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 SuperCoach 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, its all luck and skill.

To highlight how many value options there are this year, heres 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