Articles

$99k Rookies for the SuperCoach 2026 Run Home: Who to Bring In Now

The current wave of $99k rookies (Hall-Kahan, Fitzgerald, Annand and others) is one of the best downgrade opportunities of the season. Here's exactly how to use them for cash generation and bench depth without blowing up your finals push.

Top targets: Hall-Kahan, Fitzgerald, Annand · Primary use: Cash gen + bench emergencies

Captaincy & VC Optimization in Round 15+ (2026 Run Home)

How to maximise captaincy and vice-captain points from Round 15 onward. Loophole strategy, Geelong fixture leverage, reliability focus, and building a captain rotation that survives the run home and finals.

Captain multiplier: 2× every round · Typical edge: 80–130 points per round

SuperCoach DPP Changes After Round 17: Who Gains Eligibility & How to Use It

Post-Round 17 DPP eligibility updates are one of the last major roster levers of the 2026 season. Here's who is gaining forward status, who is borderline, and exactly how to plan your final trades around these changes.

DPP lock-in: After Round 17 · Likely gains FWD: Cumming, Anderson, Cross

Fixture Analysis for the 2026 SuperCoach Run Home

Complete fixture breakdown for the SuperCoach 2026 run home. Geelong’s dream schedule, other favourable teams, rest risks, DPP timing, and how to use draw analysis to guide your final trades and captaincy decisions.

Standout club: Geelong (widely viewed as dream run) · Key window: Rounds 15–23

SuperCoach Round 15 Bye Strategy: How to Survive the Final Bye Round

Round 15 is the last major bye round of 2026. Here's how to manage limited trades, VC loops, and bench cover without burning your run-home plans.

Round: 15 · Key theme: VC loops + limited trades

SuperCoach AFL 2026 Run Home & Finals Push Strategy Guide

The complete run home and finals push playbook for SuperCoach 2026. Fixture analysis, trade priorities, rookie bench strategy, DPP timing, and how to peak your team from Round 15 onward.

Current round: Round 14–15 · Key window: Next 6–8 weeks

Trade Targets for the SuperCoach 2026 Run Home

The definitive list of trade targets for the 2026 SuperCoach run home. Focus on reliability, Geelong fixture leverage, DPP timing, and players who can deliver in finals formats from Round 15 onward.

Current round: Round 14–15 · Trade window: Next 4–6 weeks critical

Best Defender Under $500k for Round 10: Dale vs Zorko vs the Field

Community split on Zorko/Dale/Houston. R9 receipts call the sub-$500k DEF upgrade cleanly.

Round: 10 · Budget: Under $500k DEF

Kozzy Scored 65 and Got Reported. Now What.

Pickett owners face a 65 and an on-report. Hold for R10 — but the conviction shape is different than last week.

Round: 10 · R9 score: 65

Bont Went 163. The 55% Were Right — Here's What That Means for R10

Community split 55/30/15 on trading Bont in. We said wait. He scored 163. What changes at Round 10 lockout.

Round: 10 · R9 score: 163

Max Gawn Is Not Cooked. Stop Trying to Trade Him.

He copped a knock and got rested forward for one game. The community is 70/30 hold. Selling now is selling low for no reason.

Round: 9 · Call: HOLD

Sean Darcy: Trade Out Now or Cop the Zeros?

Darcy's 4-5 week timeline is almost certainly optimistic. Community is 60/40 trade-out and the BE maths agrees.

Round: 9 · Call: TRADE OUT

Do You Actually Need Bontempelli in SuperCoach 2026?

Only 30% of coaches own Bontempelli. Here's why the other 70% are paying more for the same player by waiting.

Do You Actually Need Bontempelli in SuperCoach 2026?

Only 30% of teams own Bont. He's averaging more points than most mid-pricers who've played twice as many games. Here's the real question: when do you get him, not whether.

