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
FORWARDS
MUST HAVE PREMIUMS:ย
Josh Dunkley (WB)
$558,200 (51%)
2021 Average: 102.5.
Already battling a midfield with Bontempelli, Macrae, Smith, Treloar, and Liberatore, Josh Dunkley had five scores of 87 or lower. Low by his lofty standards, Dunkley is every SuperCoaches first picked forward for 2022 as before his injury, he was averaging 125+ from the first six rounds. I expect all coaches to back Dunkley in for big scores.
Stephen Coniglio (GW)
$261,300 (64%)
2021 Average: 60
Current Giants captain Stephen Coniglio is in 64% of sides for 2022 due to his low price of $261,300. Most SuperCoaches still remember that Coniglio was unstoppable in 2019 with an average of 101, including scores of 207 against Gold Coast in Round 11 and another two scores of 150+. If everything falls into place, Coniglio could be the best value pick of 2022.
Tim Taranto (GW)
$529,700 (19%)
2021 Average: 97.3.
As Marcus Bontempelli and Dayne Zorko lost their DPP, Tim Taranto delighted many SuperCoaches being granted a more flexible status as a FWD/MID. With Toby Greene out till Round 6, I can't see Taranto scoring heavily, but if he comes through with scores of 100+ and a couple of goals, I will classify that as a win-win when he moves back into the centre bounces as a clearance machine.
MUST HAVE ROOKIES:
Elijah Hollands (GC)
$123,900 (59%)
This Gold Coast youngster has flown under the radar after his top 10 draft selection. Before an untimely ACL injury, Hollands was regarded as a number one draft pick in 2020. Near the back end of the VFL season, Holland averaged 27 disposals and 112 SuperCoach points. That's enough to warrant selection on my bench and 59% of coaches for 2022.
Sam De Koning (GE)
$123,900 (29%)
A tall defender/forward at 201cm tall, De Koning appears to be built from the same cloth as Lions defender Harris Andrews. At a low price of $123,900, De Koning could debut quite early into the season, as he starts his third year on an AFL list.ย
Sam Skinner (PA)
$123,900 (31%)
Former Lions forward Sam Skinner turned his career around in the SANFL as an intercept defender. Now, Skinner may struggle to find a best-22 selection in a backline with Aliir Aliir and Tom Jonas; maybe he could get a run in the forward-line to help Charlie Dixon and Todd Marshall.
PODs:
Jake Stringer (ES)
$506,800 (5%)
2021 Average: 93.1.
Producing his most consistent season yet with the Bombers, Jake Stringer cracked the SuperCoach ton seven times with 180 against Hawthorn on a blowy day down in Tasmania and 147 points in a five-goal performance against the Suns. Stringer is not a bad shout for a POD option with an average of 17 disposals, four tackles and two goals a game.ย
Tim English (WB)
$482,600 (4%)
2021 Average: 88.7.
Although he averaged lower than his 2020 effort of 102.5, Tim English looked more comfortable taking contested marks in 2021. If no premiums stand out, English could hit the scoreboard and could provide a 'Moneyball' forward-line alternative. He cracked the ton seven times, yet also had eight scores of under 70. Tread with caution.ย
Shai Bolton (RI)
$458,600 (6%)
2021 Average: 84.3.ย
No player suffered after the bye round as Shai Bolton. The Tigers livewire averaged 97.81 before the bye and 68.66 to finish the season. The drop of 29.25 points has seen Bolton only selected in 6% of sides for 2022. If he can regain any form he showed at the start of 2021, he could be a tremendous Forward POD at $458,600.
