Nick Daicos is one of the top rookie prospects in KFC SuperCoach. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images
COLLINGWOODNick Daicos $193,800 MID
2021 SC Ave: 159 (NAB League)
In his five NAB League games last year, Daicos posted KFC SuperCoach scores of 177, 166, 145, 169 and 138. He was ready for AFL footy last season – even the Magpies said he probably would’ve got a game. Daicos, who averaged 36 disposals and two goals, has the versatility and skill set to be used on each line, but new coach Craig McRae told News Corp recently the Magpies will “try to play him across halfback and through the midfield” early in his career. Playing in that precise role in Collingwood’s intra-club, Daicos tallied a game-high 24 disposals and even took some kick-ins.
DB: Daicos is a cut above the rest from last year’s draft crop, along with Horne-Francis. Should get plenty of the Sherrin in that Pies backline — lock it up.
TP: I’m liking the look of a four-rookie midfield with Daicos and Jason Horne-Francis. On fire at training, he’ll be worth the price.
Charlie Dean $102,400 DEF
2021 SC Ave: 85 (VFL)
A mature-age intercept defender, who won the Fothergill-Round-Mitchell Medal as the VFL’s best young player? Now that’s KFC SuperCoach gold as it was with Docker Luke Ryan in 2017. The ready-made Dean averaged eight intercepts and 85 KFC SuperCoach points per game for Williamstown and is a rookie lock if he can squeeze in for Round 1. Injuries to defenders Jordan Roughead (returning Round 5) and Jeremy Howe (in doubt for Round 1) will help his chances of a debut in their season-opener. And his practice match performance down back was solid.
DB: Needed something to go his way and Roughead’s shoulder surgery might just open the door for Dean. An intercepting mature-age defender is just what we’re after in a rookie, so slot him on your bench.
TP: The Jordan Roughead injury news may have paved the way for a Dean debut in Round 1. Lock him in.
Finlay Macrae $206,800 MID
2021 SC Ave: 38 (9 games), 97 (VFL)
It was a frustrating first KFC SuperCoach season for Macrae, who battled for regular opportunity in Collingwood’s best 22. But he showed in spurts his elite ball-winning ability, highlighted by his 20-disposal performance in just 61 per cent game time against the Hawks in Round 21. Remind you of anyone? A consistent midfield role – one floated by Pies GM Nick Maxwell in January - for Macrae could bring a serious KFC SuperCoach spike, quickly.
DB: Was one of those who had Macrae for most of last year, and while he was frustrating at times, there were signs of gradual improvement. At this stage other top-end priced midfield rookies are ahead.
TP: I’ll be watching him very closely in the pre-season matches. Could the second-year midfielder be worth that little bit extra than the draftees? Maybe.
Mature-age Collingwood recruit Charlie Dean. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images
Finlay Macrae is hoping to follow his brother Jack as a SuperCoach stud. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images
Reef McInnes $123,900 MID
2021 SC Ave: 61 (VFL)
Maxwell also confirmed Collingwood wants to expose McInnes in the midfield in 2022. The big-bodied 194cm on-baller didn’t feature at senior level in his debut season but showed some great signs in the VFL. McInness, who lacks some polish by foot, tallied 19 disposals, 11 tackles and 106 points in Round 3 before finishing the year with 17 disposals, 10 contested possessions and nine clearances in his final game.
DB: Has the makings of a strong KFC SuperCoach scorer, but where will he play once he receives a debut? If a midfield role is slated, I’m all in.
TP: How many kids can the Pies rotate through the midfield? Not in my side yet but he does boast a KFC SuperCoach-friendly game style.
Will Kelly $123,900, DEF/FWD
2021 SC ave (AFL): 22, (VFL): 66
Kelly hasn’t been able to catch a break, fracturing his collarbone and arm among other injuries in the past two seasons. The swingman has impressed as a forward over across an injury-free pre-season and he could be in the mix for Collingwood’s season-opener.
DB: His DPP is a major plus – which is why his ownership has soared – but will he make enough cash?
Harvey Harrison $117,300 MID
2021 SC ave (SANFL U18): 106
Harrison has been a surprise packet in his first pre-season at Collingwood, with the South Australian draftee putting in a promising return in the club’s trial match. The speedster, who recorded the fastest 20m sprint time of any potential draftee in 2021, won eight disposals and kicked two goals, with the club website noting that he is in a “great position to have a strong 2022”. In his final junior game last season, Harrison registered a whopping 34 disposals, 16 contested possessions, 10 clearances and 163 KFC SuperCoach points.