Player: Marcus Bontempelli (WBD, MID) · Ownership: ~30%

Missed the SuperCoach Cash Cows? What to Do in Round 4 2026

Cook, Duursma and the main rookies have already risen. Is it still worth buying them now? And which new targets replace them if you've missed the boat?

Round: 4 of 23 · Main rookies price status: Cook, Duursma, McAndrew — 1-2 rises already

SuperCoach 2026 Injury Carnage — How to Survive Without Burning Your Season

Trac. Rozee. Young. Gulden. Xerri. Murdock. It's only Round 4 and the carnage is already historic. Here's how to manage your 40 trades when injuries are coming for everyone.

Total trades: 40 for the season · Major injuries R1-R4: Trac (4-6wk), Rozee (2-3mo), Young (hamstring), Gulden (4wk+), Xerri (3wk), Murdock (hamstring)

SuperCoach Captains Guide — Round 4 2026

Captain Butters or Bont this week? Xerri's out, Daicos is a test, the competition is wide open. Full rankings, VC strategy and the loophole setup for Round 4.

Round: 4 of 23 · Xerri status: Out — suspended

Can ChatGPT Give You SuperCoach Advice? We Tested It.

We ran the same SuperCoach trade questions through ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini. Here's exactly what went wrong — and what you actually need for real decisions.

Tested: ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini · Queries run: 12

SuperCoach Bank Building vs Premo Chase: When to Each and How to Get the Balance Right

The biggest strategic tension in SuperCoach: build your bank or upgrade your premiums now? Here's the framework for making the right call every time.

Cash gen window: Rounds 1–10 · Prime upgrade window: Rounds 8–16

SuperCoach Breakeven Strategy: How to Read Price Movement and Trade at the Right Time

Understanding breakevens is the difference between buying players at their cheapest and burning money on falling stocks. Here's how to use breakeven data to time every trade.

Price update frequency: After every round · Scores used: Last 3 games (rolling)

SuperCoach Bye Round Strategy: How to Build a Team That Survives Rounds 12–14

The bye rounds wreck more SuperCoach seasons than any other variable. Here's how to build a team that stays competitive through Rounds 12–14 without burning trades.

Bye rounds: Rounds 12, 13, 14 · Teams per round: 6 teams each round

SuperCoach Captain Strategy: How to Pick the Right Captain Every Round

Captaincy is the single biggest scoring lever you have each week. A great captain can add 80–130 points over a bad pick. Here's how to get it right every round.

Captain score multiplier: 2× (score doubled) · Points gap: great vs bad captain: 80–130 points/round

The SuperCoach Loophole Explained (And How to Use It)

The SuperCoach loophole is the most powerful captain strategy in the game. Here's exactly how it works, when to use it, and how to pick the right loop option.

What it does: Uses VC score as C score · When to activate: Before C's game locks

SuperCoach Trade Chain Planning: How to Map Multi-Trade Cascades

One trade is easy. Four trades that work together to transform your team by Round 18 — that's what separates top 1% coaches. Here's how to plan the chain.

Starting trades: 24 · Avg top 1% trade usage: 22–24 by Round 23

SuperCoach 2026: The R3 Trade Audit — Petracca, Rozee, Gulden

Three injured premiums, three different decisions. Here's exactly when to cut, when to hold, and what to bring in for each.

Petracca: Hamstring, 4–6 weeks — trade if you have the cash · Rozee: Soft tissue TBC — wait for the timeline before acting

SuperCoach Captains Guide — Round 3 2026

Who to captain in Round 3 SuperCoach 2026. Ranked options, matchup context, VC strategy, and the must-know bye trap that caught half the competition off guard.

Round: 3 of 23 · Top Captain Pick: Tristan Xerri

How to Get Bontempelli Into Your SuperCoach Team (2026)

Everyone wants Bont. Not everyone has the cash. Here's the upgrade path — which trades free the most money, which rookies generate fastest, and why Round 2's injury carnage might actually get you there sooner.

