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[Professor]

GEELONG
NEW RECRUITS

Former Hawthorn ruckman Jonathon Ceglar had arthroscopy surgery on his right knee after a training mishap, but is expected to make a quick recovery.

Former Adelaide small forward Tyson Stengle is expected to add some firepower to group of small forwards who struggled last year.

BACK FROM INJURY

Star defender Tom Strewart missed the last five games of last season – including finals – with a syndesmosis ankle injury but is back fit and firing and ready for Round 1.

DRAFT WATCH

James Willis looks the most likely of the Cats’ draftees to break into the side.

However, the pick 32 was eased into training during pre-season as he continued his recovery from a knee injury late in the SANFL season last year.

INJURY ISSUES

Along with Ceglar, small forward Gryan Miers is out of action at the moment after suffering a syndesmosis injury to his left ankle at training in late January.

The Cats are yet to put a date on Miers’ expected return.

ONE MORE THING …

Key forward Jeremy Cameron says he is primed for his “best season” yet after an issue-free pre-season that has seen him miss only one training session.

Gryan Miers will miss the start of the season for Geelong. Picture: Alison Wynd
GOLD COAST
NEW RECRUITS

Former Richmond ruckman-forward Mabior Chol and former Carlton big man Levi Casboult have settled in well.

With Ben King’s injury, both could play important roles in attack this season.

SANFL Magarey Medallist James Tsitas won Gold Coast’s final list spot through the Supplemental Selection Period and the 26-year-old has the ability to slot straight into the Suns’ line-up.

NEW POSITIONS

Former No. 2 draft pick Jack Lukosius has spent all of pre-season training with the forwards, having spent his first three years in the AFL playing almost exclusively in defence.

BACK FROM INJURY

Ruckman and co-captain Jarrod Witts is awaiting final medical approval to return from an ACL injury he suffered in Round 3 last year.

A Round 1 return is firmly on the cards.

Defender Rory Thompson is also looking to return from the same injury.

DRAFT WATCH

No. 5 draft pick Mac Andrew, who can play at either end of the ground or in the ruck, has been strong on the training track and has all the attributes to play some senior football this year.

INJURY ISSUES

Key forward Ben King’s season-ending ACL injury he suffered at pre-season training is a huge blow for the Suns.

King had kicked 47 goals from 22 games in a breakout 2021 season.

Midfielder Jack Bowes had shoulder surgery in late January and is expected to miss at least the first six rounds of the season.

ONE MORE THING …

Midfielder Brayden Fiorini has worked with a speed coach over summer to try and take his game to another level and make sure he stays a permanent part of the line-up.

Ben King’s injury is a big blow for Gold Coast. Picture: Getty Images
GWS
NEW RECRUITS

The Giants’ only addition during the trade period last year was delisted free agent Jarrod Brander.

The former West Coast utility was originally taken at pick 13 in the 2017 national draft but struggled to find a role at the Eagles after being tried as a forward, back and on a wing.

However, Brander has trained purely as a forward at the Giants and is vying for one of the key position spots.

NEW POSITIONS

Lachie Ash is primed for more midfield minutes this season after impressing across halfback over the past two years.

Ash has built his tank over the summer and spent some time training with the midfield group.

BACK FROM INJURY

Co-captain Stephen Coniglio is fighting fit after a tough past two years with his body and form, with the Giants hopeful he is turning the corner.

Coniglio has been moving freely and covering the ground well on the training track.

DRAFT WATCH

The Giants’ top draft pick from last year, Finn Callaghan, has spent some time in the rehab group over summer.

However, Callaghan (pick 3) and Leek Aleer (pick 15) are standout high picks who could feature for the Giants at some stage this year.

INJURY ISSUES

Star forward-midfielder Toby Greene will miss the first five rounds of the season through suspension for umpire contact last year.

Small forward Brent Daniels is expected to miss the first half of the season with a Lisfranc injury.

Jack Buckley is also sidelined until at least the latter part of the year after suffering an ACL injury last July.

ONE MORE THING …

Key forward Jesse Hogan has completed a full pre-season and looks primed for a big 2022 after having some injury issues again last year.

Jesse Hogan is primed for a big year at GWS. Picture: Michael Klein
HAWTHORN

 

[Professor]

HAWTHORN
NEW RECRUITS

Former Collingwood ruckman Max Lynch has been highly impressive across the summer and continues to battle it out with fellow 23-year-old Ned Reeves for the Hawks’ No. 1 ruck role.

NEW POSITIONS

It had been expected that talented young defender Will Day would push up the ground into the midfield this year, but a recent setback with an ankle injury might have pushed back those plans.

BACK FROM INJURY

Veteran Jack Gunston is building his fitness as he eyes an AFL return after a crippling back injury limited him to just a single game last year.

Defender James Sicily is also back to full fitness and ready to go this year, having not played since suffering an ACL injury in Round 12, 2020.

DRAFT WATCH

Last year’s No. 7 draft pick Josh Ward has been a standout all pre-season at training and during match simulation and is on track for an early-season debut.

The midfielder can run all day, is composed and clean by hand and foot and showed some good follow-up work.

Rookie draftee Ned Long has also caught the eye and looks capable of playing some senior football early in the year.

INJURY ISSUES

Day is unlikely to be ready for Round 1 as the Hawks manage him carefully.

Jarman Impey (foot) is also in doubt for Round 1, while Luke Breust suffered a concussion in a recent intra-club match.

Changkuoth Jiath is making strong progress after injuring his PCL late last season.

ONE MORE THING …

Tom Mitchell has kept doing what he does best over pre-season and racking up the disposals at Waverley Park.

Jack Gunston is working his way back to fitness at Hawthorn. Picture: Getty Images
MELBOURNE
NEW RECRUITS

Former St Kilda midfielder Luke Dunstan has impressed teammates over pre-season and has fit in nicely to a team that prides itself on winning contested ball.

NEW POSITIONS

Don’t expect to see the reigning premiers switch up too much in 2022.

BACK FROM INJURY

Defender Adam Tomlinson if fully fit and ready to reclaim his spot in the Demons’ side after suffering an ACL injury in Round 7 last season.