DB: More encouraging form could see a spot open up for him in the forward line with those wheels. Looks to be better mid options around his price, though.
ESSENDONNicholas Martin $102,400 FWD
2021 SC ave: 80 (WAFL)
2022 PS score: 45
Martin was gunnin for one of Essendon’s two list vacancies, following a similar path to fellow WAFL mature-ager Alec Waterman, who was plucked after kicking a bag of goals in a practice match last pre-season. Martin, a creative 190cm forward/wingman, got the nod after showing some encouraging signs with his skills in Essendon’s practice match and scoring 45 points. This came after Martin kicked four goals in an Essendon intra-club. The 20-year-old averaged 14.6 disposals, 80 SuperCoach points and kicked 24 goals for grand finalists Subiaco in the WAFL last season, and a forward spot is up for grabs with Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti’s return up in the air.
DB: Like his chances of playing early. Alec Waterman 2.0 – but better for KFC SuperCoach.
Tex Wanganeen $102,400 FWD
2021 SC Ave: N/A
2022 PS score: 47
A quarter was all it took for Wanganeen to rubber stump a rookie spot alongside Martin in the Bombers’ first practice match. With football talent in his blood, the son of Gavin Wanganeen dazzled with two eye-catching goals to spark his side, finishing with 47 KFC SuperCoach points. A largely unknown quantity from a fantasy perspective, Wanganeen has zero junior games recorded by Champion Data, with his last two seasons being cruelled by injury and Covid-19.
DB: Has some forward magic that the Bombers are crying out for. May not score as well Martin, but hard to ignore at the price if he’s in.
Tex Wanganeen is now a Bomber. Picture: Getty Images
Garrett McDonagh $117,300 DEF
2021 SC Ave: 84 (VFL)
2022 PS score: DNP
You don’t pick 25-year-olds from the VFL to develop them. And Bombers list boss Adrian Dodoro confirmed just that post-draft, declaring the long-kicking defender “could possible play very early on in the piece”. McDonagh, a terrific runner who is a great ball user by foot, averaged 21 disposals, five intercepts, and five rebound-50s in the VFL last season.
DB: Doesn’t look like the superboot will be getting a run in Round 1.
TP: Pick him if Ben Rutten does.
Essendon draftees (from left) Garrett McDonagh, Ben Hobbs, Alastair Lord and Patrick Voss. Picture: Michael Klein
Kaine Baldwin $123,800 FWD
2021 SC Ave: DNP
2022 PS score: 49
Baldwin join the Bombers as an SSP signing in early 2021 after being overlooked in the draft. In terms of talent, the Glenelg junior was on par with fellow South Australians Riley Thilthorpe and Lachie Jones, but two knee reconstructions saw him overlooked. He’s on the way, however, to completing a full pre-season and could be one to surprise in 2022. Baldwin’s first game in a Bombers jumper was very promising, clunking a contested mark and booting a goal to go with 49 points.
DB: Key forwards rookies don’t have a great KFC SuperCoach track record, but he is a bigger body.
TP: An exciting talent, who is injury-free and impressing at Bombers training. It just all depends on when they unleash him.
Ben Hobbs $153,300 MID
2021 SC Ave: 127 (NAB League)
2022 PS score: 21
With the return of Dylan Shiel and Jye Caldwell, coupled with the rise of Darcy Parish, it’s going to be a hard midfield to break into this year. But Hobbs is ready if there’s an opening. Taking out the injury-affected Round 4 score, the strongly-built teenager averaged 29 disposals, 13 contested possessions, six clearances, five tackles and 148 KFC SuperCoach points in the NAB League last season. Put in a promising intra-club display, but this was after some prime movers had been put on ice for the second half. He showed he belongs at the level in his limited gametime against the Bulldogs.
DB: A KFC SuperCoach star of the future and his elite contested ball-winning means he is a chance of playing a key role this year, even with Essendon’s on-ball brigade looking settled.
TP: Has impressed in match simulation through the midfield and looks set to feature in some capacity early. But with the Bombers’ on-ball depth, I’m not sure you can pick him ahead of a few other top draftees.
