2008 TooSerious All-Australian SuperCoach Team.

Here it is, the highly anticipated 2008 TooSerious All-Australian SuperCoach Team. To get into this team you have to the best of the best. Do you take SuperCoach Too Seriously?

This All-Australian team is hard to break into since it will be based on total points for the year of 2008. Seriously, what good are averages when your man misses 4 games for the year and you have to play Tippett? You might remember half way through the year I done a Team of the Year at the half way mark. Back then it was based on averages but this one is the real deal. 

Anyway, straight into the team and what I believe is my sharpest work yet...

Enjoy.

Backline: Samuel Fisher, Chris Newman, Martin Mattner, Brendan Goddard, Jarrad Waite, Lindsay Gilbee, Brain Lake.

I couldn't believe it when I seen Brain Lake get a gig in the backline before players like Bock, Bowden, Pratt, Brennan, Gram and Bradshaw. But I had a look, he regulary scores well over 100 and even pulls off scores as big as 150. Reminds me alot like the highest scoring defender this year Sammy Fisher, averaging 101 (ranked 3rd), who manages to stand a man like Jonathan Brown and Roughnut but still waltzing around collecting some handy SuperCoach points running out of defence. He must be in contention for the real AA. Chris Newman, Marty Mattner and Lindsay Gilbee are vital to their respective sides in getting the ball out of the defensive 50 and are even more vital to our SuperCoach teams scoring some handy numbers. Brendan Goddard has even managed to sneak in, even though he played just 20 games. Thats something to remember next year, cause alot avoided him before Round 1 'cause he was expected to miss the first three games, turns out he scored more than the likes of McLeod and Gilbee for the full year. Jarrad Waite has really stepped up this and become a real SuperCoach 'Heavy Waite'. Interesting to see players like Johncock, Pratt and Old MacDonald have all dropped well down since being selected in the Team of the Year at the half way mark due to injuries or awful form.

Midfield: Jimmy Bartel, Brent Harvey, Joel Corey, Gary Ablett, Adam Cooney, Luke Power/Brett Kirk.

No surprises here, really. The top 4 for the Brownlow all feature here that includes Bartel, Harvey, Ablett and Cooney. Proof that SuperCoach scoring is an accurate tool in measuring a players preformance. Speaking of Brownlow's, Luke Power is at $301 with the TAB, might be worth a punt since he is in the top six seven SuperCoach midfielders. Why seven? Well, believe it or not High Power and Kirky finished on equal points. This section of the ground hasn't changed much since the half way mark only Goodes and Hodge have dropped out. The reason being they have missed eight games between them. Luke Hodge actually finishes 2nd based on averages, Hodgey might be one of the most popular players next year if they follow Finals DT lead and make him selectable backline. Gary Ablett has had a unbelievable year notching up the 2nd highest ever score of 254 and plenty of other huge scores. But it's Bartel form in the last half of the season that has blown me away with no score under 100 since Round 13 and going at an average of 132. Kirk and the COON! have been the reserve, struggling at the important pointy end of the season Kirk has nailed the ton only twice since round 16 and only just sneaking over the century with scores of 100 and 108. Cooney is even worse, only bringing up that same score twice since round 14.

Rucks: Dean Cox, Aaron Sandilands.

What is there to say? Cox is 400 points better than Sandi and Sandi is 300 points better than the next best Jolly. Obviously you won't waste all your quid on these two blokes next year and its going to be tough to pick that 2nd ruckman then, cause we won't have any super-cheap players like Simmonds this year. But, but Hale charged through the last 3 games averaging 131, look out for some more Hale storms next year. Also, McIntosh could take the next step? As could Kreuzer? Petrie could be a named as a ruck? Or maybe Ottens after a full pre-season could be the hot pick for that all important 2nd ruckman. More on that in 2009.

Forwards: Nick Riewoldt, Lance Franklin, Brett Deledio, Ryan O'Keefe, Drew Petrie, Matthew Pavlich, Jonathan Brown.

