The News Limited competitions have opened, giving us our first official glimpse at the fantasy year.
At about three o’clock this morning, VirtualSports turned on the servers for the Super Coach competition for 2009. As the most popular competition in the country last year, after the problems that the AFL Dream Team comp had with its late start and inferior prize pool, the headline news is good: prizemoney is up this year. With the TAC as new sponsor, the winner takes away $55,000 cash – no doubt as a tie-in to a driving campaign to get people slowing down to 55kmh on the roads! The interface is much improved, with some AJAX functionality for team functions like trading, setting captains and choosing emergencies that should come in handy during the 160 minutes of maelstrom by cutting down on server stress.
Never mind the bells and whistles though, what fantasy coaches are really focused on now is what has changed in the game, what the prices are, and what the player positions are. The answer to the first is pretty simple: nothing has changed. Same scoring system, same positions, same rules.
On the prices, the magic number is about the same, which makes sense seeing as the salary cap is constant at $10 million. Here is the list of player discounts I have been able to discern at first glance:
Tim Schmidt: $395,500, 30%
Nathan Krakouer: $217,800, 20%
Josh P. Kennedy: $217,800, 20%
Daniel Connors: $254,000, 20%
Andrew Raines: $279,900, 20%
Shannon Cox: $372,500, 20%
Kane Tenace: $198,100, 20%
Adam Campbell: $269,600, 20%
Patrick Veszpremi: $286,400, 20%
David Johnson: $189,500, 20%
Jesse W. Smith: $314,400, 20%
Marlon Motlop: $236,900, 20%
Alwyn Davey: $344,600, 20%
Ben McGlynn: $228,300, 20%
Josh Head: $261,300, 20%
Ryan Houlihan: $298,900, 20%
Pearce Hanley: $196,000, 20%
Ryan Brabazon: $175,000, 15%
Andy Otten: $134,600, 10%
Of the players who missed a year for whatever reason, Paul Hasleby, Ben Cousins and Hayden Skipworth are the only ones not to be basement draftee or rookie price. Hasleby got about a 25% discount on his 2007 numbers, Cousins got 10% off and Skipworth got zero discount. That means that the following players are at minimum price despite playing in 2007:
Draftees at $94,200: Matthew Egan, Matthew Laidlaw, Brad Dick, Mitchell Brown, Mitch Thorp, Leigh Adams, Scott Gumbleton, John Meesen, Beau Dowler, Malcolm Lynch, Angus Graham
Rookies at $83,400: Chris Schmidt, Daniel Dzufer, Danny Meyer, Brad Howard
On the player positions, here are the highlights that we didn’t already know about, or had guessed wrong on the Fanplanner:
• Jason Davenport is NOT a back, despite being listed as such in the Prospectus (as I was told). The same goes for Jack Ziebell, who is a FWD/CTR.
• Adam Goodes is not a forward.
• Amon Buchanan, Brent Staker and Shannon Byrnes have forward eligibility.
• Xavier Clarke, Ryan Cook, Clint Bartram, Ed Barlow and Paul Stewart all have back eligibility.
• Shannon Cox and Ben Ross are FWD/BACs.
Now, there is no guarantee that all of these changes will also hold for AFL Dream Team. Nevertheless, the vast majority of Super Coach discounts carry over to DT, and all of the positions do.
Overall, VirtualSports have been much stingier with the discounts, but have been kind to us with some relaxation on positional requirements for key players. The starkest difference in my opinion is those players who missed a year, like Gumbleton, Dick, Thorp, Brown and Dowler, all being draftee price. If you don’t get some of that action I think you’re missing out, because it’s the best discounting on offer in 2009.
What’s your reaction? Nice interface, does that matter to you? Are you annoyed that your pet player didn’t get a random discount according to VirtualSports’ mystical black-box approach? Would you like to send them a strongly-worded letter arguing the toss over a positional change or two? Are you going to spend as much time on SC as you do on DT this year, given that SC got more registrations last year? Let me know in the comments.
