The following list of players have a current ownership of 5 per cent or less in SuperCoach heading into round one of the 2019 AFL season. In no particular order, here are 10 most best PODs to pick in your side:<doc-sep>Merry Christmas, Supercoach fans. Trading is at an all-time high, but we can finally choose with confidence after the first Team List Tuesday gave us a clearer picture of who will be starting for the early part of the season. Struggling to digest all the information from the squads? Sporting News has broken down the winners and losers from every team list, analysing the best cheapies, PODs and guns. MORE: NRL Supercoach 2019: Your ultimate money-making cheapies guide | NRL Supercoach 2019: Pre-season rookie analysis on every club's best cheapies Brisbane Broncos Broncos: 1 Darius Boyd 2 Corey Oates 3 James Roberts 4 jack Bird 5 Jamayne Isaako 6 Anthony Milford 7 Kodi Nikorima 8 Matt Lodge 9 Andrew McCullough 10 Joe Ofahengaue 11 Alex Glenn 12 Jaydn Su’A 13 Matt Gillett 14 Kotoni Staggs 15 David Fifita 16 Thomas Flegler 17 Tevita Pangai Junior 18 Shaun Fensom 19 Patrick Carrigan 20 Sean O’Sullivan 21 Gehamat Shibasaki WINNER: Matt Gillett 2RF - $432,900 https://images.daznservices.com/di/library/sportal_com_au/89/a9/matt-gillett_19mgdl7r5tpje1rl91ke71g669.jpg?t=1265391455&w=500&quality=80 A move to the middle can only mean good things for Gillett. Some are afraid his return from neck surgery could slow down his early scores, however the fact Anthony Seibold has thrown Gillett into the deep end to start the year at lock after just one trial gives us confidence the representative forward will find his feet quickly. Seibold discussed how Gillett ticked a lot of boxes and did the little things right. Last week, the usual second-rower suggested his move would be long-term, with the explosive Tevita Pangai Jnr to bring his energy off the bench. Gillett, who holds a 61.5 average from 2014 to 2017, was already a base stat beast on the edge - imagine what he can do in the middle. Arguably still a slight POD with 11% ownership. LOSER: Tevita Pangai Jnr 2RF FRF - $495,000 Ongoing hamstring injuries have cost Pangai Jnr the No.13 jumper. Expect him to still see decent minutes, but not the 60+ we were hoping for in Josh McGuire's former role. Mail is he has been training hard during the week and looked raring to go. A wait and see, but it is hard to make an argument for his selection with him on the bench. WINNER: Thomas Flegler 2RF - $168,100 Flegler has squeezed into Brisbane's bench despite limited space, but how long will he survive? Payne Haas will likely return in round five and there are fears Flegler will struggle to make decent cash in such a small period. Also keep in mind Pangai Jnr and David Fifita will command decent minutes off the bench and it is hard seeing Flegler on the park for long enough to see decent price rises. Avoid. LOSER: Payne Haas FRF - $181,100 and Patrick Carrigan FRF 2RF - $168,100 Haas has been suspended for four games for failing to cooperate with the NRL Integrity Unit over a family matter. Having signed a monster, multi-million dollar extension last year, he will be a big part of Brisbane's plans going forward and will fit right back into the side. A strong downgrade option when available. Carrigan had both hands on Haas' bench spot, however an impressive trial campaign from Flegler saw the latter win the battle. Pass. Canberra Raiders 1 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2 Nick Cotric 3 Jarrod Croker 4 Joseph Leilua 5 Bailey Simonsson 6 Jack Wighton 7 Aidan Sezer 8 Josh Papalii 9 Josh Hodgson 10 Sia Soliola 11 Joe Tapine 12 Elliott Whitehead 13 John Bateaman Interchange: 14 Siliva Havili 15 Ryan Sutton 16 Dunamis Luis 17 Corey Horsburgh Reserves: 18 Sam Williams 19 Jack Murchie 20 Luke Bateman 21 JJ Collins WINNER: Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad FLB CTW - $265,500 Flown in from New Zealand just over a month ago, Nicoll-Klokstad has slotted straight into the No.1 jumper after outplaying Bailey Simonsson and Brad Abbey in the trials. Jack Wighton's