GOLD COAST
Touk Miller $662,400 MID – Question mark
Miller missed the Suns’ final pre-season match with a minor hamstring injury. The club is confident that he’ll be right to play in the season opener against Sydney – but is he a risk to start with? Miller finished in the top-three ranked players on the ground 11 times in 2022,– ranked equal-first alongside Rory Laird and Clayton Oliver.
Sam Flanders $256,300 MID/FWD – Tick
Flanders led the Suns for disposals per minute against the Giants, collecting a team-high 30 disposals from 87 per cent game time. He was sparingly used at centre bounces, attending just six, but he did push up the ground in a high half-forward role. Flanders is a prime breakout candidate after averaging 125 points in the VFL from 12 games last year.
Charlie Constable $123,900 DEF/MID – Tick
With Wil Powell and Lachie Weller likely to miss the early rounds, Constable is every chance to play against the Swans in round 1. He hit the target with 12 of 19 disposals against the Giants and was direct, finishing with 425 metres gained. He also took two kick-ins, and played on from both, and applied three tackles.
GWS GIANTS
Tom Green $534,600 MID – Tick
The sky is the limit for Green this year. Named in the leadership group, he’ll take on a greater role in the midfield after the departure of Jacob Hopper and Tim Taranto and he demonstrated that against the Suns, attending 25 centre bounces – the second-most behind Josh Kelly. Green racked up 34 disposals, along with 17 contested possessions, seven clearances and four tackles.
Finn Callaghan $244,000 MID – Tick
A shoulder injury kept Callaghan to just five games last season, playing exclusively as a wingman. He thrived in that role against the Suns, finishing with 22 disposals (90 per cent efficiency), 418 metres gained, five inside-50s and two goals. Callaghan is a lot pricier than most other rookies, but he could be worth that little extra especially if you start him on the field.
Isaac Cumming $521,200 DEF – Tick
Cumming’s ball use is the key to his game. He hit the target with 24 of 25 disposals against the Suns – also having 474 metres gained, 22 uncontested possessions and four inside-50s. His numbers have improved in each of his last four seasons and is a real chance to hit a three-figure average this year.
HAWTHORN
James Sicily $624,200 DEF – Tick
The Hawks conceded the third-most inside 50s of any team last season, and the expectations are is that we could see something similar again this year. Sicily led the AFL for disposals in the defensive 50 in 2022 and took 27 more marks than any other player across all zones and is a safe choice to start with.
Fergus Greene $123,900 FWD – Tick
Greene is a goalkicker and booted 83 majors from 26 games for Box Hill Hawks over the last two seasons in the VFL. He looks set to replace Jack Gunston as the Hawks’ roaming forward and he starred against the Magpies, finishing with five shots at goal (3.2) and eight score involvements. He also had a game-high five marks inside 50 and four lead marks to cap off a strong display.
James Worpel $303,300 MID – Tick
After averaging 96 in just his second season in 2019, Worpel’s numbers have dropped in every season since – culminating in a career-low 56-point average last season. But after the departure of Tom Mitchell and Jaeger O’Meara he looks like reviving his career – racking up 30 disposals against the Magpies. He was the top-ranked Hawk at three-quarter time after playing as a centre bounce midfielder – but he was taken out in the final term and had just two disposals. A nice pick at his price.
MELBOURNE
Max Gawn $622,100 RUC – Tick
Gawn dispelled the doubters with a monster score against the Tigers, racking up 153 points from 83 per cent game time. How the Demons use Gawn and Brodie Grundy was of great fantasy relevance and it ended up being a job share, with the pair attending 34 and 31 ruck contests, respectively. Gawn booted three goals and dominated around the ground with 17 disposals and eight marks.
Angus Brayshaw $550,300 DEF – Question mark
Brayshaw is yet to average three figures in KFC SuperCoach, but he got mighty close last year with 98-point average across the premiership season. The Demons have been public in their desire the spread the load in the midfield this year and they rolled nine players through there against the Tigers – with Brayshaw attending just four.
Brodie Grundy $512,900 RUC – Question mark
Grundy is super value for his price, but will he get the game time to post decent scores? He had 69 per cent game time against the Tigers compared to Gawn’s 83 per cent, scoring 80 points from 10 disposals and three goals. The fact he needed goals to get that score is a worry. Grundy had 70 points to his name at the major break, but managed just 10 points in the second half.
fence
Touk Miller $662,400 MID – Question mark
Miller missed the Suns’ final pre-season match with a minor hamstring injury. The club is confident that he’ll be right to play in the season opener against Sydney – but is he a risk to start with? Miller finished in the top-three ranked players on the ground 11 times in 2022,– ranked equal-first alongside Rory Laird and Clayton Oliver.
