SuperCoach AFL: The kick-in kings to target from every club
Who doesn’t love free SuperCoach points when your player steps up to take a kick-out? We look at the AFL’s kick-in kings and breakdown the data on what the stats mean for every club.
Tim Michell and Tarquin Oakley
2 min read
January 30, 2024 - 6:00AM
Every SuperCoach knows the feeling.
A player lines up for goal, misses and one of the players in your SuperCoach team sprints back to gobble up the kick-out.
There are few greater joys in SuperCoach.
It’s a surefire way to boost your SuperCoach score and has become one of the most valuable roles in the game.
Many teams have only one designated kick-in taker, although sides such as Essendon (Mason Redman/Jordan Ridley), Adelaide (Brodie Smith/Mitch Hinge/Wayne Milera) and St Kilda (Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera/Jack Sinclair) prefer to share the role between their best ball users.
As Champion Data guru Fantasy Freako explains, it is almost impossible for a kick-in not to be classed as effective under the scoring system.
Freako says a kick-in to advantage is: “A long kick that results in uncontested possession by a teammate. If an error is made by the player ‘receiving’ the ick a long kick to advantage is still recorded for the player kicking the ball.”
Here are the raw stats players score for a kick-in
Kick-in scoring in SuperCoach
Kick-In SC Pts
Kick In: Long To Advantage 4
Kick In: Effective 1
Kick In: Long 1
Kick In: Short 1
Kick In: Ineffective 0
Kick In: Clanger -4
Kick-In Play On SC Pts
Kick: Long 4
Kick: Short 4
Kick: Long To Advantage 3
Kick: Ineffective 0
Kick: Clanger -4
However, it is worth noting these scores are indicative and change based on match situation.
For example, a kick-in clanger late in a close match could be worth -5 points or more, while a kick-in clanger early in a game may be less than -4 points.
Regardless, kick-ins are a great way for a player to boost their SuperCoach points floor.
Take Fremantle’s Luke Ryan for example.
His lowest-scoring game last year was 83 points — helped by taking 54 per cent of the Dockers’ kick-ins.
Gold Coast’s Rory Atkins was another prime example of the impact kick-ins can have on SuperCoach scoring last year.
Atkins played on from every one of his 57 kick-ins and he averaged 96.7 points from rounds 19-21 while taking 20 kick-outs across those three matches.
Ensure you take kick-in numbers into account when choosing your defenders in SuperCoach.
They can often be the difference between an average score and a premium one or be what salvages a poor outing.
They are not foolproof, as roles can change and other kick-in takers can emerge — but they are often the fast track to uncovering the topscoring defenders of the season.
Here are the designated kick-in takers from all 18 clubs and expert analysis on what the stats mean for every club.
ADELAIDE
Player Kick-Ins Kick-In Play On % Effective Kick-In
Brodie Smith 58 46 79% 58
Mitch Hinge 45 44 98% 45
Wayne Milera 45 34 76% 45
WE SAY: A much more even spread after Jordan Dawson's ($647,600 MID) move to midfield. Brodie Smith ($460,100 DEF) was No.2 to Dawson in 2022 but Mitch Hinge ($474,300 DEF) and Wayne Milera ($433,100 DEF) also took on more responsibility. None of the kick-in takers at the Crows appear SuperCoach relevant this year, unless Daniel Curtin ($175,800 DEF-MID) manages to sneak a few.
BRISBANE LIONS
Player Kick-Ins Kick-In Play On % Effective Kick-In
Conor McKenna 94 52 55% 92
Keidean Coleman 41 27 66% 41
Darcy Wilmot 34 34 100% 34
WE SAY: Not a great sign for those hoping Keidean Coleman ($398,800 DEF) would become the main man after Daniel Rich's retirement. Early in 2023 when Rich was playing, the pecking order went Rich, McKenna and then Coleman. Whether that changes remains to be seen, but don't bank on Coleman being the No.1 kick-out player for the Lions. That role is likely to again fall to Conor McKenna ($353,100 DEF) who has entrenched himself as a member of the Brisbane backline.
CARLTON
Player Kick-Ins Kick-In Play On % Effective Kick-In
Mitch McGovern 111 90 81% 110
Adam Saad 76 53 70% 76
Nic Newman 40 40 100% 40
WE SAY: No great surprise to see Sam Docherty's ($562,200 MID) numbers plummet from 65 kick-outs in 2022 (ranked #1 at the Blues) to 14 (ranked #4) as he played further afield for much of the season. The wildcard this season will be Zac Williams ($216,100 DEF). In the first eight rounds of 2022, Williams was entrusted with 34 kickouts - more than any other Blue. Mitch McGovern ($448,900 DEF) stepped up last year, but it would give SuperCoaches even greater incentive to pick Williams if he shares the role.
