Greetings all.
The new rules have really thrown up some interesting questions on how we structure our starting teams. In the past a pretty strict Guns & Rookies approach has been the way to go. This year more trades and a potential lack of quality rookies throw up some interesting possibilities. New features like Trade Boost have, in my eyes, lessened the risk surrounding starting injury prone/mid-pricers. What was once referred to as “Midprice Maddness” might now be the better way to go.
For example, we now get to use 3 trades before the price rises come into affect. This is traditionally only used for rookie corrections. Now we have the chance to use three trades in the second week, it makes it easier to fix midpricer mistakes as well.
Keeping all this in mind, I want to put forward two different teams and get your feedback on the best strategy going forward. I will name these teams Guns and Rookies and Risk vs Reward.
Both these teams try and maximise DPP. This really helps with team flexibility. They also both have Sam Butler M/F. He will start as a loop with his late games. I do expect him to get a run at some stage, but by then we will most likely have another dead rookie to use instead. I think we need as many potential cows as possible this year, so I don’t want to start a loop with no chance to play. Both teams still have my preferred “Set and Forget” ruck set up.
Here we go, the Dashing Donkeys@SCT:
Team #1: Guns & Rookies
Salary cap remaining : $35 300
This team starts 12 keepers and avoids injury risks like Whitfield. The team has all the best midfielders and and ( in my eyes ) the top 3 defenders. It still has K Colman and Cogs as Midpricers. It rely’s on 8 on-field rookies until upgrades start.
Team #2: Risk v Reward
Salary cap remaining : $23 800
This team starts 13 keepers but only 4 midfield uber premos. It has maximum DPP flexibility. Although it does includes injury risk players like Whitfield, Sicily and Treloar to maximise potential value. It only has to rely on 7 on-field rookies until upgrades start
So which team do you prefer ?
T/U Team #1: Guns and Rookies
T/D: Team #2 Risk vs Reward
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I’ve voted GnR – tried and tested strategy which I feel will only be aided by the extra 5 trades and the DPP changes eg you would never rarely an Uber premo in the past if he gets a minor injury and misses 1-2 weeks , now you can! And of course as you mentioned corrective trades become easier too plus full premo can be achieved sooner than in the past or even better than that, one can avoid my mistake of having no trades left come finals time (cost me leagues and a chance to finish top 200 OA).
For RnR, my feeling is, unless you totally nail the mid pricers and injury risks, you will burn thru the extra trades quickly trying to fix problems early in the year because the temptation will be to use them since they’re there in order to keep up with the pack.
Ooof. That is tough, FT. Two great teams.
Team #2 gives you 13 keepers & 2x midpricers by my count but hinges on a discounted Sicily at D3 and Whitfield as an M5. You’ve put the saved 220-250k to good use with midpricers at D4 and F4. You’ll be losing points to people with MID lines like you’ve got in Team #1 but you’ve got that value distributed on other lines. Hmm. Personally, not sold on Sicily. There’s Howe a little cheaper but his injury profile is a disaster.
The appeal of Team #1 is you’re not compromising on premos. The price you’re paying for those elite premos is one less keeper, but those MID and DEF lines are deadly. No issues over scoring, massive ceilings, all locks for Top 6/8 and heaps of VC/C options.
Stacks up as:
Team #1: 3/5/2/3 (13)
Team #2: 3.5/5/2/3.5 (14)
On paper, it looks like Team #2 is the go with the name of the game being keeper maximization but I’ve always been one for sparing no expense on starting premos. Backfired last year though. I sacrificed Ziebell F3 to finance a midfield of Neale, Macrae, Satan, Bont & Zerrett and D4 depth – you can imagine how my season went with just 12 keepers and not starting Ziebell.
Heart says Team #1, head says Team #2 after being burnt last year. Either way, two great sides.
Good luck, FT.
Thanks Gunboat for helping with the images. You’re a freakin Legend.
