So who will show us in 2023?
The Phantom
It’s early, but here are a few names to put in your note book.
Errol Gulden (Sydney)
After posting scores of 139 and 136 in the first two games of career, and rating elite for inside 50s, effective kicks, intercept possessions and goal assists as a forward in his debut season, I tipped Gulden to push the 95-point mark this year.
Although still a significant bump, with a current average of 86, he’ll be a bit below that. But we’ve see more to suggest that it will only be a matter of time until he does.
Gulden has spent more time on a wing this season, floating back to play behind the ball, but has recorded another three scores of 125 or more, among five KFC SuperCoach tons, making it six big scores in his first 36 matches.
And his enormous scoring potential goes back to his junior career with Gulden posting scores of 168, 131 and 105 in his three NAB League games in his draft year and 245, 177 and 149 at the national under-16 carnival the previous season.
Against the Giants on Saturday, Gulden tallied career-high disposals (33), metres gained (697), marks (12) and inside-50s (10), on his way to a season-high 131 points.
His position splits will make him a DPP forward again in KFC SuperCoach next year, and I am all in.
Hayden Young (Fremantle)
My pre-season prediction was close on Young – I forecast a jump from 77 to 95 in his third year, and his average currently sits at 94.
But his past seven weeks prove he could be ready to become a three-figure defender in KFC SuperCoach very soon.
Since round 12, of all general defenders in the competition, the neat-kicking left-footer ranks fifth for uncontested possessions and marks, sixth for disposals and eighth for intercepts.
The 21-year-old has posted four KFC SuperCoach tons and averages 104 points in the past seven rounds.
Don’t forget he averaged 19 disposals, seven intercepts, seven marks and 98 KFC SuperCoach points in the final four games of the 2021, too.
His kicking – and decision making - is a joy to watch.
Of the 65 players to average 23 disposals or more this season, only Tom Stewart, Daniel Rich and Caleb Daniel have recorded a better kicking efficiency than Young (80.2 per cent).
But, as the stats show, the third-year Docker is also getting in the right spots to win the ball back off the opposition, helping his KFC SuperCoach scoring go to another level.
Keidean Coleman (Brisbane)
In the first half against the Tigers on Sunday, Coleman recorded 609 metres gained, the fourth-highest figure of any player this season.
He had 20 disposals and five marks by halftime and was the best player on the ground at the main break.
Coleman finished with 105 points, his third consecutive KFC SuperCoach ton, either side of injury and Covid interruptions.
The 22-year-old is averaging 106 since Round 12, after really hitting his straps after injury ruined the first half of his season.
And like Young, Coleman’s kicking has been key, with the left-footer boasting an impressive kicking efficiency of 79.6 per cent for the year, and hitting the target with 68 of his past 83 kicks.
At $498k, he’s a value point-of-difference if you need one now.
Nick Daicos (Collingwood) and Jason Horne-Francis (North Melbourne)
Daicos goes without saying. The Pies young gun is averaging 110 since round 11, but is likely to be priced at less than 95 to start 2023. And greater responsibility beckons further up the ground soon.
Horne-Francis is a different story. After a frustrating debut season, for many reasons, the No.1 draft pick is averaging just 63 KFC SuperCoach points – a figure that would see him priced at less than $350k as a mid-forward next season.
And as he’s showed at times in 2022 – and through his junior career – that could mean serious value.
In round 20 against the Bombers, Horne-Francis tallied 21 disposals, nine marks, nine contested possessions and 94 KFC SuperCoach points in his most impressive performance since the opening month of the season.
In those first four games of his career, after being thrust in the midfield deep end, the 19-year-old averaged 19 disposals, 10 contested possessions, four clearances and 83 KFC SuperCoach points.
Just keep an eye on his pre-season – and maybe his off-season.
Chad Warner (Sydney)
The next two have pretty much broken out into the KFC SuperCoach premium scene already – but next year is when they could cement their spot in there.
Before last week’s tag-effected 69-point performance against the Giants, Warner had posted scores of 155, 108, 148 and 110, to take his season average to 99.7.
It was the second time the young Swan had posted four consecutive KFC SuperCoach tons on the trot this season, after doing the same between rounds 6 and 9.
Warner’s ball-winning has improved in the back half of the year, but it’s his ability to hit the scoreboard from the midfield that sets him apart.
The 21-year-old booted seven goals in the most-recent four-week KFC SuperCoach ton streak and, on the year, rates elite for score involvements, score assists and goals.
His contested-possession percentage is another thing to watch out for. Given he’s so damaging on the outside, Warner has won only 39 per cent of his possession in a contest this season – rated average as a midfielder.
But at WAFL Colts level in his draft year, Warner averaged 16.9 contested possessions per game (61.5 per cent) on his way to a competition high 156-point average.
Another quiet game to finish 2022, and he could be priced at less than 100 next season.
Mason Redman (Essendon)
I’m not so confident the breakout Bomber will be, though, given he averages a huge 118 points across the past eight matches.
Since round 12, 149 of Redman’s 156 disposals have been effective – and extraordinary number and a big reason for his huge scores.
As is the way he wins the ball back of the opposition, with the 24-year-old averaging seven intercept possessions in this eight-game stretch.
With the Bombers taking on a struggling Giants this week, although expensive, he’s a point-of-difference with a high ceiling.
Heath Chapman (Fremantle)
Just keep an eye on this Docker over the pre-season, too.
Who will be KFC SuperCoach famous next?
