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I think his analysis should have said. I'm paying up for the big 4 plus Oliver, this is a low risk way to reliable point generation. But it doesn't come for free. Nothing does in supercoach. I'm then gambling on a bunch of old, previously injured guys who will most likely fall apart or fail (role change zorko): Howe, Danger, Cunnington, Zorko.
Where I do show faith in young players they're again injured or subject role risk (dunkley/stewart/next sentence). I've then, hoped that an overly stacked GWS midfield parts like the red sea for Green to walk in take all the points. I'm hoping to win this game of roulette, noting that Liam Cameron might just walk off with the whole table.
Put a fork in me I'm done. Sorry for wasting your time.
Comment: 11 Premos, 3 mid pricers and 1 ZDI* I think he's a little short, but that happens when you pick the big 4 plus Oliver. No Laird, as highlighted a mistake. If he was going with the big 5 I would have expected a little more in the Cripps/Walsh/McSuitcase/Simpkin/4 game GOAT style picks through the mids. Quite frankly a disappointing article.
Comment 2: Cumming is a great pick in isolation I believe. But the quality of defense rookies generally high. This with the high certainty premos means MPs in the def is tricky.
*ZDI: a premium rookie: Zeibell/Daniher/Impey (Ben Brown formerly qualified)
Where I do show faith in young players they're again injured or subject role risk (dunkley/stewart/next sentence). I've then, hoped that an overly stacked GWS midfield parts like the red sea for Green to walk in take all the points. I'm hoping to win this game of roulette, noting that Liam Cameron might just walk off with the whole table.
Put a fork in me I'm done. Sorry for wasting your time.
Comment: 11 Premos, 3 mid pricers and 1 ZDI* I think he's a little short, but that happens when you pick the big 4 plus Oliver. No Laird, as highlighted a mistake. If he was going with the big 5 I would have expected a little more in the Cripps/Walsh/McSuitcase/Simpkin/4 game GOAT style picks through the mids. Quite frankly a disappointing article.
Comment 2: Cumming is a great pick in isolation I believe. But the quality of defense rookies generally high. This with the high certainty premos means MPs in the def is tricky.
*ZDI: a premium rookie: Zeibell/Daniher/Impey (Ben Brown formerly qualified)
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Perhaps more important is how much value he lost.
He was available for this much less than starting price in those seasons by round 8 (all between 6 and 8):
2020 - 76,800
2019 - 81,200
2018 - 136,600 (173,900 if you waited until round 10)
2017 - 78,300
2016 - 64,600
75k discount by round 8 in the last 4 years and an average drop of 87,500. Past performance is never a true indicator but this one is a pretty reliable trend for mine.
https://www.heraldsun.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=HSWEB_MRE170_a_FBK&dest=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/afl-2021-jack-steele-says-tom-highmore-has-impressed-him/news-story/90e4632ca2c7fb4db90ae42a8e4437da&memtype=anonymous&mode=premium&offerset=hs_mobile
Is someone please able to post this article.
Thanks in advance.
Is someone please able to post this article.
Thanks in advance.
Star St Kilda midfielder Jack Steele says he is ready to step up and lead the Saints if he is appointed the club’s next captain as widely expected.
The tough-nut established his captaincy credentials during a phenomenal 2020 season when Steele claimed All-Australian and best and fairest honours as well as 20 Brownlow Medal votes to catapult the Saints into the semi-final.
Steele, 25, who is in-line to replace injured veteran Jarryn Geary as skipper, said he had confidence he could do the job if endorsed by his peers.
“I feel like I had a lot of responsibility last year being one of the leaders in the midfield and with that weight on my shoulders I feel like my game got better,” Steele said as part of Kayo’s 2021 Sport Lives Here launch.
“It would be tough, no doubt. But I feel like I would deal with the pressure well and play with a bit of anger and heart out on the field.
“I’m driven, and the expectations of myself and the team are pretty high, so I think I’m one who leads by example and puts a lot out there on the field.”
After coming across from GWS Giants in late 2016, Steele said Moorabbin “definitely feels like home now” and lauded his teammates, ruckmen and new coach Brett Ratten for helping elevate his game.
“I feel like I have cemented my spot in the (best) 22 and I feel as comfortable as I have ever been on an AFL list and St Kilda is where I want to be for the rest of my career,” he said.
But Steele said mature-age defender Tom Highmore, 22, was the one who had turned heads over the preseason with his courageous intercept marking.
“In terms of his courage and ball use, you wonder how he hasn’t already been on an AFL list,” Steele said.
“It is great to have him and good to get those sort of surprise packets from the draft.”
St Kilda shocked the Western Bulldogs in the elimination final last year to help cap a fairytale rise under Ratten in his first full season in charge.
Steele, who stamped himself as an elite AFL midfielder averaging 22 possessions and five tackles a game last year, said the Saints were determined to go even deeper into September in 2021.
“We are very capable of doing that,” he said.
“We would be pretty upset if we didn’t do what we did last year plus more.
“It is definitely a goal to back it up and see what else we can do.”
Steele said the Saints’ bolstered midfield unit should be a strength in the new season.
“This time of the year is a bit of a tease playing preseason games, but I can’t wait to get stuck into it,” he said.
“Now that we have got a bit of depth in the midfield it should make us a real contender and we are all looking forward to the year ahead.”
Is there any chance someone could post this article? Hawks have a lot of developing talent and could provide some good rookies for SC this year. (link won't work for non-subscribers)
https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/...d/news-story/c285e5244b78052ed56c42a2ba6091f2
Thanks.
(link won't work for non-subscribers)https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/...d/news-story/c285e5244b78052ed56c42a2ba6091f2
Thanks.
Is there any chance someone could post this article? Hawks have a lot of developing talent and could provide some good rookies for SC this year. (link won't work for non-subscribers)
https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/...d/news-story/c285e5244b78052ed56c42a2ba6091f2
Thanks.
(link won't work for non-subscribers)https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/...d/news-story/c285e5244b78052ed56c42a2ba6091f2
Thanks.
DGB & Sicily
On Sicily - “Obviously it’s a pain to lose Sicily but from a maturity point of view he has been really good. He is out on the track coaching and walking around with our defenders, talking to Denver about how to play the role and he has been one of our really strong leaders amongst our playing group."
On DGB - “He’s been going really well. We have played in little intra-club scratch matches of 20 and 30 minutes and he’s showing really good signs. You can understand why he’s an early pick, his reading of the ball in flight is outstanding. Like most of these kids he is still learning the game. It’s not for me to say who is in the selection frame (for Round 1) but if you looked at his match play last week you would say he’s ready to play. Then you look at other training stuff and he’s a little green and now quite ready. He is quite athletic and tall and can play a multitude of roles but he’s well suited to that mid-tier defender who can read the ball in flight and hopefully he is a guy who can turn over a lot of the footy in the way James Sicily plays.”
Downie
“He’s been playing mostly on a wing with a little bit of half back and half forward. He’s a ripper kid. Desperate to learn, desperate to improve, he wants to look at vision, he wants to grab hold of coaches. He has beautiful kicking stills and runs well in space.”
Brockman
“He is going to have a pretty special highlights tape. If we fast-forward 10 years, you look at the career he is going to have and if you look at the highlights tape there won’t be too many better."
“He has a desire to get after the opposition, he’s quite selfless around goals and he squares it quite a bit and puts teammates into better positions. He is agile and has nice skills on both sides, I didn’t initially know if he was left or right footed so he’s got a pretty bright future.”
Worps
“He is 22 and he is winning most of the physical testing, beating guys who are 27 and 28. He is on a mission as far as improvement not just of himself but the whole group. His promotion into the leadership group means he will get that exposure and drag a lot of younger guys along with him.”
Scrimshaw
“His body language sometimes suggests he is a little laconic but what he produces is pretty consistent in a tough position so he’s really important for us. He has a little X factor in the back half, he is a nice size, he can take a tall or small and he’s damaging by leg. He has started to figure out what is the really important part of his game and what he needs to produce consistently but also his weaknesses."
Day
“He is a guy who is just about the first magnet on the board. Where he plays this year, no one knows just yet. He played a lot as a defender and at times we pushed him up onto a wing and he wasn’t really ready to play there but he has such a high footy IQ. His ability to catch on is really strong. He will do some things at his age that he shouldn’t be able to do until 26. Just that clever little handball that most players would get cut off, but he has that spatial awareness. He’s going to be a player for us for a long time and it’s what we are trying to embed with that new wave of talent coming through.”
CJ
“His best is phenomenal but his worst did cost us fairly regularly and as a defender that’s quite tough. The thing he has worked on and credit to him is doing the simple things well."
Other names - Mitch Lewis and Kosi working very closely with McRae on refining their craft, both training extremely hard and showing a bit. Moore is looking to get a better run at it this year. Greaves a great example of hard work and is a very reliable player, which is needed to balance out the guys in defense who take the game on a bit more
KFC SuperCoach 2021 Rookie Bible: Best cheapies for your team
A Tasmanian recruit is making a big push to line up for Collingwood in Round 1 — and he could come straight into thousands of KFC SuperCoach teams. See all the top cheapies.
Dan Batten
19 min read
February 14, 2021 - 9:08AM
News Corp Australia Sports Newsroom
Where are all the KFC SuperCoach rookies, you ask?
They are here in the pre-season Rookie Bible, your next stop shop for SuperCoach cash cows.
While the hectic 2020 season had cheapies presenting themselves on a regular basis, the rookie cupboard will be barer in 2021 for several reasons.
The most significant of those being the number of cheapies who were blooded through the crammed fixture last year, meaning we may have to settle for some more expensive options.
Compounding this is the interrupted schedule of the 2020 draft pool, with the scrapped under-18 national championships, due to COVID-19, giving us less data to access these draftees.
Meanwhile, Victorian draftees – accounting for about half of the draft class - were unable to take the field at all in the NAB League due to the pandemic, meaning it will be down to guesswork and bottom-age stats to determine their worth.
Making things even worse is the revised AAMI Community Series, leaving KFC SuperCoaches with just one game to judge which rookies to slot in their starting teams.
Check out the rookies to keep an eye on throughout the pre-season.
ADELAIDE
James Rowe $117,300 FWD
SC Average (SANFL 2020): 96
Rowe led the SANFL goal-kicking with 35 majors for Woodville-West Torrens, posting seven scores above 110 on his way to a 96-point KFC SuperCoach average. The industrious small forward shapes as a player who can step into a Crows forward line which struggled for potency as a 21-year-old talent.
SC verdict: There aren’t a great deal of sure things among this rookie crop but he looks like one of them. Being a mature-age recruit sweetens the deal.
Luke Pedlar $162,300 MID
SC Average (SANFL U18 2020): 128
The bolter of last year’s draft class, swooped on by the Crows after attracting late interest, Pedlar is a big-bodied midfielder who wins contested ball and has a booming left boot. His draft year was curtailed by injury but he began his SANFL U18 season like a house on fire with scores of 155, 140 and 148 across his first four matches.
SC verdict: Remains to be seen where he sits in the midfield pecking order – could he be the ready-made replacement for Brad Crouch?
Riley Thilthorpe $202,800 FWD/RUCK
SC Average (SANFL 2020): 96
Thilthorpe was the first player taken in the open draft and he should feature early if his body is right to go, after encountering groin trouble in 2020. The 200-centimetre beast is extremely mobile and clunks contested marks, showing off these traits at SANFL senior level, and can play either as a ruckman or a tall forward.