Player: Marcus Bontempelli (WBD, MID) · Price: $706,800

The SuperCoach VC Loophole Explained (2026 Edition)

Every week coaches agonise over whether to loop their vice captain score. Here's exactly how the loophole works, when to use it, and the threshold that separates the smart calls from the panic moves.

What it is: Taking your VC score as your C score · When it applies: When your VC plays before your C

Who Comes In for Rozee? Dan Houston, Tom Stewart, or Hold

Connor Rozee is out with a soft tissue injury and coaches need a replacement. Here's the case for every option — Houston, Stewart, Zorko, and holding — with the numbers to back it up.

Player out: Connor Rozee (PTA, MID/FWD) — soft tissue · Timeline: TBC — multiple weeks

We Overreacted to the SuperCoach Ruck Rule Changes

Pre-season, coaches fled the ruck position. Two rounds in, Xerri and Gawn are making everyone look silly. Here's what the early data actually shows about the 2026 ruck rule changes.

Rule change: Reduced ruck contests — more boundary throw-ins · Pre-season consensus: Avoid premium rucks

SuperCoach Bye Rounds Calendar 2026 — Complete Guide

Every bye round for every AFL team in SuperCoach 2026. Which clubs have two byes, when the R12–16 gauntlet hits, and how to structure your team to survive it.

Bye rounds: R2, R3, R4 (early) + R12–R16 (gauntlet) · Two-bye clubs: 10 clubs — BRI, CAR, COLL, GCS, GEE, GWS, HAW, STK, SYD, WBD

SuperCoach Cash Generation Strategy 2026 — How to Build a War Chest

The price cycle is real, it's compounding now, and most coaches are leaving $200k on the table. Here's the complete cash generation guide for 2026 — who to hold, when to sell, and what to buy with the money.

Best cash cow right now: Jagga Smith — avg 89, projects to ~$270k (+$150k) · 4-rookie Wave 1 portfolio: ~$440k projected total gain

Should You Trade Petracca in SuperCoach 2026? Here's the Math

Petracca is out 4-6 weeks with a hamstring. Three Reddit threads, 50+ comments, and no consensus. Here's the actual decision framework — with the math — for your specific situation.

Player: Christian Petracca (MFC, MID/FWD) · Injury: Hamstring — 4-6 weeks

AAMI Community Series Wash-Up: SuperCoach 2026 Winners & Losers

The five biggest SuperCoach takeaways from the 2026 AAMI Community Series. We watched all nine practice matches so you didn't have to — here are the winners who locked in Round 1 spots, the losers who raised red flags, and the role changes that reshape your squad.

Matches Reviewed: 9 AAMI Community Series games · Biggest Winner: Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera — midfield role confirmed

AFL Sub Rule Removed: SuperCoach Winners & Losers in 2026

The AFL's sub rule is gone in 2026. Here's how it restructures SuperCoach scoring — and the 7 players who benefit most when durability beats volatility.

Rule Change: Medical sub abolished — no replacement for injured players · Biggest Structural Shift: Durability > volatility

Best Mid-Pricers 2026: The Only Ones Worth Picking

Best SuperCoach mid-pricers 2026: data-driven rankings of the $200k-$450k players genuinely worth your salary cap. Mispriced premiums, injury discounts, and positional steals — analysed and ranked.

Mid-Pricers Analysed: 340 players · Worth Picking: 8-10 at most

SuperCoach 2026: 10 Round 1 Locks [Pre-Lockout Update]

Duursma, Uwland & Dean top our 10 SuperCoach 2026 Round 1 locks. Debut markets, confidence scores, basement prices — before lockout Mar 20.

Players Profiled: 10 (6 rookies + 4 value picks) · Avg Round 1 Confidence: 87% across our top 6

The Second-Year Leap: 2026 Rookies Ready to Explode

The Sophomore Slump is a myth in SuperCoach. Data shows the 2024 draft class — entering Year 2 with a full pre-season — will post the most aggressive price rises of any group. We identify the three best bets.