There will be some fire in the belly of one of the year’s biggest hard luck stories.

DRAFT WATCH

Melbourne’s Western Australian draftees Jacob van Rooyen, Taj Woewodin and Judd McVee only joined training for the first time since the November draft in mid-January, putting them back a little bit in their preparations for the coming season.

Melbourne will be a tough team to break into this year, anyway.

Victorian Blake Howes (pick 39) was the Demons’ other selection in the national draft.

INJURY ISSUES

It was a largely injury-free pre-season for the Demons until premiership defender Harrison Petty went under the knife for surgery on a calf injury.

Petty is expected to miss the early rounds of the season as a result.

ONE MORE THING …

Onballer Clayton Oliver, who finished third in the Brownlow Medal last year, is said to be as fit as ever and has been doing some “unbelievable” things on the track.

Clayton Oliver has had a big summer with Melbourne. Picture: Getty Images
NORTH MELBOURNE
NEW RECRUITS

Richmond recruit Callum Coleman-Jones has caught the eye with his mobility and marking ability around the ground and is likely to find a home in the forward line as well as rotate with Todd Goldstein in the ruck.

Gold Coast recruit Hugh Greenwood has looked good during match simulation with the hardness he brings around the ball and his tackling, among a young midfield group.

NEW POSITIONS

Expect midfielder-forward Tarryn Thomas to play more minutes around the ball this year, but still add class in the forward half.

Thomas has shone brightly during match simulation, where is either kicking the goals himself or being the “money kick” player to hit up a teammate inside-50.

BACK FROM INJURY

Tom Powell missed the second half of last season with groin issues, but has proven a standout at training over summer.

DRAFT WATCH

Get excited, Kangaroos fans.

No. 1 draft pick Jason Horne-Francis is going to be a star of the competition and he is ready to go at AFL level, sitting firmly in the mix for a Round 1 debut.

INJURY ISSUES

Ben Cunnington (testicular cancer) is still sidelined indefinitely.

ONE MORE THING …

Key forward Nick Larkey looks ready to build on a big back half of last season which saw him boot 21 goals from his last seven games.

Tarryn Thomas is only getting better. Picture: Michael Klein
PORT ADELAIDE
NEW RECRUITS

Former GWS forward Jeremy Finlayson is staking his claim for a berth in the season-opener.

His marking, movement and agility as a mobile forward has impressed Power teammates and coaches.

Former Brisbane defender Sam Skinner has also kept being mentioned as one to keep an eye on at Alberton, with teammate Tom Jonas recently saying Skinner is “looking really good”

Former North Melbourne midfielder Trent Dumont has had recent surgery on his knee in a setback to his preparations.

NEW POSITIONS

Exciting young stars Zak Butters and Connor Rozee will be pushing their cases for more midfield minutes this season.

However, the Power do have some depth through that area.

DRAFT WATCH

The sight of the Power’s No. 13 draft pick Josh Sinn turning onto his left foot and kicking goals or finding forwards in space is already becoming common.

Sinn has spent some time training with the midfielders but appears more likely to start across halfback.

INJURY ISSUES

Key forward Charlie Dixon has had recent surgery on his ankle but is still expected to push to play in Round 1.

Small forward Orazio Fantasia has recently gone under the knife for a knee complaint, which is expected to see him miss the early part of the season.

ONE MORE THING …

Shaun Burgoyne returned to the Power from Hawthorn in November, taking on a multifaceted off-field role that did not specify coaching. But he has been joining some coaching meetings and is offering an extra set of hands for drills as well as advice on the training track.

Port Adelaide has a few key injury concerns. Picture: Mark Brake

 

[Professor]

RICHMOND
NEW RECRUITS

The Tigers couldn’t have been much more impressed with what North Melbourne recruit Robbie Tarrant has brought to the table since joining the club.

Expect the 32-year-old Tarrant to fill the hole in defence left by the retirement of triple-premiership player David Astbury.

NEW POSITIONS

Exciting young defender Noah Balta has been training with the forward line group across the summer as the Tigers eye a potential switch.

Balta’s athleticism, marking ability and quality kick could see him be a huge asset in attack.

BACK FROM INJURY

Ruckman Ivan Soldo is fit again after suffering an ACL injury in Round 17, 2020 which sidelined him for all of last year.

The Tigers are keen to explore a return to playing two rucks with Soldo alongside new co-captain Toby Nankervis.

DRAFT WATCH

Top draft pick Josh Gibcus has particularly impressed coach Damien Hardwick, as a 196cm athletic key defender who competes hard.

Teammate Jack Riewoldt has described Gibcus as a “very special player”.

INJURY ISSUES

Midfielder-forward Kane Lambert has been carefully managed during pre-season, while Tom Lynch has been eased back into training after a minor hamstring.

However, it has been otherwise a largely clean bill of health for the Tigers.

ONE MORE THING …

Midfielder and 2019 best-and-fairest Dion Prestia has had his best pre-season since joining the club as he hopes to put his injury issues of recent years behind him.

Noah Balta is set for a switch forward. Picture: Michael Klein
ST KILDA
NEW RECRUITS

A relatively quiet trade period for the Saints last year, who only picked up former North Melbourne ruckman Tom Campbell as a delisted free agent.

Campbell has gone up against Rowan Marshall in the ruck during recent intra-club games and performed well.

NEW POSITIONS

Josh Battle has been a jack of all trades in his time at the club, but looks destined to bed down a spot in defence this season.

He has spent the whole pre-season working with the backs and spent some time opposed to Max King in the match simulation.

BACK FROM INJURY

Jade Gresham has taken some important steps recently towards booking a Round 1 berth against Collingwood after shining during match simulation.

The forward-midfielder has not played since rupturing his Achilles in Round 3 last year.

DRAFT WATCH

Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera has shown a bit during match simulation, as have fellow draftees Mitch Owens and Marcus Windhager.

INJURY ISSUES

Young defender Nick Coffield will miss the season with an ACL injury he suffered during pre-season training.