Sam Flanders $256,300 MID/FWD – Tick
Flanders led the Suns for disposals per minute against the Giants, collecting a team-high 30 disposals from 87 per cent game time. He was sparingly used at centre bounces, attending just six, but he did push up the ground in a high half-forward role. Flanders is a prime breakout candidate after averaging 125 points in the VFL from 12 games last year.
Charlie Constable $123,900 DEF/MID – Tick
With Wil Powell and Lachie Weller likely to miss the early rounds, Constable is every chance to play against the Swans in round 1. He hit the target with 12 of 19 disposals against the Giants and was direct, finishing with 425 metres gained. He also took two kick-ins, and played on from both, and applied three tackles.
GWS GIANTS
Tom Green $534,600 MID – Tick
The sky is the limit for Green this year. Named in the leadership group, he’ll take on a greater role in the midfield after the departure of Jacob Hopper and Tim Taranto and he demonstrated that against the Suns, attending 25 centre bounces – the second-most behind Josh Kelly. Green racked up 34 disposals, along with 17 contested possessions, seven clearances and four tackles.
Finn Callaghan $244,000 MID – Tick
A shoulder injury kept Callaghan to just five games last season, playing exclusively as a wingman. He thrived in that role against the Suns, finishing with 22 disposals (90 per cent efficiency), 418 metres gained, five inside-50s and two goals. Callaghan is a lot pricier than most other rookies, but he could be worth that little extra especially if you start him on the field.
Isaac Cumming $521,200 DEF – Tick
Cumming’s ball use is the key to his game. He hit the target with 24 of 25 disposals against the Suns – also having 474 metres gained, 22 uncontested possessions and four inside-50s. His numbers have improved in each of his last four seasons and is a real chance to hit a three-figure average this year.
HAWTHORN
James Sicily $624,200 DEF – Tick
The Hawks conceded the third-most inside 50s of any team last season, and the expectations are is that we could see something similar again this year. Sicily led the AFL for disposals in the defensive 50 in 2022 and took 27 more marks than any other player across all zones and is a safe choice to start with.
Fergus Greene $123,900 FWD – Tick
Greene is a goalkicker and booted 83 majors from 26 games for Box Hill Hawks over the last two seasons in the VFL. He looks set to replace Jack Gunston as the Hawks’ roaming forward and he starred against the Magpies, finishing with five shots at goal (3.2) and eight score involvements. He also had a game-high five marks inside 50 and four lead marks to cap off a strong display.
James Worpel $303,300 MID – Tick
After averaging 96 in just his second season in 2019, Worpel’s numbers have dropped in every season since – culminating in a career-low 56-point average last season. But after the departure of Tom Mitchell and Jaeger O’Meara he looks like reviving his career – racking up 30 disposals against the Magpies. He was the top-ranked Hawk at three-quarter time after playing as a centre bounce midfielder – but he was taken out in the final term and had just two disposals. A nice pick at his price.
MELBOURNE
Max Gawn $622,100 RUC – Tick
Gawn dispelled the doubters with a monster score against the Tigers, racking up 153 points from 83 per cent game time. How the Demons use Gawn and Brodie Grundy was of great fantasy relevance and it ended up being a job share, with the pair attending 34 and 31 ruck contests, respectively. Gawn booted three goals and dominated around the ground with 17 disposals and eight marks.
Angus Brayshaw $550,300 DEF – Question mark
Brayshaw is yet to average three figures in KFC SuperCoach, but he got mighty close last year with 98-point average across the premiership season. The Demons have been public in their desire the spread the load in the midfield this year and they rolled nine players through there against the Tigers – with Brayshaw attending just four.
Brodie Grundy $512,900 RUC – Question mark
Grundy is super value for his price, but will he get the game time to post decent scores? He had 69 per cent game time against the Tigers compared to Gawn’s 83 per cent, scoring 80 points from 10 disposals and three goals. The fact he needed goals to get that score is a worry. Grundy had 70 points to his name at the major break, but managed just 10 points in the second half.
fence
om Sheed ($332,000 MID) looked like a player who hadn’t played in a long time. He was labouring around the contests, and appeared shaky with the ball in hand. He is clearly underpriced based on his previous outputs, but has he done enough to earn a starting spot in your KFC SuperCoach team?