XztatiK
February 4, 2009 at 5:19 pm
Catch up Wormburner.
Lee
February 4, 2009 at 5:47 pm
Have registered and loaded my (preliminary) SC and DT teams, after designing them on Fanplanner first. Both websites have very similar functionaility. DT team selection much quicker and easier than last year. Now I have 50 days to chop and change, umpteen times over. Have loaded up with draftees a-plenty – Rich, Hill, Yarran, Ziebell, Hill, Beams, Sidebottom, Vickery, Gallman.
Mitch
February 4, 2009 at 6:04 pm
Hey monty the sites a massive help.
Can anyone list names of players who are in the same sort of mould of Bradshaw and Nick Stevens from last year?
Cheers
dylan
February 4, 2009 at 6:49 pm
hasleby and reilly would be 2 i would say mitch. plenty more
XztatiK
February 4, 2009 at 10:07 pm
Stevens=Hasleby
Bradshaw=Lucas
But I don’t expect either to bounce back quite as well.
joff
February 4, 2009 at 10:23 pm
im surprised Monty hasn’t put anything up about dt yet
MiGZ
February 4, 2009 at 11:41 pm
when monty takes this long, u know the next post is gonna be good.
Brad
February 5, 2009 at 9:29 am
Albert Proud = GONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rupe
February 5, 2009 at 12:28 pm
Is m0nty alive???
He’s usually 24hrs before me.
Josh
February 5, 2009 at 6:50 pm
How to make a good team (In my opinion)
You have got to look at players who were almost there in 2008 but didnt hold to expectation and 2009 could be the year for these players such as Andrew Walker ($436,800), Justin Sherman ($350,200) and Justin Koschitzke (422,220)
Then look at the players who are bound to get alot of game time and can easily put on 60-80 points a game Shannon Hurn ($286,200), Shaun Higgins ($223,400) Amon Buchannon (417,500) and Scott Selewood (359,200)
Also get players that you know will play good but didnt last year because of injury or suspension thus making his price drop alot Nick Malceski ($355,900), Kane Cornes ($505,100), Chad Cornes ($482,000) Roger Hayden ($417,200)
Also expect a good season by Scott Stevens ($402,300) and Ashley Hansen ($277,900)
Now think of some rookies that were picked up in the 2008 draft or the 2007 draft and is still cheap Jarred Grant (94,200), Beau Muston ($94,200) Daniel Rich ($144,200), Stephen Hill ($164,200), Robbie Tarrant ($94,200)
Now try and keep away from Ben Rutten ($406,300), Leo Barry ($385,500) and Alipate Carlile ($338,200)
Then if you want take a gamble with Simon Buckley ($362,600), David Mundy ($406,000), Brett Jones ($431,500), Quinten Lynch ($457,100), David Hale ($439,100), Warren Tredra ($435,100), Shaun Burgoyne ($555,600) and Travis Boak ($454,100)
I would think that Naitanui will find trouble in getting a spot in the ruck with Dean Cox and Mark Seaby thier best ruckman i would alos not get Jimmy Bartel as i dont think he can adapt to a good tagger as Gary Ablett and Joel Selwood can Daniel Jackson is a tricky one as he will score 100s and low 50s during the season and Matt Rosa will play all of the games next year for eagles and should score very highely
Good luck picking your super team and i wish you all the best for the 2009 season
GO THE DOGGIES
Other Dan
February 5, 2009 at 9:16 pm
This is fantastic, both DT and SC available now! I think they both deserve a big pat on the back.
Like the shield design in DT, nice touch.
And now I understand why no recent blog from Monty.
XztatiK
February 5, 2009 at 10:07 pm
Josh, are you trying to fool everyone into getting dodgy teams?
Lakey91
February 5, 2009 at 11:07 pm
I was thinking the ame thing XztatiK!
MiGZ
February 5, 2009 at 11:21 pm
Thats a shonky post Josh, dont agree with alot of it.