All of these forwards at some stage of the year were cheap. At their very cheapest their prices ranges from (excluding Matty Pavlich) $387,500-$470,600 and averaging a low of $432,000. Yes, thats right you could have paid an amazing low $432k for the six of the best forwards for the year. Thats a long way off there $600k starting prices. At that price of $432k you will  now find players like Travis Cloke, Luke McPharlin, Barry Hall, Steven Armstrong, Cameron Mooney and Adam Schneider. Yes, they are OK players but are a far cry from the top forwards from 2008. Anyone guess where I'm going with this? Forwards are very inconistent SuperCoach scorers, meaning they will have extreme price drops at certain stages during a season. So, in 2009. Don't load up your forward at day dot, that is something that can quite eaily be built on throughout the season. Like I did this year, only having Lance Franklin play everyone one of the 22 rounds. There is one bloke that is a exception to this rule, the Pavlova. He is Mrs. Consistent, the wife of Dan Cross. He only scored below 100 six times, and only the once below 70 and that was agaisnt Adeliade who stops all the big forwards. From memory it was Rutten to keep Pavlich to just 3 shots on goal. And, Pavlich scores throughout the year could have been alot bigger with 3 chances to win games that usually nets an extra 40 points. Experts are still saying Nick Riewoldt hasn't done enough for the real All-Australian selection but to recieve a TSAASCT - football's highest honour - and finish the season as the best SuperCoach forward, surely he is now a definite. The 'Cho and Chappy missed out on selection after missing some games and some disgraceful form in finals time. That opened up the door for the biggest surprise of the selections Drew 'the Lemon Tree' Petrie. On that note. I'm off to take a piss. Hope you enjoyed what I believe is my best blog of 2008.

Comments

[walesy]

Hit it in one with the forwards there.

Pav. Only.

The rest will be 200 -> 400 k specials. :) With Scott Lucas being in *every* team. :)

Rucks will be interesting next year, I definitely plan to load up one them, but as you mention, who to team up with Cox? McIntosh and Hale could both be great value, or next years Happy Gilmore.

Petrie will be interesting if selected as a Ruck, and is the front runner for me so far if that is the case...

[thokash]

Good article, pretty much spot on with all the details - every team will start with Cox and Pavlich (again), and Hodge if he is named as a back. Is there any discount if he has missed a few games like he has?

Looking forward to the next article about bargain buys!

[thokash]

Good article. Suprisingly enough I only had 8 of those names (including the 4 'power' forward in Roo, JB, Pav and Buddy).

I think just like this year every team will start with Cox and Pavlich next year, and building the team around them. Hodge would be a definate if he is included as a defender, as long as he doesn't pull a Cornes on us! Worst $630k spent ever.

[walesy]

Cornes! Both of them.

They will be very interesting value for next year.

Both will be Sub-500k players, and both probably in the mid-field only.

very. interesting.

[emilio]

dont forget kerr! i did jump early on him next year but he will be a must buy imo for next year.

add to that hodge in the back, lucas up forward, chornes in teh middle.

exciting tiems ahead

[BrayDog]

Guys, we are discussing this year in this blog. We've got the SuperCoach 2009 for all those chats. =)

How many of the TSAASCT players did you have? I had 13.

[Steve]

I only had 10 TSAASCT players in my team.

Lucas will not be in my team next year. I know he will be cheap but he is way past his best.

[walesy]

oh yes... the 2009 post... :D

*blush*

I had 11 of the buggers, :D

[Lucas]

13 in my team.

Is it just me or is Joel Corey about the most under-rated player in the comp? No words about him in the blog above but he gets in the team of the year and is a show for All Australian you'd think. More under-rated than Chris Newman and that's a hard thing to do SC wise.

The impact of missing games, or losing form late in the year is good investigative work BD.

[Lucas]

Just a quick analysis on the SCDODY team (SC Duds of Da Year) - players who played 22 matches and had lowest per position averages.

