Doctors Orders: SuperCoach trade advice for round 18 from the experts at Doctor SuperCoach

Many coaches are scrambling this late in the season to cover the most recent set of stars set for stints on the sidelines.

Some people are going to have back-up coverage on the bench, but many owners will opt to trade their missing stars in return for solid premium talent.

This week on Doctors Orders we identify four direct replacements for players who are about to miss time through injury or suspension. The replacements we have noted are cheaper than their counterpart, allowing a straightforward swap.

JEREMY MCGOVERN $554,400 DEF | Average 107.7 | Break Even 89

Rib/punctured lung, expected to miss 1+ games

Replacement option: Nic Newman $547,500 DEF | Average 100.6 | Break Even 75

The timeline on McGovern’s recovery is up for debate, but the injuries appear serious enough that they could be an issue for the next few weeks.

Newman is a very interesting point of difference who sits in just 2 per cent of teams. He currently boasts an impressive 100 average, with a recent three-game average of 115. After a slow start to the season, the Blues’ half-back flanker has enjoyed an elite stretch of form, going at 107-plus since round 6.

The numbers he is producing in 2024 are strikingly similar to last year and he seems like a great pick to finalise your team in the back end of the year. He combines a high floor with a high ceiling, making him a threat to dominate on any given day.

TOUK MILLER $482,300 MID | Average 103.1 | Break Even 124

Wrist – expected to miss 4+ weeks

Replacement Option: Matt Rowell $476,500 MID | Average 107.5 | Break Even 116

Being priced at under $500,000 is a bitter pill to swallow for Miller owners. Not only has his form been middling, but you also can’t directly swap him to an in form uber premium. Because of this its time to get creative, and his teammate could be the answer!

Rowell looked set for a breakout year when he averaging 131 SuperCoach Points after the first seven rounds. Since then, he has been nothing short of a disappointment, with just two scores of 100-plus, and boasting an average of 89. These number aren’t great, but with Miller out injured it could be the catalyst for a scoring revival.

We had a good sample size from rounds 7-16 last year when Rowell averaged 110 SuperCoach Points without his co-captain in the midfield. Gold Coast is desperate to get its season back on track, and with limited funds to use on a Touk replacement, Rowell could be epic value.

MAX GAWN $599,000 RUC | Average 124 | Break Even 166

Ankle – expected to miss 2+ weeks

Replacement Option: Tim English $566,800 RUC | Average 111.2 | Break Even 119

PANIC! Unlike other positions, most coaches have a loophole at R3 meaning they can’t use a back-up for ruck in the next 2-3 weeks. So, what should you do? Gawn is one of the best SuperCoach scorers in the game, and is clearly No.1 in his position.

The obvious option is hold through the pain, but for those without Tim English you would be wise to make the switch. Last year he overtook Gawn as the No.1 SuperCoach player, and although his average has dipped in 2024, he is comfortably in the mix as the second-best scorer at the position.

The Bulldogs star has just two scores under 87 this year, and has gone 130-plus in six games, highlighting his ceiling power. Banking $30,000+ in your salary cap for a player capable of matching Gawn’s output seems like a no-brainer.

IZAK RANKINE $569,500 FWD | Average 102.1 | Break Even 110

Suspended – expected to miss 4 weeks

Replacement Option: Jye Caldwell $544,200 MID/FWD | Average 96.1 | Break Even 52

What a brain fade for one of the game’s brightest stars. This was the year of midfield Rankine, but a split-second decision to bump Brandon Starcevich has landed him in hot water.

Luckily for coaches, Jye Caldwell is primed to continue his rich run of form in the coming weeks as an integral part of the Essendon midfield. Forward premiums aren’t great in 2024, and Caldwell has been a pillar of consistency across the whole season. His three and five-game averages are 125 and 111 respectively; the form and role are there for the former Giant.