AFL Supercoach 2026: Bandit's Skippers - Round 8


<p>Captaincy picks would have been a huge factor in your overall score last week. </p>



<p>If you had Grundy (151), Wanganeen-Milera (149), Jackson (147) or even Bontempelli (135) with his dodgy knee you would have been happy. </p>



<p>If you had Butters (115), Gawn or Daicos (105 each) then you would have been a bit less pleased.</p>



<p>The next month of games we have ridiculous double headers on Friday night, so make sure you’re not caught out with having a VC overlap into a potential C candidate and force yourself into making a decision mid-way through a match. </p>



<p>Let’s take a look at the best options for this week. </p>



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<p><strong>Nick Daicos – L3 vs HAW: 99, 116, 102</strong></p>



<p>Nothing wrong with putting the VC on Nick this week but bear in mind the Hawks could send Finn Maginness to him which they have done with reasonable levels of success in recent times. </p>



<p>With Pendlebury out though it’s really Nick or bust in the guts for the Pies.</p>



<p><strong>Luke Jackson – L3 vs WBD: 84, 115, 76</strong></p>



<p>Jackson’s record against the Dogs isn’t amazing, but he’s playing on a better level than previous years and hasn’t put up a score below 100 so far this season including averaging 132 in his last three games. </p>



<p>Looks the perfect VC play this week assuming English misses again for the Dogs.</p>



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<p><strong>Zak Butters – L3 vs ADEL: 124, 117, 124</strong></p>



<p>Loves a Showdown does Zak and his recent efforts against the Crows have been solid. </p>



<p>With Horne-Francis back into a midfield role, hopefully he can get off the chain a bit more like he did last week despite a heavy tag by the Cats. </p>



<p>Keep in mind though this game overlaps with Fremantle’s, so you probably don’t want to VC Jackson and then have the C on Butters.</p>



<p><strong>Max Holmes – L3 vs NM: 130, 80, 87</strong></p>



<p>Assuming he doesn’t get followed by Finn O’Sullivan this week, I reckon there’s a big score on offer for Holmes. </p>



<p>Back in Geelong on their home deck and the Cats will be smarting after dropping a game they really should have won last week but just didn’t show up. </p>



<p>Expecting both Holmes and Bailey Smith to go 120+.</p>



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<p><strong>Tristan Xerri – L3 vs GEEL: 151, 91, 102</strong></p>



<p>Picked up where he left off prior to his suspension last week with a lazy 150 against GWS. </p>



<p>With the Cats relying on inexperienced or lesser rucks, he looks like the obvious ceiling captain this week if you still own him.</p>



<p><strong>Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera – L3 vs CARL: 103, 105, 61</strong></p>



<p>Nas is back on track after being a bit up and down to start the season and put up big numbers on West Coast last week. </p>



<p>I can’t really see who would run with him in the Carlton line up which gives me confidence to put his name into the captaincy mix. It would be a risk though.</p>



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<p><strong>Max Gawn – L3 vs SYD: 153, 72, 65</strong></p>



<p>Interested to see what the Dees do at selection this week after bringing Max Heath in as ruck support and playing Gawn more forward last week. </p>



<p>Was that a short-term management plan or a hint to a dual ruck set up? </p>



<p>If Heath plays again, I’m less keen on backing Max in with the C this week against Grundy.</p>



<p><strong>Brodie Grundy – L3 vs MELB: 109, 139, 148</strong></p>



<p>Grundy is red hot at the moment with a massive five-round average of 146 and if you have him in your side then there’s no reason to jump off him. </p>



<p>Even though he could come up against Gawn and Heath this week, I suspect he’ll still score well. </p>



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<p><strong>Christian Petracca</strong></p>



<p>Looks like he’s over that hamstring injury now and back to some of the form we saw early on. </p>



<p>If he’s found his way back into your team then he looks a trustworthy option. Does he get the Toby Bedford tag this week would be my only question mark.  </p>



<p><strong>BANDIT’S RECOMMENDATIONS</strong></p>



<p>VC: Jackson / Butters&nbsp;</p>



<p>C: Xerri / Grundy</p>


AFL Supercoach 2026: Bandit’s Skippers – Round 8

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