SC verdict: While he may play in Round 1, he is far too expensive for a player likely to spend most of his time up forward while Reilly O’Brien holds the ruck fort.
Sam Berry $117,300 MID
SC Average (NAB League): 104
Berry was unable to show on field due to the NAB League shutdown but the signs were extremely positive from the inside midfielder as a bottom-ager, including one monster outing. Try these stats on for size – 20 disposals, 18 tackles, 17 contested possessions, nine clearances, three goals and 220 KFC SuperCoach points. Proved he is no slouch in covering the ground either, placing fifth nationally in the 2km time trial at the draft combine.
SC average: Lot to like about this youngster and he looms as a profitable pick if he breaks in early.
Brayden Cook $117,300 MID
SC average (SANFL U18 2020): 120
Took the SANFL U18’s by storm in a barnstorming top-age year, booting 26 majors - and 27 behinds - as a forward/tall wingman who won games off his boot. His high-impact style bodes well for his KFC SuperCoach prospects, although we are only likely to see flashes off this in the early stages of his career rather than the full package.
SC average: The Crows are crying out for players with X-Factor, so he could be worth a look if he gets an opportunity.
Jordon Butts $176,300 DEF
2019 average: 47 (2 games)
No Kyle Hartigan means the key defender should benefit from greater opportunity in his third season at the club. He managed respectable scores of 54 and 40 in his two matches in 2020.
SC average: Feel there are better rookie defenders around for cheaper.
BRISBANE LIONS
Nakia Cockatoo $123,900, FWD/MID
So, apparently Cockatoo is yet to miss a pre-season training session at the Lions and is in the frame for his first game in 1077 days in Round 1. Haven’t we seen this show before? However, we can’t forget the immense talent the former Cat possesses.
SC verdict: Must be Groundhog Day. But if he does manage to get through this pre-season unscathed and he is picked for the opening round, you’d be a bold coach to start without him.
Blake Coleman $117,300 FWD
SC average (NAB League, 2019): 66
Coleman has tricks akin to his older brother, fellow Lions Academy graduate Keidean. The small forward has speed and strong goal sense which could see him called upon at some stage.
SC verdict: A similar player to his brother, who averaged 60 points from his four home-and-away matches. We’d take that up forward.
Deven Robertson $176,800 MID
SC average: 47 (1 game)
The prolific junior ball-winner earned a last-minute Round 1 debut in 2020 but was unsighted for the rest of the season. Robertson’s 2019 national carnival sticks in the memory, upstaging Matt Rowell and Tom Green to win the Larke Medal and averaging 30 disposals and 128 points.
SC verdict: He may be a key KFC SuperCoach player one day but the Lions are full to the brim with quality inside midfielders.
Ely Smith $123,900 FWD/MID
SC average: N/A
Drafted as an inside bull, Smith has converted to a running midfielder and has turned heads in his third pre-season. The former No.21 draft pick finished fourth in the Lions’ pre-season time-trial and could push for a spot on the wing.
SC verdict: Another to add to the watch-list. Smith averaged 88 points in the NEAFL – albeit in a different role as a forward/inside midfielder – in 2019.
Tom Fullarton $128,900, FWD/RUCK
SC average: 30 (2 games)
The former basketballer turned Category B rookie showed real promise on debut last year, kicking 1.2 as a ruck/forward before suffering an in-game injury in their next match. The ruck make-up of the Lions without Stefan Martin could see opportunities come his way in support the emerging Oscar McInerney.
SC verdict: Competing with Archie Smith for that second ruck spot, and he could have his measure considering his forward craft. One to ponder if he looks like playing with his handy ruck/forward status.
A Tasmanian recruit is making a big push to line up for Collingwood in Round 1 — and he could come straight into thousands of KFC SuperCoach teams. See all the top cheapies.
Dan Batten
19 min read
February 14, 2021 - 9:08AM
News Corp Australia Sports Newsroom
Where are all the KFC SuperCoach rookies, you ask?
They are here in the pre-season Rookie Bible, your next stop shop for SuperCoach cash cows.
While the hectic 2020 season had cheapies presenting themselves on a regular basis, the rookie cupboard will be barer in 2021 for several reasons.
The most significant of those being the number of cheapies who were blooded through the crammed fixture last year, meaning we may have to settle for some more expensive options.
Compounding this is the interrupted schedule of the 2020 draft pool, with the scrapped under-18 national championships, due to COVID-19, giving us less data to access these draftees.
Meanwhile, Victorian draftees – accounting for about half of the draft class - were unable to take the field at all in the NAB League due to the pandemic, meaning it will be down to guesswork and bottom-age stats to determine their worth.
Making things even worse is the revised AAMI Community Series, leaving KFC SuperCoaches with just one game to judge which rookies to slot in their starting teams.
Check out the rookies to keep an eye on throughout the pre-season.
ADELAIDE
James Rowe $117,300 FWD
SC Average (SANFL 2020): 96
Rowe led the SANFL goal-kicking with 35 majors for Woodville-West Torrens, posting seven scores above 110 on his way to a 96-point KFC SuperCoach average. The industrious small forward shapes as a player who can step into a Crows forward line which struggled for potency as a 21-year-old talent.
SC verdict: There aren’t a great deal of sure things among this rookie crop but he looks like one of them. Being a mature-age recruit sweetens the deal.
Luke Pedlar $162,300 MID
SC Average (SANFL U18 2020): 128
The bolter of last year’s draft class, swooped on by the Crows after attracting late interest, Pedlar is a big-bodied midfielder who wins contested ball and has a booming left boot. His draft year was curtailed by injury but he began his SANFL U18 season like a house on fire with scores of 155, 140 and 148 across his first four matches.
SC verdict: Remains to be seen where he sits in the midfield pecking order – could he be the ready-made replacement for Brad Crouch?
Riley Thilthorpe $202,800 FWD/RUCK
SC Average (SANFL 2020): 96
Thilthorpe was the first player taken in the open draft and he should feature early if his body is right to go, after encountering groin trouble in 2020. The 200-centimetre beast is extremely mobile and clunks contested marks, showing off these traits at SANFL senior level, and can play either as a ruckman or a tall forward.
SC verdict: While he may play in Round 1, he is far too expensive for a player likely to spend most of his time up forward while Reilly O’Brien holds the ruck fort.
Sam Berry $117,300 MID
SC Average (NAB League): 104
Berry was unable to show on field due to the NAB League shutdown but the signs were extremely positive from the inside midfielder as a bottom-ager, including one monster outing. Try these stats on for size – 20 disposals, 18 tackles, 17 contested possessions, nine clearances, three goals and 220 KFC SuperCoach points. Proved he is no slouch in covering the ground either, placing fifth nationally in the 2km time trial at the draft combine.
SC average: Lot to like about this youngster and he looms as a profitable pick if he breaks in early.
Brayden Cook $117,300 MID
SC average (SANFL U18 2020): 120
Took the SANFL U18’s by storm in a barnstorming top-age year, booting 26 majors - and 27 behinds - as a forward/tall wingman who won games off his boot. His high-impact style bodes well for his KFC SuperCoach prospects, although we are only likely to see flashes off this in the early stages of his career rather than the full package.
SC average: The Crows are crying out for players with X-Factor, so he could be worth a look if he gets an opportunity.
Jordon Butts $176,300 DEF
2019 average: 47 (2 games)
No Kyle Hartigan means the key defender should benefit from greater opportunity in his third season at the club. He managed respectable scores of 54 and 40 in his two matches in 2020.
SC average: Feel there are better rookie defenders around for cheaper.
BRISBANE LIONS
Nakia Cockatoo $123,900, FWD/MID
So, apparently Cockatoo is yet to miss a pre-season training session at the Lions and is in the frame for his first game in 1077 days in Round 1. Haven’t we seen this show before? However, we can’t forget the immense talent the former Cat possesses.
SC verdict: Must be Groundhog Day. But if he does manage to get through this pre-season unscathed and he is picked for the opening round, you’d be a bold coach to start without him.
Blake Coleman $117,300 FWD
SC average (NAB League, 2019): 66
Coleman has tricks akin to his older brother, fellow Lions Academy graduate Keidean. The small forward has speed and strong goal sense which could see him called upon at some stage.
SC verdict: A similar player to his brother, who averaged 60 points from his four home-and-away matches. We’d take that up forward.
Deven Robertson $176,800 MID
SC average: 47 (1 game)
The prolific junior ball-winner earned a last-minute Round 1 debut in 2020 but was unsighted for the rest of the season. Robertson’s 2019 national carnival sticks in the memory, upstaging Matt Rowell and Tom Green to win the Larke Medal and averaging 30 disposals and 128 points.
SC verdict: He may be a key KFC SuperCoach player one day but the Lions are full to the brim with quality inside midfielders.
Ely Smith $123,900 FWD/MID
SC average: N/A
Drafted as an inside bull, Smith has converted to a running midfielder and has turned heads in his third pre-season. The former No.21 draft pick finished fourth in the Lions’ pre-season time-trial and could push for a spot on the wing.
SC verdict: Another to add to the watch-list. Smith averaged 88 points in the NEAFL – albeit in a different role as a forward/inside midfielder – in 2019.
Tom Fullarton $128,900, FWD/RUCK
SC average: 30 (2 games)
The former basketballer turned Category B rookie showed real promise on debut last year, kicking 1.2 as a ruck/forward before suffering an in-game injury in their next match. The ruck make-up of the Lions without Stefan Martin could see opportunities come his way in support the emerging Oscar McInerney.
SC verdict: Competing with Archie Smith for that second ruck spot, and he could have his measure considering his forward craft. One to ponder if he looks like playing with his handy ruck/forward status.
CARLTON
Corey Durdin $117,300 MID/FWD
SC Average (SANFL 2020): 55
Durdin is capable of slotting into the Blues line-up from the get-go as a small forward and started strongly in his first pre-season. The 172-cm product made his SANFL debut for Central District as a 17-year-old and managed another nine games in 2020 where he averaged 55 points - including an injury affected score of four.
SC verdict: Might not be an overly consistent scorer in his role but his Round 1 prospects and mid/forward make him a definite contender for a bench spot.
Paddy Dow $202,400 FWD/MID
SC Average: 38 (3 games)
Remarkably, less than $10k separates Dow’s cost in 2021 from the price he started at in 2018, after being prized with the third pick in the 2017 National Draft. It’s been a patchy start to the young midfielder’s career due to injury and form, but could we see a different Dow in his fourth season at AFL level?
SC verdict: If there is any indication of improvement or an inside midfield role, he is worth considering as a high-priced DPP rookie.
Liam Stocker $186,500 DEF
SC Average: N/A
We didn’t get to see Stocker in action last season after leaving the hub in July due to personal reasons. As a defender, Stocker averaged a serviceable 49.5 points across five matches as a cash-cow in 2019 and could better that if he receives more senior opportunity.
SC verdict: His place in the side is the big question with the arrival of Adam Saad and return of Nic Newman.
Luke Parks $117,400 DEF
SC Average (SANFL 2020): 73
Parks is a mature-age medium defender who became a Blue via last year’s rookie draft following stints in the SANFL and the NEAFL as part of the Swans Academy. He averaged 73 points last season for Glenelg in 2020 and hit the target with 72 per cent of his kicks.
SC verdict: While he has senior experience on his side, the Blues look well stocked in defence.
COLLINGWOOD
Finlay Macrae $126,900, FWD/MID
SC average (NAB League 2019): 83
Macrae moves exactly like his half-brother, Bulldogs star Jack, and was rated higher in his bottom-age draft year than him. Despite being unable to take the field last year due to COVID-19, Macrae has the class and poise to make a case for selection and can play anywhere on the ground.