Historical Leap: +32% scoring jump in Year 2 · The Alpha: Taj Hotton (Richmond, $246,900)

SuperCoach Round 1 Locks: 8 Players You Can't Leave Out

Eight SuperCoach 2026 players you absolutely cannot leave out of your Round 1 team. SC price, average, value score, and a one-sentence verdict on each — structured to help you lock in before the March 20 lockout.

Players Profiled: 8 (4 draft picks + 4 proven rookies) · Lockout Date: Thursday March 20

Rookies Nobody Is Talking About: 7 Undervalued SuperCoach 2026 Picks

The 7 most undervalued SuperCoach 2026 rookies the mainstream is sleeping on. Data-backed contrarian picks with real upside — structured for the coaches who want an edge.

Sleepers Profiled: 7 (across 4 positions) · Avg Ownership: Under 20%

The Round 0 Loophole: How to Exploit the 2026 Opening Weekend

Round 0 provides a free look at players before the Round 1 price-lock. Here is how to use the 'vision check' to fix your SuperCoach bench.

Price Lock: Round 1 (not Round 0) · Vision Check: 8 teams available early

The Tassie Factor: How the 19th Team is Changing Rookie Opportunity

The upcoming Tasmanian entry is forcing clubs to 'blood the kids' earlier than ever. We analyze how list management is creating a rookie goldmine in 2026.

Expansion Date: 2028 (Estimated) · Club Response: Aggressive youth injection

Burned on the Outside, Frozen on the Inside: The Mid-Pricer Fallacy

Why mid-priced SuperCoach players look like the safe middle ground — and why that's exactly the trap. The fallacy of the average in 650 words.

The Mid-Pricer Trap: Why $200k-$400k Players Are Killing Your SuperCoach Team

Why are mid-priced players bad in SuperCoach? Our data proves they are the worst value tier in 2026. Learn how to build a winning team structure here.

Mid-Pricer Avg SC: 61.2 (340 players) · Premium Avg SC: 93.3 (157 players)

SuperCoach Team Structure 2026: How to Build a Winning Team

The definitive guide to SuperCoach team structure in 2026. Salary cap breakdown, position requirements, premium vs rookie balance, and a concrete starter build with real player prices.

2026 Salary Cap: $14.22M · Squad Size: 30 players (22 + 8 bench)

The Tassie Factor: Homecoming Contracts and SuperCoach Impact in 2026

Does the Tasmania Devils expansion actually affect 2026 SuperCoach picks? We break down which Tassie-born AFL players are genuinely motivated by foundation contracts — and which ones are just noise.

Tasmania AFL Entry: 2028 (confirmed) · Tassie-born players tracked: 9 in current AFL system

Best Value Picks by Position: The 2026 SuperCoach Bargain Bin

Position-by-position breakdown of the best value SuperCoach picks for 2026. Data-driven analysis of points-per-dollar at every line.

Best Overall Value: Ewan Mackinlay (8.1 V/S) · Best DEF Value: Lewis Hayes ($120k, 64.0)

The Rookie Reliability Index: Which SuperCoach Rookies Won't Let You Down

Not all rookies are created equal. Our Reliability Index scores every rookie by floor, ceiling, and stat diversity to find the safest picks in SuperCoach 2026.

Rookies Analysed: 35 with stats · Most Reliable: Tom McCarthy (30.3 stat total)

2026 AFL Rule Changes: The Complete SuperCoach Impact Guide

How the 2026 AFL rule changes affect SuperCoach scoring. Winners, losers, and the players to target based on data analysis of all 780 players.

Players Analysed: 780 · Biggest Winners: Young intercept defenders

2025 Draft Class: Who Plays Round 1? Traffic Light Guide

Every pick in the top 20 of the 2025 AFL Draft rated 🟢🟡🔴 for Round 1 chances. Insider preseason intel, obscure data points, and SuperCoach impact.

Picks Analysed: Top 20 · 🟢 Locks: 6 players