Also I’m really leaning towards Dawson as a pick. ( 11% ownership).
He’s been training on a wing with time through the middle as well. He’s an amazing mark and great long kick for his size. Adelaide really lack size inside and he could be used a heap this year.
He is Defender only at this stage, but I feel he could actually be one to get given Mid status at round six.
I see him and Crisp with very similar roles. They should average similar numbers Crisp has DPP now, but is $20k more.
I think you will want both by seasons end.
Yeah, I like the Dawson pick as well. Looking forward to Jim’s Crows Preview.
Oh also Gunboat my read on Sicily..
He’s underpriced for what he can do and although not really “Keeper” material.
With the extra trades now . I still think he can work.
He seems to have said he was going to start down back ,and find his feet again before moving forward.
If he plays the first half of the year and averages 90-95 . He will make a bit of cash That could be enough. He could even go a bit better and be a serviceable D6.
He now has the last bye round .. so if there’s any hint of him going forward, He will get upgraded at his bye.
Trying to fit in 13 keepers is hard . You have to take some risk.
Sic risk. he he.
Sicily was best on ground in a 3/4 practice match yesterday. Good early signs. His inclusion into a SuperCoach side can really free things up in the budget department.
Also, I like the inclusion of Coleman. Other than Coniglio, he is the only other midpriced player I am keen on at this stage.
Version two is my preference. Both extreme quality at this point in time, but I think the reward of $50,000 requires risk.
Cheers HC.
My final team will be somewhere in the middle I feel.
Team#2 just has too much risk factor. Trades are still gold and want to reduce that risk also.
I really like only fielding 7 rookies, Its hard trying to do it, and start the 4 big mids and Neale. They’re still the hardest to afford and that won’t change. It just feels safer locking them in and seeing what I can do with the rest of the team,
Coleman gets a gig with his potential Birchal role. The DPP alone is gold when trying to field rookies. He will swing between D4 and F3-4.
The forward line particularly F2-5 seems to have the most scope for midpricers with a host of guys that are best 22 and should be considered.
> $250K Gresh and Rayner are on the more expensive side but probably smarter picks.
< $250K Brodie , Curnow , Rioli, Mini Mclovin. BJ Williams. ( should play back up ruck at WC ) I see very erratic scoring on this list so maybe wait until price changes before jumping on.
There's probably room for at least one of these guys and Cogs In our forward lines.
You're right , we may need to need to risk it for the biscuit.
I respect the decision some of us are making to select Gresham, Rayner and Curnow. The others I’m not so convinced on. BJ Williams could be one to keep an eye on, though.
I’ve read some reports on Gresham that he is being managed at the moment, with knee strapping. Tread cautiously there. Rayner I feel gets a lot of hype since he was a number 1 draft pick, but at age 22 and coming off an ACL, I have my doubts he gets ample midfield time. Curnow is apparently fit and firing at training — @CarltonFC vice-captain Jacob Weitering: “He’s in unbelievable shape. He’s very hard to play on, he’s athletic, he can mark, he can reel around & kick a goal from 70m. He’s got a lot of energy for the group.” I could totally see him kicking a few bags early on and generating a nice cash rise. Doesn’t fit into my team at the moment, though.
very close to my side tragics t2 proberly closer interested to see a lot of people picking butters
Thanks 22 guns.
Butters is in the mix for the F2 spot.
Others are Treloar . DGoose, T Thomas, Bailey and Heeney.
They all comes with issues but Butters is not only the cheapest, he has the highest ceiling. Before he got injured he was on < 100 points at half time. The kid goes at the ball 100%. He has a high contested rate that SC loves.
Port also has an ageing Midfield with only Wines really in his prime. Grey and Boak are getting over the hill . Dew seems to get the defensive lock down roles.. Butters seems the next in line to get major mid time.
I do have slight concerns now Dixon is injured.
They may need his talent forward.
