Team reveal: Every SC Playbook contributor drops their side

Dylan Bolch

DEF: Tom Stewart, Sam Docherty, Liam Jones, Reuben Ginbey, Conor McKenna, Charlie Constable, (Darcy Wilmot, Lachie Cowan)

Sam Docherty and Tom Stewart headline my defensive premiums in 2023. Docherty scores well wherever he plays and I’ve gone Stewart over Jordan Dawson/James Sicily at this point in time, for no real particular reason however.

I’ve also tossed up a Jordan Ridley or Nick Daicos in this slot, but I’m willing to pay up for a bit more scoring certainty.

Liam Jones found his way into my side following his pre-season display. His ability to intercept mark makes him a solid mid-price selection.

On the rookie front, Reuben Ginbey is a lock, Charlie Constable has made the move to half back whilst Darcy Wilmot looks set to take his place on the wing for the Lions.

Both Connor McKenna and Lachie Cowan will slot in on a back flank in their respective sides. All seem like nice options pending teams.

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MID: Rory Laird, Clayton Oliver, Marcus Bontempelli, Tom Green, Jacob Hopper, Will Ashcroft, Cam Mackenzie, Will Phillips, (Oskar Baker, Campbell Chesser, Alwyn Davey)

I’ve gone with the two rolled gold stars in Rory Laird and Clayton Oliver, despite their lofty prices. Tags and rotations are somewhat of a concern, but at the end of the day these guys are as good as you can get.

I expect an uptick in scoring from Marcus Bontempelli and he hasn’t left my side all pre-season, whilst Tom Green is a bit of a punt at M4. I think this could blow up for sure, but his form across the pre-season has been exceptional and he’s in almost 35% of sides, which reduces the risk. If you are looking elsewhere, Jack Steele and Jack Macrae are great picks, too.

Jacob Hopper is the mid-priced selection of the year, whilst former Sandringham Dragons pair Will Ashcroft and Cam Mackenzie should make an immediate impact at AFL level.

Like many SuperCoaches, I am hoping that Will Phillips finally gets to show his wares at the top level after being plagued by injuries and illness to date.

On the bench, former Dee Oskar Baker looks like he will assume a spot on the wing for the Dogs after a strong pre-season, whilst Alwyn Davey Jr and Campbell Chesser provide DPP swing and have already been confirmed as round one debutants.

I’d love to find a way to squeeze Finn Callaghan in, but not sure that I will.

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RUC: Sean Darcy, Rowan Marshall, (Nicholas Maddern)

Rowan Marshall is the buy here, don’t worry about the recent comments surrounding Tom Campbell’s potential selection alongside him.

I’ve settled on Sean Darcy at R1, hoping that he can bounce back after a down year last year.

Tim English and Darcy Cameron have been in my side for large chunks of the pre-season, but injury concerns and a split with Mason Cox means that I’ve got Darcy just in front for now.

Nicholas Madden is the best loop candidate.

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FWD: Josh Dunkley, Stephen Coniglio, Connor Rozee, Tim Taranto, Harry Sheezel, Toby McLean, (Mattaes Phillipou, Fergus Greene)

It seems that rookie-packed defences and premo-stacked forward lines is the way to go in 2023. Josh Dunkley is a jet and Tim Taranto has finally found greener pastures at Richmond. Both are locks at their new homes.

Stephen Coniglio has loomed as a bit of a point-of-difference this season but his role and scoring history is enough for me to pick him.

Connor Rozee is a popular pick but rightly so, he looks destined for that breakout we have all been waiting for.

Harry Sheezel’s versatility makes him one of the best forward rookie options despite his elevated price tag, whilst Toby McLean and Mattaes Phillipou are also solid picks, pending rookie selection across the weekend.

Fergus Greene will get games early for the Hawks given their forward injury crisis, so lock him in on your bench.

Errol Gulden and Tanner Bruhn’s pre-season efforts caught my eye, whilst Nat Fyfe is a popular pick but I think he will spend too much time forward for my liking.

Rookies such as Esava Ratugolea or Sam Sturt could come into calculations as well.

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SC Bandit

DEF: Sam Docherty, Jordan Dawson, Braeden Campbell, Liam Jones, Reuben Ginbey, Charlie Constable, (Darcy Wilmot, Lachie Cowan)

There’s no hesitation in putting Sam Docherty and Jordan Dawson straight into my team. Both players look like they’ll have roles that are very SC friendly and they should finish the season in the top six defenders.