COLLINGWOODNick Daicos $193,800 MID
2021 SC Ave: 159 (NAB League)
In his five NAB League games last year, Daicos posted KFC SuperCoach scores of 177, 166, 145, 169 and 138. He was ready for AFL footy last season – even the Magpies said he probably would’ve got a game. Daicos, who averaged 36 disposals and two goals, has the versatility and skill set to be used on each line, but new coach Craig McRae told News Corp recently the Magpies will “try to play him across halfback and through the midfield” early in his career. Playing in that precise role in Collingwood’s intra-club, Daicos tallied a game-high 24 disposals and even took some kick-ins.
DB: Daicos is a cut above the rest from last year’s draft crop, along with Horne-Francis. Should get plenty of the Sherrin in that Pies backline — lock it up.
TP: I’m liking the look of a four-rookie midfield with Daicos and Jason Horne-Francis. On fire at training, he’ll be worth the price.
Charlie Dean $102,400 DEF
2021 SC Ave: 85 (VFL)
A mature-age intercept defender, who won the Fothergill-Round-Mitchell Medal as the VFL’s best young player? Now that’s KFC SuperCoach gold as it was with Docker Luke Ryan in 2017. The ready-made Dean averaged eight intercepts and 85 KFC SuperCoach points per game for Williamstown and is a rookie lock if he can squeeze in for Round 1. Injuries to defenders Jordan Roughead (returning Round 5) and Jeremy Howe (in doubt for Round 1) will help his chances of a debut in their season-opener. And his practice match performance down back was solid.
DB: Needed something to go his way and Roughead’s shoulder surgery might just open the door for Dean. An intercepting mature-age defender is just what we’re after in a rookie, so slot him on your bench.
TP: The Jordan Roughead injury news may have paved the way for a Dean debut in Round 1. Lock him in.
Finlay Macrae $206,800 MID
2021 SC Ave: 38 (9 games), 97 (VFL)
It was a frustrating first KFC SuperCoach season for Macrae, who battled for regular opportunity in Collingwood’s best 22. But he showed in spurts his elite ball-winning ability, highlighted by his 20-disposal performance in just 61 per cent game time against the Hawks in Round 21. Remind you of anyone? A consistent midfield role – one floated by Pies GM Nick Maxwell in January - for Macrae could bring a serious KFC SuperCoach spike, quickly.
DB: Was one of those who had Macrae for most of last year, and while he was frustrating at times, there were signs of gradual improvement. At this stage other top-end priced midfield rookies are ahead.
TP: I’ll be watching him very closely in the pre-season matches. Could the second-year midfielder be worth that little bit extra than the draftees? Maybe.
Mature-age Collingwood recruit Charlie Dean. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images
Finlay Macrae is hoping to follow his brother Jack as a SuperCoach stud. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images
Reef McInnes $123,900 MID
2021 SC Ave: 61 (VFL)
Maxwell also confirmed Collingwood wants to expose McInnes in the midfield in 2022. The big-bodied 194cm on-baller didn’t feature at senior level in his debut season but showed some great signs in the VFL. McInness, who lacks some polish by foot, tallied 19 disposals, 11 tackles and 106 points in Round 3 before finishing the year with 17 disposals, 10 contested possessions and nine clearances in his final game.
DB: Has the makings of a strong KFC SuperCoach scorer, but where will he play once he receives a debut? If a midfield role is slated, I’m all in.
TP: How many kids can the Pies rotate through the midfield? Not in my side yet but he does boast a KFC SuperCoach-friendly game style.
Will Kelly $123,900, DEF/FWD
2021 SC ave (AFL): 22, (VFL): 66
Kelly hasn’t been able to catch a break, fracturing his collarbone and arm among other injuries in the past two seasons. The swingman has impressed as a forward over across an injury-free pre-season and he could be in the mix for Collingwood’s season-opener.
DB: His DPP is a major plus – which is why his ownership has soared – but will he make enough cash?
Harvey Harrison $117,300 MID
2021 SC ave (SANFL U18): 106
Harrison has been a surprise packet in his first pre-season at Collingwood, with the South Australian draftee putting in a promising return in the club’s trial match. The speedster, who recorded the fastest 20m sprint time of any potential draftee in 2021, won eight disposals and kicked two goals, with the club website noting that he is in a “great position to have a strong 2022”. In his final junior game last season, Harrison registered a whopping 34 disposals, 16 contested possessions, 10 clearances and 163 KFC SuperCoach points.