I'm stil happy to lock him in, at this stage.
have him also at moment bit concerned boak cannot play any other position gray to play forward drew to stay in guts but agree butters next in line
Two great teams at this point FT .
My preference is Team 1 . Same mid premos but l have gone for mitchell instead of Miller . Wonder if Greenwood departure will impact his scoring .
It will be interesting with limited footy in junior leagues which rookies are named early as this will also impact Guns and Rookies strategy vs Risk and reward .
i am aweighing up 1 of Hall, Sicily , Whitfield or Dawson . At this point l have Dawson . but keeps changing . Like players changing clubs who will take on more responsibility and still have upside .Hall had a break out but at his age not sure he can replicate form but hope he can .
Good Luck FD and supercoach community .
Thanks P Buzz nice to see you again.
I will most likely start a team somewhere between the two. The first team looks killer but lacks some flexibly to jump on a hot Midpricer at price changes.
The second team overdoes the Risk factor. Trades are still trades and we would rather not use trades on injuries. They some time come with the extra bad taste of a sh#t score as well. I still want to start durable Premo’s.
Rookies ultimately determine the structure so I’m un sure yet how it will play out.
I want to start 4 big mids and Neale.I also only want to field 7 rookies.
From Team #2
Crisp, Sicily and Treloar most likely make way and I pick up the uber mid another Forward Midpricer. Gresh or Rayner. and a rookie.
This give me 12 premo’s and 3 Midpricers Cogs Coleman and Gresh.
With the flexibly to swap 1-2 to a hot Rookie or Mid-pricer I don’t yet own.
I can’t wait to see what you put together.
Cheers FT.
Good on you for putting your thoughts out.
I prefer Team #1.
I think Team #2 leaves too many rookies who may play only a handful of games or not get selected. Donuts don’t taste great in Supercoach.
But I haven’t been in the top 10% for 2 years so who am I to judge!
I quite dislike both those teams.
Some of it is structural. Baps was talking about this year being a 4/4/2/3 year. I think that’s right or swap out that 3rd FWD premium for an extra Mid/defender. Just don’t love how short your Defence is.
In general I’m also taking a different approach to mid price madness then you.
Where you are trying to get an extra keeper by finding cheaper Premo’s like Whitfield/butters ect I see it as taking expensive higher floor rookies in the 200-350 range aka players who aren’t keepers but will have a higher points floor/higher price increase with the hope of getting to UP’s easier or side swapping to fallen primos.
I’d do it by having only 10-11 keepers vs hoping to fit an extra cheap keeper or 2
Couldn’t agree more Those types just dont cut it. 11 real prems which should include zero forwards is my take
Thanks for all the comments .
My team will most likely look a heap more like Team #1.
I’m starting to lean towards Walsh ( over say Titch.) with his good early fixture
I’m also sure I will spend the part of the season wishing I had gone at least one those Risky picks in Team #2.
Peace FT.
Loving your work. Team A seems to much of a standard team to me. I think an outside the box approach is needed this year so ill go Team B, however not a huge fan of Whitfield in the middle, I get you will swing him back but at nearly the same price T Adams looks a better option.
TJ
Like both your Teams, playing Devils Advocate, here are some thoughts.
Going with Team 1
I feel Ridley will be one of the top Def, so put in for Hall.
Not sure about Kemp, out and bring Skinner from Fwd.
Mitchell is a must so replace Miller, like Whitfield for Oliver.
H-F will be good but Rowell will be Great.
Replace Skinner in Fwd with Long.
Replace Stephens in Mid with Johnson.
Balance 6.6
Don’t profess to be an expert
Love the chat line and would like everyone’s thoughts
Regards
Gilly
Matthew Johnson injured his foot and is out for 4-5 weeks so would need to monitor progress when he resumes training.
Hey FT – two really good options with great food for thought in both, thanks for posting! … I’m completely undecided which way to go this year and it may depend (doesn’t it always?) on the rookies that get a start (and an appearing long term start) in round 1.
