AFL Supercoach 2026: Bandit's Skippers - Round 12


<p>We’re into the bye rounds and the first week threw coaches a curveball straight away with Brodie Grundy being rested for what would have been a juicy match up against Richmond. </p>



<p>It certainly proved that for Isaac Heeney who gave owners a massive leg up with a 174 against the Tigers in the clear standout performance of the weekend.</p>



<p>With just Richmond and GWS on the bye this week there’s no shortage of options to look at for Round 13.</p>



<a id='q1cf25yoTKxa9WhIy1OLGA' class='gie-single' href='https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/2275602177' target='_blank' style='color:#a7a7a7;text-decoration:none;font-weight:normal !important;border:none;display:inline-block;' rel="noopener">Embed from Getty Images</a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'q1cf25yoTKxa9WhIy1OLGA',sig:'UfLo65iJ_K0FQ1L4-FA5JkI85LbCA0jlyvw8RzQ2fYU=',w:'594px',h:'396px',items:'2275602177',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })});</script><script src='//embed-cdn.gettyimages.com/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async></script>



<p><strong>Bailey Smith – L3 vs ADEL: 172, 126, 121</strong></p>



<p>Has a huge record against the Crows and his Round 3 performance against them which yielded 40 disposals and ten tackles will certainly draw a lot of coaches to him again tonight. Looks a solid play.</p>



<p><strong>Marcus Bontempelli – L3 vs HAW: 84, 101, 142</strong></p>



<p>Big watch on whether Connor Nash gets named for the Hawks tonight, given his recent success in blanketing the Dogs’ captain. Scores of 84 and 101 in their last two meetings are nothing to write home about but if Nash doesn’t play then I think Bont is a VC lock.</p>



<p><strong>Luke Jackson – L3 vs NM: 100, 178, 57</strong></p>



<p>Hasn’t been going that well of late with a three-round average of 91, but he’s come through some tricky match ups in St Kilda and Brisbane and if the talk of Xerri missing due to a head clash at training comes to fruition, there’s a big score on offer here against the Roos. </p>



<a id='-RADmXGEQtV2ERYKnN3iTA' class='gie-single' href='https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/2278881229' target='_blank' style='color:#a7a7a7;text-decoration:none;font-weight:normal !important;border:none;display:inline-block;' rel="noopener">Embed from Getty Images</a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'-RADmXGEQtV2ERYKnN3iTA',sig:'Hep4OjMLrQmN0zidmXZeN-heew0xAb--d-r7P9-9Ois=',w:'594px',h:'396px',items:'2278881229',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })});</script><script src='//embed-cdn.gettyimages.com/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async></script>



<p><strong>Luke Davies-Uniacke – L3 vs FREM: 102, 105, 155</strong></p>



<p>Feels like LDU has really flown under the radar in 2026 but the star Roo has only put up two scores below 112 which is impressive. Given North’s very friendly run of games coming up it’s time to start considering him as a legitimate captaincy option every week.</p>



<p><strong>Harry Sheezel – L3 vs FREM: 115, 113, 114</strong></p>



<p>Sheezel has been a bit up and down recently with the finger injury he picked up a few weeks back, but I expect him to resume his standard level of output now that the Kangaroos have had a week off. Should be in everyone’s captaincy considerations moving forward.</p>



<p><strong>Zak Butters – L3 vs WCE: 126, 154, 117</strong></p>



<p>West Coast has deployed taggers to good effect in recent weeks, but Butters is different gravy when it comes to midfielders. Even if he does get some attention I still think he’s a good option this week with his track record against the Eagles.</p>



<a id='XwEhFwWAQm97E9wJmP8K8Q' class='gie-single' href='https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/2273409515' target='_blank' style='color:#a7a7a7;text-decoration:none;font-weight:normal !important;border:none;display:inline-block;' rel="noopener">Embed from Getty Images</a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'XwEhFwWAQm97E9wJmP8K8Q',sig:'RMkJXbY2r1J1uMjTabHQUsOtSVxeYYiEPmeJstGtdnE=',w:'594px',h:'435px',items:'2273409515',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })});</script><script src='//embed-cdn.gettyimages.com/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async></script>



<p><strong>Isaac Heeney – L3 vs STK: 78, 127, 75</strong></p>



<p>Heeney’s recent record against the Saints isn’t overly impressive which might count against him this week. Good chance that he gets a Hugo Garcia or Marcus Windhager for company, but he should still be considered regardless.</p>



<p><strong>Nick Daicos – L3 vs MELB: 91, 95, 64</strong></p>



<p>Nick just doesn’t seem to be having the same level of impact that he was having earlier in the season. He’s still finding plenty of the ball but his efficiency was well down last week against the Dogs and I think Melbourne will look to play him in a similar way where he can get the ball but in high-pressure situations. I’m looking elsewhere this week personally.</p>



<p><strong>Max Gawn – L3 vs COLL: 137, 131, 132</strong></p>



<p>I can see Gawn having a monster day against the Pies if he continues to solo ruck. What better way to honour the legacy of former Melbourne coach Neale Daniher in the Freeze MND game than by putting in a BOG performance in a Melbourne win? He’ll be hard to top as one of the captaincy picks of the week.</p>



<a id='eIrhKMa8RUhnL5mQaVe9yw' class='gie-single' href='https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/2278901517' target='_blank' style='color:#a7a7a7;text-decoration:none;font-weight:normal !important;border:none;display:inline-block;' rel="noopener">Embed from Getty Images</a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'eIrhKMa8RUhnL5mQaVe9yw',sig:'z1GmlzGVc33eFH-1bzwXVUWIwd0PVW7PqdDCA41ropY=',w:'594px',h:'396px',items:'2278901517',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })});</script><script src='//embed-cdn.gettyimages.com/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async></script>



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



<p>VC: Smith / Bontempelli / Jackson (if Xerri is out)</p>



<p>C: Butters / Gawn</p>


AFL Supercoach 2026: Bandit’s Skippers – Round 13

Discussion (0)

AFL Supercoach 2026: Bandit’s Skippers – Round 12

AFL Supercoach 2026: Bandit’s Skippers – Round 11

AFL Supercoach 2026: Bandit’s Skippers – Round 10

AFL Supercoach 2026: Bandit’s Skippers – Round 9