move to five-eighth is a permanent one, making a CNK a must-have cheapie in CTW. LOSER: Brad Abbey CTW FLB - $203,800 When news of Wighton's positional switch hit the headlines, Abbey was touted as the replacement fullback. Round one team lists tell a different story, however. Still at a 6% ownership, get him off your books. WINNER: Bailey Simonsson CTW FLB - $168,100 A groin strain to Michael Oldfield means New Zealand rugby sevens player Bailey Simonsson will make his first grade debut on the wing for Canberra. Sporting News Australia's NRL Leaks reported Oldfield is facing up to three weeks on the sidelines, but that is subject to change depending on recovery speed. It's enough for Simonsson to make one price rise. Don't lock him in as a certain cheapie, but a few good performances could put him in good stead to hold the wing spot until Jordan Rapana returns. This one really hinges on his form in the early rounds. WINNER: John Bateman 2RF CTW - $400,000 Having played no part in Canberra's trials, Bateman has overcome a side strain injury to catapult himself into Canberra's starting 13. Every pundit Sporting News has spoken to about Bateman has given a huge rap on the Englishman. Michael Ennis described him as a combination clone of Anthony Watmough and James Graham. He has all the qualities of a refined Supercoach star and his dual-positioning at CTW is hard to ignore. Take him. LOSER: Emre Guler FRF - $227,100 Tipped to pick up the workload left by Shannon Boyd and Junior Paulo, Guler was nowhere to be seen in Canberra's 21-man squad. FRF options are even more limited now. Canterbury Bulldogs 1 Will Hopoate 2 Christian Crichton 3 Kerrod Holland 4 Marcelo Montoya 5 Reimis Smith 6 Kieran Foran 7 Lachlan Lewis 8 Aiden Tolman 9 Michael Lichaa 10 Dylan Napa 11 Josh Jackson (c) 12 Raymond Faitala-Mariner 13 Adam Elliott. Interchange: 14 Jeremy Marshall-King 15 Danny Fualalo 16 Corey Harawira-Naera 17. Sauaso Sue Reserves: 19 Jack Cogger 20 Nick Meaney 21 Chris Smith 22 Ofahiki Ogden LOSER: Nick Meaney FLB - $281,500 Meaney has been shafted as Canterbury's fullback as Will Hopoate retains the role. Look elsewhere. He was already an untrustworthy option, averaging a mediocre 38 points for Newcastle and was low in base stats with just 20.8 per game. WINNER: Will Hopoate FLB CTW - $556,000 Hopoate's 2018 average of 59 is a combination of both scores from centre and fullback. When in the No.1 role, the Tongan international actually averaged 67 in the last 10 games of the season. That's enough to argue the base stat weapon has some serious POD value. LOSER: Rhyse Martin 2RF - $634,300 Getty Images https://images.daznservices.com/di/library/sportal_com_au/97/65/rhyse-martin_1hgsl5eeb4kb1a4phg9b3cr9c.jpg?t=1606069993&w=500&quality=80 Was being hailed as the next Supercoach god in the off-season, yet can't even find a spot on Canterbury's round one roster. Oh, what a fall from grace. Martin has defensive issues and if you buy into the rumours on social media there's also an attitude problem that needs addressing. Could have been one of the premier forwards, but will again ply his trade in reserve grade. Avoid. WINNER: Dylan Napa FRF - $288,100 Napa has avoided suspension over his 'Big Papi' sex tape scandals, starting in the front-row for Canterbury. He acknowledged he came to the club for greater responsibilities, meaning you can expect more minutes from the raging red head. We're predicting he will get around 50-55 minutes per game, enough to average at least in the mid 40s to reap in a handy price rise. One of the few cheap FRF we can put faith in. Cronulla Sharks 1 Matt Moylan 2 Sosaia Feki 3 Josh Dugan 4 Josh Morris 5 Sione Katoa 6 Shaun Johnson 7 Chad Townsend 8 Andrew Fifita 9 Jayden Brailey 10 Matt Prior 11 Briton Nikora 12 Kurt Capewell 13 Paul Gallen (c). Interchange: 14 Blayke Brailey 15 Jayson Bukuya 16 Aaron Woods 17 Jack Williams. Reserves: 18 Scott Sorensen 19 Kyle Flanagan 20 Bronson Xerri 21 Braden Uele WINNER: Briton Nikora 2RF CTW - $166,100 Nikora has caught the attention of coach John Morris and has come from behind to win a place in the starting second-row in a four-way contest. A bottom-dollar starter with dual-positioning is a Supercoach's wet dream. Has attacking value on Shaun Johnson's edge.