Liam Jones looks like he’ll outperform his price and should make some steady cash if he can maintain an intercepting role at the Bulldogs.

Rookies are the standard bunch of Ginbey, Constable, Wilmot and Cowan.

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MID: Rory Laird, Marcus Bontempelli, Jack Steele, Tom Green, Jacob Hopper, Finn Callaghan, Will Ashcroft, Oskar Baker, (WIll Phillips, Campbell Chesser, Alwyn Davey)

Rory Laird is expensive, but he’s one of the safest midfield options going around so I have no hesitation in picking him at M1.

Marcus Bontempelli should be a full-time midfielder this year with the addition of Rory Lobb to the Bulldogs forward line which will hopefully see a spike in scoring.

A quiet practice match hasn’t scared me off Jack Steele, he has the perfect role to return to uber-premium scoring in 2023.

Tom Green is a popular breakout pick and I’m keen on him doing just that under a new coach and game style at the Giants. I’ve also included his teammate Finn Callaghan who looks like he’ll get more opportunity to take the next step this season.

Jacob Hopper looks like excellent value and should outperform his price early in the season to make us some cash.

Will Ashcroft is the biggest rookie lock of the season and I’ve also included Will Phillips, Oskar Baker, Campbell Chesser and Alwyn Davey Jnr who should all be in the frame for Round 1.

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RUC: Sean Darcy, Rowan Marshall, (Nicholas Maddern)

I’ve tossed around this decision for a long time, because I feel like we’ve got more question marks on the ruck line than we’ve had for probably the last decade in SuperCoach.

Although Sean Darcy is going to be sharing the ruck with Luke Jackson at Fremantle this year, I think he can return to somewhere near the scoring we saw from him in 2021. He’s had a full pre-season which puts him in a good spot to be competing for the SC ruck mantle this season.

Rowan Marshall is an uber-premo in waiting and doing the bulk of the ruck work this year at the Saints should propel him to a proper breakout year. Based on his pre-season form where he absolutely dominated against Essendon, we’re clearly paying unders which makes him an easy pick.

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FWD: Josh Dunkley, Connor Rozee, Tim Taranto, Errol Gulden, Harry Sheezel, Mattaes Phillipou, (Esava Ratugolea, Fergus Greene)

This is probably the last year that we’ll get Josh Dunkley as a forward, so enjoy it while it lasts by locking him away at F1!

I’m backing Tim Taranto and Connor Rozee to take the next step and become genuine SC premiums, with both players looking like they’ll be playing more around the ball this year at their respective clubs.

Errol Gulden has forced his way into my side as another potential breakout candidate, particularly on the back of a dominant showing against Carlton in the Swans’ practice match.

I’ve been pretty impressed with what I’ve seen of Harry Sheezel over the pre-season, he looks clean and has picked up the pace of AFL pretty quickly.

I’m still not 100% sold on Esava Ratugolea, but with Jack Henry out with a foot problem it looks like he’ll get a spot.

Fergus Green is Jack Gunston 2.0 at Hawthorn and Sam Sturt was good in Fremantle’s practice match, albeit with a few first-choice players missing.

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Charlie Dadds

DEF: Sam Docherty, Jordan Ridley, Liam Jones, Liam Stocker, Reuben Ginbey, Charlie Constable, (Campbell Chesser, Lachie Cowan)

Sam Docherty is a comfortable lock.

Jordan Ridley presents a lot of value based off his pre-season performance.

Liam Jones should be a safe 70 each week, but I’m still tossing and turning with Liam Stocker.

The rookies speak for themselves.

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MID: Rory Laird, Lachie Neale, Marcus Bontempelli, Jack Steele, Jacob Hopper, Finn Callaghan, Will Ashcroft, Cam Mackenzie, (Jack Bytel, Oskar Baker, Alwyn Davey)

I’ve experimented without Neale and I can say with certainty that I much prefer him in the team.

Steele will bounce back from his under-par season last year.

Jacob Hopper is capable of averaging 90+ with ease, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he took that up past 100 this year.

Finn Callaghan is a smoky for the rising star this year.

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RUC: Sean Darcy, Rowan Marshall, (Nicholas Madden)

The best of a bad bunch this year.

Rowan Marshall should be elite without Paddy Ryder though.

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FWD: Josh Dunkley, Connor Rozee, Tim Taranto, Errol Gulden, Harry Sheezel, Toby McLean, (Mattaes Phillipou, Fergus Greene)

The big four and Harry Sheezel are all self explanatory, but I still haven’t properly decided on F6.