DEF: Patfull, Carlile, Bevan, Harley, Morris, Richards, S Stevens

MID: Stenglein, Crowley, A Selwood, Tambling, Rawlings, Rodan, Van Berlo

FWD: L Thomas, Rioli, Hahn, Q Lynch, Fevola, B Johnson, Medhurst

RUC: Blake, W Minson

This mob would have netted you a consistent 1569 per week. You would like to have one "dud" at most in your team.

If you had more than 4 then these guys stopped you getting up the ladder...or you were stuck with them due to injuries, etc.

I had Rioli for the first half of the year and Fevola in Rd22.

[Lucas]

Sorry some corrections to be made - sorting didn't trap all comers.

Of course Merrett made the team as captain.

Revised DEF:
Merrett, Roberts-Thomson, Patfull, Carlile, Ryder, Gilham, O'Brien

Revised FWD:
L Thomas, Rioli, Hahn, Q Lynch, Akermanis, Fevola, B Johnson

Revised score makes for 1516, with 1569 now the score including Merrett as captain.

Sorry for the earlier glitch.

[BrayDog]

Wow, Brad Johnson, Aker and Fevola. That's a big find.

I had BJ for the first 4 rounds, Fev in rd. 22 and Rioli for a good chunk of the year.

Lucas, mate I love Corey. Obvious. But, with Bartel and Ablett in your team it's hard to get rated. Corey isn't a match winner like the others, but he is bloody handy. On the top of the real AA here is mine after the release of the Squad.

B: Dale Morris, Matthew Scarlett, Tom Harley (c)
HB: Corey Enright, Nathan Bock, Luke Hodge
C: Matthew Richo, Sam Mitchell, Joel Corey.
HF: Ryan O'Keefe, Nick Riewoldt, Brent Harvey.
F: Robert Murphy, Lance Franklin, Brendan Fevola
R: Dean Cox, Gary Ablett, Jimmy Bartel.

INT: Drew Petrie, Matthew Pavlich, Adam Cooney, Joel Selwood.

I would love to squeeze in Samuel Fisher but I can't find the room. Maybe they might only name one midfielder on the bench. But, who to drop out of Selwood and Cooney?

I don't like both ROK and Bob Murphy on my ground, but who else, maybe Paul Medhurst? I can't really have another power forward.

And, of course I would kill to squeeze Cross in, his work is so underrated. But, I don't think he can do it.

[Lucas]

Fisher only could take Harley's spot. On effort and considering big Tom is protected by the best onballers in the comp, I'd strongly consider Sammy. Usually gets a good player too does Sam.

Newman no mention. Was Enright's year that good? No room for big improver Mattner?

ROK faded but probably did enough. Medhurst only other realistic option for pocket. I'd have him just over Murphy but I'm biased!

Cross would be a good challenger to Selwood. I don't see enough of Geelong but Cross impressed me more.

So I'd change the side slightly:
Fisher for Harley
Cross for Selwood
Medhurst for Murphy
Captain? Nick Riewoldt for taking Saints from almost bottom 4 early in year to top 4. A freak.

[BrayDog]

Harely has to make it. He is always running off his man and taking strong over head marks when over defenders would punch. Class act.

I think you'll find Newman and Mattner both missed out on making the squad. But, Daniel Pratt was one I was strongly considering for Enrights spot. But he has been averaging high 20's disopals floating around getting the rebound ball. Nearly as good as Hodge has.

Cross and Selwood are exactly the same players in the way they go about playing their footy. Shame Cross just can't kick. Flip a coin.

Medhurst and Murphy, was one a tossed and turned about. But Murphy was so good when the dogs were good. But, Motlop and Stevie J have both been bloody awesome.

Captain has to be Harley, if he makes that side. If not Roo is 2nd in line, easily. Then Mitchell.

The only thing is they usually include a 'ran-with' player and Kirk is the only one in squad, so maybe he has to make it.