SuperCoach: Five defenders to consider for your team in 2025
Stuck with who you should pick in your SuperCoach defence? Check out these five options in this FREE guide – including a bona fide superstar coaches are sleeping on.
SuperCoach AFL
Don't miss out on the headlines from SuperCoach AFL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
It’s time to build your SuperCoach defence!
The backbone of your side, it’s vital to nail your selections for the AFL season.
While lockdown defenders can be important in shutting down the opposition’s best forwards, in SuperCoach we turn the other way.
We need players that hunt the ball, rack up disposals and take intercept marks.
With that in mind, take a look at five players for you to consider in 2025.
SAM FLANDERS $641,500 (DEF-MID)
No, you can’t have him as a forward this time.
But it’s crucial you pay attention to Sam Flanders again this year.
In a 2024 season where finding reliable forwards in SuperCoach was like searching for a needle in a haystack, Flanders stood up as the best of the lot. So much so that he’s a terrific pick in defence or midfield this year. An average of 119, boosted by a 161 in the final round against Richmond, means the Sun heads into 2025 cherry ripe for another big SuperCoach season.
The only negative is that Flanders is dealing with a back issue in pre-season, so make sure he’s fit and firing for Opening Round before committing.
HARRY SHEEZEL $635,600
This might be the last time we can pick Harry Sheezel in our SuperCoach defence.
I don’t plan on missing out.
The third-year Kangaroo is a joy to watch and only took a couple of games to figure out how to score big SuperCoach points while playing in the guts, averaging a tick over 120 points after moving up the ground in round 9 last year. While he didn’t get as many cheap touches as he did in defence, Sheezel had no issues winning the hard ball and added scoreboard impact to his game as a midfielder. That’s where he’ll be playing majority of his footy this year, likely addding dual-position status at the first in-season update – and I’m all in.
LUKE RYAN $628,300
Are we sleeping on Luke Ryan, again?
Yes, the answer is yes.
No other defender available scored more SuperCoach points than Ryan did in 2024. The past two years he has started the season with low ownership, then by round 3 we are scrambling to make space in our teams to bring him in. Ryan currently sits at just 8 per cent ownership, mostly due to his hefty price tag. Some coaches might also think he fell away in the second half of last year, which is somewhat true. But the Docker still finished with three healthy tons in his last four games, averaging 116 points across that time. I just don’t see a fall-off in scoring from a guy who adores playing on from a kick-in and racking up uncontested marks, even if his coach isn’t a fan. I am, and I’m seriously considering paying up.
JACK SINCLAIR $592,200 (DEF-MID)
Priced a touch below the three players mentioned above, Sinclair is great buying for your SuperCoach team.
His back half of 2024 was sensational, the Saints’ bye week in round 13 alongside only Fremantle is super handy and he has dual-position status. That’s a lot of positives. The only real question mark is where Sinclair is going to play. But here’s another positive – the Saint has proven he can score well playing onball or in defence. The addition of Jack Macrae does point towards Sinclair patrolling the defensive 50, taking kick-ins and rebounding off half-back. That equals SuperCoach points.
Just keep an eye on how scans on a potential hamstring injury pan out in the coming days.
KEIDEAN COLEMAN $269,100
More Coverage
Opening Round of 2024 delivered a cruel blow when Kiddy Coleman went down with an ACL injury.
Twelve months later, Coleman is in our plans again.
The Lion’s last full AFL match was the 2023 grand final, when he top-scored with 127 points. There’s no doubt Coleman is severely underpriced, the only question mark is on his fitness. Word out of Brisbane is that Coleman now appears unlikely to play in Opening Round after experiencing swelling in his knee. But, even if he doesn’t feature in the first round or two, keep Kiddy in your thoughts as a handy trade-in option early in the season.
AFL Live: Fans stuck outside for bounce, injury carnage strikes
A notably diligent security team kept fans waiting outside of GMHBA stadium during the opening stages. Plus both sides have injury concerns. Follow live.
SuperCoach: Key takeaways from Collingwood v Carlton
TDK? Nick Daicos? Patty Cripps? It certainly wasn’t the night for the big guns at the MCG. Recap the key news and SuperCoach takeaways from the Pies’ win.
Trades revealed: SuperCoach experts make big 50-50 calls
Ryan Maric or Bailey Humphrey? Christian Moraes or Riley Bice? And what do we do with Jason Horne-Francis? See all our experts’ moves for round 4.
Top captains: Exclusive SuperCoach match-up stats
Don’t give up on Max Gawn in SuperCoach. Exclusive stats from Champion Data reveal the best and worst match-ups this week to help make the best captain and trade calls.
SuperCoach rookie radar: Who to sell, buy this week
Which SuperCoach cheapies are must-haves ahead of round 4 and who can you afford to trade out? Our experts have their say on the rookie moves you should be making this week.
Reverse trades! Expert verdict on big SuperCoach moves
Xavier Lindsay is the most traded out player in SuperCoach this week, but an expert jury says that’s a big mistake. See who to axe instead and the best buys for round 4.