SuperCoach AFL 2024: Experts reveal their trades for round 8

Almost 40,000 coaches have brought the bargain Port Adelaide big man into their teams this week, including two of our experts. The other three (The Phantom, Dan and Patch) were among the 1900 who jumped on last week – and were rewarded with 136 points from the former Bulldog.

So, getting him into your team is a no-brainer.

But exactly how you do that, who you trade out and what you do with a potential instant cash injection, are very open questions.

Then there’s the highly-rated rookies and fallen premiums on offer in a huge week at the SuperCoach trade table.

Here’s what our experts are doing this week.

AL PATON

OUT: Brodie Grundy, Jeremy Sharp, Zac Williams

IN: Jordon Sweet, Caleb Serong, Bailey Dale

Trading Grundy isn’t easy – holding him when others jumped ship a few weeks ago paid off and I expect a big score against Kieren Briggs at the SCG this week. But Jordon Sweet is a must-have and it would be a waste sitting him on the bench.

And look what I can do with that cash.

Serong has been on the hit list since round 1. I was hoping he would drop a bit further in price than $600 but that’s a mark of how well he’s playing. I could get a cheaper premo like Jordan Dawson but I feel a lot more confident Serong will finish in the top echelon of midfielders in SuperCoach this year.

I can also turn Williams into Dale, who is probably on the fringe of the top 8-10 defenders, but that’s less of an issue when he’s just $457k. If he continues he’s recent form he’s a keeper (and an absolute bargain), if not he’ll make $100k and I can swap him to a top-liner at the Bulldogs’ bye.

THE PHANTOM

OUT: Riley Bonner, Charlie Comben and Matt Roberts

IN: Tom Green, Bailey Dale and Riley Garcia/Kane McAuliffe

And just like that my boosts are gone. But, as much as I love Matt Roberts, I’ve convinced myself that Bailey Dale at $457k is worth the extra trade. Roberts is still a great on-field option with some money to make, but he’s not getting me to $550k, like Dale. And Dale topping out at that price is a worst-case scenario.

Tom Green at $579k is a no-brainer, but the downgrade call is a little bit more difficult. My first choice is Jake Rogers, but that doesn’t leave enough cash. Can we trust Kane McAuliffe, if named, any more than we can trust Luke Beveridge and Riley Garcia? I’m not sure. Stay tuned.

TIM MICHELL

IN: Caleb Serong and Jordan Sweet

OUT: Matt Roberts and Massimo D’Ambrosio

I don’t want to trade Roberts but he is the bargaining chip I need to get Caleb Serong before he plays the easiest match for midfielders in SuperCoach – Richmond. Roberts has been the most reliable rookie of the year with a low score of 69 and five scores of 80-plus. I’m probably throwing away $20-30k by offloading him this week, but that will be somewhat offset by the likelihood Serong also rises in price in the next two weeks.

Roberts will be a nervous watch for a few weeks, especially after having five kick-ins against Hawthorn, but I suspect most teams will cash him in by about round 10 considering Sydney has the awkward round 12 bye.

Jordon Sweet is a must-have for cash gen and running him at R2 helps me push a forward rookie off field by swinging Luke Jackson FWD. I could have held Massimo and punted Zac Williams (who has a higher Break Even) but being able to send Alex Sexton back is better for my structure. Last week Massimo was my midfield loop while he was managed.

PATCH

OUT: Aaron Cadman, Kai Lohmann

IN: Jordan Dawson, Jake Rogers

After bringing in every player under the sun and then reversing this week, from Bailey Dale to Dylan Moore to Matt Rowell to ... actually it’d be quicker to list the players I haven’t traded in and then back out this week.

Despite really wanting a big gun like Merrett or Rowell, I’m holding Tom Powell (for one more week) and Brodie Grundy (please don’t @ me) and doing a convention upgrade to a guy I reckon can average 105-110 from here on out to sit on my last boost for a little while longer.

DAN BATTEN

OUT: Zac Williams and Ollie Dempsey

More Coverage

Consensus SuperCoach predictions: Top scorers on every line

Al Paton, Tim Michell, The Phantom, Patch, Tarquin Oakley

Dale? Powell? Sweet? Burning SuperCoach questions answered

The Phantom

IN: Jordan Dawson and Jake Rogers

Grab a discounted and risky premium in Dawson along with a reliable rookie in Rogers, or a reliable premium in Zach Merrett and a risky rookie in Riley Garcia? I’m so torn. By the time this is published, I might have changed my mind another three or four times.

Merrett has an unbelievable fixture run in the next four games with the Eagles, Roos and Tigers, while Dawson has a very favourable stretch as well and is hitting his straps. The irony here is I traded in Dawson at $650k last year and regretted it, and am considering doing the same with Merrett. But at the moment I’m leaning with Dawson, as it should allow me to grab Merrett or Rowell the following week.