DB: More encouraging form could see a spot open up for him in the forward line with those wheels. Looks to be better mid options around his price, though.
ESSENDONNicholas Martin $102,400 FWD
2021 SC ave: 80 (WAFL)
2022 PS score: 45
Martin was gunnin for one of Essendon’s two list vacancies, following a similar path to fellow WAFL mature-ager Alec Waterman, who was plucked after kicking a bag of goals in a practice match last pre-season. Martin, a creative 190cm forward/wingman, got the nod after showing some encouraging signs with his skills in Essendon’s practice match and scoring 45 points. This came after Martin kicked four goals in an Essendon intra-club. The 20-year-old averaged 14.6 disposals, 80 SuperCoach points and kicked 24 goals for grand finalists Subiaco in the WAFL last season, and a forward spot is up for grabs with Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti’s return up in the air.
DB: Like his chances of playing early. Alec Waterman 2.0 – but better for KFC SuperCoach.
Tex Wanganeen $102,400 FWD
2021 SC Ave: N/A
2022 PS score: 47
A quarter was all it took for Wanganeen to rubber stump a rookie spot alongside Martin in the Bombers’ first practice match. With football talent in his blood, the son of Gavin Wanganeen dazzled with two eye-catching goals to spark his side, finishing with 47 KFC SuperCoach points. A largely unknown quantity from a fantasy perspective, Wanganeen has zero junior games recorded by Champion Data, with his last two seasons being cruelled by injury and Covid-19.
DB: Has some forward magic that the Bombers are crying out for. May not score as well Martin, but hard to ignore at the price if he’s in.
Tex Wanganeen is now a Bomber. Picture: Getty Images
Garrett McDonagh $117,300 DEF
2021 SC Ave: 84 (VFL)
2022 PS score: DNP
You don’t pick 25-year-olds from the VFL to develop them. And Bombers list boss Adrian Dodoro confirmed just that post-draft, declaring the long-kicking defender “could possible play very early on in the piece”. McDonagh, a terrific runner who is a great ball user by foot, averaged 21 disposals, five intercepts, and five rebound-50s in the VFL last season.
DB: Doesn’t look like the superboot will be getting a run in Round 1.
TP: Pick him if Ben Rutten does.
Essendon draftees (from left) Garrett McDonagh, Ben Hobbs, Alastair Lord and Patrick Voss. Picture: Michael Klein
Kaine Baldwin $123,800 FWD
2021 SC Ave: DNP
2022 PS score: 49
Baldwin join the Bombers as an SSP signing in early 2021 after being overlooked in the draft. In terms of talent, the Glenelg junior was on par with fellow South Australians Riley Thilthorpe and Lachie Jones, but two knee reconstructions saw him overlooked. He’s on the way, however, to completing a full pre-season and could be one to surprise in 2022. Baldwin’s first game in a Bombers jumper was very promising, clunking a contested mark and booting a goal to go with 49 points.
DB: Key forwards rookies don’t have a great KFC SuperCoach track record, but he is a bigger body.
TP: An exciting talent, who is injury-free and impressing at Bombers training. It just all depends on when they unleash him.
Ben Hobbs $153,300 MID
2021 SC Ave: 127 (NAB League)
2022 PS score: 21
With the return of Dylan Shiel and Jye Caldwell, coupled with the rise of Darcy Parish, it’s going to be a hard midfield to break into this year. But Hobbs is ready if there’s an opening. Taking out the injury-affected Round 4 score, the strongly-built teenager averaged 29 disposals, 13 contested possessions, six clearances, five tackles and 148 KFC SuperCoach points in the NAB League last season. Put in a promising intra-club display, but this was after some prime movers had been put on ice for the second half. He showed he belongs at the level in his limited gametime against the Bulldogs.
DB: A KFC SuperCoach star of the future and his elite contested ball-winning means he is a chance of playing a key role this year, even with Essendon’s on-ball brigade looking settled.
TP: Has impressed in match simulation through the midfield and looks set to feature in some capacity early. But with the Bombers’ on-ball depth, I’m not sure you can pick him ahead of a few other top draftees.
Absolutely nothing. They are so much more bruise free then the real thing.