SC verdict: Nice to see another Macrae enter the KFC SuperCoach ranks, and he should follow a similar trajectory to his brother’s first season, where he averaged 61 points.
Oliver Henry $135,300 FWD
SC average (NAB League 2019): 67
The Geelong Falcons product is a James Sicily type who displayed his marking prowess at both ends in the NAB League. Henry posted five tons as a bottom-ager and is more likely to begin his career in the forward arc.
SC verdict: Like most forward rookies, his scoring will probably be inconsistent but he will be difficult to resist if playing.
Isaac Chugg $102,400 DEF
SC average: 64 (NAB League 2019)
Chugg has emerged as a Round 1 bolter with the defender staking his claim for a spot across half-back. He was taken by the Magpies with pick 28 in the 2020 rookie draft after impressing for Launceston in the Tasmania State League.
SC verdict: A $102,400 defender is a KFC SuperCoach gift. Watch this space.
Tom Wilson $123,900 FWD
SC average: N/A
Wilson has hit his straps entering his third season on Collingwood’s list. The basketball convert has changed significantly since he first arrived in 2019, averaging 46 points in the VFL that year, and is right in contention to fill a spot on the wing.
SC verdict: Track his progress if he gets a call-up for the Magpies’ pre-season match.
Will Kelly $135,400 FWD
SC average: 36 (1 game)
The father-son prospect has burned up the track this pre-season and is firming for a Round 1 spot. A third tall forward, Kelly slotted a goal with his first kick last season on debut, later soured by a serious elbow injury.
SC verdict: Key forward rookies and KFC SuperCoach make strange bedfellows.
Reef McInnes $117,300 MID
SC average (NAB League, 2019): 84
The Next Generation Academy prospect played all over the park as a junior and impressed with his blistering speed at the national combine. A unique 193cm-talent, McInness posted scores of 122, 132 and 159 across a three-game stretch as an inside midfielder as a bottom-ager.
SC verdict: Has versatility on his side but his scope to become a hulking contested ball-winner means he should be a KFC SuperCoach favourite in the future.
Caleb Poulter $117,300 MID/FWD
SC average (SANFL U18s 2020): 130
Poulter dominated the SANFL U18s tallying 25.2 disposals, 10.6 contested possessions and a tick under a goal per game to go with 130 KFC SuperCoach points. A taller midfield option, Poulter has a raking kick and, like McInnes, would add something different to the Magpies’ midfield mix.
SC verdict: You’d pick him for the mullet alone. One who is probably more likely to break in mid-season given all the names eyeing a Round 1 berth.
Beau McCreery $117,300 FWD
SC average (SANFL, 2020): 72
McCreery was plucked from the SANFL after catching the eye with his speed and tackle pressure for South Adelaide. The 186cm forward consistently hit the scoreboard and averaged 72 KFC SuperCoach points from 15 games.
SC verdict: Had mixed KFC SuperCoach returns this year, passing 90 points on five occasions but posting another five sub-50 scores.
Nathan Murphy $123,900 DEF
Murphy has been on the outer since breaking in for two games in his maiden season. An intercepting medium defender, Murphy should be used at some stage in his fourth season at the Holden Centre.
SC verdict: May not play right away but keep him in mind.
ESSENDON
Archie Perkins $171,300 FWD/MID
SC Average (NAB League 2019): 82
Perkins has loads of potential as an athletic beast with genuine X-Factor, but he has been on modified duties at The Hanger. The top-10 draft pick was due to play through the midfield during his draft year before the competition shutdown, averaging 82 KFC SuperCoach points for the Sandringham Dragons as a forward/mid in 2019.
SC verdict: May begin his career up forward which is off-putting at his price, but, in time, he could be anything.
Nik Cox $175,800 DEF/FWD
SC Average (NAB League 2019): 75
Cox has extraordinary running gifts for a player standing 200cm, winning the Bombers’ pre-season 2km time trial. It gives him the ability to play as a tall wingman – having trained with the Essendon midfield group - or at either end, helping his chances of an early debut.
SC verdict: Cox also has KFC SuperCoach versatility as a FWD/DEF. But will he average enough to justify the inflated price?
Harrison Jones $123,900 FWD
SC average: N/A
The second-year key forward has added to his frame and appears set to pull on an Essendon guernsey at some stage in 2021. He may end up fighting for a spot with newcomer Peter Wright.
SC verdict: Unlikely to be a factor in KFC SuperCoach.
FREMANTLE
Luke Valente $123,900 MID
SC Average: N/A
On the cusp of senior opportunity last season, it seems 2021 will be the year the Valente finally gets his chance. Valente has been a standout performer in his first full pre-season since joining the club in 2018, after averaging a whopping 159 points in four SANFL U18 games.
SC verdict: One of the best rookie midfield options available - pending selection.
Heath Chapman $148,800, DEF
SC average (WAFL Colts, 2019): 132
While Fremantle have the key position duo Alex Pearce and Joel Hamling returning, Chapman could enter selection calculations. The intercept defender, who will likely start his career as a third tall, dominated in the WAFL Colts for West Perth tallying 22.4 touches, 10.6 intercept possessions and 4.6 intercept marks across eight matches.
SC verdict: Keep on your watch-list.
Josh Treacy $102,400 RUCK/FWD
SC average: 90 (NAB League 2019)
An extremely popular pick as the cheapest dual-position R3 available, Treacy could fill the hole left by forward Jesse Hogan at some stage. The key forward has been recognised for his toughness and determination and is a ready-made size.
SC verdict: Don’t hit the panic button just yet. Lock him in at R3 and if he plays later in the season it’ll be a bonus.
Corey Durdin $117,300 MID/FWD
SC Average (SANFL 2020): 55
Durdin is capable of slotting into the Blues line-up from the get-go as a small forward and started strongly in his first pre-season. The 172-cm product made his SANFL debut for Central District as a 17-year-old and managed another nine games in 2020 where he averaged 55 points - including an injury affected score of four.
SC verdict: Might not be an overly consistent scorer in his role but his Round 1 prospects and mid/forward make him a definite contender for a bench spot.
Paddy Dow $202,400 FWD/MID
SC Average: 38 (3 games)
Remarkably, less than $10k separates Dow’s cost in 2021 from the price he started at in 2018, after being prized with the third pick in the 2017 National Draft. It’s been a patchy start to the young midfielder’s career due to injury and form, but could we see a different Dow in his fourth season at AFL level?
SC verdict: If there is any indication of improvement or an inside midfield role, he is worth considering as a high-priced DPP rookie.
Liam Stocker $186,500 DEF
SC Average: N/A
We didn’t get to see Stocker in action last season after leaving the hub in July due to personal reasons. As a defender, Stocker averaged a serviceable 49.5 points across five matches as a cash-cow in 2019 and could better that if he receives more senior opportunity.
SC verdict: His place in the side is the big question with the arrival of Adam Saad and return of Nic Newman.
Luke Parks $117,400 DEF
SC Average (SANFL 2020): 73
Parks is a mature-age medium defender who became a Blue via last year’s rookie draft following stints in the SANFL and the NEAFL as part of the Swans Academy. He averaged 73 points last season for Glenelg in 2020 and hit the target with 72 per cent of his kicks.
SC verdict: While he has senior experience on his side, the Blues look well stocked in defence.
COLLINGWOOD
Finlay Macrae $126,900, FWD/MID
SC average (NAB League 2019): 83
Macrae moves exactly like his half-brother, Bulldogs star Jack, and was rated higher in his bottom-age draft year than him. Despite being unable to take the field last year due to COVID-19, Macrae has the class and poise to make a case for selection and can play anywhere on the ground.
SC verdict: Nice to see another Macrae enter the KFC SuperCoach ranks, and he should follow a similar trajectory to his brother’s first season, where he averaged 61 points.
Oliver Henry $135,300 FWD
SC average (NAB League 2019): 67
The Geelong Falcons product is a James Sicily type who displayed his marking prowess at both ends in the NAB League. Henry posted five tons as a bottom-ager and is more likely to begin his career in the forward arc.
SC verdict: Like most forward rookies, his scoring will probably be inconsistent but he will be difficult to resist if playing.
Isaac Chugg $102,400 DEF
SC average: 64 (NAB League 2019)
Chugg has emerged as a Round 1 bolter with the defender staking his claim for a spot across half-back. He was taken by the Magpies with pick 28 in the 2020 rookie draft after impressing for Launceston in the Tasmania State League.
SC verdict: A $102,400 defender is a KFC SuperCoach gift. Watch this space.
Tom Wilson $123,900 FWD
SC average: N/A
Wilson has hit his straps entering his third season on Collingwood’s list. The basketball convert has changed significantly since he first arrived in 2019, averaging 46 points in the VFL that year, and is right in contention to fill a spot on the wing.
SC verdict: Track his progress if he gets a call-up for the Magpies’ pre-season match.
Will Kelly $135,400 FWD
SC average: 36 (1 game)
The father-son prospect has burned up the track this pre-season and is firming for a Round 1 spot. A third tall forward, Kelly slotted a goal with his first kick last season on debut, later soured by a serious elbow injury.
SC verdict: Key forward rookies and KFC SuperCoach make strange bedfellows.
Reef McInnes $117,300 MID
SC average (NAB League, 2019): 84
The Next Generation Academy prospect played all over the park as a junior and impressed with his blistering speed at the national combine. A unique 193cm-talent, McInness posted scores of 122, 132 and 159 across a three-game stretch as an inside midfielder as a bottom-ager.
SC verdict: Has versatility on his side but his scope to become a hulking contested ball-winner means he should be a KFC SuperCoach favourite in the future.
Caleb Poulter $117,300 MID/FWD
SC average (SANFL U18s 2020): 130
Poulter dominated the SANFL U18s tallying 25.2 disposals, 10.6 contested possessions and a tick under a goal per game to go with 130 KFC SuperCoach points. A taller midfield option, Poulter has a raking kick and, like McInnes, would add something different to the Magpies’ midfield mix.
SC verdict: You’d pick him for the mullet alone. One who is probably more likely to break in mid-season given all the names eyeing a Round 1 berth.
Beau McCreery $117,300 FWD
SC average (SANFL, 2020): 72
McCreery was plucked from the SANFL after catching the eye with his speed and tackle pressure for South Adelaide. The 186cm forward consistently hit the scoreboard and averaged 72 KFC SuperCoach points from 15 games.
SC verdict: Had mixed KFC SuperCoach returns this year, passing 90 points on five occasions but posting another five sub-50 scores.
Nathan Murphy $123,900 DEF
Murphy has been on the outer since breaking in for two games in his maiden season. An intercepting medium defender, Murphy should be used at some stage in his fourth season at the Holden Centre.
SC verdict: May not play right away but keep him in mind.
ESSENDON
Archie Perkins $171,300 FWD/MID
SC Average (NAB League 2019): 82
Perkins has loads of potential as an athletic beast with genuine X-Factor, but he has been on modified duties at The Hanger. The top-10 draft pick was due to play through the midfield during his draft year before the competition shutdown, averaging 82 KFC SuperCoach points for the Sandringham Dragons as a forward/mid in 2019.
SC verdict: May begin his career up forward which is off-putting at his price, but, in time, he could be anything.
