KFC SuperCoach 2022: The Phantom’s Round 10 trade guide and burning questions
Who is the best Jack Steele replacement? Is it now time to dump struggling Giants? How many Dogs is too many? The Phantom answers the big KFC SuperCoach questions.
Jack Steele is injured, the Giants have a new coach, the next round of DPPs are around the corner and a mature-age gun is on the bubble – it’s a big week in KFC SuperCoach.
Let’s go straight into the burning questions...
What to do with Jack Steele?
More than 51,000 KFC SuperCoaches had their heart in their mouth when the St Kilda skipper was crunched in a tackle in the first half against the Cats on Saturday.
But, like the true warrior he is, Steele returned to the field and hobbled to the final siren with 74 points to his name.
That collective sigh of relief, however, was soon overpowered by the news he will need surgery and up to two months on the sidelines.
In another blow, Steele’s price fell by $46k but, thankfully, there are still plenty of options within reach.
Starting wi…
We know who the options are, just tell us what you would do, Phantom...
Well, if you wanted honesty, that’s all you had to say.
You’re right, though,
Al Paton and Tim Michell have already outline an extensive list of options.
So, OK, here’s what I would do.
Firstly, if you still don’t have Clayton Oliver, Patrick Cripps or Jack Macrae – yes, those people exist – then there’s your move.
If money is no issue, Touk Miller and Rory Laird are both great options with the middle bye in Round 13.
Laird has posted six KFC SuperCoach tons on-the-trot, five in excess of 120, but it’s easy to forget he also averaged 123.6 in the final 15 rounds of last season.
I’m not going to go into the out-of-DPP, out-of-mind theory right now.
He’s also not going to get tagged like Miller and he’s a huge point-of-difference, currently – and that’s the key word – in just two per cent of teams.
But, he can’t run like the Gold Coast skipper and he’s less damaging with the ball in hand going forward.
I don’t have the money, but I’d lean towards Miller – he’s got more 140+ scores in him, I think.
Before you ask me why I am trying to steer you away from Callum Mills, I’m not.
Of course, I am all for getting him, I just think Miller and Laird provide a bit more value this week. The Sydney star could be cheaper after the bye.
If money is an issue, I’d go with Andy Brayshaw or Christian Petracca, both who have the Round 14 bye.
The pair are at the top level when it comes to KFC SuperCoach scoring ceiling, but they’re also not a three-figure lock every week.
It’s a rollercoaster, but you’ll get off happy.
Buy a Brayshaw ticket first.
If you want to make more money, don’t look in the midfield for a replacement.
Look at someone like Steele’s teammate, Jack Sinclair, in defence, for example.
He posted six KFC SuperCoach tons to start the year and the streak was only broken by those horrible conditions in Cairns.
Yes, it was another score in the 80s a week later against the reigning premier but he was very good against the Cats on Saturday, recording a season-high 24 kicks – at 79 per cent efficiency – and 107 points.
Sinclair is the fourth-ranked KFC SuperCoach defender and he’s available for $520k.
You could restructure slightly and play Eagle Greg Clark on field rather than, say, Nick Daicos or Sam De Koning in defence.
Is Greg Clark a must have?
Must-have is a strong term in KFC SuperCoach but the mature-age Eagle is close.
Not throw-out-your-trade-plan-and-forget-about-that-upgrade close, but he’s likely to be one of the top KFC SuperCoach cash cows of the year.
Importantly, too, he’s likely to be solid bench cover for the run home. He may have followed up his KFC SuperCoach ton on debut with just 13 disposals and 64 points, but he did spend a bit of time on Petracca on Sunday.
I’m not saying must-have because this year is different. Previously, a mature-age rookie who scored 104 in his first game, and has a breakeven of -97, would absolutely be a base-your-whole-plan-around-it trade.
But some KFC SuperCoaches are almost complete and are looking to add that final piece of the on-field puzzle this week. And I’m not going to tell them to stop that, points are still king.
I guess, though, even those teams should look to get him in on the bench.
What about Rory Thompson?
Who?
I’m kidding, but I’d only go there if you really need to downgrade in defence.
Both Paddy McCartin and Sam De Koning still have money to make and are scoring well as cover.
Back to Steele replacements, what about Brad Crouch in his absence?
No. He’s kicked at 53 per cent efficiency or lower in six matches this year. His overall kicking efficiency of 51.7 per cent is the worst of top-20 ball-winners in the competition.
It has been – and will continue to be – the reason he’s not yet in the top echelon of KFC SuperCoach midfielders.
Stephen Coniglio struggled against the Blues in Round 9. Picture: Mark Jesser/AFL Photos
Phantom, Stephen Coniglio can’t even get a kick, is it finally time to move him on?
Last week,
I highlighted his steep decline in centre bounce numbers. I also mentioned that he’s still proven he can score well in the forward-heavy role – just not consistently.
What I didn’t say was, at times, you can argue, Coniglio going forward is one of Leon Cameron’s better positional moves, given the co-captain’s ability around goal and one-on-one work, as well as his haphazard decision-making as a midfielder.
Of course, this was all before Cameron and GWS parted ways during the week.
Yes, Coniglio has a huge breakeven of 146 after season-low 37 but try and give it at least another round to see how stand-in coach Mark McVeigh uses him.
“Mark should put a different spin on things … I’m expecting a really exciting brand of footy to played in the back half of the year,” Cameron said as he announced his resignation.
Same goes with Lachie Whitfield – as hard as that may be – too.
Plus, the Giants have West Coast and North Melbourne in the next three matches.
I’m looking at moving on Nic Martin this week, whose price could fall for the first time after what looked a tired performance in Round 9, instead.
What about Butters?
I hope you listened last week and took my advice to hold and re-assess at the bye – that’s still my plan.
Staying in the forward line, how many Bulldogs is too many?
Jack Macrae 124.4
Tim English 121.6
Josh Dunkley 113.7
Bailey Smith 111.6
Marcus Bontempelli 110.5
Bailey Dale 105.8
Tom Liberatore 102.4
Adam Treloar 98.8
On those averages, and now solid data, you can’t have too many.
So if – and there’s a big chance – Marcus Bontempelli and Bailey Smith gain forward status ahead of Round 12, I’ll be looking to get them in. Smith first, probably.
Sure, Covid could sweep through the club – or just another illness, like the Bombers two weeks ago – but, from what we’ve seen so far, that’s more unlikely than likely.
But you know what’s more likely than unlikely? The top five on that list all averaging 110 from this point onwards.
If I traded George Hewett out, should I tr…
Yes. And I know there are more than 14,000 of you. The Blues recruit just eased back into a game-high contested possessions (16) and clearances (8) in his return game. He’s now scored a KFC SuperCoach ton in every game he’s played this season.
Sure, Hewett missed two games, but Lachie Neale and Ben Keays are the only other players to have reached three figures in every match to start 2022.
You’re a bit snappy, Phantom, are you okay?
I’m okay (trust me).
