AFL Supercoach 2026: Round 12 Wrap – 7 Things We Learnt

The first of the mid-season bye weeks have come and gone and to the surprise of absolutely no one, there’s been even more carnage.

The big blow this week was an Achilles injury to popular forward Sam Flanders on Thursday night, ruling him out for the rest of the season. 

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Elsewhere, there were a heap of dud rookie scores to combat but fortunately best 18 meant that some of them dropped out of our final scores. 

It was a great week for my side personally, scoring 1941 which saw me rise to 2071 in the overall rankings. 

While I’m super pumped with that, I think it’s important to look at the byes as a collective, rather than week by week proposition. Fingers crossed I can keep it up.

Here’s what we learned in round 12.

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1. Rookie crisis rears its head

Watching the Saints and Hawks clash from a Supercoach perspective was tough going on Thursday night.

Plenty of coaches were caught stuck with Liam Henry (26), Charlie Banfield (36) and Flynn Perez (30) on field.

I suspect all three are in the firing line at selection this week.

I’d be wary of jumping on young Hawk Bailey Macdonald for similar reasons, despite being on the bubble.

We’ve already been burnt by the likes of Perez and Bodie Ryan. 

2. Is Cripps back on the radar?

In his past four matches, Carlton captain Patrick Cripps has averaged 118.25 SC points per game.

Do we need to start considering him as an option again?

The Blues take on the Bombers this week before games against the Giants, Eagles and Tigers after the bye. You could do worse… 

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3. Heeney rewards owners in a big way

Isaac Heeney’s ceiling is enormous.

His round-high score of 173 against Richmond was exactly what owners were after in the first mid-season bye.

Those lucky enough to have him as captain almost certainly would have climbed the ranks.

In a week where ruck Brodie Grundy was rested, Heeney well and truly cashed in against a struggling Tigers outfit.

It goes to show how paying up for the top end superstars can really separate you from the pack.

4. The Lions Super POD to consider

Looking for a punt in the backline that could reap some serious rewards? Darcy Wilmot might be your guy.

With both Dayne Zorko and Keidean Coleman set for stints on the sidelines, Wilmot looks to be the main distributor out of the back half for Brisbane.

In his last three weeks without Zorko in the side, Wilmot has averaged 124 SC points per game.

In just over one per cent of teams, Wilmot could be a super POD in the back half of the year. 

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5. Damn the round 16 bye

That round 16 bye is just so annoying.

If the Bulldogs had any other bye, I suspect I’d have another two or three of them in my side.

Ed Richards has rediscovered his best form and is firing on all cylinders, while youngster Ryley Sanders is one of the best forward options right now.

Bailey Dale has also put together a superb campaign to date and even Tim English is back in the mix after overcoming concussion.

Sanders is one I’m considering given Flanders’ injury, but the bye is really tricky.

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6. Lachie Ash is a top tier defender

This is hardly breaking news, but Lachie Ash is one of the best defenders in the game right now.

Having returned to the back half after a brief stint in the midfield, Ash was at his dominant best against the Dees.

He takes plenty of kick ins and the Giants look to get the ball in his hands as much as possible.

He’s got the bye this week, but will be a very popular trade in the week after. 

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7. Why there’s a watch on the Bombers

I’ve spoken about keeping an eye on the Blues for the next little while, but we also need to keep an eye on the Bombers after the recent sacking of coach Brad Scott.

There weren’t too many differences in interim coach Dean Solomon’s first game in charge, however.

Zach Merrett, Darcy Parish and Sullivan Robey still had plenty of CBAs, but the inclusion of Elijah Tsatas no doubt will have pleased Bomber fans.

It feels like looking at any Bombers assets, outside of Merrett and Archie Roberts, is probably fraught with danger until we see more of what Solomon and co are trying to achieve in the back end of 2026.