Dan Hannebery and Patrick Ryder have been on modified training programs as they are carefully managed.

Jarryn Geary is likely to be back into action at some stage next month.

ONE MORE THING …

Two time A-League winning coach Ernie Merrick has joined the Saints as a mentor for coach Brett Ratten. What can he add this season?

Jade Gresham is back from injury for St Kilda. Picture: Getty Images
SYDNEY
NEW RECRUITS

Former Port Adelaide ruckman Peter Ladhams has impressed at his new club and put pressure on teammates as he vies for the No. 1 ruck spot.

NEW POSITIONS

Isaac Heeney kicked 36 goals as a medium-sized forward for the Swans last year but is poised to move into the midfield this season.

Heeney has had a full pre-season after ankle, thumb and hand issues interrupted his 2021 campaign.

BACK FROM INJURY

Former No. 1 draft pick Paddy McCartin has been listed by the Swans, having not played an AFL game since Round 16, 2018 due to concussion issues.

McCartin has been training alongside his brother Tom in defence, but can feature at either end of the ground.

DRAFT WATCH

The Swans No. 18 draft pick last year, Angus Sheldrick, has been training with the Sydney forwards in a new role but hopes to become an AFL midfielder in years to come.

INJURY ISSUES

Ruckman Sam Naismith is sidelined indefinitely after having second stage ACL surgery last October.

Callum Mills (Achilles) has been on a modified training program since late last year but is building his workloads and progressing well.

ONE MORE THING …

There is a bit of excitement about what Errol Gulden can do as a second-year player this season, after winning the AFL Players’ Association Best First Year Player award last year.

Isaac Heeney is moving into the midfield. Picture: Getty Images

 

[Professor]

WEST COAST
NEW RECRUITS

Former Carlton defender-midfielder Sam Petrevski-Seton has settled in well out West but is part of an intriguing midfield selection battle.

NEW POSITIONS

Talented tall Oscar Allen looks set to play as a more permanent forward this year, having been used all around the ground in recent seasons.

BACK FROM INJURY

Small forward Willie Rioli is back at the club, having not played an AFL game since 2019 due to a two-year doping ban.

However, Rioli’s training has been backed off in recent times.

DRAFT WATCH

Pick 14 Campbell Chesser looks to be handling his first pre-season with ease as he pursues a likely early-season AFL debut.

With a few injury issues among the midfield group, the path is clear for Chesser to play in the pre-season games and stake his claim for a round one berth

INJURY ISSUES

Oscar Allen (foot) is set to be sidelined for the opening weeks of the season, as is fellow forward Jamie Cripps after undergoing surgery for a torn pectoral muscle.

Luke Shuey (leg) and Liam Duggan (knee) are also under a cloud entering Round 1, while Jack Darling’s future remains uncertain due to AFL vaccination requirements.

WESTERN BULLDOGS
NEW RECRUITS

Former Hawthorn forward Tim O’Brien has impressed at Whitten Oval and is set to feature as an intercepting defender at his new club, having trained with the backline group all summer.

NEW POSITIONS

Not so much a new position, but there is a position up for grabs for former No. 1 draft pick Jamarra Ugle-Hagan as a key forward alongside Aaron Naughton after Josh Bruce’s injury late last year.

Ugle-Hagan has put his hand up to step up after playing five AFL games on debut last season.

BACK FROM INJURY

Ed Richards has looked sharp on the training track and playing across halfback during match simulation, having had an injury-interrupted 2021 season which saw him feature in just five games.

DRAFT WATCH

Exciting draftee Sam Darcy is recovering from a foot stress fracture and is being carefully managed.

INJURY ISSUES

The Bulldogs are without key forward Josh Bruce (knee) and small forward Toby McLean (knee) until at least very late in the year.

Small forward Cody Weightman (foot) has been on a modified training program after post-season surgery, as has midfielder Adam Treloar.

ONE MORE THING …

The gates to Whitten Oval have largely been locked over summer, with media being granted only a few brief glimpses of training. What secrets does coach Luke Beveridge have up his sleeve?

 

[Ironhawk]

Thanks @Professor!

 

[Professor]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1495224659113299970

View: https://mobile.twitter.com/scplaybookafl/status/1495224659113299970

 

[Professor]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1494849523868393478

View: https://mobile.twitter.com/scplaybookafl/status/1494849523868393478

 

[Professor]

KFC SuperCoach 2022: Introduction to trade, selection strategy
Ready to take your KFC SuperCoach game to a new level? Long-time players lift the lid on the value picks and trading strategy you can use to get ahead in 2022.

Lekdog, Damo and Azza

5 min read
February 21, 2022 - 10:23AM
News Corp Australia Sports Newsroom




01:10
Heath Shaw's Top 5 Rookies
KFC SuperCoach HOFer Heath Shaw runs through and ranks his top five rookies to start with in season 2022.
View more related videos



Earlier in the pre-season, Clarky and Baron Von Crow from the Jock Reynolds SuperCoach community presented the rules to follow when selecting a KFC SuperCoach team.
Now you know the basics, it’s time to manage your team like a winner because starting selections are only part of what makes a good KFC SuperCoach side.
There are many tactics that can be used throughout the year to put you ahead of everyone else. Lekdog, Damo and Azza reveal the inside info that can help you join the KFC SuperCoach elite.

VOIDS OF SIGNIFICANCE
When we refer to a “void of significance” we are talking about positional gaps within a team that have appeared either through the trading of a player in the off-season, another player being dropped to the reserves or an injury to a key contributor.
Identifying these voids of significance can give us insight into potential value selections. These could be players who are underpriced and could see a scoring increase or even a rookie who is ready to debut.
Keeping up to date with injury lists, “best-22’s” and team news during the week, will help you stay on top of the best trade options throughout the season.
Players who might fill a void of significance in 2022:
Brayden Fiorini ($551,600 MID) – averaged 110.6 from Round 17 onwards in 2021 for the Suns after Hugh Greenwood went down with injury. Greenwood left the Gold Coast in the off-season so a spot in that midfield is up for grabs.
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A Sky News documentary MH370: The Final Search. Stream on Flash Wed 8pm AEDT.
Mitch McGovern ($256,000 FWD) – has been training with the Carlton defenders during the pre-season and may be called upon to fill Liam Jones’ role.

