The SuperCoach 10 Commandments

Brent Moloney could be one of the SuperCoach steals of the year. Source: Getty Images

SOMETIMES in life you have to take a small step back in order to make a giant leap forward.

So in our continuing quest for the Holy Grail of SuperCoach - the secret formula for success - we must look back to the days before Suns and Giants walked on the land.

We speak of a time where draftees of all colours ruled, where guns were allowed to prosper and mid-range players were not taboo.

Of a time when sliders were given a second chance and players returning from injury were welcomed back with open arms.

These were the good old days, times where the fortunes of SuperCoaches across the globe were not a Kevin Sheedy swing of the axe away from peril.

The basic guns and rookies formula will continue to form the skeleton of your team, but as Champion Data's fantasy guru Louie Kebakovski confirms, the mid-range player is now to SuperCoaches what clothes were to Adam and Eve - desirable.

"I think this year there's room for a mid-pricer," Kebakovski said. "With more trades to play with, I think you can afford to take a punt on some of these guys early on and there are plenty to choose from."

But a SuperCoach's best-laid plans for the season ahead will come to naught unless you get your starting team close to perfect.

Preparation is the key.

"At the end of the day if you nail your team you've then got room to work your cash cows, make your money and upgrade," Kebakovski said.

"If you stuff your team up from the start - and I guess it's the same as every year - you're playing catch-up trying to fix it."

So get planning.

Using our 10 SuperCoach Commandments as a guide, hopefully you will rack up scores of biblical proportions.

1 - THOU SHALT CHOOSE DRAFTEES WISELY

Selecting the right rookies is, and forever will be, key to SuperCoach success.

The ability to nurture a batch first or second year players in to fat, juicy cash cows is the only way we can litter our sides with premiums at season's end.

Greater Western Sydney's Lachie Whitfield was the standout draftee, but Champion Data's Louie Kebakovski said there may be better value out there for us.

"Unfortunately this year some of the draftees are a bit more pricey than your conventional rookies, with the exception of Jack Viney," Kebakovski said.

"Ollie Wines, Lachie Whitfield, Jimmy Toumpas, they'll play early but they're all $150,000 plus. So you've got to weigh that up."

Harry Cunningham played Sydney's first game last year but was not seen for the rest of the season. Picture: Mark Evans Source: The Daily Telegraph

2 - THOU SHALT NOT FALL FOR THE ROUND 1 BOLTER

We do it every year - panic ourselves into selecting whichever debutant is selected by his club in Round 1.

Harry Cunningham, a popular choice last year, debuted for Sydney against GWS in the season opener.

He didn't play again.

"Trust your gut," Kebakovski said.

"Clubs aren't going to debut every player in Round 1. Look at GWS last year. Adam Treloar came in in Round 3, played the rest of the year and played well."

If you'd picked him at the start of the year and sacrificed that bench position early, you wouldn't have had to burn a trade.

3 - HONOUR THY MATURE-AGED RECRUIT AND RECYCLED PLAYER

Some fads come and go.

Yo-yos, roller blades, hypercolour T-shirts, spokey dokeys.

But one that will forever be in fashion is the mature-aged recruit in SuperCoach.

Dayne Zorko was the success story of last year.

Kane Mitchell, winner of the 2012 Sandover Medal, could be this year's after an impressive NAB Cup for Port Adelaide.

Elsewhere, Brett Goodes (brother of Adam) appears set to slot in to the Western Bulldogs defence, while Dees trio Dean Terlich, Matt Jones and Dean Kent could all feature.

Throw in recycled talent Lewis Stevenson and Campbell Heath (P.A), as well as Ricky Petterd, Sam Lonergan and Chris Knights (Richmond) and you fast realise there are plenty of cheap picks out there.

Dual position players such as Dean Cox are essential for SuperCoach success. Picture: Will Russell Source: PerthNow

4 - REMEMBER TO KEEP HOLY THE DUAL POSITION PLAYERS

Want to cover injuries, suspension and selection surprises, all without having to give up precious trades?

Pick dual position players on every line of the field.

"It just gives you flexibility," Kebakovski said.

"Let's say, for example, Travis Cloke goes out for a week and you've got Dean Cox in your ruck line.