Nik Cox $175,800 DEF/FWD
SC Average (NAB League 2019): 75
Cox has extraordinary running gifts for a player standing 200cm, winning the Bombers’ pre-season 2km time trial. It gives him the ability to play as a tall wingman – having trained with the Essendon midfield group - or at either end, helping his chances of an early debut.
SC verdict: Cox also has KFC SuperCoach versatility as a FWD/DEF. But will he average enough to justify the inflated price?
Harrison Jones $123,900 FWD
SC average: N/A
The second-year key forward has added to his frame and appears set to pull on an Essendon guernsey at some stage in 2021. He may end up fighting for a spot with newcomer Peter Wright.
SC verdict: Unlikely to be a factor in KFC SuperCoach.
FREMANTLE
Luke Valente $123,900 MID
SC Average: N/A
On the cusp of senior opportunity last season, it seems 2021 will be the year the Valente finally gets his chance. Valente has been a standout performer in his first full pre-season since joining the club in 2018, after averaging a whopping 159 points in four SANFL U18 games.
SC verdict: One of the best rookie midfield options available - pending selection.
Heath Chapman $148,800, DEF
SC average (WAFL Colts, 2019): 132
While Fremantle have the key position duo Alex Pearce and Joel Hamling returning, Chapman could enter selection calculations. The intercept defender, who will likely start his career as a third tall, dominated in the WAFL Colts for West Perth tallying 22.4 touches, 10.6 intercept possessions and 4.6 intercept marks across eight matches.
SC verdict: Keep on your watch-list.
Josh Treacy $102,400 RUCK/FWD
SC average: 90 (NAB League 2019)
An extremely popular pick as the cheapest dual-position R3 available, Treacy could fill the hole left by forward Jesse Hogan at some stage. The key forward has been recognised for his toughness and determination and is a ready-made size.
SC verdict: Don’t hit the panic button just yet. Lock him in at R3 and if he plays later in the season it’ll be a bonus.
GEELONG
Cooper Stephens $123,900 MID
SC Average: N/A
Stephens has had a wretched run over the past two seasons with most of his draft year wiped out by a broken leg and COVID-19 leaving him stuck in scratch matches in 2020. The midfielder was named emergency five times last year and could get his chance this season.
SC verdict: His KFC SuperCoach exploits as a 17-year-old, averaging 100, points to him being a fantasy player of promise.
Nathan Kreuger $123,900 FWD
SC Average: N/A
Kreuger is another who came close to a Cats debut last season and switched into defence during the pre-season with the arrival of spearhead Jeremy Cameron. This will be an important year for the swingman entering his third season at the Cattery.
SC verdict: If injuries strike, Kreuger could be called upon.
Sam De Koning $123,900 DEF
SC Average: N/A
The retirement of Harry Taylor may see De Koning enter the frame. The 201cm key defender arrived at the club underdeveloped but the 2019 first round draft pick is a highly rated talent.
SC verdict: More likely to be a stopper if he gets a run.
GOLD COAST
Alex Davies $102,400 MID
SC average (NEAFL, 2019): 55
Gold Coast secured the Suns Academy product outside the open draft – a massive win for them and KFC SuperCoaches. Davies is a 191cm clearance specialist who is fantastic in traffic, breaking in for seven NEAFL games as a bottom-ager and didn’t look out of place. Averaged 104 points per game in the NAB League in 2019.
SC verdict: Plenty of young talent in the Suns’ midfield but don’t be surprised if he earns a call-up. And when he does, pounce.
Elijah Hollands $180,300 FWD/MID
SC average (U18 Championships 2019): 78
Hollands slid to pick seven in the draft and will be eased into his first season while recovering from a serious knee injury sustained in February last year. His game-breaking play as a 189cm midfield-forward had some consider him the best talent in the 2020 draft pool despite his injury, but he is unlikely to feature in the first half of the season.
SC verdict: Did someone say mid-season downgrade?
GWS GIANTS
Jacob Wehr $117,300 DEF
SC Average (2020 SANFL): 75
One of several mature-agers prized from the SANFL, Wehr is a pin-point-kicking defender who went at 74.8 per cent by foot for Woodville West Torrens last season. The shopping list of departures for the Giants gives the 22-year-old the chance to emerge in his first season.
SC verdict: Mature-age defenders are often the best cheapies on offer, but it’s still a difficult defence to break into.
Conor Stone $144,300 FWD
SC Average (NAB League 2019): 71
Stone, a versatile 188cm prospect, was pounced on in the first-round by the Giants. The Oakleigh Chargers product has great athleticism and a strong body which could see him challenge for selection in 2021.
SC verdict: A bit more expensive but another to keep tabs on.
HAWTHORN
Denver Grainger-Barras $184,800 DEF
SC average (WAFL, 2020): 75
Expect to see Grainger-Barras pencilled in Hawthorn’s Round 1 line-up. The intercept gun averaged 10.3 disposals, 7.4 intercept possessions, 3.0 intercept marks and five spoils in the WAFL last year and is ready for senior action – especially in a Hawthorn side looking to youth.
SC verdict: Think Aaron Naughton in his first season at the Bulldogs – but potentially better. The top rookie defender for job security and scoring potential.
Jacob Koschitzke $123,900 MID
SC Average: N/A
Koschitzke is closing in on his first game as a Hawk after being taken at pick 52 in the 2018 national draft. From all reports 196cm defender has impressed this pre-season and has added to his frame.
SC verdict: A 45-point VFL average in 2019 doesn’t scream pick me.
Finn Maginness $195,600 MID
SC Average: 52 (1 game)
Maginness may have been beaten by teammate Changkouth Jiath in the time-trial stakes but 2021 looms as a big year for the endurance beast. He broke in for a debut at the back-end of last season, scoring 52 points.
SC verdict: Remains affordable and if he can cement a spot in the Hawks midfield, I’m interested.
Connor Downie $117,300 MID
SC average (NAB League, 2019): 82
Downie made an immediate impression during the pre-season with a fifth-placed finish in the Hawks’ time-trial. The running midfielder/defender is professional as they come and has an AFL-ready body at 185cm and 82kg.
SC verdict: A likely SuperCoach type who could slot into Hawthorn’s defence at some stage this season.
2020 draftee.
Cooper Stephens $123,900 MID
SC Average: N/A
Stephens has had a wretched run over the past two seasons with most of his draft year wiped out by a broken leg and COVID-19 leaving him stuck in scratch matches in 2020. The midfielder was named emergency five times last year and could get his chance this season.
SC verdict: His KFC SuperCoach exploits as a 17-year-old, averaging 100, points to him being a fantasy player of promise.
Nathan Kreuger $123,900 FWD
SC Average: N/A
Kreuger is another who came close to a Cats debut last season and switched into defence during the pre-season with the arrival of spearhead Jeremy Cameron. This will be an important year for the swingman entering his third season at the Cattery.
SC verdict: If injuries strike, Kreuger could be called upon.
Sam De Koning $123,900 DEF
SC Average: N/A
The retirement of Harry Taylor may see De Koning enter the frame. The 201cm key defender arrived at the club underdeveloped but the 2019 first round draft pick is a highly rated talent.
SC verdict: More likely to be a stopper if he gets a run.
GOLD COAST
Alex Davies $102,400 MID
SC average (NEAFL, 2019): 55
Gold Coast secured the Suns Academy product outside the open draft – a massive win for them and KFC SuperCoaches. Davies is a 191cm clearance specialist who is fantastic in traffic, breaking in for seven NEAFL games as a bottom-ager and didn’t look out of place. Averaged 104 points per game in the NAB League in 2019.
SC verdict: Plenty of young talent in the Suns’ midfield but don’t be surprised if he earns a call-up. And when he does, pounce.
Elijah Hollands $180,300 FWD/MID
SC average (U18 Championships 2019): 78
Hollands slid to pick seven in the draft and will be eased into his first season while recovering from a serious knee injury sustained in February last year. His game-breaking play as a 189cm midfield-forward had some consider him the best talent in the 2020 draft pool despite his injury, but he is unlikely to feature in the first half of the season.
SC verdict: Did someone say mid-season downgrade?
GWS GIANTS
Jacob Wehr $117,300 DEF
SC Average (2020 SANFL): 75
One of several mature-agers prized from the SANFL, Wehr is a pin-point-kicking defender who went at 74.8 per cent by foot for Woodville West Torrens last season. The shopping list of departures for the Giants gives the 22-year-old the chance to emerge in his first season.
SC verdict: Mature-age defenders are often the best cheapies on offer, but it’s still a difficult defence to break into.
Conor Stone $144,300 FWD
SC Average (NAB League 2019): 71
Stone, a versatile 188cm prospect, was pounced on in the first-round by the Giants. The Oakleigh Chargers product has great athleticism and a strong body which could see him challenge for selection in 2021.
SC verdict: A bit more expensive but another to keep tabs on.
HAWTHORN
Denver Grainger-Barras $184,800 DEF
SC average (WAFL, 2020): 75
Expect to see Grainger-Barras pencilled in Hawthorn’s Round 1 line-up. The intercept gun averaged 10.3 disposals, 7.4 intercept possessions, 3.0 intercept marks and five spoils in the WAFL last year and is ready for senior action – especially in a Hawthorn side looking to youth.
SC verdict: Think Aaron Naughton in his first season at the Bulldogs – but potentially better. The top rookie defender for job security and scoring potential.
Jacob Koschitzke $123,900 MID
SC Average: N/A
Koschitzke is closing in on his first game as a Hawk after being taken at pick 52 in the 2018 national draft. From all reports 196cm defender has impressed this pre-season and has added to his frame.
SC verdict: A 45-point VFL average in 2019 doesn’t scream pick me.
Finn Maginness $195,600 MID
SC Average: 52 (1 game)
Maginness may have been beaten by teammate Changkouth Jiath in the time-trial stakes but 2021 looms as a big year for the endurance beast. He broke in for a debut at the back-end of last season, scoring 52 points.
SC verdict: Remains affordable and if he can cement a spot in the Hawks midfield, I’m interested.
Connor Downie $117,300 MID
SC average (NAB League, 2019): 82
Downie made an immediate impression during the pre-season with a fifth-placed finish in the Hawks’ time-trial. The running midfielder/defender is professional as they come and has an AFL-ready body at 185cm and 82kg.
SC verdict: A likely SuperCoach type who could slot into Hawthorn’s defence at some stage this season.
2020 draftee.
MELBOURNE
Bailey Laurie $117,300 DEF-FWD
SC average (NAB League 2019): 90
Laurie has been hitting targets left, right and centre in his first pre-season at the Demons. Coach Simon Goodwin has blooded several debutants in the opening roudns in recent years and the lively 179cm product could be first cab off the rank.
SC verdict: A cheap DEF/FWD cash cow – yes please. No real read on his Round 1 chances yet, though.
Jake Bowey $117,300 FWD/MID
SC average (NAB League 2019): 79
Bowey is small in stature but has what the Demons often lack – pinpoint ball-use by foot. He may be used as a small forward early on but has the scope to play on a wing where he can hit targets inside 50.
SC verdict: The Caleb Daniel comparisons mean he must be considered if he plays.
NORTH MELBOURNE
Will Phillips $198,300 MID
SC average (NAB League, 2019): 103
Behind Gold Coast prized picks Matt Rowell and Noah Anderson in the Chargers midfield in 2019, Phillips still managed to average a formidable 103 KFC SuperCoach points as a bottom-ager. The consistent midfielder was set to take the NAB League by storm in 2020 if it went ahead. Like Rowell, he is ready to go and a footy nut who will do everything in his power to achieve an early debut.