The Phantom
It’s early, but here are a few names to put in your note book.
Errol Gulden (Sydney)
After posting scores of 139 and 136 in the first two games of career, and rating elite for inside 50s, effective kicks, intercept possessions and goal assists as a forward in his debut season, I tipped Gulden to push the 95-point mark this year.
Although still a significant bump, with a current average of 86, he’ll be a bit below that. But we’ve see more to suggest that it will only be a matter of time until he does.
Gulden has spent more time on a wing this season, floating back to play behind the ball, but has recorded another three scores of 125 or more, among five KFC SuperCoach tons, making it six big scores in his first 36 matches.
And his enormous scoring potential goes back to his junior career with Gulden posting scores of 168, 131 and 105 in his three NAB League games in his draft year and 245, 177 and 149 at the national under-16 carnival the previous season.
Against the Giants on Saturday, Gulden tallied career-high disposals (33), metres gained (697), marks (12) and inside-50s (10), on his way to a season-high 131 points.
His position splits will make him a DPP forward again in KFC SuperCoach next year, and I am all in.
Hayden Young (Fremantle)
My pre-season prediction was close on Young – I forecast a jump from 77 to 95 in his third year, and his average currently sits at 94.
But his past seven weeks prove he could be ready to become a three-figure defender in KFC SuperCoach very soon.
Since round 12, of all general defenders in the competition, the neat-kicking left-footer ranks fifth for uncontested possessions and marks, sixth for disposals and eighth for intercepts.
The 21-year-old has posted four KFC SuperCoach tons and averages 104 points in the past seven rounds.
Don’t forget he averaged 19 disposals, seven intercepts, seven marks and 98 KFC SuperCoach points in the final four games of the 2021, too.
His kicking – and decision making - is a joy to watch.
Of the 65 players to average 23 disposals or more this season, only Tom Stewart, Daniel Rich and Caleb Daniel have recorded a better kicking efficiency than Young (80.2 per cent).
But, as the stats show, the third-year Docker is also getting in the right spots to win the ball back off the opposition, helping his KFC SuperCoach scoring go to another level.
Keidean Coleman (Brisbane)
In the first half against the Tigers on Sunday, Coleman recorded 609 metres gained, the fourth-highest figure of any player this season.
He had 20 disposals and five marks by halftime and was the best player on the ground at the main break.
Coleman finished with 105 points, his third consecutive KFC SuperCoach ton, either side of injury and Covid interruptions.
The 22-year-old is averaging 106 since Round 12, after really hitting his straps after injury ruined the first half of his season.
And like Young, Coleman’s kicking has been key, with the left-footer boasting an impressive kicking efficiency of 79.6 per cent for the year, and hitting the target with 68 of his past 83 kicks.
At $498k, he’s a value point-of-difference if you need one now.
Nick Daicos (Collingwood) and Jason Horne-Francis (North Melbourne)
Daicos goes without saying. The Pies young gun is averaging 110 since round 11, but is likely to be priced at less than 95 to start 2023. And greater responsibility beckons further up the ground soon.
Horne-Francis is a different story. After a frustrating debut season, for many reasons, the No.1 draft pick is averaging just 63 KFC SuperCoach points – a figure that would see him priced at less than $350k as a mid-forward next season.
And as he’s showed at times in 2022 – and through his junior career – that could mean serious value.
In round 20 against the Bombers, Horne-Francis tallied 21 disposals, nine marks, nine contested possessions and 94 KFC SuperCoach points in his most impressive performance since the opening month of the season.
In those first four games of his career, after being thrust in the midfield deep end, the 19-year-old averaged 19 disposals, 10 contested possessions, four clearances and 83 KFC SuperCoach points.
Just keep an eye on his pre-season – and maybe his off-season.
Chad Warner (Sydney)
The next two have pretty much broken out into the KFC SuperCoach premium scene already – but next year is when they could cement their spot in there.
Before last week’s tag-effected 69-point performance against the Giants, Warner had posted scores of 155, 108, 148 and 110, to take his season average to 99.7.
It was the second time the young Swan had posted four consecutive KFC SuperCoach tons on the trot this season, after doing the same between rounds 6 and 9.
Warner’s ball-winning has improved in the back half of the year, but it’s his ability to hit the scoreboard from the midfield that sets him apart.
The 21-year-old booted seven goals in the most-recent four-week KFC SuperCoach ton streak and, on the year, rates elite for score involvements, score assists and goals.
His contested-possession percentage is another thing to watch out for. Given he’s so damaging on the outside, Warner has won only 39 per cent of his possession in a contest this season – rated average as a midfielder.
But at WAFL Colts level in his draft year, Warner averaged 16.9 contested possessions per game (61.5 per cent) on his way to a competition high 156-point average.
Another quiet game to finish 2022, and he could be priced at less than 100 next season.
Mason Redman (Essendon)
I’m not so confident the breakout Bomber will be, though, given he averages a huge 118 points across the past eight matches.
Since round 12, 149 of Redman’s 156 disposals have been effective – and extraordinary number and a big reason for his huge scores.
As is the way he wins the ball back of the opposition, with the 24-year-old averaging seven intercept possessions in this eight-game stretch.
With the Bombers taking on a struggling Giants this week, although expensive, he’s a point-of-difference with a high ceiling.
Heath Chapman (Fremantle)
Just keep an eye on this Docker over the pre-season, too.
Who will be KFC SuperCoach famous next?