COLLINGWOOD
Player Kick-Ins Kick-In Play On % Effective Kick-In
Darcy Moore 85 83 98% 84
Nick Daicos 54 54 100% 54
Brayden Maynard 38 33 87% 38
WE SAY: These do not paint a full picture of Nick Daicos' ($650,000 DEF-MID) campaign - the Brownlow Medal favourite took 41 of his 53 kick-ins from round 16 onwards, a period during which he transitioned into a fulltime midfielder. Darcy Moore ($505,900 DEF) was a consistent presence in the defensive goal square and averaged more than 90 points for the first time. Scott Pendlebury ($525,100 MID) was prominent early in the campaign before the Magpies' ended the experiment with him playing deep in defence. Expect Moore and Brayden Maynard (449,400 DEF) to share kick-in duties in 2024.
ESSENDON
Player Kick-Ins Kick-In Play On % Effective Kick-In
Mason Redman 88 83 94% 88
Jordan Ridley 59 56 95% 59
Andrew McGrath 48 46 96% 48
WE SAY: One of the most frustrating teams in SuperCoach as the kick-outs are shared between three players. Many coaches were banking on a spike from Jordan Ridley ($530,300 DEF) last season but it never eventuated as Mason Redman ($507,800 DEF) took charge. The dream result for SuperCoaches would have been Redman accepting an offer from Adelaide and freeing up Ridley, but he re-signed with the Bombers. Watch for Nic Martin ($492,800 MID) to take some if his mooted defensive switch comes to fruition.
FREMANTLE
Player Kick-Ins Kick-In Play On % Effective Kick-In
Luke Ryan 119 109 92% 118
Hayden Young 43 38 88% 43
Jordan Clark 23 16 70% 23
WE SAY: Luke Ryan ($611,800 DEF) was one of the most prolific kick-in takers in the AFL last year and his tally of 119 accounted for 53.8 per cent of Fremantle's total kick-ins. Ryan took at least five kick-ins in 16 matches, helping him reach a career-best average of 109.5. Ryan has dominated the Dockers' kick-ins for the past three seasons and Hayden Young's ($525,100 DEF) move to the midfield will give him even more share. Jordan Clark ($461,000 DEF) and Corey Wagner ($410,500 DEF) are the most likely players to deputise for Ryan.
Who doesn’t love free SuperCoach points when your player steps up to take a kick-out? We look at the AFL’s kick-in kings and breakdown the data on what the stats mean for every club.
Tim Michell and Tarquin Oakley
2 min read
January 30, 2024 - 6:00AM
Every SuperCoach knows the feeling.
A player lines up for goal, misses and one of the players in your SuperCoach team sprints back to gobble up the kick-out.
There are few greater joys in SuperCoach.
It’s a surefire way to boost your SuperCoach score and has become one of the most valuable roles in the game.
Many teams have only one designated kick-in taker, although sides such as Essendon (Mason Redman/Jordan Ridley), Adelaide (Brodie Smith/Mitch Hinge/Wayne Milera) and St Kilda (Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera/Jack Sinclair) prefer to share the role between their best ball users.
As Champion Data guru Fantasy Freako explains, it is almost impossible for a kick-in not to be classed as effective under the scoring system.
Freako says a kick-in to advantage is: “A long kick that results in uncontested possession by a teammate. If an error is made by the player ‘receiving’ the ick a long kick to advantage is still recorded for the player kicking the ball.”
Here are the raw stats players score for a kick-in
Kick-in scoring in SuperCoach
Kick-In SC Pts
Kick In: Long To Advantage 4
Kick In: Effective 1
Kick In: Long 1
Kick In: Short 1
Kick In: Ineffective 0
Kick In: Clanger -4
Kick-In Play On SC Pts
Kick: Long 4
Kick: Short 4
Kick: Long To Advantage 3
Kick: Ineffective 0
Kick: Clanger -4
However, it is worth noting these scores are indicative and change based on match situation.
For example, a kick-in clanger late in a close match could be worth -5 points or more, while a kick-in clanger early in a game may be less than -4 points.
Regardless, kick-ins are a great way for a player to boost their SuperCoach points floor.
Take Fremantle’s Luke Ryan for example.
His lowest-scoring game last year was 83 points — helped by taking 54 per cent of the Dockers’ kick-ins.
Gold Coast’s Rory Atkins was another prime example of the impact kick-ins can have on SuperCoach scoring last year.
Atkins played on from every one of his 57 kick-ins and he averaged 96.7 points from rounds 19-21 while taking 20 kick-outs across those three matches.
Ensure you take kick-in numbers into account when choosing your defenders in SuperCoach.
