AFL Supercoach 2026: Final Word – Round 14

Two bye rounds in, three to go.

I’m hoping this is a week where I can climb the rankings, given the only premiums I’m missing are Nick Daicos, Luke Jackson and Jordan Clark.

My final two byes are far worse, so I need to make some ground now. 

As always, we should be targeting players who have already had their bye when it comes to trades.

This week, we should be targeting Giants or Tigers players, but there’s also plenty of merit in taking a look at players from the Roos, Crows, Suns and Power who had the bye in round 12.

Let’s get into the final word.

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Trade talk

My main priority this week is strengthening my garbage forward line. 

I currently have Milan Murdock at F4, Leo Lombard at F5 and a donut at F6, given Charlie Banfield, Liam Henry and Jack Watkins aren’t playing senior footy. 

It’s seriously grim.

Thankfully, there are a couple of rookies in my side ready to cash in. Collingwood midfielder Angus Anderson’s breakeven is up to 63, so I think his time in my side is up. 

I don’t own them anymore, but any of Josh Lindsay, Jagga Smith and Mattaes Phillipou are in the same boat.

Anderson will be downgraded to a rookie but I’m yet to split two options.

The first is his teammate Mitch Podhajski who looks like to fill Jamie Elliott’s role in the front half. I thought he had some nice moments on the King’s Birthday.

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The other option is Jasper Alger, a young forward at the Tigers. 

I don’t love that he’s already had a price rise, but surely his job security is also pretty good from here on in given Richmond’s injury concerns. 

I’m also mindful of going early on Podhajski, especially given I already own Adelaide’s Hugo Hall-Kahan. I’m going to need some downgrade options in the coming weeks. 

Others will look to St Kilda’s Campbell Lake but I’m not sold on the job security yet. I also want to see another game from Tom Cochrane at Port Adelaide. 

I don’t mind Sydney’s Harry Kyle, but the job security is a bit of a concern and he hasn’t set the world on fire from a scoring potential perspective at an inflated price tag. 

Whether it’s Alger, Podhajski or Kyle, that will give me the cash to get Lombard up to a forward premium option. 

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At the top of my list are the players who have already had the bye, Jason Horne-Francis and Touk Miller. 

JHF is the ceiling play, while Miller is the consistency play. 

The other two I’m looking at are Ryley Sanders and Zac Bailey, but the big knocks on those guys are that they have byes coming up. 

Sanders’ role with Tom Liberatore not far away also makes me think twice but as for Bailey, he should see some more midfield time with McCluggage sidelined for the next few weeks with a calf issue. 

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I think I’m leaning JHF right now.

If you own Justin McInerney (8-10 weeks) or Hugh McCluggage (3-4 weeks), they need to go too.

Other popular trade-in options this week are Finn Callaghan, Lachie Ash and Sam Durham.

I love the Ash pick and wish I was going there this week myself, while Callaghan also feels like a solid upgrade given the price point.

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I’m not as sold on Sam Durham. Darcy Parish and Jye Caldwell both missed the clash against the Blues, while Dyson Sharp is also nearing a return from injury.

Zach Merrett was a non-factor in the CBAs too, which surely won’t last for the rest of the season – unless he’s already got a foot out the door. Captain Andrew McGrath is another to consider. 

I’m happy to watch for another week and then reconsider after Essendon’s bye. 

Trades:
A Anderson > Alger

Lombard > Horne-Francis

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Skippers

VC: 

1. Marcus Bontempelli
2. Tristan Xerri
3. Harry Sheezel
4. Max Gawn
5. Jordan Dawson

C:

1. Lachie Neale
2. Brodie Grundy
3. Isaac Heeney
4. Zak Butters
5. Jack Sinclair