Captaincy Candidates – Round 3

Captaincy Candidates – Round 3

Round 2 Recap – Trust the Fixture

Before we dive into Round 3, it’s worth quickly reflecting on what we saw last week, because it reinforces exactly how we should be approaching captaincy early in the season.

Round 2 was a near perfect example of fixture over form, and if you followed that approach, you were well rewarded.

Tristan Xerri led the way with a ridiculous 199, which was about as clear a reminder as you’ll ever get that targeting the right ruck matchup, in this case West Coast, is still one of the safest and most effective strategies in SuperCoach.

And just quietly… Xerri was our number one Captain option last week, so we’ll take a small win there. Not a big one… just a polite nod.

Around him, most of the key options delivered. Marcus Bontempelli was his usual reliable self with 141, Zak Butters bounced back strongly with 135, Lachie Ash rewarded those who backed him in with 130, and Harry Sheezel provided a nice late-round safety net with 124. Even the “Lachie roulette” played out exactly as expected, one went big, one didn’t, which is about as predictable as that situation gets.

There were a couple of flags that also played out as expected. Noah Anderson’s 96 was slightly underwhelming given the Richmond matchup, but we did note his more modest scoring history at the MCG, so that result wasn’t completely out of the blue.

The only real damage came from injuries, with Connor Rozee going down with a 55 and likely missing around 10 weeks, while Christian Petracca’s 86 came with what could be a 6-week absence. A reminder that even the best captaincy plans can be undone very quickly.

Overall though, it was a week where sticking to the fundamentals paid off, target the right matchups, trust the roles, and don’t overthink it.

Back to What Works

Heading into Round 3, we now have a bit more confidence. Two rounds of data, clearer roles, and a better understanding of which teams are giving up points. The strategy remains the same, balance form and fixture, but we can start to lean on both a little more.

There is one key change this week though, no Marcus Bontempelli. The Bulldogs have the bye, which removes one of the safest captain options from the equation. No easy fallback this week, which means we actually have to think about it… and live with it.

And as always, we start with the rucks.

Xerri – Can It Get Any Easier?

It feels ridiculous to say this after a 199, but Tristan Xerri might have an even better matchup this week. He comes up against Essendon and likely Blakiston, and based on what we’ve seen, this is not a matchup that’s going to slow him down.

He scored 146 against Essendon last year, and all signs point to another big opportunity. Essendon remain vulnerable in the ruck, and Xerri is clearly in form and playing with confidence.

Max Gawn – We See You

We can’t not talk about Max Gawn.

For those who started him – we salute you. While most were trying to figure out what the rucks were doing, Gawn has quietly reminded everyone that class is permanent. Scores of 122 and 141 against two very difficult and mobile opponents in Fremantle and St Kilda is no easy feat.

This week he faces Carlton and a more traditional ruckman in Pittonet, which could suit him even more. More stoppage work, less chasing, and more opportunity to control the contest.

Add in the fact that Melbourne play the last game of the round, and Gawn becomes a very appealing Captain safety option.

Butters – Now It’s His Midfield

Zak Butters looks like one of the biggest winners from the Rozee injury. After a strong bounce-back last week, he now gets a home matchup against West Coast, a team he scored 156 against last year.

Yes, West Coast surprised in Perth last week, but this is in Adelaide, and without Port’s skipper, this shapes as Butters’ midfield. More responsibility, more opportunity, and a very real chance to go big.

Jackson – The Quiet Ruck Smash Spot

While Xerri will take most of the attention, Luke Jackson finds himself in a very appealing matchup against <insert a name>, with Nankervis out injured.

Jackson is in good form, and this is exactly the type of matchup we want to target, a clear advantage in the ruck. He doesn’t quite have Xerri’s safety, but the upside is definitely there.

Sheezel – Safe Play

We can’t forget about Harry Sheezel this week.

North Melbourne take on Essendon, and based on what we saw last week, this is a midfield matchup that can absolutely be taken advantage of. Zak Butters put up 135 and Jason Horne-Francis went even bigger with 147, which tells you there is plenty of opportunity for high-end midfield scoring against the Bombers.