They can often be the difference between an average score and a premium one or be what salvages a poor outing.
They are not foolproof, as roles can change and other kick-in takers can emerge — but they are often the fast track to uncovering the topscoring defenders of the season.
Here are the designated kick-in takers from all 18 clubs and expert analysis on what the stats mean for every club.
ADELAIDE
Player Kick-Ins Kick-In Play On % Effective Kick-In
Brodie Smith 58 46 79% 58
Mitch Hinge 45 44 98% 45
Wayne Milera 45 34 76% 45
WE SAY: A much more even spread after Jordan Dawson's ($647,600 MID) move to midfield. Brodie Smith ($460,100 DEF) was No.2 to Dawson in 2022 but Mitch Hinge ($474,300 DEF) and Wayne Milera ($433,100 DEF) also took on more responsibility. None of the kick-in takers at the Crows appear SuperCoach relevant this year, unless Daniel Curtin ($175,800 DEF-MID) manages to sneak a few.
BRISBANE LIONS
Player Kick-Ins Kick-In Play On % Effective Kick-In
Conor McKenna 94 52 55% 92
Keidean Coleman 41 27 66% 41
Darcy Wilmot 34 34 100% 34
WE SAY: Not a great sign for those hoping Keidean Coleman ($398,800 DEF) would become the main man after Daniel Rich's retirement. Early in 2023 when Rich was playing, the pecking order went Rich, McKenna and then Coleman. Whether that changes remains to be seen, but don't bank on Coleman being the No.1 kick-out player for the Lions. That role is likely to again fall to Conor McKenna ($353,100 DEF) who has entrenched himself as a member of the Brisbane backline.
CARLTON
Player Kick-Ins Kick-In Play On % Effective Kick-In
Mitch McGovern 111 90 81% 110
Adam Saad 76 53 70% 76
Nic Newman 40 40 100% 40
WE SAY: No great surprise to see Sam Docherty's ($562,200 MID) numbers plummet from 65 kick-outs in 2022 (ranked #1 at the Blues) to 14 (ranked #4) as he played further afield for much of the season. The wildcard this season will be Zac Williams ($216,100 DEF). In the first eight rounds of 2022, Williams was entrusted with 34 kickouts - more than any other Blue. Mitch McGovern ($448,900 DEF) stepped up last year, but it would give SuperCoaches even greater incentive to pick Williams if he shares the role.
COLLINGWOOD
Player Kick-Ins Kick-In Play On % Effective Kick-In
Darcy Moore 85 83 98% 84
Nick Daicos 54 54 100% 54
Brayden Maynard 38 33 87% 38
WE SAY: These do not paint a full picture of Nick Daicos' ($650,000 DEF-MID) campaign - the Brownlow Medal favourite took 41 of his 53 kick-ins from round 16 onwards, a period during which he transitioned into a fulltime midfielder. Darcy Moore ($505,900 DEF) was a consistent presence in the defensive goal square and averaged more than 90 points for the first time. Scott Pendlebury ($525,100 MID) was prominent early in the campaign before the Magpies' ended the experiment with him playing deep in defence. Expect Moore and Brayden Maynard (449,400 DEF) to share kick-in duties in 2024.
ESSENDON
Player Kick-Ins Kick-In Play On % Effective Kick-In
Mason Redman 88 83 94% 88
Jordan Ridley 59 56 95% 59
Andrew McGrath 48 46 96% 48
WE SAY: One of the most frustrating teams in SuperCoach as the kick-outs are shared between three players. Many coaches were banking on a spike from Jordan Ridley ($530,300 DEF) last season but it never eventuated as Mason Redman ($507,800 DEF) took charge. The dream result for SuperCoaches would have been Redman accepting an offer from Adelaide and freeing up Ridley, but he re-signed with the Bombers. Watch for Nic Martin ($492,800 MID) to take some if his mooted defensive switch comes to fruition.
FREMANTLE
Player Kick-Ins Kick-In Play On % Effective Kick-In
Luke Ryan 119 109 92% 118
Hayden Young 43 38 88% 43
Jordan Clark 23 16 70% 23
WE SAY: Luke Ryan ($611,800 DEF) was one of the most prolific kick-in takers in the AFL last year and his tally of 119 accounted for 53.8 per cent of Fremantle's total kick-ins. Ryan took at least five kick-ins in 16 matches, helping him reach a career-best average of 109.5. Ryan has dominated the Dockers' kick-ins for the past three seasons and Hayden Young's ($525,100 DEF) move to the midfield will give him even more share. Jordan Clark ($461,000 DEF) and Corey Wagner ($410,500 DEF) are the most likely players to deputise for Ryan.
