Weve got another user-generated article, this one was put together Griff and looks at a topic that Im certain will be discussed at length over the NAB.

Without further ado-

Hi everyone, griff here with my first board article. I wanted to generate some discussion on what everyone is planning with regards to supersubs.

With the byes this year, it is more important than ever to have good bench coverage. A lot of you will do this through MPP, and probably look to build up a player or two on your benches that can score well, and sub for almost any line through MPP links.

The question is, who, and how?
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The common MPP structure is to have MPP premiums as forwards and defenders linking to MPP rookies on the midfield bench, as there are a dearth of pure forwards and defenders with premium status, as highlighted nicely by Lucas’ last article.

This however means that you can’t slaughter those MPP rookies, unless there is another worthwhile option with the same multi-positioning on the bubble to go to. This is unlikely, given the limited lists below:

M/F Rookies

Tendai Mzungu (FRE)
Thomas Schneider (HAW) (Rookie Listed)
Isaac Smith (HAW)
Dion Prestia (GC)
Ian Callinan (ADE)
Nick Winmar (STK)
Dylan McNeil (SYD) (Rookie Listed)

D/M Rookies

Taylor Hine (GC)
Warrick Andreoli (STK) (Rookie Listed)
Ben Jacobs (PA)
Dan Nicholson (MEL) (Rookie Listed)
Bradley Harvey (BL) (Rookie Listed)
Dyson Heppell (ESS)
Michael Hibberd (ESS)
Xavier Clark (BL) (Injured, out for season)
Simon Buckley (COL)

So the MPP rookies you select to start with may need to stay in your side all season, and perhaps become your permarookies & supersubs.

If you want a Waters or Maguire type as your supersub, someone that gets too close to premium status to spend a trade on, you’ll need to keep them on hand AS WELL as your original MPP rookies, or find MPP downgrade targets.

If you are advanced enough to upgrade positions 23 & 24 to premiums, your midfield bench MPP could then be a premium player, opening up your options.

The supersub can and should be fluid throughout the year. It’s better to slaughter the best cows and upgrade as quickly as you can than keep them aside as subs, as you obviously want your points on the park and not on bench as contingency.

Make no mistake though, you’re going to need 1 if not 2 or more from the very start, with byes and injuries to cope with. But because of the need to preserve MPP links, the ones left over when your side is complete could be the MPP rookies you started with.

Are you going to try for more than 22 premiums? Are you going to try and downgrade your MPP rookies? Are you confident your MPP rookie selections would make good supersubs?

How is everyone planning to manage MPP & supersubs throughout the season?