For the extra trades … I think we have to be cautious in the sense that they may have been provided because of teh COVID situation where we have to use them due to the numbers of outs that occur … to get a side on the park … think it will be a delicate balancing act this year … but who knows?!
Hey Macca and Gilly
You both make some good points. We all know every season we talk up some rule change and it never makes that huge of a difference.
I think the fundamental’s of SC haven’t ( and won’t) change much.
Pick the best rookies and durable Premo’s .
Take value when you see it. ( Neal / Dunkley . Cogs.)
Upgrade as soon as you can. / Minimise rookies on field.
Get to full Premo with as many trades left as possible.
Keeping all this in mind…..
My aim is to start the 5 big mids and still only have 7 rookies on field.
This requires me to tweak my Premo’s a bit from Team #1, and add another Midpricer.
Team #13423.
Only $9k left.
D: Lloyd . Dawson. Ridley.
K Coleman. Sinn . O’Driscoll .
B:Skinner . McDonagh
Macrae . Steele . Oliver . Walsh . Neale .
JHF. Daicos . G Clark.
B:Butler . Stephens . Goater.
Darcy . Grundy . Hayes
Dunkley . Butters . Cogs .
Curnow . Rachele . Hollands.
B: D’Konning . C.Parker.
very very similar to my current draft! (not sure if that is good or bad!)
This looks to be a really good team
Hi FT
Like your revised Team A, nicely balanced..
That Team # 13423, is that an invitation
Is it missing a number
Regards
Gilly
Gilly ..No just a joke, on how many versions of my team I’ve been through.
I may put together another league closer to the start date.
I’m just keeping a few leagues spare, incase I need to Admin any of the @SCT leagues.
Why Stephens of Geelong?
Do you have some goss.?
Not really Chameleon.
He is really a $123K place holder. I’ve heard a few good things. I know Geelong need to blood some youngsters at some stage. I really hope he gets a run.
I also don’t like to fill my bench with too many basement guys. He may end up Mead, Reef McInnes, Matty Roberts etc..
Great work FT.
You make great points on everything and I too will probably go for a version in between these 2 teams
Thanks Alza
Great to hear from you. Yep I think there’s definitely room for a couple od Midpricers this year. Especially at F3-4 and D4. I’m planning for only 7 rookies on field to start. 2 defenders, 3 mid and 2 forward.
I’m also happy to pay up a bit more to insure job security.
Look forward to checking out your team sometime.
Cheers FT.
FT I’ve been flirting with the idea of starting Caleb Serong but given he is absent from both your team I’m going to pass
I think he’ll get too many games with run-with role like last year. IDK I can’t see anyone else at freo doing it.
Yeah Gra Pol.
I really want to pick Serong…
I like him in Draft, or Formats with more trades.
SC Classic just leaves little room for error when picking ( particularly ) Midfielders. I see him him improving his average maybe just not enough to justify that M8 spot at years end.
I’m unsure if he will do too many tagging roles. He is not the biggest guy so I only expect him to run with the smaller mids like Zerrett , Neale , Titch etc..
There’s just so many great midfielders to choose from this year. I think even M8 will need to average 110+ to be competitive.
Stay tuned, I talk about him more in my Freo Preview.
Cheers FT.
Thanks FT.
I was actually thinking, with all the extra trades we could afford one sideways trade. Like most people I’m having trouble with playing the forward-line-lotto, picking which of Butters/Heeney/Thomas will be top 6.
I thought, if I picked Serong, he’ll average 100-105, which is as much as a good forward and go up in price a bit and sideways him to the forward once it’s apparent who that is.
He is durable and has the last bye so you could delay the decision for a long time. For the sake of a trade you don’t have to play the forward-line-lotto.
GNR 100% always works
I agree Nateo.
I was just having a muck around after the new rules were introduced. There may be room for a Midpricers or two this year with the defensive and Forward rookies looking a little thin at this stage.
Nice to see you back.