AFL Supercoach 2026: Dyl's Skippers - Round 23


<p>We’re well and truly into the home stretch.&nbsp;</p>



<p>If you’re like me, you’re out of trades, which means the time spent looking at your Supercoach team has probably dwindled significantly.&nbsp;</p>



<p>How can you gain an advantage over the rest of the competition now? Captaincy.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Let’s take a look at the best options for round 23.</p>



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<p><strong>Luke Jackson &#8211; L3 v ADL: 126, 98, 107</strong></p>



<p>Returned to form with a huge 149 SC points against Melbourne and scored well against the Crows earlier in the year. Lachie McAndrew has had a week off so should be fresh, but Jackson is one of the best rucks in the game.</p>



<p><strong>Jordan Dawson &#8211; L3 v FRE: 101, 76, 68</strong></p>



<p>Hasn’t had the ceiling scores we know he can in recent weeks, but the Crows are hunting a top four place and Dawson is central to that. If they’re to cause a boilover, he’ll need to deliver. A career average of 109 against the Dockers is pretty sound.</p>



<p><strong>Izak Rankine &#8211; L3 v FRE: 67, 120, 68</strong></p>



<p>The star Crow shot the lights out last week with an unbelievable 223 SC points. Can he do it again? The Dockers away is a far harder proposition than Richmond at home, but this is a player who’s catching fire at the right time of year, averaging 150.2 SC points in his last five games.</p>



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<p><strong>Tristan Xerri &#8211; L3 v GEE: 165, 151, 91</strong></p>



<p>By his lofty standards, Xerri has been down on form in the second half of this season, but the Cats loom as a fantastic matchup, being the second easiest for rucks in the competition. Whether it’s Mitch Edwards, Mark Blicavs or Sam De Koning he faces, I’m expecting a big score from Xerri this week as the Roos look to keep their faint wildcard hopes alive for another week.</p>



<p><strong>Bailey Smith &#8211; L3 v NTH: 97,156, 91</strong></p>



<p>Reminded us all of his scoring potential last week against the Bombers with 161 SC points and is well worth considering again this week against the Roos. He’s one of the most prolific scorers in the competition on his day.</p>



<p><strong>Harry Sheezel &#8211; L3 v GEE: 82, 99, 159</strong></p>



<p>I’m worried about a potential Oisin Mullin tag here. While the star Cat could definitely go to Luke Davies-Uniacke, if he goes to Sheezel, that’s far from ideal as a captaincy prospect. Sheezel has been elite this year and has two really big scores against the Cats throughout his career, but I’m wary.</p>



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<p><strong>Lachie Neale &#8211; L3 v GCS: 138, 119, 124</strong></p>



<p>Neale has starred in QClashes over the years and has averaged 111.9 SC points against the Suns throughout his career. Neale is averaging 126.4 SC points over the last five weeks and his peaking at the right time as H2H finals continue.</p>



<p><strong>Will Ashcroft &#8211; L3 v GCS: 86, 78, 130</strong></p>



<p>Will Ashcroft has been one of the best Supercoach players in the competition since round 14, dropping below 118 just once in eight games. Strongly consider.&nbsp;</p>



<p><strong>Nick Daicos &#8211; L3 v HAW: 103, 99, 116</strong></p>



<p>Nick Daicos has historically struggled a little bit against the Hawks, but that’s been largely due to Finn Maginness’ success as a tagger and he wasn’t in Hawthorn’s side last week. Daicos is averaging 127.4 SC points across his last five games, so if Maginness isn’t named, I’d consider Daicos again this week for your captaincy.</p>



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<p><strong>Max Gawn &#8211; L3 v PTA: 126, 177, 177</strong></p>



<p>How’s that recent record against the Power! If you expand out Gawn&#8217;s career average against Port Adelaide it’s just as impressive, coming in at a whopping 117.3 SC points per game. If Max Heath remains out, you’d have to consider Gawn strongly this week.</p>



<p><strong>Clayton Oliver &#8211; L3 v WCE: 116, 109, 124</strong></p>



<p>West Coast are a great matchup for opposition midfielders this year which makes Oliver a worthy consideration this week. Has been slightly down on form in the past month, but has thrived against the Eagles throughout his career with an average of 105.6 SC points.</p>



<p><strong>Marcus Bontempelli &#8211; L3 v CAR: 88, 108, 112</strong></p>



<p>He’s looked sore in recent weeks and is out of form, but it would be a bold person to completely write off Bontempelli in captaincy discussions. </p>



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<p><strong>Brodie Grundy &#8211; L3 v ESS: 200, 121, 99</strong></p>



<p>Didn’t play last week due to personal reasons, but if he’s named this week, he looks a great option against Essendon’s inexperienced ruck department. Last time he played the Bombers he posted 200…&nbsp;</p>



<p><strong>Isaac Heeney &#8211; L3 v ESS: 123, 90, 128</strong></p>



<p>Another premium down on form right now, but the Bombers are a juicy matchup. We know what Heeney is capable of when he’s at his best.&nbsp;</p>



<p><strong>Errol Gulden &#8211; L3 v ESS: 115, 84, 149</strong></p>



<p>While Heeney has been down in recent weeks, Gulden has been firing on all cylinders averaging 126.6 SC points per game. He’s back to his best fitness wise and is finding plenty of the footy and Essendon is the second easiest matchup in the competition for midfielders.</p>



<p><strong>Nick Blakey &#8211; L3 v ESS: 155, 136, 86</strong></p>



<p>If you’re ever going to consider Blakey as a captaincy option, now would be the time to do so. The star Swan has posted two massive scores against the Bombers in recent times and has been uber solid this year once again. Essendon are the second easiest matchup for general defenders in 2026. </p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>DYLAN BOLCH’S CAPTAINCY RECOMMENDATIONS</strong></h2>



<p>VC: Xerri / B Smith / W Ashcroft</p>



<p>C: Grundy / Gawn / N Daicos</p>


AFL Supercoach 2026: Dyl’s Skippers – Round 23

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