It's that time of year again. SuperCoach is back, and it's bigger than ever.
SuperCoach can be the highlight and lowlight of the season for many pundits. The peaks and troughs happen so often you roll with the punches.
With Round 1 a month away, the biggest question is how can you build your team to win the ultimate prize.
In every friendship group, there's a handful of mates who reckon their team can go the distance. That false hope often comes around pre-season and disappears when the bye round hits like a nuclear bomb.
We at Zero Hanger have delved into the MUST HAVE's and POD (Point of Difference) players for your Defenders, Midfielders, Rucks, and Forwards.
Strategically, you want to build your side around premiums and rookies, let's look below and see who are the names you should be considering.ย
RUCKS
MUST HAVE PREMIUMS:
Max Gawn (ME)
$657,400 (35%)
2021 Average: 120.8
Big Max showcased a goal-kicking skill to see the Premiership captain become scoreboard hitting ruck. Now, this may dampen Gawn's time in the ruck as the Demons will look to give Luke Jackson in the role. If Gawn spends more than 35% of his game time in the forward line, he could become a RUC/FWD option. Historically many pundits choose the 'set & forget' style with ruckmen, and Gawn is still a must-have.
Sean Darcy (FR)
$642,600 (25%)
2021 Average: 118
Hunting down Gawn, Grundy, and Naitanui is a country Victorian ruckman making waves at Fremantle. Sean Darcy's breakout 2021 season was up there with Darcy Parish's year. Darcy's scoring ceiling is mouth-watering. In three consecutive weeks between rounds 16 to 18, Darcy scored 193, 183, and 156. Anything is possible in 2022.
Brodie Grundy (CW)
$627,100 (38%)
2021 Average: 115.2
After averaging 130.4 in 2018, 130 in 2019, 120.6 in 2020, Brodie Grundy averaged a mere 115.2 in 2021, and now SuperCoaches have written him off. Unfortunately for Grundy, because he has been so dominant for so long, SuperCoaches believe he is no longer one of the best two talls in the competition. You'd be silly to overlook Grundy in 2022.
MUST HAVE ROOKIES:
Braydon Preuss (GW)
$204,700 (30%)ย
At $204,700, Braydon Preuss is the Giants' number one ruckman for 2022. Pruess offers up to six weeks of cash generation and can run with Gawn and Grundy. With the cash space needed for upgrades, Preuss provides an alternative to generate the cash flow quicker while still consistently getting scores of 80+. His selection appears like a no-brainer if you're not following the trend of Gawn/Grundy.
Sam Hayes (PA)
$123,900 (19%)
Although drafted in 2017, Sam Hayes has heads turning at the Alberton. If Port wants to run Scott Lycett through the forward line, Hayes would be a valuable inclusion in the ruck after a dominant SANFL season averaging 14 disposals and 34 hit-outs per game.ย
Charlie Comben (NM)
$123,900 (25%)
Alongside a plethora of good young talent at Arden Street, Charlie Comben has been impressive in intra-club matches and looks set to find a spot in the Kangaroos forward line. Comben would be a valuable R3 option as a DPP.
PODs:
Jarrod Witts (GC)
$383,300 (10%)
2021 Average: 87.3
Similar to Braydon Preuss, the Gold Coast Suns Captain Jarrod Witts is back from injury and ready to take back the number one ruck duties at the Suns. Witts is a prolific hit-out winner and averaged 99.6 and 93.1 in 2019 and 2020. Four times in those 39 games, Witts hit scores of 140+.
Nic Naitanui (WC)
$627,400 (4%)
2021 Average: 115.3
Nic Naitanui proved last year that he has still got it. Although his game time is restricted, 'Nic Nat' is an excellent POD if you're willing to go against Gawn/Grundy. Naitanui cracked the ton 16 times between Rounds 7 to 23, averaging a tick over 120.
Sam Draper (ES)
$396,400 (7%)
2021 Average: 72.8
In his first 20 odd games, Sam Draper has averaged just above 70. The Bombers tall cracked the ton four times last year, and I expect that number to double as he takes his game to the next level in 2022.
