SuperCoach 2013 will be a very different game to what we've experienced before.
Several key changes have been made to game play which are all aimed at one goal: to decrease the amount of donuts by each team every week.
Will the changes made by Virtual Sports (the power that power the game we love) make SuperCoach easier? Will they make SuperCoach better? These are questions impossible to answer yet, and for us 'new rule' guinea pigs, all the changes will probably be forgotten by the end of the year.
Change 1: Every team gets 30 trades:
That's right. In 2009 we all had 20 each. In the last two years we've had 24 each. Next year, we get 30, and this seems
Several key changes have been made to game play which are all aimed at one goal: to decrease the amount of donuts by each team every week.
Will the changes made by Virtual Sports (the power that power the game we love) make SuperCoach easier? Will they make SuperCoach better? These are questions impossible to answer yet, and for us 'new rule' guinea pigs, all the changes will probably be forgotten by the end of the year.
Change 1: Every team gets 30 trades:
That's right. In 2009 we all had 20 each. In the last two years we've had 24 each. Next year, we get 30, and this seems
a bit excessive to me.
Yes, a lot of teams were scraping the bottom of the barrel come the end of the last season, but with only a bit of forward planning, 24 is sufficient.
What it will do is keep the casual player (often found in 15th or 16th position on the ladder) playing for longer, as it takes longer to run out of trades.
But maybe that could've been taken into account by Virtual Sports, if more trades will really make SuperCoach easier, maybe there could be an option when you sign up to play with 24 or 30. Geez, now that's complicating things.
Basically what it means for SuperCoach, is that while less teams will be eating donuts, more teams will look the same, and sooner too most likely.
Change 2: Each team gets four emergencies:
This one I don't approve. In fact, if you think about it, it renders the whole 'emergency theory' useless. Why not just have the highest scoring bench player take the score?
Also taken away is that element of luck, a bit of practicality and calculated guessing was required in selecting emergencies in yesteryear, and a bit of thought needed to go into it.
Now you can just bang an emergency on every line and sleep easy, and I don't like that.
Change 3: Two extra midfielders, one less forward and defender (6-8-2-6 structure)
In Layman’s terms, this is a very simple change, but a big one. Last year (and every year before that) teams had 7 defenders, 6 midfielders, 2 ruckmen and 7 forwards scoring each week, and thus, a 7-6-2-7 structure.
Next year in fact you'll have 6 defenders, 8 midfielders, 2 ruckmen and 6 forwards, which is two extra midfielders and one less forward and defender.
I approve of this rule change because having more room for midfielders allows for more unique players as break-out contenders and high scoring but unloved players can be found in the midfield.
Also, consistently filling that seventh defender and seventh forward position has been difficult in past seasons, purely because there's been no-one to select. But there always seems to be midfield rookies to fill the gap and make a bit of cash.
Change 4: A rolling lock-out, every week:
Every dedicated fantasy footy coach isn't a fan of this, and I can understand why.
Just like the partial lock-outs of last season, only the players from the teams who are playing will be locked out, meaning you can still change your team on Sunday if you hear of a late withdrawal or an unexpected substitute. The traditional Friday night lock-out is a thing of the past, as teams can be literally changed anytime.
People who love SuperCoach but have busy weekends, you'd better invest in a smart-phone because there will be players who will analyse every final 22 every day of the weekend, making a possible change that could knock you out of the finals. Commitment just reached a new high.
So what's all your opinions? Love them or loathe them? Fire away, comment below and let us know.
Yes, a lot of teams were scraping the bottom of the barrel come the end of the last season, but with only a bit of forward planning, 24 is sufficient.
What it will do is keep the casual player (often found in 15th or 16th position on the ladder) playing for longer, as it takes longer to run out of trades.
But maybe that could've been taken into account by Virtual Sports, if more trades will really make SuperCoach easier, maybe there could be an option when you sign up to play with 24 or 30. Geez, now that's complicating things.
Basically what it means for SuperCoach, is that while less teams will be eating donuts, more teams will look the same, and sooner too most likely.
Change 2: Each team gets four emergencies:
This one I don't approve. In fact, if you think about it, it renders the whole 'emergency theory' useless. Why not just have the highest scoring bench player take the score?
Also taken away is that element of luck, a bit of practicality and calculated guessing was required in selecting emergencies in yesteryear, and a bit of thought needed to go into it.
Now you can just bang an emergency on every line and sleep easy, and I don't like that.
Change 3: Two extra midfielders, one less forward and defender (6-8-2-6 structure)
In Layman’s terms, this is a very simple change, but a big one. Last year (and every year before that) teams had 7 defenders, 6 midfielders, 2 ruckmen and 7 forwards scoring each week, and thus, a 7-6-2-7 structure.
Next year in fact you'll have 6 defenders, 8 midfielders, 2 ruckmen and 6 forwards, which is two extra midfielders and one less forward and defender.
I approve of this rule change because having more room for midfielders allows for more unique players as break-out contenders and high scoring but unloved players can be found in the midfield.
Also, consistently filling that seventh defender and seventh forward position has been difficult in past seasons, purely because there's been no-one to select. But there always seems to be midfield rookies to fill the gap and make a bit of cash.
Change 4: A rolling lock-out, every week:
Every dedicated fantasy footy coach isn't a fan of this, and I can understand why.
Just like the partial lock-outs of last season, only the players from the teams who are playing will be locked out, meaning you can still change your team on Sunday if you hear of a late withdrawal or an unexpected substitute. The traditional Friday night lock-out is a thing of the past, as teams can be literally changed anytime.
People who love SuperCoach but have busy weekends, you'd better invest in a smart-phone because there will be players who will analyse every final 22 every day of the weekend, making a possible change that could knock you out of the finals. Commitment just reached a new high.
So what's all your opinions? Love them or loathe them? Fire away, comment below and let us know.