I’ve experimented with Tanner Bruhn at F5 and Sheezel at F6, but will make a proper decision likely tomorrow.

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Rainman

DEF: Sam Docherty, Jordan Ridley, Liam Jones, Reuben Ginbey, Charlie Constable, Campbell Chesser, (Darcy Wilmot, Lachie Cowan)

Probably not a lot of surprise here and I feel like it is pretty straight forward. I like the defensive rookies and think that they will score well enough over the first 6-8 rounds until we can flip them

Doc is rock solid at D1 and has not moved all year.

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MID: Lachie Neale, Marcus Bontempelli, Jack Steele, Josh Kelly, Noah Anderson, Finn Callaghan, Will Ashcroft, Cam Mackenzie, (Will Phillips, Oskar Baker, Alwyn Davey)

I love big mids, and wanted to go in with 5. 

Neale and Bont speak for themselves. Bona fide champions and popular picks for a reason.

Steele has not had a lot of love and his showing in the praccy match against Essendon whilst not a magnificent score, was eye-catching enough for me, lots of CBA’s and tackles.. No Marks, but I put that down more to the conditions and him getting through without over exerting. I think he can bounce back to 2020/21 levels and the run of early games at Marvel (Check out his average there) gives me a lot of confidence.

I am ready to be hurt again by Josh Kelly. Has hurt multiple supercoachers over multiple years, new coach and better role along with a friendly early draw make him a calculated risk.

Look who’s back.. Noah’s back!

Do you know what? I loved this guy in pre-season for a reason, and I am backing him in. I have mentioned all the reasons previously, but he will be my anti-pod up against the similarly priced Tom Green. Once you Noah.. you Noah…

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Callaghan looked great in pre-season games, High draft pick and looks to have opportunity under Kingsley. At 244k, It is a risk that I am willing to take. Needs to get low 70’s to make $150k and i think with a mix of inside and outside he can definitely do it.

Rookies speak for themselves and bench options are pretty standard.

No Laird, No Hopper, No Green, are definite talking points…. Idiotic? Maybe? But I am going to back it in.

I personally don’t like Hopper and think his output is capped enough to take him on, and at the end of the day, you gotta back your gut and pick the players you believe in.

Captain/Vice Captain note: I think it is important to have a plan for who plays when to maximise your VC loop and it is worth taking note out of your captaincy options who plays before your perma loop (Madden) plays to maximise double points. The below table is me mapping out the first 10 rounds and who plays before and after Madden:

As you can see Neale/Dunkley play 9 times before Madden in the first 10 rounds and Bont plays 8, giving me a good bite at the VC/C loophole each week. Obviously Jelly shares the same playing spot as Madden, so will be a handy back up captain when needed, as will Jack Steele.

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RUC: Sean Darcy, Rowan Marshall, (Nicholas Madden)

I have been big on Shrek Darcy all pre season as you know and that has not changed. Yes he comes with risk, but i think his scoring power is almost unmatched from a PPM perspective.

RoMar picks himself and Madden the Permaloop is there for positional flex with Esava.

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FWD: Josh Dunkley, Connor Rozee, Tim Taranto, Errol Gulden, Harry Sheezel, Mattaes Phillipou, (Esava Ratugolea, Fergus Greene)

The new big 4, Cogs seems to have lost some of his shine, with Errol being the new Gulden boy (see what i did there). I think that with increased CBA’s he is a 105 guy this year, and that is excellent output given his starting price.

The Cheesel is a must in my opinion, only just behind Ashcroft in ability I believe and will be given opportunity at varying roles and can score with minimal touches. Very handy F5.

With the saints injury woes the Pou gets plenty of games early to show his bag of tricks, the hope is he isn’t too deep forward.

Greene and/Esava round out the team.

Thanks for reading and good luck for Season 2023

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Niko

DEF: Sam Docherty, Jordan Ridley, Liam Jones, Reuben Ginbey, Conor McKenna, Charlie Constable, (Darcy Wilmot, Lachie Cowan)

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MID: Rory Laird, Marcus Bontempelli, Josh Kelly, Tom Green, Jacob Hopper, Will Ashcroft, Cam Mackenzie, Will Phillips, (Oskar Baker, Campbell Chesser, Alwyn Davey)

I’m happy paying up for Laird as he’ll be my safe Captain every week. 

Hopefully I can hit a massive VC score from someone else each week as I’ll be free to experiment a little. 

