around 7 grand in value this week, and is playing the Cats in Geelong in the Friday night game, so a fair few coaches will adopt a wait and see&amp;rdquo; policy this week.
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<p style='margin-bottom: 0pt;]Tom Liberatore (WB) MID 563.9k 113
Libba exploded against his bunny side in Melbourne last game, scoring 171 and was unlucky to not top score for the round really. That brought his price up to 564 grand for this week, with an average of 113 for the season and around 36,000 picks to date. A contested ball king Libba was marked by many pre-season for a break-out year, and so far looks to be delivering. Looking at a healthy price rise of around 37 grand this week, now's the time to jump on.

REGULARS
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<p style='margin-bottom: 0pt;]Gary Ablett (GCS) MID 754.4k 151
<p style='margin-bottom: 0pt;]Dayne Beams (COL) MID 583.9k 120

RUCK
PREMIUMS
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<p style='margin-bottom: 0pt;]Sam Jacobs (ADE) RUC 525k 107
<p style='margin-bottom: 0pt;]In a shocking season for rucks so far, it surprises me a little that Sauce is still only in around 26,000 teams. Averaging 107 and priced below that at 525 grand he looks back to the 2012 form that saw him in AA contention, and the Crows look a much better unit for it. Adelaide still has a lot of work to do this season, and much of this will be on the back of their big man Sauce.
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<p style='margin-bottom: 0pt;]Will Minson (WBD) RUC 501.6k 95
Wilbur has finally made the Best Buys after being a near-permanent fixture last season, but averaging 95 and priced at just over 500 grand means he isn't the best SC player going around. Unfortunately with a general lack of rucking options this brings him into contention for a few teams, and with around 13,000 picks to his name is a decent POD if he can lift his game back to 2013 levels.

FORWARD
ROOKIES
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<p style='margin-bottom: 0pt;]Charlie Cameron (ADE) FWD 122.4k 89
<p style='margin-bottom: 0pt;]Leading the list of not-quite-on-the-bubble forwards is Charlie Cameron, the Adelaide one. Scoring an impressive 89 in his debut for the Crows Cameron looks like a decent SC option, but again has only played the one game. Priced at 122 grand and coming in when there are very limited alternatives, many including myself will likely take the punt on Cameron this week to fit in some much needed upgrades elsewhere.
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<p style='margin-bottom: 0pt;]Ben Lennon (RIC) FWD 162.3k 58
Lennon is the other not-quite-on-the-bubble forward, and looks a decent one at that. Scoring a 58 in his only game he is priced as a high-end draft pick at around 160 grand, so those that can afford to wait a week on downgrades would be much better served doing so. With a large number of first year players in the Tigers 22 at the moment, surely some will have to make way as the season wears on.

MID-PRICERS
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<p style='margin-bottom: 0pt;]Luke Breust (HAW) FWD 465.4k 99
<p style='margin-bottom: 0pt;]Breust has been a stand-out for the Hawthorn forward line this season, and especially so in SC. Averaging 99 for the year to date and priced at 465 grand he offer solid value, and is always a risk to kick 3-4 goals a game. Around 23,000 coaches have gone with Breust so far this year, but that number is expected to rise fairly dramatically from here on out as long as he can keep the 100's coming.
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<p style='margin-bottom: 0pt;]Dustin Martin (RIC) M/F 452.2k 92
Dusty makes the Best Buys again this week, as while he hasn't impressed overall this year he is currently at a very attractive price and showing glimpses of form. Now costing just 452 grand with an average of 92 he hasn't set the world on fire just yet, but his 90,000 coaches have backed him in to start doing so soon. Dusty has usually struggled to see out games, but surely the Tigers have to start improving sooner or later.

PREMIUMS
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<p style='margin-bottom: 0pt;]Robbie Gray (PTA) M/F 541.9k 108
<p style='margin-bottom: 0pt;]Robbie Gray continued on with his good recent form in his last game, and is now averaging 108 for the season for a price of 541 grand. With only 18,000 selections so far he still has some good POD value, and with Port's excellent form this season is every chance to maintain this level of output. Always a chance to kick a few but also spending fair time through the midfield, Gray is just the type of player to make up the remaining spots in your forward line.
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<p style='margin-bottom: 0pt;]Brent Harvey (NM) M/F 517.3k 107
Boomer was set to lose money after his last game, until he pumped out a 179 point game against the Lions and brought himself straight into the Best Buys mix for this week. Now facing a 20 grand price rise after his next game and averaging 107 for the season, Boomer's 517 grand price tag may well be too good for a lot of coaches to resist. Added to that North's run home, and Boomer could easily finish the season as a leading forward.

REGULARS
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<p style='margin-bottom: 0pt;]Patrick Dangerfield (ADE) M/F 626.3k 117
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WAITING LIST
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<p style='margin-bottom: 0pt;]Steve Johnson (GEE) MID 599.1k 116 -24k
<p style='margin-bottom: 0pt;]Steve Motlop (GEE) FWD 441.8k 61 -36k
<p style='margin-bottom: 0pt;]Travis Boak (PTA) MID 556.3k 100 -31k
<p style='margin-bottom: 0pt;]Dane Swan (COL) MID 556k 97 -28k
<p style='margin-bottom: 0pt;]Brett Deledio (RIC) MID 513.9k 96 -23k
<p style='margin-bottom: 0pt;]Matthew Boyd (WBD) MID 611.9k 117 -19k
<p style='margin-bottom: 0pt;]Nic Naitanui (WCE) RUC 375.5k 69 -13k
<p style='margin-bottom: 0pt;]Scott Pendlebury (COL) 632.8k 129 -9k