<doc-sep>The countdown is on to select the squad to carry you to SuperCoach glory. Don’t panic — we’re here to help. From the best rookies to advanced strategy, it’s all here. The SuperCoach countdown is on. The 2019 AFL season starts on March 21 which means there is less than 10 days to select the squad that will carry you to SuperCoach glory. Don’t worry — we’re here to help. The SuperCoach experts in the Herald Sun offices have been watching pre-season matches, training sessions, studying form and sniffing around AFL clubs to get the latest news on injuries and role changes for this season. From easy how-to guides to detailed rookie analysis and advanced selection strategies, we’ve got every base covered in the biggest SuperCoach pre-season ever. Check out the best bits below — and check back before Round 1 as we update this page with all the latest SuperCoach news and intel. START HERE New to SuperCoach? Check out this quick explainer of how the game works and how to put a team together — it walks you through the whole process. If you’re really pushed for time, here’s how to pick a team in five minutes. GOLDEN RULES: THE SUPERCOACH 10 COMMANDMENTS TOP GUNS: MOST POPULAR PICKS AT EVERY CLUB KEY INFO: AFL SUPERCOACH FAQs ROOKIE BIBLE Cheapies — players priced at under $200,000 — are the key to a successful SuperCoach team. Not only do they help you put a squad together under the $10 million salary cap, they help your SuperCoach team grow in overall price during the season, allowing you to upgrade starting players with prices into premium players who pump out big scores every week. The key is to find players who will get games early in the season, so role and opportunity play a big role in the search for a successful rookie SuperCoach pick. Our fully updated rookie bible includes profiles of more than 50 cheap selections this season. Here are some of the top picks: Sam Walsh (Carlton) $207,300, Mid Normally the No.1 draft pick is overlooked as a cash cow option because their price is steep for an untried player, but Walsh is different. Champion Data described him as one of the most “reliable ball-winners ever seen” after he averaged 29 disposals across 41 matches and at least 23 disposals in all 25 of his TAC Cup matches. And he carried that form into the JLT Series. Walsh was a standout against the Bombers, finishing with 28 touches, four tackles and 102 SuperCoach points, and Carlton’s third-highest scorer against Collingwood (96 points). His $200,000 price is high, but Walsh is approaching lock status. Sam Walsh has been a pre-season star for Carlton. Marty Hore (Melbourne) $117,300, Def Took the second-most marks in the VFL last year and gets a chance at the Demons at age 22. Hore played in both of Melbourne’s JLT matches and finished with 57 and 69 points, which is enough for a bench player in our SuperCoach teams. Currently the 10th most selected player, in almost 35 per cent of teams. Darcy Fort (Geelong) $117,300, Ruck The 205cm giant finally gets a chance at an AFL club six years after playing for the Geelong Falcons in the TAC Cup. Since then he has spent time in the VFL and the SANFL, where he dominated last year for Central District, averaging 123 SuperCoach points a game. The biggest issue for the 25-year-old will be getting a regular game but the Cats never settled on a starting ruckman last season, trying Rhys Stanley, Zac Smith and Ryan Abbott at various stages.Unfortunately, his JLT Series is unlikely to catapult him to the top of Chris Scott’s plans, scoring 21 and 13 in his two games. Not a bad option for your bench but don’t start him on the field! ROOKIE BIBLE: EVERY CHEAPIE YOU NEED TO KNOW Expert recruiter Gary Buckenara has also given his take on recent draftees and who is ready to play at the top level this year. Here’s one of his specials: NOAH BALTA (RICHMOND) $123,900 FWD “This one is a bit left-field because