SC verdict: We would have appreciated him being selected a bit further down the order but he should receive ample opportunity for the rebuilding Roos.
Tom Powell $153,300 MID
SC average (SANFL U18s 2020): 154
It was a numbers game for Powell in the SANFL U18s last year, averaging 33.5 disposals, 14.6 contested possessions, 8.0 clearances and 3.6 tackles and a whopping 154 KFC SuperCoach points. The midfielder clearly knows how to find the footy and could play a role in the Roos side from the get-go.
SC verdict: Two double tons last season. If he is playing Round 1, lock him in.
Phoenix Spicer $117,300 FWD/MID
SC Average (SANFL R 2020): 72
Spicer jumped into Round 1 calculations following a scintillating two-goal display in a pre-season scratch match. The small forward was elevated to South Adelaide’s reserves side last season, booting five goals and averaging 72 KFC SuperCoach points.
SC verdict: There may be opportunities for Spicer this season but observe his scoring for couple of games before taking the punt on the small forward.
Eddie Ford $117,300 FWD
SC Average (2019 NAB League): 71
The high-flying forward was added to KFC SuperCoach watch-lists after teammate Luke McDonald touted him as a player to look out for in 2021. Ford was a big-game player as a junior and is another youngster who could feature early for the rebuilding Roos.
SC verdict: His ability to perform in big games doesn’t bode well for his scoring at the Roos. But in all seriousness, he is worth a look.
Connor Menadue $201,500 DEF
SC average: 62.5 (AFL, 2019)
Menadue’s surprise revival via the 2020 rookie draft could help out KFC SuperCoaches in 2021 if there are a shortage of cheap defenders. The former Tiger didn’t take the field for VFL club Werribee last year but averaged 62.5 points from five AFL matches in 2019.
SC verdict: Too dear to be seriously considering but don’t count out the 24-year-old.
Lachie Young $202,000 DEF-MID
SC average: 47 (2 matches)
North Melbourne secured Young in a three-way deal during last year’s trade period. The medium defender averaged 47 points from two games for the Bulldogs last year after six matches in 2019.
SC verdict: A sub-50 average from eight matches doesn’t scream ‘pick me’. Menadue is a better shout if both are playing.
PORT ADELAIDE
Lachie Jones $139,800 DEF
SC Average (SANFL 2020): 65
Jones will stake his claim for a spot in Port Adelaide’s talented side after an eye-catching SANFL season that got better as it went on. The big-bodied defender averaged 16 touches, 10 intercepts and 93 KFC SuperCoach points in Woodville West-Torrens’ successful finals series and proved he can compete with senior bodies.
SC verdict: Slot him in on your field.
Jackson Mead $123,900 MID
SC Average: N/A
Mead was mooted as a possible debutant in the 2020 pre-season before a hamstring injury put a line through him. With another pre-season under his belt, could the father-son prospect squeeze out one of their ball-winners for a spot in the midfield?
SC verdict: Ken Hinkley isn’t afraid to play the kids. Watch-list.
Miles Bergman $123,900 FWD
SC Average: N/A
The 2019 first-round draftee has been reprogrammed as a playmaking defender ahead of the 2021 season. Bergman has a high-impact per possession style of play, averaging 91 points from his 14 touches per game in his draft year.
SC verdict: Suspect Jones will be the only youngster breaking into that settled defensive line-up.
Bailey Laurie $117,300 DEF-FWD
SC average (NAB League 2019): 90
Laurie has been hitting targets left, right and centre in his first pre-season at the Demons. Coach Simon Goodwin has blooded several debutants in the opening roudns in recent years and the lively 179cm product could be first cab off the rank.
SC verdict: A cheap DEF/FWD cash cow – yes please. No real read on his Round 1 chances yet, though.
Jake Bowey $117,300 FWD/MID
SC average (NAB League 2019): 79
Bowey is small in stature but has what the Demons often lack – pinpoint ball-use by foot. He may be used as a small forward early on but has the scope to play on a wing where he can hit targets inside 50.
SC verdict: The Caleb Daniel comparisons mean he must be considered if he plays.
NORTH MELBOURNE
Will Phillips $198,300 MID
SC average (NAB League, 2019): 103
Behind Gold Coast prized picks Matt Rowell and Noah Anderson in the Chargers midfield in 2019, Phillips still managed to average a formidable 103 KFC SuperCoach points as a bottom-ager. The consistent midfielder was set to take the NAB League by storm in 2020 if it went ahead. Like Rowell, he is ready to go and a footy nut who will do everything in his power to achieve an early debut.
SC verdict: We would have appreciated him being selected a bit further down the order but he should receive ample opportunity for the rebuilding Roos.
Tom Powell $153,300 MID
SC average (SANFL U18s 2020): 154
It was a numbers game for Powell in the SANFL U18s last year, averaging 33.5 disposals, 14.6 contested possessions, 8.0 clearances and 3.6 tackles and a whopping 154 KFC SuperCoach points. The midfielder clearly knows how to find the footy and could play a role in the Roos side from the get-go.
SC verdict: Two double tons last season. If he is playing Round 1, lock him in.
Phoenix Spicer $117,300 FWD/MID
SC Average (SANFL R 2020): 72
Spicer jumped into Round 1 calculations following a scintillating two-goal display in a pre-season scratch match. The small forward was elevated to South Adelaide’s reserves side last season, booting five goals and averaging 72 KFC SuperCoach points.
SC verdict: There may be opportunities for Spicer this season but observe his scoring for couple of games before taking the punt on the small forward.
Eddie Ford $117,300 FWD
SC Average (2019 NAB League): 71
The high-flying forward was added to KFC SuperCoach watch-lists after teammate Luke McDonald touted him as a player to look out for in 2021. Ford was a big-game player as a junior and is another youngster who could feature early for the rebuilding Roos.
SC verdict: His ability to perform in big games doesn’t bode well for his scoring at the Roos. But in all seriousness, he is worth a look.
Connor Menadue $201,500 DEF
SC average: 62.5 (AFL, 2019)
Menadue’s surprise revival via the 2020 rookie draft could help out KFC SuperCoaches in 2021 if there are a shortage of cheap defenders. The former Tiger didn’t take the field for VFL club Werribee last year but averaged 62.5 points from five AFL matches in 2019.
SC verdict: Too dear to be seriously considering but don’t count out the 24-year-old.
Lachie Young $202,000 DEF-MID
SC average: 47 (2 matches)
North Melbourne secured Young in a three-way deal during last year’s trade period. The medium defender averaged 47 points from two games for the Bulldogs last year after six matches in 2019.
SC verdict: A sub-50 average from eight matches doesn’t scream ‘pick me’. Menadue is a better shout if both are playing.
PORT ADELAIDE
Lachie Jones $139,800 DEF
SC Average (SANFL 2020): 65
Jones will stake his claim for a spot in Port Adelaide’s talented side after an eye-catching SANFL season that got better as it went on. The big-bodied defender averaged 16 touches, 10 intercepts and 93 KFC SuperCoach points in Woodville West-Torrens’ successful finals series and proved he can compete with senior bodies.
SC verdict: Slot him in on your field.
Jackson Mead $123,900 MID
SC Average: N/A
Mead was mooted as a possible debutant in the 2020 pre-season before a hamstring injury put a line through him. With another pre-season under his belt, could the father-son prospect squeeze out one of their ball-winners for a spot in the midfield?
SC verdict: Ken Hinkley isn’t afraid to play the kids. Watch-list.
Miles Bergman $123,900 FWD
SC Average: N/A
The 2019 first-round draftee has been reprogrammed as a playmaking defender ahead of the 2021 season. Bergman has a high-impact per possession style of play, averaging 91 points from his 14 touches per game in his draft year.
SC verdict: Suspect Jones will be the only youngster breaking into that settled defensive line-up.
RICHMOND
Riley Collier-Dawkins $123,900 MID
SC Average: N/A
Richmond fans and KFC SuperCoach players have been waiting for a couple of seasons now for a Collier-Dawkins debut. Another pre-season for the big-bodied midfielder may see him added to their on-ball brigade, winning 57.6 per cent of his VFL possessions in a contest in 2019.
SC verdict: Should be a solid SuperCoach performer but it is unclear when he will make his long awaited debut.
Thomson Dow $146,100 MID
SC average: 34 (2 matches)
Dow made his Richmond debut in Round 14 last season, winning 12 disposals in an encouraging first display, but failed to register a kick in his next game. It means he enters his second season at an affordable rookie price.
SC verdict: Debuting as a midfielder in their premiership year says there is a bit about this youngster.
ST KILDA
Tom Highmore $117,300 DEF
SC Average (SANFL 2020): 88
Highmore was one of the prime ball-users and interceptors of the SANFL in 2020, averaging 3.7 intercept marks and 88 KFC SupeCoach points while going at 83.2 by foot. At 22, Highmore could have an immediate impact at AFL level if given the opportunity.
SC verdict: Tough to find a spot in the St Kilda back-six but jump on if he does.
Dylan Roberton $139,700 DEF
SC Average: 26 (1 match)
A popular early selection last season, Roberton’s career is in doubt after taking a break from pre-season training to weigh up his playing future because of his heart condition.
SYDNEY
Logan McDonald $193,800 FWD
SC average (WAFL 2019): 97
McDonald was the best performing draftee of 2020, finishing the WAFL home-and-away with the second-best goalkicking tally. Senior opportunities beckon for the third-tall forward, who averaged an impressive 97 KFC SuperCoach points last year.
SC verdict: While he is likely to play from Round 1, it is a huge sum to pay for a rookie key forward.
Braeden Campbell $189,300 MID/FWD
SC average (NAB League 2019): 123
Campbell showcased his ability to impact games with limited possession as a junior, with his speed and raking left-boot providing X-Factor forward of centre. The Swans Academy ace is looming as a Round 1 starter if some of the comments out of Sydney are anything to go by.
“We like what Braeden can deliver off half-back and through the midfield, just because of his kicking,” John Longmire said recently.
Co-captain Josh Kennedy was just as excited about the draftee, saying on Melbourne radio that Campbell will “have a pretty immediate impact either in the midfield or half-forward/half-back”.
SC verdict: It would be difficult to justify both Phillips and Campbell. Assess their pre-season matches before making the call.
Will Gould $123,900 DEF
SC Average: N/A
The KFC SuperCoach community waited, waited and waited some more for Gould to debut in 2020, but to no avail. Perhaps John Longmuir wanted Gould to earn a place the hard way after having his tyres pumped up on a weekly basis by News Corp’s SuperCoach contributors.
SC verdict: Speaking on the Hipster’s Lair podcast, Matt Turner revealed that close friend Harry Schoenberg said this year was the year for Gould. We hope so too.
Errol Gulden $117,300 MID
SC average (NEAFL 2019): 88
A hard-working 175cm midfielder, Gulden is one of the most consistent performers of the 2020 draft class. His endurance is one of his major assets, finishing fourth in the Swans’ pre-season time-trial and he could crack in earlier than expected.
SC verdict: Averaged 88 points from three NEAFL games as a bottom-ager – keep him in mind.
WEST COAST
Mark Hutchings $157,600 FWD/MID
SC Average: 29.3 (3 matches)
An Eagles regular in previous seasons, Hutchings managed just three games in 2020, going down with a hamstring injury in Round 16 after returning to the side a fortnight earlier. It means a player who has averaged 70-plus in four previous seasons – admittedly all before 2017 – is priced favourably in 2021.
SC verdict: In KFC SuperCoach, keep your friends close and your enemies closer. The tagger might just become a midfield cash cow in 2020.