Mitch McGovern could play a much more KFC SuperCoach-friendly rule at the Blues in 2022. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images
Darcy Tucker ($323,200 DEF) and Will Brodie ($224,300 MID/FWD) – have both been playing midfield minutes in Fremantle’s match simulations at training and appear to be the main beneficiaries of Adam Cerra’s departure.
Nathan Kreuger ($198,100 DEF) – was traded to Collingwood in the off-season and should get a crack at filling one of their key forward posts in 2022.
Charlie Dean ($102,400 DEF) – mature-age Magpie recruit is in the mix to fill in for Jordan Roughead who will miss the early rounds with a shoulder injury.
Voids of significance can appear at any time in the pre-season – who will get more midfield time at Carlton while Sam Walsh is out? – or during the year, and can be a great indicator of a player jumping onto the KFC SuperCoach radar.
ROOKIES
You want rookies who are playing because their most important role is to increase the value of your team, allowing you to upgrade them to premiums later in the year.
A rookie will earn money based on the scores they produce compared to their Break Even – the score a player must achieve to raise their value (you can see every player’s Break Even in Supercoach Plus).
For example, Suns cheapie Elijah Hollands has a Break Even of just 23 points in Round 1, if he scores more than that his value will start to jump once price movements start in Round 3.
Generally, people will trade a rookie when their Break Even is higher than their average score.
Read all about the best rookies in our 2022 Rookie Bible.

 

[Professor]

TRADE RULES
Form is temporary, class is forever … or so they say.
As a rule, you don’t trade your premium players. These are guys you’ve paid the big bucks for, and are expecting to hold for the entire season. Form slumps happen, but they are premium selections for a reason, and will usually bounce back.
The only reasons you would trade a premium might include:
1. A clear role change – Michael Walters was targeted as a premium forward option in 2021 due to his stints in the midfield in previous seasons, but returned to his customary role as a small forward and saw a slump in his scoring output.
2. Long-term injury – your player is expected to miss an extended period of football.
3. Lingering injury – this is often a 50-50 call when your premium player is playing hurt but not playing quite badly enough to justify using a trade.

If one of your players is suspended for six weeks, that’s a must-trade! Picture: Phil Hillyard
DEALING WITH INJURIES
How long you hold an injured player for has long been debated in the KFC SuperCoach community.
Trades are good as gold, so they need to be used wisely. You don’t generally trade someone who’s only going to be missing for 1-2 weeks or is still playing while injured, but you are going to trade someone who will be missing for more than four weeks. However, whether you trade or not depends on what your team needs. Things to consider when deciding on whether you hold or player or not might include:
1. Do you have 22 scoring players this week?
2. Do you need a big win in your league?
3. Where do you sit in the overall rankings? Can you afford to hold the trade and use it at a more crucial time of the season?
4. Is your injured player still playing and are they performing badly enough to justify a trade?
OPPOSITION ANALYSIS
Players tend to play better against some sides, and not so great against others. This goes for venues as well. Through SuperCoach Plus and other similar tools, you can identify players to target with your trades, which bench players to put on-field, or who to captain each week. Things to consider when looking at match-ups:
1. Does the opposition team use a tagger?
2. Does your player perform well or poorly against this team (recent average versus opponent)?
3. Does your player perform well or poorly a this venue?
4. Is your player excelling at their current role or is there a chance their coach might shake things up?
LOOPHOLES
In your starting side you want as many playing rookies as possible. Teams can quickly come unstuck if they have a bench full of players who aren’t getting games or increasing in value.
However, selecting a non-playing rookie has its perks.
You can use a non-playing rookie to “loophole,” which is a tactic savvy SuperCoaches use to get two bites at the cherry for their captain or a rookie to get the higher score.
To set up the rookie loophole, you’ll need to start with two scoring rookies on the bench, and your non-playing rookie on the field. Nominate the bench player who plays earlier in the round as an emergency and, if he scores well, leave your team as it is – the non-scoring rookie will score zero and you will get your emergency score instead.
If the emergency player fails, substitute your second scoring rookie onto the field and move the non-playing rookie to the bench. Then you will get the playing rookie’s score (just hope they score more than the first player!).

If you try out the vice-captain loophole, it pays to hae a solid back-up captain like Clayton Oliver or Max Gawn. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images
The captaincy loophole follows the same principle. Nominate a player who features early in the round as your vice-captain and if they go bananas, you can put your non-playing emergency on the field and make them captain; when they score zero your vice-captain’s score will be doubled.
If the VC doesn’t live up to expectations, make a player later in the round captain and play on as normal.
More Coverage
The secrets to picking a winning KFC SuperCoach teamRookie Rankings: Injury blow forces SuperCoach re-thinkHow to use extra SuperCoach trades to your advantage
Loopholes can deliver valuable extra points but they can also cause headaches based on the order of games, so make sure you check the fixture before setting up your loophole(s) for the round.
That wraps up Supercoach 101 part two. For more content from Damo, Azza, Lekdog and the whole Jock Reynolds team, head to jockreynolds.com.au.

 

[AngryAnt]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1495224659113299970

View: https://mobile.twitter.com/scplaybookafl/status/1495224659113299970

Sicily is not a lock by any means, need to see if he gets most of the kick outs.

 

[Zimmer]

Voids of Significance. Pls.

 

[Shannon]

KFC SuperCoach 2022: The Phantom’s team revealed

The official pre-season games are here, and it’s time to get serious in KFC SuperCoach.

It’s important to note what – and who – happened in the intra-club matches, but it’s equally as important not to read too much into the player who had 30 touches against his own teammates. Scott Pendlebury and Nick Daicos sharing kick-in duties is a different story, however.
The next fortnight will tell us even more, but you should be going with a solid structure – or two – in mind. Of course, things will change, but it’s time to start refining things.

