Round 1 SuperCoach Panic Room

Let’s get the bad news out of the way. Our Prince of Panic^TM, PatchtotheMax, has hung up his cape and the cowl for 2018, preferring an easy life of podcast duties and background cricket noises.

If you caught my 3-week work experience kid write-ups of the Panic Room last year, you can expect more of the same material that our beloved Patch has given us over the years. Simpsons memes, bad decisions, and me linking to you posts and tweets from our Community members that have much better fantasy football brains than I do.

The biggest news in the off-season was Jock, Higgo, and Crouching hanging up the boots, the abacus, and the Pyanmanese children’s stories, respectively, for this year. We mourn them and miss them dearly, but SuperCoach waits for no man, no matter how much of a legend they are.

Our forefathers are fine, they are alive and well. Crouching is a little worse for wear but he’s okay. Jock will forever and always be the Father of Fantasy. He wouldn’t want me to bang on about it, he’s a proud fella, but the lessons he gave to the Community will never be forgotten. I suggest you print off the meme below and hang it somewhere close by as a reminder of the journey you’ll be undertaking this year.

(you can add personal hygiene to that list as well)

THE NEWS (FEAT. ROOKIE ROUND-UP)

Right, enough of the misty eye stuff. Let’s get into it. Remember how much Patch hated Thursday night games? Yeah, I get it now. What the bloody hell is happening with Sunday teams? Danger, Oliver, Nic Nat under injury clouds. West Coast have promised us “three or four” debutants but with half their team leaving or delisted last year this narrows it down to half their list as possible debutants.

In short, Community, yes I absolutely would panic! You have plans for Sunday? Cancel them. Boss wants you to work? You’ve broken your leg but will be in on Monday. Missus giving birth? Tell ‘em to film it and you’ll watch it during the bye rounds when there’s not enough footy on. Oliver WILL play but there’s a few alarm bells going off in the noggin’. He’s playing hurt, not something you want from your $600+k premo that isn’t named Dangerfield. If Nic Nat has been NAMED but it will be his first game in 19 months. Great story. Not for SuperCoach. And Danger? Well he HAS NOT been named, but that fiasco will roll on right up to the bounce on Sunday.

Just a quick reminder about the rolling lockout for round 1. If this article hits the site before 7:25pm stop reading this right now and get in whatever Richmond or Carlton player you want. Players from both teams will be locked out as soon as the siren sounds player. After that you’re bang out of luck, but you can still chop and change anyone from the 16 other teams. As soon as the Sherrin hits the deck for Essendon v Adelaide clash they’ll be locked out too.

Rookies have been the cause of our stress this week. Coaches coming out and naming their debutants for Sunday games has been fantastic. You’d think a rookie being a late out would be an extremely dog move by the coach so if it has been confirmed by an actual news source (and not Sam McClure) they’re debuting feel confident they’ll play.

Rookies named Thursday:

Jarrod Garlett, Paddy Dow

Rookies named Friday:

Tom Doedee, Darcy Fogarty, Lachie Murphy

Rookies named Saturday:

Cameron Rayner, Hunter Clark, Bailey Banfield, Andrew Brayshaw, Dom Barry, Nick Holman, LDU, Sam Murray, Jaidyn Stephenson (No Will Brodie??? – PANIC)

Rookies named Sunday:

Zac Langdon, Aaron Naughton, Billy Gowers, Bailey Fritsch, Lachlan Fogarty, Tim Kelly, Esava Ratugolea, Jake Waterman, Liam Ryan, Daniel Venables

Saad and Stringer will play their first games for Essendon. Hodge and Charlie Cameron will do the same for Brisbane. Rocky, Watts, Weller, Hartung, Impey, Crozier, and Jake Lever are others playing in their new colours for the first time.

Other big news from Sunday teams was Melbourne dropping Angus Brayshaw and Dom Tyson despite both them playing in Melbourne’s two preseason games. The Eagles doing the same to Mark Hutchings. Zac Smith will be a lone wolf as Rhys Stanley missed the cut and GWS had the sense to not let Dawson Simpson be their ruck, instead rushing back Rory Lobb.

CAPTAIN’S CALL

Captain’s call will be phased out this year (thank God, I was the kiss of death last year) as Post_MaSloane is stepping up on Wednesday’s to produce an in depth captain’s article. His first one is massive! Get it here. I will also throw Joel Selwood’s name into the ring for his 250^th this weekend against Melbourne. Averages 119 in his past 5 against them and…

Joel Selwood’s past 3 milestones – 150, 133 and 145 #SuperCoach points. Game 250?

— Fantasy Freako (@FantasyFreako) March 21, 2018

HEY NOW, YOU’RE A DRAFTSTAR!

Fantasy Insider are on board with us again in 2018. Daily fantasy is a lot of fun and has a different scoring system to SuperCoach that would make Kane Cornes a happy man. Gone are contested possessions, metres gained and pressure acts, instead focusing on 9 key areas.

Contests can range from single game contests to full round contests. The app is free to download and free to play, though of course if you jump into a paid contest the payout is higher. If you choose to go down this road don’t be stupid about it, only play with what you can afford. Remember it’s a bit of fun and if you find it’s making you frustrated, step away from it.

Here’s how Fantasy Insider’s famed Lineup Cruncher sees the YUUUUUGE Hawthorn v Collin

That’s just what Fantasy Insider think, but the game isn’t played on computers and spreadsheets. In these opening rounds there’s going to be debutants and returning premiums, it’s always a good idea to load up on them so you’re able to take advantage of the high priced stars. I’ve had a look at the lineups and picked out a few that could help.

Mason Cox – $9,250 – RK/FWD. His 12 possession, 4 goal game against the Western Bulldogs would have netted 100DS, if he can replicate that he’s a steal at $9250.

Jarman Impey – $8,300 – FWD. Boom or bust pick. Thought he had a good quarters across the JLT but tends to go missing. Will play across Hawks half-forward line.

James Sicily – $11,450 – DEF. The red mist occurs often for James. -3 for a free against and he’s likely to give away 5 or 6 on a good night. Yet he loves to kick it and can take a grab. High risk/high reward

Will “The Hyphen” Hoskin-Elliot – $12,400 – MID. Expecting a big year from The Hyphen as Collingwood are relying on him a lot more. Had 17 marks and 23 kicks across the JLT series, at +3 for each in Draftstars, his score will rise quickly.

Best of luck for round 1, Community. It’s an exciting time to be a fantasy coach. My scores took a dive when I wrote The Panic Room last year, so if it happens again we’re over, Patch. Finished. You hear me?!

TWITTER: SC_Kev7