I’m expecting spikes from Bont, Green and Hopper so they go in. 

The rest are pretty standard.  Having Chesser allows a nice swing with Constable and Ginbey.

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RUC: Sean Darcy, Rowan Marshall, (Nicholas Maddern)

The same as Rainman!  Which is a little crazy as I thought picking Sean Darcy was a little out there. 

I do think he will be the main man for Freo and Jackson will only pinch hit and play more as a midfielder and forward. 

Marshall is fit and will be the standalone ruck for the Saints. 

The only other in the comp is Jarrod Witts and I can’t force myself to pay dollar for him.

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FWD: Josh Dunkley, Stephen Coniglio, Connor Rozee, Tim Taranto, Errol Gulden, Harry Sheezel, (Sam Sturt, Fergus Greene)

I can’t split the big 5 in the forward line, so they all go in. 

Barring injury and intruders, they really should be in the top 6 in the line come seasons end. 

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Eddie Dadds

DEF: Sam Docherty, Jordan Ridley, Will Day, Liam Jones, Reuben Ginbey, Conor McKenna, (Darcy Wilmot, Charlie Constable)

Docherty’s role floating across half-back, taking kickouts and pushing up in to the midfield – and doing whatever else he wants in-between – is as good as it gets from a SuperCoach perspective

Jordan Ridley, at just $501k and sub-10% ownership, presents as a low-risk, high-reward POD. The 24-year-old (yep, he’s only 24) averaged 102 in 2020 and 99 in 2021, before crashing back to earth with a 92 average and just two 100+ scores last season.

I’ve always loved Day – I unsuccessfully picked him to break out last preseason – and just couldn’t live with myself if I missed the boat when he inevitably does.

Jones seems to have a decent role and is a walk-up starter in the Bulldogs’ 22.

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MID: Rory Laird, Marcus Bontempelli, Jack Steele, Tom Green, Jacob Hopper, Finn Callaghan, Will Ashcroft, Will Phillips, (Jack Bytel, Oskar Baker, Alwyn Davey)

Laird gets the slight nod (at this stage) over Oliver purely because whatever the Dees were doing with their midfield structures in the practice games gave me the heebie-jeebies.

For me, it’s as simple as No Dunkley = More Bont.

Steele is a proven scorer, already a favourite of Ross Lyon (in the Lenny Hayes mould) and is going to be carrying an enormous midfield load given the Saints’ injury woes. Another 120+ season is a distinct possibility.

We all heard about the 50 touches from Green in the internal trial, but it was great to see him back that up with a 130 in GWS’ practice game.

I don’t expect Hopper to be a midfield keeper, but at that price his ceiling and potential for quick-cash is hard to ignore.

At that price Callaghan feels like a bit of a free hit, with significant upside if he actually is as good as advertised.

Ashcroft hasn’t budged from my team and probably won’t for much of this year. Phillips has big wraps on him after an illness/injury-affected start to his career. Bytel, Baker and Davey are all in pending teams. I like Baker’s role and Davey is going to get some opportunities early doors at the Dons.

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RUC: Sean Darcy, Rowan Marshall, (Nicholas Madden)

Not a lot to discuss here. Marshall is in over 50% of teams – he’s a must-have.

I’m happy to roll the dice with Big Shrek, safe in the knowledge that no other ruck is going to kill me by missing out on them.

Madden is a perfect R3 option given his Fwd eligibility and the ridiculous number of Sunday afternoon games the Giants have in the opening rounds.  

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FWD: Josh Dunkley, Connor Rozee, Tim Taranto, Errol Gulden, Harry Sheezel, Luke Pedlar, (Esava Ratugolea, Blake Drury)

Dunks might be the biggest SuperCoach lock in history. If you don’t currently own him, please a) give yourself an uppercut and b) get him in.

Rozee (if you believe Kane Cornes at least) has superstar potential and is drastically underpriced given his ceiling (three 150+ outings in 2022).

Taranto is in 56% of teams. While the idea of Anti-PODing him is somewhat appealing, he’s just too good of a player to ignore. Richmond’s midfield is aging and by all reports they see the Tarantula as their future. 

Errol wasn’t in my calculations, to be honest, until he lit up Carlton in one of the great preseason performances of all time, racking up 45 possies and 3 goals.

Sheezel is going to have some really poor scoring days, but his upside is decent and his job security appears to be good. Pedlar has had a good preseason in Adelaide and at that slightly elevated price tag, if I do need to change him it’s easily done.