That’s what I’ve done and I think I’m happy. But Braydon Preuss is the big Giant ruckman in the room. He’s at R2 at the moment – a change from the R3 strategy from my early team – and I love what the rest of the side looks like around him.
But I’d be lying if I didn’t say I was nervous about a rookie-price ruckman, though.
And, yes, I’ve been sucked into some value that I said I was going to avoid.

DEFENDERS
Jack Crisp (Coll) $571,000, Mid
Jordan Dawson (Adel) $555,300
Jordan Ridley (Ess) $537,100
James Sicily (Haw) $448,100
Keidean Coleman (Bris) $263,200, Fwd
Nathan O’Driscoll (Fre) $123,900, Mid
BENCH: Garrett McDonagh (Ess), $117,300, Charlie Dean (Coll) $102,400
With a lack of rookie-price options in defence – at this stage anyway – I had played around with an extra premium and Sicily at D5, leaving just one cheapie on the field. But with Aaron Hall hurting his hamstring and Coleman continuing to impress in the half-back role, which also had him take kick-ins during Brisbane’s intra-club, I’ve reverted to a slightly more balanced approach. If you include finals, the talented Lion finished the year with a three-round average of 85. Given his scoring power, there’s just too much value in a fit Sicily playing in defence. O’Driscoll has a very KFC SuperCoach-friendly contested game and he played a major role through the midfield in Fremantle’s final internal trial.


MIDFIELDERS
Jack Macrae (WB) $699,900
Jack Steele (StK) $685,800
Darcy Parish (Ess) $621,300
Lachie Neale (Bris) $543,200
Caleb Serong (Fre) $451,000
Jason Horne-Francis (NM) $207,300
Nick Daicos (Coll) $193,800
Dylan Stephens (Syd) $167,800
BENCH:Jackson Mead (Port) $123,900, Charlie Parker (WB) $102,400 FWD, James Tsitas (GC) $102,400
There’s been some significant changes in the midfield. After the release of my initial team, I sat on a four premium-four rookie structure, which included Sam Walsh, for a while. With a standout group of midfielders, led by the top draftees, emerging, it’s a setup I like for 2022 – and one I’ll continue to consider. But the injury to Eagles mature-ager Greg Clark forced a re-think. Well, that, and the fact I can’t overlook Serong’s potential breakout – even though I tried for a while. Many KFC SuperCoach teams will go into the season with the trio of Macrae, Steele and Neale so when Sam Walsh went down, I looked for something different. Hawk Tom Mitchell’s back-end of 2021 is enticing but so was Parish’s first full-time year in the midfield. Given he was only a bit-part player through the middle in the opening month, along with his enormous ceiling, I think the star Bomber can be a 120-point man very soon. I’m currently willing to overlook the tag and returning teammates concerns because he might just be, simply, too good for any of it to matter.

RUCK
Brodie Grundy (Coll) $627,100
Braydon Preuss (GWS) $204,700
BENCH: Dante Visentini (Port) $117,300, Fwd
It’s all roses until up until this point. But should I be any more worried than starting Sean Darcy who had Achilles tightness and copped a knock in the last month alone? He’s my other option, which I may revert to if Preuss can’t clearly knock Matt Flynn and Kieren Briggs out the way during the pre-season matches. Visentini would act as a non-playing loophole, who could swing with Charlie Comben – or Jack Hayes, when he’s officially signed – when ruck cover is needed. Grundy isn’t going anywhere.

FORWARDS
Josh Dunkley (WB) $558,200, Mid
Jordan De Goey (Coll) $463,500, Mid
Zak Butters (Port) $443,600
Cam Rayner (Bris) $278,600
Stephen Coniglio (GWS) $261,300, Mid
Josh Rachele (Adel) $184,800, Mid

BENCH: Elijah Hollands (GC) $123,900, Mid, Charlie Comben (NM) $123,900, Ruck

I was set on Dunkley and Duncan at the top but the news of the Geelong star fighting to be fit for Round 1 with a calf issue has forced a change. To be honest, though, I like where it’s ended up. De Goey averaged 110 in the final nine games of last year, playing through the midfield and, if the role stays the same, it’s a figure he’ll go close to again. Butters is lock, and the extra cash from the Preuss selection has also allowed me to push Coniglio down to F5 and add Rayner, whose strength and power through the midfield coach Chris Fagan continues to rave about. Blue Charlie Curnow is high on the watchlist, too. With limited on-field rookie options in the forward line, it also puts less pressure on the debutants. This way, I can switch between Rachele and Hollands.

 

[Professor]

AFL: Melbourne defender Trent Rivers tips big things this year for young Demons stars Luke Jackson and Kozzy Pickett
Demon Trent Rivers is coming off a breakout second season in the AFL, but he’s most excited about two of his teammates.

Marc McGowan

less than 2 min read
February 22, 2022 - 12:37PM
NCA NewsWire




02:24
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Melbourne premiership defender Trent Rivers is tipping young stars Luke Jackson and Kozzy Pickett to go to another level this year.
Jackson and Pickett were the respective third and 12th picks in the 2019 draft, with Rivers already looking a bargain selection at No.32 that year.
They were all senior regulars last season and played important roles in the Demons’ drought-busting grand final triumph over the Western Bulldogs in Perth.

Asked which of his teammates had shone brightest this pre-season, Rivers didn’t hesitate nominating Pickett and Jackson, who is out of contract at season’s end.
“I think Kozzy is always exciting. He’s looking really fit and so is ‘Dogga’ Jackson,” Rivers told the Melbourne website.
“I reckon it’s going to be something exciting this year (with those two).”

