SuperCoach DPP Changes After Round 17

One of the last real roster levers of the season is about to lock in.

DPP eligibility updates after Round 17 are based on season-long time-in-position. The threshold is generally around 35%+ in the secondary role. Once locked, these changes are permanent for the rest of the year.

This matters more in the run home and finals than it did in April because every week now has higher variance from rests, injuries, and byes. A player who can cover two positions becomes significantly more valuable when your team is already missing 3–4 players.

Current DPP outlook (as of mid-June 2026)

Likely to gain forward DPP

• Sam Cumming — 40.5% FWD time
• Angus Anderson — 47% FWD time
• Paddy Cross — 51% FWD time

These three are the clearest candidates and are being discussed most actively in recent updates.

Borderline / worth monitoring

• Nik Cox — 34.7% FWD
• Jake Soligo — 33.3% FWD

These two are close enough that small changes in the next few rounds could push them over the line.

Unlikely to gain forward DPP

• Lachie Ash
• Jordan Dawson
• Zach Merrett
• Max Gawn

These players are being called out as unlikely in current community analysis. Do not plan your roster assuming they will gain the extra position.

How to actually use this information

The correct approach is not to rush trades purely for DPP. The correct approach is to factor the upcoming changes into your final 2–3 trades.

Good DPP planning looks like this:

• You already like a player for scoring and role security.
• The upcoming DPP change gives you extra flexibility for finals.
• You time the trade so the eligibility locks in before you need it.

Bad DPP planning looks like this:

• You force a trade into a mediocre player just because they might gain DPP.
• You ignore role security and scoring because “the DPP will save me later”.

DPP is a bonus, not the main reason to own someone.

Strategic implications for the run home

Once these changes lock in after Round 17, your roster flexibility increases if you own the right players. This is particularly useful for:

• Covering late byes
• Managing rests in teams that have already locked up finals spots
• Fielding 23 + EMG loops in finals formats

Coaches who have planned around the post-R17 changes will have more options when the first injury or rest hits in Round 18 or 19.

The window is closing

You still have a few rounds to position yourself before the lock-in. After Round 17, the DPP map is set for the rest of the season. The coaches who are thinking about this now (rather than reacting in Round 18) will have the cleaner rosters when it matters most.

DPP changes are not the flashiest part of SuperCoach. They are one of the highest-leverage, lowest-noise edges available in the final third of the season. Use the next three rounds to get your positioning right.