"If another dual-position ruck in the forward line who is playing regularly you can flick Cox down to cover Cloke and you won't have to put up with a zero."

That said, players such as Patrick Dangerfield and Brett Deledio have lost their dual position status this year.

Kebakovski says not to worry.

"If you want them, just pick them."

5 - THOU SHALT NOT TAKE THE EXTRA MIDFIELDERS IN VAIN

This season you need to choose eight starting midfielders instead of just six.

But don't freak out.

"You've just got to think about it as being last year's structure," Kebakovski said.

"What you're essentially doing is taking a premium player out of your defence and your forward line and putting them in to your midfield."

The Champion Data guru said there was no reason why you couldn't pick six premium midfielders from the outset.

"The midfield is where games are won," he said.

"If you can have six midfielders who can average 100-plus for you every week, there's 800 points there, if not 900 with your captain. It's almost half of your score."

6 - COVET THY MINI DRAFTEES

The "Big O", Orren Stephenson, was all the rage 12 months ago.

This time another "O", Jaeger O'Meara, is set to become every SuperCoach's best friend.

Kebakovski said he would even pick the Suns youngster over No.1 draft pick Whitfield.

"He's cheaper, likely to play a few more games and he's had an extra pre-season so he's further developed," he said.

O'Meara and Adelaide's Brad Crouch finally get to play almost 18 months after being selected in the GWS mini-draft.

But as Crouch jostles for a starting berth with the likes of Patrick Dangerfield, Scott Thompson and Rory Sloane, the "Jaeger Bomb" is the safer bet.

Brent Moloney could be one of the SuperCoach steals of the year. Source: Getty Images

7 - THOU SHALT NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS TO SLIDERS NOR THE INJURED

Brent Moloney fell off the SuperCoach radar last year, but is set to hit back with a bang now that he's a Lion.

A best-and-fairest winner at Melbourne in 2011, Moloney fell out of favour with Mark Neeld and in 15 games fell from averaging 99 points a game to just 68.

At $362k, the 29-year-old is a steal, while Carlton's Chris Yarran (also $362k, down from $473k last year) is another to consider.

Don't forget last year's injury-plagued players either.

West Coast's Josh Kennedy (was $470k, now $300k) and Mark LeCras ($468k, now $369k) stand out like beacons.

8 - FEAR NOT THE ROLLING LOCKOUT, BUT THOSE THAT SEEK TO EXPLOIT IT

The rolling lockout that once only existed for the Easter round and Anzac Day is now a permanent feature.

So basically you are free to chop, change and trade players right up until their game starts.

It will reward those who stick to their SuperCoach guns all weekend - and possibly end a few personal relationships along the way.

"You've got to make the most of the rolling lockout," Kebakovski said.

"Not everyone's going to sit by their computer or phone and wait for the teams to be announced 90 minutes before the game to see who's the sub and who's an emergency."

"If you've got Brad Hill, for example, and he's made the sub, but you've got player X on your bench who you know is going to play, just make the swap."

9 - THOU SHALT NOT FEAR THE BYE ROUNDS

In 2011 it was terrifying. In 2012 it was annoying, but this year the bye is not to be feared.

Six teams each take a break in Rounds 11-13, but throughout that three-week period scores of only 18 of your players will count.

"You still need some sort of planning. You don't really want to have 14 players from three teams who all have the bye in the same week," Kebakovski said.

"But it all depends what you want to do. If you're going for the league win, then it might not really matter. But if you're going for overall glory, then you need to think about it."

Scott Pendlebury's injured leg wouldn't be an issue for SuperCoaches this year, thanks to the extra trades available. Picture: Michael Klein Source: Herald Sun

10 - HONOUR THE ART OF PATIENCE

We each have six more trades, 30 in total, but that's no excuse for rash decisions.

"You still need to be patient," Kebakovski said.

"You don't want to get in to the trap of thinking 'OK, I've got six extra trades this year, I can take a few more risks'.

Before you know it you're down to 10 trades and it's not even Round 12.

"If you're patient then at the end of the year, on 50-50 decisions, you can make the call to trade."

But the extra trades do allow you to cut off an injured star facing an uncertain road to recovery, such as Scott Pendlebury (leg) and Lance Franklin (hamstring) last year.

"Now you can look at using one of those trades in situations like that."

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