Luke Jackson, Kozzy Pickett, Trent Rivers and Melbourne chief executive Gary Pert with last year’s premiership cup in Perth. Picture: Paul Kane
Rivers, 20, played all 25 games last year and established himself in defence, averaging 15 disposals and five intercept possessions in an impressive second season at AFL level.
“It gives me confidence in my game (but), obviously, there’s still a lot to learn,” he said.
“I’m a young player and I’ve got some great mentors around me, so I’ll just get what I can off them and continue to grow my game.
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“My body adapted to the pre-season a lot better than the first and second year and I think I’m a lot fitter and stronger than I was in the last couple years, so I’m looking forward to it.”
Rivers, who, like Jackson, had his tonsils removed post-season, said the Demons’ premiership triumph was great to be part of but counted for little this coming season.
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“I think everyone can sort of put it in their back pocket and we know that we’ve done it before, so we can do it again,” he said.
“But I think we’re back to level-headed and it’s an even playing field again, so we’ve just got to go out and do what we did last year again.”
Originally published as AFL: Melbourne defender Trent Rivers tips big things this year for young Demons stars Luke Jackson and Kozzy Pickett

 

[Professor]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1495979425526996996

View: https://mobile.twitter.com/abcnews/status/1495979425526996996

 

[Shannon]

KFC SuperCoach 2022: The 11 commandments and expert tips for success
New to KFC SuperCoach or just after that extra edge to beat your mates? These 11 key rules will help build the foundation for success in 2022.

The following 11 KFC SuperCoach commandments are guidelines more than they are rules, but, if followed, could set you up for success when building your 2022 KFC SuperCoach side.
I’ve spent years honing these rules to perfection and I’m sure if I actually followed them my results would’ve been far better.
So, do as I say and not as I do, and you’ll be on your way to winning that work league, toppling your mates in a head-to-head or winning it all.

1. PICK THE BEST ROOKIES
The definition of the ‘best’ rookies has changed a fair bit over time.

The ‘best’ rookies used to be limited to the cheapies who were named in Round 1 and projected to make us a quick injection of cash – this is still the case.

However, there was a time when KFC SuperCoach fanatics wouldn’t have even considered a rookie priced around the $200k mark. It used to be sacrilege to suggest starting someone in this price range.

But the times, they are a-changing, and 2022 presents a situation where the ‘best’ rookies are the ones we need to pay the big bucks for.

Jason Horne-Franics ($207,300 MID), Nick Daicos ($193,800 MID) and Josh Rachele ($184,800 MID/FWD) are just some of the higher-priced players you need to lock into your team right now.

They are all highly touted juniors, they all project to be decent KFC SuperCoach scorers and, more importantly, they have great job security. In KFC SuperCoach, a rookie’s best ability is their availability and as long as these guys are on the park, they’ll be contributing to your team’s value.

2. AVOID THE INTERRUPTED PRE-SEASON
This is maybe the simplest, and most effective, commandment year in, year out.

In 2021, it was reported that Patrick Dangerfield had groin issues in the off-season, he missed 9 of Geelong’s first 11 games. It was also reported that Lachie Neale was having an injury interrupted pre-season, he went on to average just 96.5 across his first six games, losing over $140k in value before missing eight games throughout the rest of the season.

Pre-seasons matter, and we should be watching them closely.

This year, I’ll be avoiding players like Aaron Hall (hamstring), Jeremy Howe (abductor), Nat Fyfe (shoulder) and Mitch Duncan (calf) who have all had injury interrupted pre-seasons and focusing on selecting more historically durable players.


3. DON’T P.O.D FOR POD’S SAKE
Points-of-difference (POD) are a great way to make your team unique, but too many of them can land you in a world of hurt.

Often coaches will select a few PODs so that their team doesn’t look too ‘cookie cutter’ but I’m here to let you know that cookie cutter is OK.

The best players in KFC SuperCoach are the best players for a reason, and there’s no shame in selecting the best players for your team!

If you have a player or two who you are desperate to select but appear in no one else’s team, take them.

4. PRIORITISE VALUE OVER BREAKOUT POTENTIAL
Normally I try and steer coaches away from the dreaded mid-pricer. This year, I don’t think that’s going to be possible.

Instead, we must prioritise the selection of undervalued mid-pricers (fallen premiums), who have previously performed in KFC SuperCoach, rather than the potential breakout contenders of the world.

Coaches who started with Jack Ziebell and Joe Daniher in their 2021 forward lines were at a clear advantage to those who didn’t.

Compare those two fallen premiums with the selections of breakout contenders Matt Rowell and Jye Caldwell and you’ll potentially see the difference between a top-1000 finishing squad and a top-10,000 finishing squad.

There are a number of players we could consider as fallen premiums heading into 2022:

Matt Crouch ($482,000 MID) has averaged 110 multiple times in his career

Stephen Coniglio ($261,300 FWD/MID) averaged 91+ from 2015 to 2020

James Sicily ($448,100 DEF) was averaging 108.2 in 2020 before suffering a season-ending injury.

5. PLAN FOR THE WORST
In a world where we’ve seen games moved, cancelled and delayed, we need to be prepared for anything.

Here are some things to consider when planning for the worst in 2022:

– Don’t pick multiple premiums from the same team, meaning if a game is cancelled or delayed, you won’t be as punished.

– Save your trades until the very last moment every week. If there are any late-outs or any games are moved, you’ll still have the flexibility to improve your side.

– If you have a good VC score, play safe and take it. You never know when your captain might get hurt in the warm-up!


6. PLAN FOR THE BYES
Planning for the byes can be a really worthwhile exercise when you are selecting your starting team.

Spreading out your initial premium options across the three bye weeks will make trading through the early parts of the season far simpler.

This might mean that if you are starting Clayton Oliver you might not also start Lachie Neale as they both share the Round 14 bye. Instead you might target Adam Cerra (Round 12) or Rory Laird (Round 13).

By having an even spread of premiums to begin with, you should be able to trade just about anyone you want into your side throughout the year and still have enough coverage for the bye rounds in Round 12, 13 and 14.

Using this tactic should also give you captaincy options across all bye rounds.

7. LOOPHOLE, LOOPHOLE, LOOPHOLE
At this point we probably need to rename the loophole because it has become a staple part of the game.

The loophole can be used for captaincy scores and bench scores.

Essentially you’re just putting a non-playing player onto the field to get your emergencies’ score. Generally, your emergency will have played earlier in the round and scored well enough that you want to lock his score in.