Zane Trew $102,400 MID
SC Average (WAFL Colts): 125
Trew was a major slider in last year’s draft after being touted as a possible top-30 selection, taken by the Eagles in the rookie draft. A taller contested ball-winner who does his best work in the coalface, Trew averaged 25 disposals, 5.4 clearances, 6.4 tackles and 125 KFC SuperCoach points at WAFL Colts level.
one to keep an eye on.
WESTERN BULLDOGS
Jamarra Ugle-Hagan $207,300 FWD
SC average: 84 (NAB League 2019)
The number one pick of the 2020 draft will slot in beside Aaron Naughton and Josh Bruce in the Bulldogs’ Round 1 forward line. His lethal combination of goalkicking nous, speed and overhead marking should see him piece together a fantastic first-year highlights package.
SC verdict: It’s tough for any key forward to score well in KFC SuperCoach, let alone a lean 18-year-old. He will have some big games, but it won’t be enough to make reasonable cash as the most expensive
Riley Collier-Dawkins $123,900 MID
SC Average: N/A
Richmond fans and KFC SuperCoach players have been waiting for a couple of seasons now for a Collier-Dawkins debut. Another pre-season for the big-bodied midfielder may see him added to their on-ball brigade, winning 57.6 per cent of his VFL possessions in a contest in 2019.
SC verdict: Should be a solid SuperCoach performer but it is unclear when he will make his long awaited debut.
Thomson Dow $146,100 MID
SC average: 34 (2 matches)
Dow made his Richmond debut in Round 14 last season, winning 12 disposals in an encouraging first display, but failed to register a kick in his next game. It means he enters his second season at an affordable rookie price.
SC verdict: Debuting as a midfielder in their premiership year says there is a bit about this youngster.
ST KILDA
Tom Highmore $117,300 DEF
SC Average (SANFL 2020): 88
Highmore was one of the prime ball-users and interceptors of the SANFL in 2020, averaging 3.7 intercept marks and 88 KFC SupeCoach points while going at 83.2 by foot. At 22, Highmore could have an immediate impact at AFL level if given the opportunity.
SC verdict: Tough to find a spot in the St Kilda back-six but jump on if he does.
Dylan Roberton $139,700 DEF
SC Average: 26 (1 match)
A popular early selection last season, Roberton’s career is in doubt after taking a break from pre-season training to weigh up his playing future because of his heart condition.
SYDNEY
Logan McDonald $193,800 FWD
SC average (WAFL 2019): 97
McDonald was the best performing draftee of 2020, finishing the WAFL home-and-away with the second-best goalkicking tally. Senior opportunities beckon for the third-tall forward, who averaged an impressive 97 KFC SuperCoach points last year.
SC verdict: While he is likely to play from Round 1, it is a huge sum to pay for a rookie key forward.
Braeden Campbell $189,300 MID/FWD
SC average (NAB League 2019): 123
Campbell showcased his ability to impact games with limited possession as a junior, with his speed and raking left-boot providing X-Factor forward of centre. The Swans Academy ace is looming as a Round 1 starter if some of the comments out of Sydney are anything to go by.
“We like what Braeden can deliver off half-back and through the midfield, just because of his kicking,” John Longmire said recently.
Co-captain Josh Kennedy was just as excited about the draftee, saying on Melbourne radio that Campbell will “have a pretty immediate impact either in the midfield or half-forward/half-back”.
SC verdict: It would be difficult to justify both Phillips and Campbell. Assess their pre-season matches before making the call.
Will Gould $123,900 DEF
SC Average: N/A
The KFC SuperCoach community waited, waited and waited some more for Gould to debut in 2020, but to no avail. Perhaps John Longmuir wanted Gould to earn a place the hard way after having his tyres pumped up on a weekly basis by News Corp’s SuperCoach contributors.
SC verdict: Speaking on the Hipster’s Lair podcast, Matt Turner revealed that close friend Harry Schoenberg said this year was the year for Gould. We hope so too.
Errol Gulden $117,300 MID
SC average (NEAFL 2019): 88
A hard-working 175cm midfielder, Gulden is one of the most consistent performers of the 2020 draft class. His endurance is one of his major assets, finishing fourth in the Swans’ pre-season time-trial and he could crack in earlier than expected.
SC verdict: Averaged 88 points from three NEAFL games as a bottom-ager – keep him in mind.
WEST COAST
Mark Hutchings $157,600 FWD/MID
SC Average: 29.3 (3 matches)
An Eagles regular in previous seasons, Hutchings managed just three games in 2020, going down with a hamstring injury in Round 16 after returning to the side a fortnight earlier. It means a player who has averaged 70-plus in four previous seasons – admittedly all before 2017 – is priced favourably in 2021.
SC verdict: In KFC SuperCoach, keep your friends close and your enemies closer. The tagger might just become a midfield cash cow in 2020.
Zane Trew $102,400 MID
SC Average (WAFL Colts): 125
Trew was a major slider in last year’s draft after being touted as a possible top-30 selection, taken by the Eagles in the rookie draft. A taller contested ball-winner who does his best work in the coalface, Trew averaged 25 disposals, 5.4 clearances, 6.4 tackles and 125 KFC SuperCoach points at WAFL Colts level.
one to keep an eye on.
WESTERN BULLDOGS
Jamarra Ugle-Hagan $207,300 FWD
SC average: 84 (NAB League 2019)
The number one pick of the 2020 draft will slot in beside Aaron Naughton and Josh Bruce in the Bulldogs’ Round 1 forward line. His lethal combination of goalkicking nous, speed and overhead marking should see him piece together a fantastic first-year highlights package.
SC verdict: It’s tough for any key forward to score well in KFC SuperCoach, let alone a lean 18-year-old. He will have some big games, but it won’t be enough to make reasonable cash as the most expensive
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KFC SuperCoach 2021 pre-season whispers: All the news from around the AFL
Pre-season intel is more important than ever to picking a successful KFC SuperCoach team.
In previous seasons we have had several rounds of pre-season matches to get a read on role changes and cheapies likely to line up in round 1.
In 2021 each club will play only one AAMI Community Series match to help make those crucial selection calls. Need to know what’s happening in scratch matches, intra-club hitouts and on the training track?
Here’s all the news you might have missed.
WHERE THERE’S A WILL ....
The wait might be about to end for one of the biggest hard-luck stories in KFC SuperCoach.
Sydney teenager Will Gould was one of the most popular rookies in 2020 but failed to play a game despite appearing ready for AFL action after being drafted from the SANFL.
He sat on the bench for the entire season for many coaches but they have kept the faith — he’s the fifth-most popular player this year, currently sitting in exactly 50 per cent of teams.
That faith might be about to be rewarded based on a pre-season update from Swans coach John Longmire.
“He’s had a terrific pre-season so far, he works really hard and that will give him the best chance this year,” Longmire said of Gould on the Your Coach podcast.
“He’s learnt a bit more about bodywork, foot work, a bit of a different role than what he played at SANFL level, and also what’s required at AFL level.
“He’s another one that we think can play that intercept marking role or give us some punch off half-back, or being able to play on those third talls at that size, that’s an option for him in our team.”
Longmire also talked up Sydney Academy draftees Braeden Campbell ($189,300 MID/FWD) and pressure forward Errol Gulden ($117,300 MID), said Tom McCartin ($312,800 FWD) will play in defence this year, Callum Mills ($544,800 DEF) has been training with the midfield group but could play “anywhere” and the latest injury setback for Lance Franklin ($312,000 FWD) was “not a major hurdle”. He wouldn’t commit to a Round 1 return for Buddy, but said “we feel he’s still tracking in the right direction”.
SLOW START FOR HAWKS STAR
Alarm bells are ringing if you have ball magnet Tom Mitchell ($610,000 MID) in your KFC SuperCoach squad.
The 2018 Brownlow medallist averaged 113.5 points a game in 2020, his first year back after knee surgery.
But Mitchell is yet to rejoin full training after a post-season shoulder operation. He will start skills next week following a meeting with his surgeon in recent days but he is no guarantee to line up in Round 1.
But there is more positive news out of the Hawks in the form of promising rookies Denver Grainger-Barras ($184,800 DEF) and Connor Downie ($117,300 MID).
Assistant coach Sam Mitchell told the Herald Sun that athletic tall Grainger-Barras was “a little green” but reminded him of James Sicily.
“He’s been going really well. We have played in little intra-club scratch matches of 20 and 30 minutes and he’s showing really good signs. You can understand why he’s an early pick, his reading of the ball in flight is outstanding,” he said.
“It’s not for me to say who is in the selection frame (for Round 1) but if you looked at his match play last week you would say he’s ready to play.”
He said Downie had played mostly on a wing in match simulation.
“He’s a ripper kid. Desperate to learn, desperate to improve, he wants to look at vision, he wants to grab hold of coaches. He has beautiful kicking stills and runs well in space.”
“If you look at Denver and Connor Downie, if things go well for them they can play footy pretty early on in the pre-season. It is all going to be based on their performances in the next 4-6 weeks before Round 1 comes along.
“We have a couple more internal trials and a hitout against the Bulldogs and then we play the Roos in Tassie, so we will see how some of those guys perform when they have a little more pressure against good opponents.
Pre-season intel is more important than ever to picking a successful KFC SuperCoach team.
In previous seasons we have had several rounds of pre-season matches to get a read on role changes and cheapies likely to line up in round 1.
In 2021 each club will play only one AAMI Community Series match to help make those crucial selection calls. Need to know what’s happening in scratch matches, intra-club hitouts and on the training track?
Here’s all the news you might have missed.
WHERE THERE’S A WILL ....
The wait might be about to end for one of the biggest hard-luck stories in KFC SuperCoach.
Sydney teenager Will Gould was one of the most popular rookies in 2020 but failed to play a game despite appearing ready for AFL action after being drafted from the SANFL.
He sat on the bench for the entire season for many coaches but they have kept the faith — he’s the fifth-most popular player this year, currently sitting in exactly 50 per cent of teams.
That faith might be about to be rewarded based on a pre-season update from Swans coach John Longmire.
“He’s had a terrific pre-season so far, he works really hard and that will give him the best chance this year,” Longmire said of Gould on the Your Coach podcast.
“He’s learnt a bit more about bodywork, foot work, a bit of a different role than what he played at SANFL level, and also what’s required at AFL level.
“He’s another one that we think can play that intercept marking role or give us some punch off half-back, or being able to play on those third talls at that size, that’s an option for him in our team.”
Longmire also talked up Sydney Academy draftees Braeden Campbell ($189,300 MID/FWD) and pressure forward Errol Gulden ($117,300 MID), said Tom McCartin ($312,800 FWD) will play in defence this year, Callum Mills ($544,800 DEF) has been training with the midfield group but could play “anywhere” and the latest injury setback for Lance Franklin ($312,000 FWD) was “not a major hurdle”. He wouldn’t commit to a Round 1 return for Buddy, but said “we feel he’s still tracking in the right direction”.
SLOW START FOR HAWKS STAR
Alarm bells are ringing if you have ball magnet Tom Mitchell ($610,000 MID) in your KFC SuperCoach squad.
The 2018 Brownlow medallist averaged 113.5 points a game in 2020, his first year back after knee surgery.
But Mitchell is yet to rejoin full training after a post-season shoulder operation. He will start skills next week following a meeting with his surgeon in recent days but he is no guarantee to line up in Round 1.
