AFL Supercoach 2026: Round 17 Wrap – 9 Things We Learnt

We’re well and truly over the hump of the season now and into the business end of 2026. 

I posted what I thought was a pretty decent score of 2631 this week, but my rank only saw a minor rise and I’m now 1342nd. 

I’m still riding a rookie at Flex and there’s more than a few suspect “premium” options floating around in my team.

I’m looking at you Jordan Clark, Izak Rankine and Finn Callaghan in particular…

The big injury news this weekend is for Giants defender Lachie Whitfield, who looks set to miss the next week or two with concussion. 

Most will hold, but I’m toying with the idea of moving Whitfield and Hugo Hall-Kahan to Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera and Josh Goater/Jaxon Artemis…

The reality is I probably don’t have the trades for that though…

Anyway, here’s what we learned in round 17.

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1. Jeremy Cameron is in a world of hurt

It feels like it’s at that point of the year where we start considering Jeremy Cameron as an F6 punt, but we certainly can’t be doing that right now.

Cameron is really struggling with an arm injury and can’t get going, averaging just 74 points per game in 2026.

To make matters worse, he’s coming off a score of 7 and has a five-round average of 40.2.

Priced at $289k with a breakeven of 131, Cameron is going to get cheaper.

If he returns to form, let’s have this conversation again because we know what he’s capable of. 

2. English role changes for the worse

No, your eyes weren’t deceiving you.

Yes, Tim English spent some time in defence against the Swans.

The Western Bulldogs ruck, who’s been one of the most SuperCoach relevant talls in recent years, is in a serious slump.

I don’t think he’s relevant this year anymore, but I’ll be keeping an eye on the role and perhaps his future (did Jordan Lewis know something?) because it’s something we’ll need to consider in 2027, whether he’s at the Dogs or a rival club.

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3. Dawson gets it done again

Not finding a way to bring Jordan Dawson in during the byes looms as one of my biggest errors this year.

Yet again, the Adelaide skipper got it done amassing 135 SC points against the Eagles.

He’s a weekly captaincy pick and one who continues to kill my rank as a non-owner.

I’d love to find a way to get him in at Flex, but I don’t have the finances or trades for it.

4. Don’t sleep on Dees star

I wrote in my captain’s article last week about Max Gawn and hopefully you jumped on board, because that was a scarily good performance.

Gawn dominated the Hawks – as he has done for years – posting 165 SC points in the process.

He wasn’t a great captaincy option while Max Heath was in the team, but Gawn’s back to the solo rucking star we all know and love and must be considered each week for the armband.

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5. Docker shock… but no alarm bells yet

Who saw the Giants win over Freo coming? Don’t be alarmed by the low Supercoach scores from your Fremantle players this week, because surely it’s just a blip on the radar.

Their run home is pretty kind and they’ve been the best side in the competition this year.

If you own any of Caleb Serong, Luke Jackson, Andrew Brayshaw, Shai Bolton, Murphy Reid or Josh Treacy, don’t panic.

6. Suns’ CBAs rise

He hasn’t quite hit the heights owners would be hoping for in 2026, but Touk Miller’s role took a turn for the better against the Pies.

The hard-working Suns on-baller had 85 per cent CBAs against Collingwood, his highest for the season by a long way.

If this role sticks and you’re still looking for an F6, then I don’t mind Miller as an option. 

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7. Under fire Blues star delivers again

Remember when George Hewett was banished to the VFL earlier this year?

Over the last seven weeks, Hewett looks like a revitalised player.

Hewett has averaged 111.6 SC points per game under Josh Fraser and would be a super point of difference option on the run home, given he’s in just one per cent of teams. 

8. Operation target Essendon on the run home

Spare a thought for your Essendon supporting friends because that was seriously grim.

Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera and the Saints did as they pleased on Sunday afternoon, in what resembled a training drill against the Bombers.

The Saints had five 125+ SC scores in that game, highlighting just how good a fixture Essendon will be to target on the run home.

Essendon have matches against Brisbane, GWS, Hawthorn, Adelaide, Geelong, Sydney and Port Adelaide from here on. Consider those players for captaincy that week.

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9. Sheezel’s unbelievable run continues

Wowee, Harry Sheezel is in some serious form right now and hopefully you cashed in on the captaincy front.

The young Roo posted a whopping 180 SC points against Port Adelaide, taking his four-round average to 162.5 SC points per game.

Collingwood awaits this week and you’d be mad not to factor Sheezel into your captaincy plans.