That brings Sheezel firmly into the conversation. He might not always have the explosive 160+ ceiling of some of the other premium mids, but what he does have is one of the safest roles in SuperCoach. He finds the ball (alot), he uses it well, and he accumulates consistently across the ground.

If you’re someone who prefers to lock in a solid score rather than chase the absolute ceiling, Sheezel is a very appealing option this week. He shapes as one of those players who can quietly go 120–130 without you even realising it… and sometimes, that’s exactly what you need.

Freo Mids – Richmond Again

Targeting Richmond midfielders still looks like the play, even if Anderson didn’t fully capitalise last week. This time, it’s Fremantle’s midfield stepping into that role.

Andrew Brayshaw and Caleb Serong should have plenty of space at Optus Stadium, and both are capable of putting up big numbers when they get on top.

There is also some value around them. If Hayden Young returns, he becomes a sneaky VC option, but if he doesn’t, Shai Bolton is the one to watch after picking up extra midfield minutes last week.

Zorko – The POD Play

If you’re looking to get a little bit different, Dayne Zorko is a very interesting VC option this week. St Kilda have been giving up big scores to opposition defenders, and Zorko has already shown he can take advantage.

If the Saints continue that trend, this could be another big one.

Friday Night VC – The Lachie Roulette Returns

GWS on Friday night gives us another shot at the Lachie roulette. Whitfield and Ash both come into play against Collingwood, who tend to allow defenders to score.
The problem remains the same, picking the right one. One will go big, one will be fine, and you’ll probably pick the wrong one. But if you’re willing to take the risk, the upside is there.

A Quick Word of Warning – Sunday Timing

Port Adelaide’s game kicks off at 12:30pm, and the Melbourne game starts at 3:15pm, which means there is very little time, if any between the end of one game and the start of the next.

If you’re planning on using a Port Adelaide player (like Butters) as your VC and then looping into a Captain in the Melbourne game, you are going to be cutting it extremely fine. This is one of those weeks where timing matters more than usual.

Captaincy Strategy – Use the Loophole

With teams on the bye again, most coaches will have access to the VC loophole, and it should absolutely be part of your plan.

Take a shot early, see what you get, and if it doesn’t land, fall back on your best Captain option later in the round.

VC Strategy – Ceiling vs Safety

There are a couple of different schools of thought when it comes to using your Vice-Captain, and Round 3 is a good reminder that there isn’t just one “right” way to do it.

Some coaches like to put the VC straight on their number one option, back in the best player, hope they go big, and if they don’t quite get there, simply fall back to their next best Captain. It’s a very straightforward approach, and when your top pick fires, it can make the weekend very relaxing.

Personally, I lean the other way.

I prefer to base the VC around fixture and timing across the round, which usually means targeting a high-ceiling player in one of the early games, Thursday or Friday night if possible. The goal is simple: take a shot at a big score early, see how it lands, and then reassess with full information for your Captain.

If the VC goes 130+ (or whatever your personal threshold is), you take it and move on. If it doesn’t, you still have full flexibility to pivot into a safer Captain option later in the round, and this is where the rucks come into play.

 

Final Thoughts – Captain & Vice-Captain

Captain Options

1. Tristan Xerri – Still the best matchup, still in form, still the safest
2. Max Gawn – Proven, reliable, and perfectly placed in the last game
3. Zak Butters – Big role, great matchup, huge upside
4. Luke Jackson – Riskier, but very high ceiling
5. Harry Sheezel – Safe, high accumulation role and a great matchup vs Essendon

Vice-Captain Options

1. Lachie Whitfield / Lachie Ash – Friday night chaos, but high upside
2. Dayne Zorko – POD with genuine ceiling
3. Andrew Brayshaw – Safe, reliable accumulation
4. Caleb Serong – Slightly more explosive option
5. Shai Bolton (if Young out) – Role-dependent wildcard