This also works for captaincy. Chuck the VC on someone earlier in the round and if they score well you put a non-playing player onto the field, whack the C on him and make sure you have slapped the E on the player you switched out.

This is a simple way to lock in a mammoth score and increase your total points.

It’s also something you should be doing just about every single round of the year.

 

[Shannon]

8. MANAGE YOUR TRADES
While starting selections are important, it’s trading that can separate you from the pack.

Ideally your trades will be used to turn two rookies who have appreciated in value into a cheap rookie who is about to do the same and a proven premium scorer.

The goal of trading should always be to increase your team’s total points output, your team’s total value or both.

We run into trouble when we waste trades that we could’ve held.

For instance, many coaches will panic early in the season when one of their emergencies scores highly and will waste a trade bringing in a non-playing rookie to ensure they get the score. This is short term thinking and you won’t be thankful you got those extra 100 points in Round 1 when you’ve got no trades left and an injury to deal with in Round 20.

Only use trades when it’s time to cull a fully fed rookie, to replace a premium player who will miss more than three weeks or to jump on a cheapie who is rocketing in value.

By all means start with Jack Ziebell or Patrick Dangerfield, but only if you have identified them for a reason and not just because no one else has picked them.


9. DON’T WASTE YOUR TRADE BOOSTS
The Trade Boost is a new feature of KFC SuperCoach in 2022 and, like normal trades, it shouldn’t be wasted.

Essentially, you’ll have five Trade Boosts for the year which will allow you to make one extra trade in up to five rounds of your choosing.

Like with regular trades, coaches will get themselves into trouble if they look to use these Trade Boosts just to secure an emergency score from the bench.

The Trade Boost should be held to replace a premium player who might’ve been a late-out in a clutch KFC SuperCoach matchup or reserved for the bye rounds to ensure you can field a full scoring side.

Coaches may also consider holding some Trade Boosts throughout the season as insurance against any Covid related changes to the fixture.

10. CHANGE PLACES!
If last year taught us anything, it’s that we’re going to need flexibility to cover ourselves and that means utilising dual-position players (DPPs) to our advantage.

This year we have some great options that can provide some cover. Jack Crisp (DEF/MID), Stephen Coniglio (FWD/MID), Keidean Coleman (FWD/DEF) and Campbell Chesser (DEF/FWD) are all popular options.

A new feature for KFC SuperCoach in 2022 is the positional update rules. Players could have dual-position status added after rounds six, 12 and 18. They can’t have a position taken away during the season.

This gives us even more flexibility and something to keep an eye on throughout the year.

11. ENJOY THE RIDE
I’ve been lucky enough over the last couple of years to include this commandment and it’s applicable once again.

KFC SuperCoach is a game that we play to enhance our football experience and to engage with our communities. It’s supposed to be fun.

There will be low points this year; players will get hurt, starting selections won’t pay off, games might be cancelled.

But there will also be high points; that round where you nail your captain in a nailbiting victory, when you top score in your league for a week and when you taste that sweet premiership glory.

So enjoy it! 2022 is going to be a fun ride.

 

[wogitalia]

KFC SuperCoach 2022: The 11 commandments and expert tips for success
New to KFC SuperCoach or just after that extra edge to beat your mates? These 11 key rules will help build the foundation for success in 2022.

The following 11 KFC SuperCoach commandments are guidelines more than they are rules, but, if followed, could set you up for success when building your 2022 KFC SuperCoach side.
I’ve spent years honing these rules to perfection and I’m sure if I actually followed them my results would’ve been far better.
So, do as I say and not as I do, and you’ll be on your way to winning that work league, toppling your mates in a head-to-head or winning it all.

1. PICK THE BEST ROOKIES
The definition of the ‘best’ rookies has changed a fair bit over time.

The ‘best’ rookies used to be limited to the cheapies who were named in Round 1 and projected to make us a quick injection of cash – this is still the case.

However, there was a time when KFC SuperCoach fanatics wouldn’t have even considered a rookie priced around the $200k mark. It used to be sacrilege to suggest starting someone in this price range.

But the times, they are a-changing, and 2022 presents a situation where the ‘best’ rookies are the ones we need to pay the big bucks for.

Jason Horne-Franics ($207,300 MID), Nick Daicos ($193,800 MID) and Josh Rachele ($184,800 MID/FWD) are just some of the higher-priced players you need to lock into your team right now.

They are all highly touted juniors, they all project to be decent KFC SuperCoach scorers and, more importantly, they have great job security. In KFC SuperCoach, a rookie’s best ability is their availability and as long as these guys are on the park, they’ll be contributing to your team’s value.

2. AVOID THE INTERRUPTED PRE-SEASON
This is maybe the simplest, and most effective, commandment year in, year out.

In 2021, it was reported that Patrick Dangerfield had groin issues in the off-season, he missed 9 of Geelong’s first 11 games. It was also reported that Lachie Neale was having an injury interrupted pre-season, he went on to average just 96.5 across his first six games, losing over $140k in value before missing eight games throughout the rest of the season.

Pre-seasons matter, and we should be watching them closely.

This year, I’ll be avoiding players like Aaron Hall (hamstring), Jeremy Howe (abductor), Nat Fyfe (shoulder) and Mitch Duncan (calf) who have all had injury interrupted pre-seasons and focusing on selecting more historically durable players.


3. DON’T P.O.D FOR POD’S SAKE
Points-of-difference (POD) are a great way to make your team unique, but too many of them can land you in a world of hurt.

Often coaches will select a few PODs so that their team doesn’t look too ‘cookie cutter’ but I’m here to let you know that cookie cutter is OK.

The best players in KFC SuperCoach are the best players for a reason, and there’s no shame in selecting the best players for your team!

If you have a player or two who you are desperate to select but appear in no one else’s team, take them.

4. PRIORITISE VALUE OVER BREAKOUT POTENTIAL
Normally I try and steer coaches away from the dreaded mid-pricer. This year, I don’t think that’s going to be possible.

Instead, we must prioritise the selection of undervalued mid-pricers (fallen premiums), who have previously performed in KFC SuperCoach, rather than the potential breakout contenders of the world.