Balta needs to break in to one of the strongest teams in the competition, but he’s a big smokie. I think Richmond will be looking to get him into the AFL mix this season and I wouldn’t be surprised if he grabs his chance. He’s got the body to be able to play now and he’s got serious athleticism about him. He traditionally doesn’t get a lot of the ball but I think that will change at AFL level because Richmond’s style suits him. He can take marks and can play in a similar way to Alex Rance. He can also play forward and even in the midfield.” READ BUCKY’S FULL ROOKIE ANALYSIS HERE Joel Selwood has been a SuperCoach star for a decade. Picture: Alison Wynd JLT SERIES REVIEWS Who put up their hands for SuperCoach selection in the pre-season series? The expert crew at Doctor SuperCoach have put every match under the microscope — here are a few of their standouts. See PART ONE and PART TWO of their JLT reviews for more detailed analysis. JOEL SELWOOD $570,500 MID — 153 POINTS Geelong’s longest-serving captain just keeps on keeping on. At 30 years of age, Selwood was unstoppable on his way to 38 disposals, 12 contested possessions, seven tackles and 541m gained against Essendon. Rather than playing his typical inside midfielder role, Selwood was starting off a wing and rushing the centre bounce as the next man in. In general play, Selwood freely cruised around the ground virtually unopposed and this is evident from his 11 marks, three rebound-50s and five inside-50s. Selwood is sure to spend his fair share of time in the guts, especially in tight games where an experienced hand is needed to generate a clearance. He is certainly a unique option and with proven scoring potential. CLICK HERE TO SEE EVERY JLT SERIES SUPERCOACH SCORE TOM ROCKLIFF $405,900 MID — 170 POINTS Ladies and Gentlemen, the king of fantasy football has returned! Tom Rockliff turned back the clock and produced the standout performance of the JLT Series. He spent most of his time in the midfield with the occasional forward line stint and produced a phenomenal stat line: 41 disposals, 16 marks, nine clearances, five inside-50s and 2.2 on the scoreboard capped off a stellar day for a man who once averaged 132 across an entire season. If Rocky can carry this form into Round 1 he will be one of the best bargains of 2019. The question on everyone’s lips will remain the same — is he really back? BRAD CROUCH $418,000 MID — 124 Points The injury-prone Brad Crouch is putting forth a case like no other for a breakout 2019 season. Scores of 118 and 124 in the JLT, while averaging 77 per cent time on ground provides an astoundingly high scoring potential for someone priced so lowly — so why isn’t he in more than 20 per cent of teams? It is well documented that Brad struggles to stay on the park due to a poor injury history, but with six potentially easier matches in Adelaide’s opening nine games, Brad could start the year off hot. There won’t be a higher risk, higher reward pick this season, so buy him with extreme caution or avoid at your own peril. UNIQUE: UNDER THE RADAR JLT STARS INTEL: 21 TIPS FOR SUPERCOACH SUCCESS CRYSTAL BALL: BOLD SUPERCOACH PREDICTIONS CHAMPION DATA ANALYSIS Champion Data powers the SuperCoach scoring system and its SuperCoach expert Fantasy Freako has written several exclusive columns examining likely scoring trends, including the impact of new rules this season: REVEALED: FANTASY FREAKO’S SUPERCOACH SQUAD FREAKO: WHAT KICK-IN RULES MEAN FOR SUPERCOACH FREAKO: SOLVING THE SUPERCOACH RUCK RIDDLE FREAKO: THE OTHER BIG CHANGE TO KICK-INS Can Toby Greene return to his best this season? Picture. Phil Hillyard EXPERT TEAMS Herald Sun chief football writer Mark Robinson is daring to be different this season: “This is the most adventurous, audacious SuperCoach team I’ve ever selected. I’m sick of finishing between third and sixth.<doc-sep>