Ash
February 5, 2009 at 11:22 pm
Josh,
dont have bartel, u serious he has been the most consistent player the last few years!!
Dicko
February 5, 2009 at 11:48 pm
Don’t have Bartel to start with ‘cos he costs too much. Wait til he drops in price then grab him.
Captain Fantasy
February 6, 2009 at 10:30 am
There’s no right or wrong at this stage guys, don’t rule out Josh’s advice just yet!
Rupe
February 6, 2009 at 11:05 am
“Kane Cornes ($505,100)”
That’s wrong! He was never injured or suspended last year.
Brad
February 6, 2009 at 11:31 am
Andrew Welsh will not be playing Round 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 for that matter.
He has just broken his ankle very bad at the Bombers scratch match this morning.
Bombers cant take a trick!
Brendan
February 6, 2009 at 12:12 pm
@Josh
I am not even considering 18 of the players you mentioned…
wtf
Peter
February 6, 2009 at 6:28 pm
ok Brendan ..how about you post the 18 you think are better.
Josh
February 6, 2009 at 6:57 pm
Guys if you really think about you cant really think that the guys i put down are going to be good or bad until the season starts. I am just giving you some more guys to choose from than the Gary Abletts or the Lance Franklins.
Vince
February 6, 2009 at 7:16 pm
I reckon Sherman might be one to look at. What do you think of Simon Buckley from Melb?
Josh
February 6, 2009 at 8:43 pm
Simon Buckley will get his opportunity this year as part of Melbournes best 22 and i think he could average anywhere from 50-70
lee
February 6, 2009 at 11:01 pm
Franklin or Didak? Franklin recovering from injury, Didak getting over his inner-demons. Very similar prices and averages. Tough call….
XztatiK
February 6, 2009 at 11:16 pm
No, please, Josh is right. Everyone get the players he recommended 😉
…hehehehe.
Brendan
February 6, 2009 at 11:26 pm
@Peter
Just because I am not considering them doesn’t mean I think they are shit. I’m not gonna post 18 I think are better.
Except for Shannon Hurn (not a big enough possesion winner) and Warren Treadrea (slower than … something slow). Also I don’t see the point of choosing Scott Selwood at his price. You’re better off choosing a first-year player or someone else at basement price. If you’re paying that much for someone you really need them to be guaranteed a game and I don’t think Scott Selwood is.
Also Andrew Walker is too injury prone and he’s injured at the moment for a while isn’t he? I don’t think Justin Koschitzke has the ability to step up to say a 90 scorer and he has a bad injury record. I think McIntosh has much more potential (maybe not to be a 90 scorer, but to increase in price). I had Sherman in his breakout year and then got him the next year and then he burned me. Unless he proves to show anything near what he averaged in 2006 in the NAB Cup I am not considering him. I’d prefer to take a risk on Hasleby, Reilly, Stenglein or Coughlan (only one of these in my team though at this stage).
Buchanan … Several better value players than him … Such as Higgins, who I am liking.
Roger Hayden plays for Fremantle and is not Pavlich … enough said. Scott Stevens had his best year ever last year, I wouldn’t expect him to get better and wouldn’t be suprised if he drops off a bit. He hasn’t cemented his spot either. Ditto for Hansen and he is very injury prone.
Jarred Grant is a young tall forward, no value in him. Beau Muston has done his knee like twice in three years so I’ve given up on him. Early reports Only reason I’m not considering Tarrant is because I don’t know enough about him. Also he is a young key forward unlikely to get big numbers and he plays for North Melbourne.
Brett Jones doesn’t get enough of the ball and there are so many more better defensive options. Quentin Lynch wears a glove and it shows how shit the Eagles midfield has become when they are considering him there. I’d prefer someone else at his price. He may be one to bite me in the arse this season though, but I still am not going to pick him from the start.