Coaches who started with Jack Ziebell and Joe Daniher in their 2021 forward lines were at a clear advantage to those who didn’t.

Compare those two fallen premiums with the selections of breakout contenders Matt Rowell and Jye Caldwell and you’ll potentially see the difference between a top-1000 finishing squad and a top-10,000 finishing squad.

There are a number of players we could consider as fallen premiums heading into 2022:

Matt Crouch ($482,000 MID) has averaged 110 multiple times in his career

Stephen Coniglio ($261,300 FWD/MID) averaged 91+ from 2015 to 2020

James Sicily ($448,100 DEF) was averaging 108.2 in 2020 before suffering a season-ending injury.

5. PLAN FOR THE WORST
In a world where we’ve seen games moved, cancelled and delayed, we need to be prepared for anything.

Here are some things to consider when planning for the worst in 2022:

– Don’t pick multiple premiums from the same team, meaning if a game is cancelled or delayed, you won’t be as punished.

– Save your trades until the very last moment every week. If there are any late-outs or any games are moved, you’ll still have the flexibility to improve your side.

– If you have a good VC score, play safe and take it. You never know when your captain might get hurt in the warm-up!


6. PLAN FOR THE BYES
Planning for the byes can be a really worthwhile exercise when you are selecting your starting team.

Spreading out your initial premium options across the three bye weeks will make trading through the early parts of the season far simpler.

This might mean that if you are starting Clayton Oliver you might not also start Lachie Neale as they both share the Round 14 bye. Instead you might target Adam Cerra (Round 12) or Rory Laird (Round 13).

By having an even spread of premiums to begin with, you should be able to trade just about anyone you want into your side throughout the year and still have enough coverage for the bye rounds in Round 12, 13 and 14.

Using this tactic should also give you captaincy options across all bye rounds.

7. LOOPHOLE, LOOPHOLE, LOOPHOLE
At this point we probably need to rename the loophole because it has become a staple part of the game.

The loophole can be used for captaincy scores and bench scores.

Essentially you’re just putting a non-playing player onto the field to get your emergencies’ score. Generally, your emergency will have played earlier in the round and scored well enough that you want to lock his score in.

This also works for captaincy. Chuck the VC on someone earlier in the round and if they score well you put a non-playing player onto the field, whack the C on him and make sure you have slapped the E on the player you switched out.

This is a simple way to lock in a mammoth score and increase your total points.

It’s also something you should be doing just about every single round of the year.

I thought I'd written that until I got to point 7 and then I knew it wasn't me

God I wish they'd get rid of the loophole and save me from myself.

 

[Bermi]

8. MANAGE YOUR TRADES
While starting selections are important, it’s trading that can separate you from the pack.

Ideally your trades will be used to turn two rookies who have appreciated in value into a cheap rookie who is about to do the same and a proven premium scorer.

The goal of trading should always be to increase your team’s total points output, your team’s total value or both.

We run into trouble when we waste trades that we could’ve held.

For instance, many coaches will panic early in the season when one of their emergencies scores highly and will waste a trade bringing in a non-playing rookie to ensure they get the score. This is short term thinking and you won’t be thankful you got those extra 100 points in Round 1 when you’ve got no trades left and an injury to deal with in Round 20.

Only use trades when it’s time to cull a fully fed rookie, to replace a premium player who will miss more than three weeks or to jump on a cheapie who is rocketing in value.

By all means start with Jack Ziebell or Patrick Dangerfield, but only if you have identified them for a reason and not just because no one else has picked them.


9. DON’T WASTE YOUR TRADE BOOSTS
The Trade Boost is a new feature of KFC SuperCoach in 2022 and, like normal trades, it shouldn’t be wasted.

Essentially, you’ll have five Trade Boosts for the year which will allow you to make one extra trade in up to five rounds of your choosing.

Like with regular trades, coaches will get themselves into trouble if they look to use these Trade Boosts just to secure an emergency score from the bench.

The Trade Boost should be held to replace a premium player who might’ve been a late-out in a clutch KFC SuperCoach matchup or reserved for the bye rounds to ensure you can field a full scoring side.

Coaches may also consider holding some Trade Boosts throughout the season as insurance against any Covid related changes to the fixture.

10. CHANGE PLACES!
If last year taught us anything, it’s that we’re going to need flexibility to cover ourselves and that means utilising dual-position players (DPPs) to our advantage.

This year we have some great options that can provide some cover. Jack Crisp (DEF/MID), Stephen Coniglio (FWD/MID), Keidean Coleman (FWD/DEF) and Campbell Chesser (DEF/FWD) are all popular options.

A new feature for KFC SuperCoach in 2022 is the positional update rules. Players could have dual-position status added after rounds six, 12 and 18. They can’t have a position taken away during the season.

This gives us even more flexibility and something to keep an eye on throughout the year.

11. ENJOY THE RIDE
I’ve been lucky enough over the last couple of years to include this commandment and it’s applicable once again.

KFC SuperCoach is a game that we play to enhance our football experience and to engage with our communities. It’s supposed to be fun.

There will be low points this year; players will get hurt, starting selections won’t pay off, games might be cancelled.

But there will also be high points; that round where you nail your captain in a nailbiting victory, when you top score in your league for a week and when you taste that sweet premiership glory.

So enjoy it! 2022 is going to be a fun ride.

Just a minor detail, Chesser is a (DEF/MID).

10. CHANGE PLACES!
If last year taught us anything, it’s that we’re going to need flexibility to cover ourselves and that means utilising dual-position players (DPPs) to our advantage.

This year we have some great options that can provide some cover. Jack Crisp (DEF/MID), Stephen Coniglio (FWD/MID), Keidean Coleman (FWD/DEF) and Campbell Chesser (DEF/FWD) are all popular options.

 

[Professor]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1496296658086539264

View: https://mobile.twitter.com/scplaybookafl/status/1496296658086539264

 

[Socrates2]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1496296658086539264

View: https://mobile.twitter.com/scplaybookafl/status/1496296658086539264

That website is excellent Professor cheers.