But there is more positive news out of the Hawks in the form of promising rookies Denver Grainger-Barras ($184,800 DEF) and Connor Downie ($117,300 MID).
Assistant coach Sam Mitchell told the Herald Sun that athletic tall Grainger-Barras was “a little green” but reminded him of James Sicily.
“He’s been going really well. We have played in little intra-club scratch matches of 20 and 30 minutes and he’s showing really good signs. You can understand why he’s an early pick, his reading of the ball in flight is outstanding,” he said.
“It’s not for me to say who is in the selection frame (for Round 1) but if you looked at his match play last week you would say he’s ready to play.”
He said Downie had played mostly on a wing in match simulation.
“He’s a ripper kid. Desperate to learn, desperate to improve, he wants to look at vision, he wants to grab hold of coaches. He has beautiful kicking stills and runs well in space.”
“If you look at Denver and Connor Downie, if things go well for them they can play footy pretty early on in the pre-season. It is all going to be based on their performances in the next 4-6 weeks before Round 1 comes along.
“We have a couple more internal trials and a hitout against the Bulldogs and then we play the Roos in Tassie, so we will see how some of those guys perform when they have a little more pressure against good opponents.
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SAINTS TALK UP ROOKIE BOLTER
The big news out of Moorabbin in recent days was Jack Steele being named co-captain and players accepting an across-the-board 7 per cent pay cut in a bid to avoid a Collingwood-style slalary cap crunch.
But another nugget may have slipped through when Steele revealed the player who has turned heads on the training track this summer: 22-year-old former SANFL player Tom Highmore ($117,300 DEF).
“In terms of his courage and ball use, you wonder how he hasn’t already been on an AFL list,” Steele said.
“It is great to have him and good to get those sort of surprise packets from the draft.”
Highmore was taken at No.45 in last year’s draft after a strong season for South Adelaide, highlighted by his intercept marking across half-back.
If he can break into the Saints’ best 22 it will be a huge bonus in KFC SuperCoach.
CRIPPS ROLLS OUT RED CARPET FOR EX-GIANT
Patrick Cripps is on the Zac Williams hype train — and shovelling coal into the boiler.
Williams is priced at $458,600 in KFC SuperCoach after moving from the Giants to Carlton as a free agent in the hope of playing as a midfielder after spending most of his career so far at half-back. And Cripps, for one, is a big fan.
“We played a bit of match simulation the other day and he got a fair bit of it,” he said on SEN. “He’s just so creative, he doesn’t waste a ball which is a huge thing.
“What’s surprised me is how competitive he is. He’s a tackling machine.
“He’s only played a few games in the midfield over the last few years, but he gets high clearance numbers, high tackles and high contested possession, which is going to be really beneficial for our group, just adding that class on the outside to really punish the opposition.”
Cripps also provided an explanation for his drop in scoring last year, when his KFC SuperCoach average of 97.5 was his lowest since 2015.
The Carlton co-captain played 3-4kg lighter in 2020 but has put the weight back on for 2021.
“I was trying to improve my running capacity but I probably lost my strength around the contest a little bit, and that’s my one-wood, so I thought I’d just get back to doing that and let guys like Sam Walsh run around me,” Cripps said.
“I tried something different last year but it didn’t quite go to plan ... so I’ve gone back to more my playing weight for 2018-2019, and hopefully it works.”
If his KFC SuperCoach scores return to what he achieved in those seasons — when he averaged 119 and 117 — he will be a steal at $523,700.
ROOS ROOKIE ‘HAS IT ON A STRING’
How many Kangaroos are in your KFC SuperCoach team? The Roos offer a host of potential bargains in 2021, and we might have to add a couple more if skipper Jack Ziebell is taken at his word. Speaking on RSN, Ziebell pumped up mid-price options Jy Simpkin ($499,700 MID) and Luke Davies-Uniacke ($432,800 MID) — who was best on ground in an intra-club hitout — and high draft pick Will Phillips ($198,300 MID) — plus his own move to half-back.
Ziebell on Phillips: “The sky is the limit for Will, he’s a very impressive young man. He’s a tough inside midfielder that can win the ball on the inside and outside and he’s had it on a string at training.”
Ziebell on Simpkin: “He’s just understanding what it takes to be an elite player now and you should see his drive at training, it’s unbelievable. He just wants to be the best he can ... he’s going to be a very very good player for us.”
Ziebell on Davies-Uniacke: “He’s come back in unbelievable shape. He’s got so much time at the contest and when he gets his hands on the ball he penetrates really well, gets the ball long and deep, and he’s going to be very hard to stop.”
Ziebell on himself: “I haven’t spent a lot of time there (half-back) in my career, but it’s something that I think comes pretty naturally to me. One of my strengths as a player is I’ve got that flexibility to play up forward, which I’ve done in the past, also in the midfield if we need it, but down back we’ll trial that a little bit this year and see how that goes, but I’m very confident I’ll be able to get that done and enjoy that role.”
Kangaroos coach David Noble added on SEN that former Magpie Jaidyn Stephenson ($354,100 FWD) is set to play in the midfield and he expects Ben Cunnington ($439,800 MID) to play a full season after his 2020 season was derailed by a back injury.
DOGS MAGNETS ON THE MOVE
The Western Bulldogs have provided some of the highest-scoring KFC SuperCoach midfielders in recent seasons, but nerves about how the arrival of Adam Treloar will impact their established stars appear to be well founded.
Marcus Bontempelli told RSN radio: “I’ll probably spend periods of time forward – or longer periods of time forward in some games” while assistant coach Steven King suggested the skipper won’t be the only player pushed out of the centre square.
“Bonty and Jack Macrae are excited about challenging themselves when they aren’t in the middle. Even exploring 75 interchanges, guys will come up for longer but also go forward,” he told the Herald Sun.
And speaking about Josh Dunkley, who returned for another season at the kennel after a failed bid to move to Essendon in the trade period, King said: “Reflecting on his year, he had that bad syndesmosis and we asked him to fill a role in the ruck and he was so team-oriented that he accepted it, but we won’t do it this year. We will share the load with all our mids and with his forward craft and ability to cover ground he will play multiple positions for us and he will be accepting of that.”
The big news out of Moorabbin in recent days was Jack Steele being named co-captain and players accepting an across-the-board 7 per cent pay cut in a bid to avoid a Collingwood-style slalary cap crunch.
But another nugget may have slipped through when Steele revealed the player who has turned heads on the training track this summer: 22-year-old former SANFL player Tom Highmore ($117,300 DEF).
“In terms of his courage and ball use, you wonder how he hasn’t already been on an AFL list,” Steele said.
“It is great to have him and good to get those sort of surprise packets from the draft.”
Highmore was taken at No.45 in last year’s draft after a strong season for South Adelaide, highlighted by his intercept marking across half-back.
If he can break into the Saints’ best 22 it will be a huge bonus in KFC SuperCoach.
CRIPPS ROLLS OUT RED CARPET FOR EX-GIANT
Patrick Cripps is on the Zac Williams hype train — and shovelling coal into the boiler.
Williams is priced at $458,600 in KFC SuperCoach after moving from the Giants to Carlton as a free agent in the hope of playing as a midfielder after spending most of his career so far at half-back. And Cripps, for one, is a big fan.
“We played a bit of match simulation the other day and he got a fair bit of it,” he said on SEN. “He’s just so creative, he doesn’t waste a ball which is a huge thing.
“What’s surprised me is how competitive he is. He’s a tackling machine.
“He’s only played a few games in the midfield over the last few years, but he gets high clearance numbers, high tackles and high contested possession, which is going to be really beneficial for our group, just adding that class on the outside to really punish the opposition.”
Cripps also provided an explanation for his drop in scoring last year, when his KFC SuperCoach average of 97.5 was his lowest since 2015.
The Carlton co-captain played 3-4kg lighter in 2020 but has put the weight back on for 2021.
“I was trying to improve my running capacity but I probably lost my strength around the contest a little bit, and that’s my one-wood, so I thought I’d just get back to doing that and let guys like Sam Walsh run around me,” Cripps said.
“I tried something different last year but it didn’t quite go to plan ... so I’ve gone back to more my playing weight for 2018-2019, and hopefully it works.”
If his KFC SuperCoach scores return to what he achieved in those seasons — when he averaged 119 and 117 — he will be a steal at $523,700.
ROOS ROOKIE ‘HAS IT ON A STRING’
How many Kangaroos are in your KFC SuperCoach team? The Roos offer a host of potential bargains in 2021, and we might have to add a couple more if skipper Jack Ziebell is taken at his word. Speaking on RSN, Ziebell pumped up mid-price options Jy Simpkin ($499,700 MID) and Luke Davies-Uniacke ($432,800 MID) — who was best on ground in an intra-club hitout — and high draft pick Will Phillips ($198,300 MID) — plus his own move to half-back.
Ziebell on Phillips: “The sky is the limit for Will, he’s a very impressive young man. He’s a tough inside midfielder that can win the ball on the inside and outside and he’s had it on a string at training.”
Ziebell on Simpkin: “He’s just understanding what it takes to be an elite player now and you should see his drive at training, it’s unbelievable. He just wants to be the best he can ... he’s going to be a very very good player for us.”
Ziebell on Davies-Uniacke: “He’s come back in unbelievable shape. He’s got so much time at the contest and when he gets his hands on the ball he penetrates really well, gets the ball long and deep, and he’s going to be very hard to stop.”
Ziebell on himself: “I haven’t spent a lot of time there (half-back) in my career, but it’s something that I think comes pretty naturally to me. One of my strengths as a player is I’ve got that flexibility to play up forward, which I’ve done in the past, also in the midfield if we need it, but down back we’ll trial that a little bit this year and see how that goes, but I’m very confident I’ll be able to get that done and enjoy that role.”
Kangaroos coach David Noble added on SEN that former Magpie Jaidyn Stephenson ($354,100 FWD) is set to play in the midfield and he expects Ben Cunnington ($439,800 MID) to play a full season after his 2020 season was derailed by a back injury.
DOGS MAGNETS ON THE MOVE
The Western Bulldogs have provided some of the highest-scoring KFC SuperCoach midfielders in recent seasons, but nerves about how the arrival of Adam Treloar will impact their established stars appear to be well founded.
Marcus Bontempelli told RSN radio: “I’ll probably spend periods of time forward – or longer periods of time forward in some games” while assistant coach Steven King suggested the skipper won’t be the only player pushed out of the centre square.
“Bonty and Jack Macrae are excited about challenging themselves when they aren’t in the middle. Even exploring 75 interchanges, guys will come up for longer but also go forward,” he told the Herald Sun.
And speaking about Josh Dunkley, who returned for another season at the kennel after a failed bid to move to Essendon in the trade period, King said: “Reflecting on his year, he had that bad syndesmosis and we asked him to fill a role in the ruck and he was so team-oriented that he accepted it, but we won’t do it this year. We will share the load with all our mids and with his forward craft and ability to cover ground he will play multiple positions for us and he will be accepting of that.”
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ROWELL STEPS UP INJURY COMEBACK
Midfield prodigy Matt Rowell ($495,100 MID) will step up his comeback from a severe shoulder injury when he takes part in match simulation this weekend.
Rowell averaged a crazy 126.5 KFC SuperCoach points in the first four games of his career before hurting his shoulder against Geelong in Round 5 last year.
He has returned to full contact training and will test the shoulder out in match conditions for the first time when he plays “a quarter and a bit” at Carrara.
“It’s not cotton wool, but we’re just mindful that he’s had such a big off-season, he was so determined to get it right, he’s done all his shoulder rehab so well,” Gold Coast coach Stuart Dew told the AFL website.