Don't hit the panic button after one week, especially on the long list of guns who failed miserably. However, some trades may be necessary to clean up slight mistakes. For example, you may have picked the wrong cheapie. We know we did. For the cocksure Supercoaches that think their team is perfect, there is always room for improvement. Scroll down to see what moves you need to make to clean up your side. WHO TO BUY IN SUPERCOACH John Bateman 2RF CTW - $400,000 Round 1 score: 65 Ownership: 16.5% Breakeven: -9 Why: Bateman was the only lock to play 80 minutes over the weekend and his dual-positioning at CTW - the position causing the most headaches - is irresistible. Mind you, 14 of those minutes were at centre when Bailey Simonsson came off with cramping, but there was nothing to suggest he wouldn't have gone the distance even without the injury. The Englishman had huge raps on him coming into round one and was listed as one of our top POD picks in the pre-season, delivering an impressive score of 65 with 61 in base stats. A must-have. Braidon Burns CTW - $286,000 Round 1 score: 70 Ownership: 3.8% Breakeven: -54 Why: What impressed us the most about Burns' performance was the Rabbitohs centre scored 70 points without a try or try assist. Burns put in the hard yards with 34 points in base stats and attacking stats were abundant with six tackle breaks and two offloads. All of those numbers were produced against the second best defensive side from last year in the Roosters. Having played most of his career on the wing, Burns - who is also a POD at 3.6% ownership - now has his chance closer to the action at centre and he is taking it by both hands. Job security isn't an issue either and it will only be solidified if Greg Inglis wants to move to fullback. After the Dragons, the Rabbitohs enjoy an easier run against the Titans, Sea Eagles, Warriors and Bulldogs. Paul Vaughan FRF - $493,000 Round 1 score: 62 Ownership: 7.3% Breakeven: 25 Why: Vaughan was a shining light in a relatively thin position, scoring 62 points with an incredible PPM of 1.17. He even saw a minutes bump, playing 53 in an increase of five minutes from last season which may have been a result of enforcer Jack de Belin's absence. Now with Tyson Frizell injured for the next month, Vaughan is an even more crucial middle forward for them. The NSW prop eats through tackles and hit-ups, has a handy offload and is capable of scoring a try. He's priced over $100K cheaper than the premiums and is just as safe. Matt Gillett 2RF - $432,900 Getty Images https://images.daznservices.com/di/library/sportal_com_au/df/ea/matt-gillett_8qwp4a9d573p1lzc5fqo4cdly.jpg?t=1982836977&w=500&quality=80 Round 1 score: 62 Ownership: 13.3% Breakeven: 6 Why: Injury? What injury? Gillett churned through 70 minutes in the unfamiliar lock position in his first game back from a season-ending neck injury and was back to his old workhorse ways. The veteran racked up 57 tackles but his defensive load hampered his running game with just eight runs for 50 metres. Gillett doesn't offer much in his new role attack-wise, but his tireless efforts in defense will see him produce consistent scores and become a 60/60 player with some enticing price rises along the way. Mitchell Moses HFB 5/8 - $383,800 Round 1 score: 69 Ownership: 4.8% Breakeven: -23 Why: Another one of our POD picks from the pre-season, Moses did exactly what we expected him to do - take control of the Eels' attack and run the show. The Parramatta half's hands were busy, but so were his shoulders as he made a respectable 24 tackles. A score of 69 even had more room to grow, denied two try assists by The Bunker, one rightfully and one wrongfully. We're tipping Moses to become a popular pick next week with the round one failures of Nathan Cleary, Kalyn Ponga and Shaun Johnson putting the premiums in dangerous territory, but get on the train a week earlier for POD value when he faces the lacklustre Bulldogs outfit, who he has historically averaged 63 against throughout his career, in round two. Jacob Host 2RF - $196,900 and Luke Garner 2RF - $265,100 Round 1 score: 45, 80 Ownership: 36%, 18% Breakeven: -31, -80 Why: If you haven't already, add Host and Garner who emerged as the top cheap forward options, alongside the popular Briton Nikora, over the weekend.