Hale, no, maybe if he was still available as a ruckman. Shaun Burgoyne doesn’t get enough of the ball and he plays for Port, I don’t want too many of them if I get both the Cornes brothers. Daniel Jackson is a friggin tagger.
There that’s 18. But I reccommend you all get them.
Mitch
February 7, 2009 at 10:42 am
I can’t seem to find any cheap defenders in my backline
Currently i have Stephen Hill Alex Rance Michael Hurley and Zac Dawson are there any better guys available?
Rodger
February 7, 2009 at 3:47 pm
The player discounts for Dream Team are bit slow in coming? Any ETA Monty?
tim
February 7, 2009 at 4:44 pm
coughlan (rich) ray(st.k) hazelby(freo)higgins(foots)and maguire(st.k) are all worth a look.y are rookies over 100 grand ? hmmmm.sam fisher (st.k) is a must have along with deledio(rich)
XztatiK
February 7, 2009 at 5:01 pm
Mitch, come on man. Get two of them, tops.
m0nty
February 7, 2009 at 6:13 pm
They’re the same for DT as for SC pretty much, Rodger.
Flash
February 7, 2009 at 6:26 pm
The only reason i play dream team is for a chance to win the prizes. Supecoach is heaps better. You have to actually pick good footballers rather than guys who get the footy and give it to the opposition. Just for the record C.Corns is the best value going in supercoach. IMO! 😉
Clancy
February 8, 2009 at 1:43 am
Interesting Blog.
I randomly typed in:
aflsupercoach.com
because i thought it was the herald sun site – found a pretty in depth and cool looking SC blog there too.
Woo – its back!
Spydko
February 16, 2009 at 9:58 pm
Some interesting gear on here, half of it ain’t worth reading but there are a few tips.
What i’m concerned about is the good word one blokes like Davey, Lucus, Maguire how are they holding up will they play round 1??
Some of the rookies Rich, Swift are proably shoe ins in their respective teams for spots but what Tyler good prospect but gees with Adcock, Mcdonald and drumond in the back half will find it tough.
Beams Sidebottom both won’t play Mick won’t allow it, not round 1 anyway.
Any of this what yu guys are thinking ????
Ohh and the worst thing i read… Hasleby(or unreliable as i like to say) injuried by the 3rd term round 1
frank
February 16, 2009 at 11:03 pm
i have 321 k left and i need 1 more midfielder i’m thinking of someone along the lines of luke ablett or kieren jack… wat you guys think.
Tim
February 23, 2009 at 7:49 am
Frank Luke Ablett is a good pick but also look at Shane Edwards from reports i have heard he has had a great pre season as a midfielder but good luck in picking your team
Also i am looking at several other players who i am not sure about Josh Gibson, Jesse Smith, Travis Cloke, Mitch Hahn, Hamish McIntosh and should i have Nick Riewoldt, Matthew Pavlich or Lance Franklin
Josh
February 24, 2009 at 1:03 pm
Lance can hit and miss, Pav can’t travel well, but the Roo will be solid week in week out!
Tim
February 25, 2009 at 3:21 pm
Thanks also i am having some trouble should i go with Lance Franklin or get Jarred Brennan or Steve Johnson or Brendan Fevola and save up some money on someone else
steve
March 1, 2009 at 8:14 pm
Tim ,franklin slow starter with injury brennan a little inconsistant fev 50/50 can be hot or very cold.I would lean towards johnson consistant and in a very good side
brock
March 7, 2009 at 12:57 pm
What do people think for cheap backmen, trying to decide between Grimes, Suban, Hill or at a pinch Petrenko
Tim
March 22, 2009 at 8:52 pm
I have a pretty good set up but my ruck division is letting me down in my ruck i have Mark Blake, Matthew Leunberger, Jordyn Roughead and Jake Spencer what i am asking is should i get rid of Leunberger and bring in Jesse White or should i get rid of Mark Blake to bring him in a keep a young ruck divison and save up some extra cash
Pingback: Everything must go: 2010 DT/SC discounts