“It’s been different for him. He hasn’t missed a lot of footy (previously), but it’s been great for him to learn about his body more and not just be the guy that can play football really well.”
Dew flagged Noah Anderson ($411,500 MID) — who averaged 94 points over his final six games last season — would play more as an inside midfielder in 2021 and he is also keen to throw Izak Rankine ($371,600 FWD) into the middle.
PIES GUN SUFFERS INJURY SETBACK
One player who stood to benefit from Treloar’s move was Taylor Adams ($588,800 MID), whose scores have historically spiked without Treloar in the Collingwood line-up. But the tough onballer, who has a history of soft-tissue problems, now faces an uphill battle to be ready for Round 1 after straining his hamstring at training. “Given the 27-year-old’s history the medical department will monitor his progress over the coming weeks,” Collingwood said in a statement. “Adams will continue to work towards a Round 1 appearance against the Western Bulldogs.” In more positive news out of Magpieland, breakout candidate Josh Daicos ($442,200 MID) has been wowing track watchers and draftee Finlay Macrae ($126,300 FWD/MID) is making a strong case for a Round 1 debut.
YEO A NO-GO
There’s good news and bad news out of the West Coast camp when it comes to mid-price KFC SuperCoach prospects.
Elliot Yeo ($483,000 MID) offers huge potential value in the midfield after averaging 90 in an injury-hit 2020 season after hitting 108 in 2018-19.
But Yeo is no certainty to run out in Round 1, according to coach Adam Simpson.
“His progression is coming along, it’s still pretty slow though. It’s still touch and go for Round 1,” Simpson said.
“We’re not ruling it out at this stage, but it’s currently looking more unlikely than likely. But we’re still quite positive we’re going to get a good result in the early part of the year.”
Yeo’s absence and minor injuries have opened the door for Liam Duggan ($448,600 DEF) to train in the midfield group — and he could make a permanent move.
Duggan averaged 98 KFC SuperCoach points a game over the last eight rounds in 2020.
“We drafted him as a midfielder and he’s snuck he’s way back and never looked back,” Simpson said.
He’s been training with the mids the last two weeks and definitely impressed a lot of people and he’s ready to step up.”
HEPPELL EYEING ROUND 1 RETURN
Things are looking up for Essendon skipper Dyson Heppell ($319,100 MID) and his prospects of playing in Round 1.
Heppell played only three games last year due to a foot injury but New Bombers footy manager Josh Mahoney says he is “tracking really well” in his comeback.
“Dyson has been training really well and we’re really pleased with how he is progressing from that foot injury. He is a true professional and has put in a huge amount of work this pre-season to ensure his body feels good, so we’re pleased with his progression to date this pre-season,” Mahoney said.
https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/...l/news-story/2c045979befd3a9f78b38886fe64a524
Midfield prodigy Matt Rowell ($495,100 MID) will step up his comeback from a severe shoulder injury when he takes part in match simulation this weekend.
Rowell averaged a crazy 126.5 KFC SuperCoach points in the first four games of his career before hurting his shoulder against Geelong in Round 5 last year.
He has returned to full contact training and will test the shoulder out in match conditions for the first time when he plays “a quarter and a bit” at Carrara.
“It’s not cotton wool, but we’re just mindful that he’s had such a big off-season, he was so determined to get it right, he’s done all his shoulder rehab so well,” Gold Coast coach Stuart Dew told the AFL website.
“It’s been different for him. He hasn’t missed a lot of footy (previously), but it’s been great for him to learn about his body more and not just be the guy that can play football really well.”
Dew flagged Noah Anderson ($411,500 MID) — who averaged 94 points over his final six games last season — would play more as an inside midfielder in 2021 and he is also keen to throw Izak Rankine ($371,600 FWD) into the middle.
PIES GUN SUFFERS INJURY SETBACK
One player who stood to benefit from Treloar’s move was Taylor Adams ($588,800 MID), whose scores have historically spiked without Treloar in the Collingwood line-up. But the tough onballer, who has a history of soft-tissue problems, now faces an uphill battle to be ready for Round 1 after straining his hamstring at training. “Given the 27-year-old’s history the medical department will monitor his progress over the coming weeks,” Collingwood said in a statement. “Adams will continue to work towards a Round 1 appearance against the Western Bulldogs.” In more positive news out of Magpieland, breakout candidate Josh Daicos ($442,200 MID) has been wowing track watchers and draftee Finlay Macrae ($126,300 FWD/MID) is making a strong case for a Round 1 debut.
YEO A NO-GO
There’s good news and bad news out of the West Coast camp when it comes to mid-price KFC SuperCoach prospects.
Elliot Yeo ($483,000 MID) offers huge potential value in the midfield after averaging 90 in an injury-hit 2020 season after hitting 108 in 2018-19.
But Yeo is no certainty to run out in Round 1, according to coach Adam Simpson.
“His progression is coming along, it’s still pretty slow though. It’s still touch and go for Round 1,” Simpson said.
“We’re not ruling it out at this stage, but it’s currently looking more unlikely than likely. But we’re still quite positive we’re going to get a good result in the early part of the year.”
Yeo’s absence and minor injuries have opened the door for Liam Duggan ($448,600 DEF) to train in the midfield group — and he could make a permanent move.
Duggan averaged 98 KFC SuperCoach points a game over the last eight rounds in 2020.
“We drafted him as a midfielder and he’s snuck he’s way back and never looked back,” Simpson said.
He’s been training with the mids the last two weeks and definitely impressed a lot of people and he’s ready to step up.”
HEPPELL EYEING ROUND 1 RETURN
Things are looking up for Essendon skipper Dyson Heppell ($319,100 MID) and his prospects of playing in Round 1.
Heppell played only three games last year due to a foot injury but New Bombers footy manager Josh Mahoney says he is “tracking really well” in his comeback.
“Dyson has been training really well and we’re really pleased with how he is progressing from that foot injury. He is a true professional and has put in a huge amount of work this pre-season to ensure his body feels good, so we’re pleased with his progression to date this pre-season,” Mahoney said.
https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/...l/news-story/2c045979befd3a9f78b38886fe64a524
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AFL injury news: Dyson Heppell set for round 1; Hurley, Stringer racing clock
https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/...k/news-story/181d309725e585434baaef406616e8b1
Essendon captain Dyson Heppell is a certain starter for Round 1 in a new half back role that will help lessen the strain on his troublesome foot.
But All Australian defender Michael Hurley remains bed-ridden with a lingering leg infection and seems a distant prospect of playing in the season opener against Hawthorn.
Hurley and Jake Stringer (achilles) would both need to make dramatic recoveries five weeks out from Round 1 in an Essendon side that will give opportunities to its bunch of young kids.
Stringer has managed his achilles over summer and after pulling up sore in match simulation the club has made the decision that he will commit to a period of strengthening the area instead of continuing full training.
Essendon’s forward line will be built around ex-Suns forward Peter Wright and a group of mid-sized and small forwards, with Cale Hooker, James Stewart and Jayden Laverde playing back.
Heppell has had multiple rounds of surgery on his foot and ankle but after having a pin removed from his ankle in September Dons football boss Josh Mahoney told the Herald Sun he was perfectly placed for Round 1.
“Dyson has been managed really well by the medical and high performance team he’s now essentially in full training. He is expecting to play the pre-season games and he’s playing a new role off half back. He gives the defensive some real experience which is important,” he said.
“It was a good decision to get a procedure done at the end of the season and he’s looking forward to getting out there as captain. It’s a decision based on him adding some experience to the defence but also the physical requirements of that role versus the midfield.”
Hurley’s lack of progress is a clear concern given he spent a week in hospital but after being discharged last Sunday is still attempting to shrug off the infection.
“He has a leg infection which is being treated through antibiotics. His recovery time frame is based on how quickly he recovers. It’s a bit of an unknown at this stage. The more time he misses with training and the restrictions of being bed-ridden is going to impact his return. It’s just important to get on top of it and once he gets to that stage we can think about timelines.”
Essendon is determined to get Stringer back to full fitness rather than limping through his achilles issues after he battled when returning from a syndesmosis strain last year.
“He’s on an achilles program to strengthen that area. After that he will continue to build his loads. It’s important for Jake that we set him up for success this year, so that’s what we are doing.”
David Zaharakis (PCL surgery) is building his loads after also recovering from a quad tendon strain and while he is making progress the club says only that he will be back in the early rounds of the year.
The club’s decision to replenish its key position stocks and secure a trio of young draftees in Nik Cox (pick 8), Archie Perkins (pick 9), and Zach Reid (pick 10) means the Dons are keen to play emerging talent if they are good enough.
“At this stage we want to pick the best teams we can for both games against Carlton and Geelong. We think it’s really important to build the cohesion of the group. But if opportunities come up for young guys including those first year players, then they just have to take those opportunities.”
https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/...k/news-story/181d309725e585434baaef406616e8b1
Essendon captain Dyson Heppell is a certain starter for Round 1 in a new half back role that will help lessen the strain on his troublesome foot.
But All Australian defender Michael Hurley remains bed-ridden with a lingering leg infection and seems a distant prospect of playing in the season opener against Hawthorn.
Hurley and Jake Stringer (achilles) would both need to make dramatic recoveries five weeks out from Round 1 in an Essendon side that will give opportunities to its bunch of young kids.
Stringer has managed his achilles over summer and after pulling up sore in match simulation the club has made the decision that he will commit to a period of strengthening the area instead of continuing full training.
Essendon’s forward line will be built around ex-Suns forward Peter Wright and a group of mid-sized and small forwards, with Cale Hooker, James Stewart and Jayden Laverde playing back.
Heppell has had multiple rounds of surgery on his foot and ankle but after having a pin removed from his ankle in September Dons football boss Josh Mahoney told the Herald Sun he was perfectly placed for Round 1.
“Dyson has been managed really well by the medical and high performance team he’s now essentially in full training. He is expecting to play the pre-season games and he’s playing a new role off half back. He gives the defensive some real experience which is important,” he said.
“It was a good decision to get a procedure done at the end of the season and he’s looking forward to getting out there as captain. It’s a decision based on him adding some experience to the defence but also the physical requirements of that role versus the midfield.”
Hurley’s lack of progress is a clear concern given he spent a week in hospital but after being discharged last Sunday is still attempting to shrug off the infection.
“He has a leg infection which is being treated through antibiotics. His recovery time frame is based on how quickly he recovers. It’s a bit of an unknown at this stage. The more time he misses with training and the restrictions of being bed-ridden is going to impact his return. It’s just important to get on top of it and once he gets to that stage we can think about timelines.”
Essendon is determined to get Stringer back to full fitness rather than limping through his achilles issues after he battled when returning from a syndesmosis strain last year.
“He’s on an achilles program to strengthen that area. After that he will continue to build his loads. It’s important for Jake that we set him up for success this year, so that’s what we are doing.”
David Zaharakis (PCL surgery) is building his loads after also recovering from a quad tendon strain and while he is making progress the club says only that he will be back in the early rounds of the year.
The club’s decision to replenish its key position stocks and secure a trio of young draftees in Nik Cox (pick 8), Archie Perkins (pick 9), and Zach Reid (pick 10) means the Dons are keen to play emerging talent if they are good enough.
“At this stage we want to pick the best teams we can for both games against Carlton and Geelong. We think it’s really important to build the cohesion of the group. But if opportunities come up for young guys including those first year players, then they just have to take those opportunities.”