KFC SuperCoach: All the late mail ahead of Round 6
Two popular KFC SuperCoach rookies have been dropped but there is lots of good news with the return of Marlion Pickett and up to nine first-gamers in Round 6. Who are the best buys? Get the inside word.
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Two of the most popular rookies in KFC SuperCoach have been axed — but there is no shortage of replacements after Round 6 selection delivered a cheapie bonanza.
More than 108,000 SuperCoaches are breathing a sigh of relief after Richmond recalled Marlion Pickett, naming him on the ball for Sunday’s clash against Sydney after two weeks out of the side.
And there are debutants across the board — in fact, there could be nine players on the bubble next week.
First, the bad news. Tyler Brown (in 40 per cent of teams) and Trent Rivers (45 per cent) have both been dropped, while Sam Sturt (24 per cent) will miss for the Dockers after rolling an ankle on Thursday night. Brown will be a popular trade after gaining $108,400 since his debut. John Noble’s time may also be up in KFC SuperCoach after he failed to earn a Magpie recall and there was no sign of Jarrod Brander at Eagles selection.
But there is plenty of good news. Harley Bennell (27 per cent of teams) is back for the Demons, Nat Fyfe has been named after just one week on the sidelines and cheapies including Caleb Serong, Tom Green and Will Hamill survived the selection axe.
The biggest name among the new faces is Gold Coast’s Izak Rankine, who has battled injury since being selected with pick 3 in the 2018 draft. He was a standout at junior level, averaging the most SuperCoach points at the 2017 and 2018 national championships.
Hawthorn and Sydney have each named two first-gamers. Will Day ($153,300 DEF) was selected by the Hawks with pick No.13 in last year’s draft and shapes as a promising KFC SuperCoach prospect. At the 2019 Under-18 championships he ranked second behind Fremantle’s Hayden Young for intercept possessions and in a SANFL reserves game he collected 26 disposals and took three intercept marks.
The Hawks’ other first-gamer is another South Australian, Josh Morris ($117,300 FWD), who booted 33 goals in seven games to win the SANFL Under-18 goalkicking last year. A word of caution when picking Hawthorn rookies — midfielder Harry Jones was dropped this week after one game.
Swan Dylan Stephens ($189,300 MID) was the No.5 draft pick and is a highly skilled midfielder. He played in two Marsh Series pre-season games for KFC SuperCoach scores of 38 and 50. That was better than his fellow debutant Chad Warner ($117,300 MID), who played one game and scored -2. Expect him to improve on that effort against the Tigers — he’s a tackling machine who ranked No.1 for contested possessions at WA Colts level.
Collingwood also named a pair of first-gamers. Father-son pick Will Kelly ($123,900 FWD) is a lightly-framed key-position player and Atu Bosenavulagi ($123,900 FWD) is a hard-tackling forward. Neither have shown a habit of posting big KFC SuperCoach numbers so far but they will still be worth watching on debut.
Adelaide’s Andrew McPherson ($123,900 DEF) has earned his chance after three years on the Crows list, and the ninth potential debutant is classy Richmond midfielder Riley Collier-Dawkins ($123,900 MID), who has been named in the 25-man squad to face Sydney. The No.20 pick in the 2018 draft is strong at the coalface but not a big ball-winner.
Beside him on the extended bench is Callum Coleman-Jones ($195,500 RUCK/FWD). His dual-position status is appealing but his price is inflated after playing one senior game in 2019 (scoring 60 against Essendon).
THE PHANTOM: WHAT ROOKIE INFLUX MEANS FOR YOUR TRADES
HOUSTON DROPS HINT ON ROLE
Dan Houston was the ultimate tease for KFC SuperCoaches during the pre-season.
With an inside midfield role beckoning, where he had impressed at stages during 2019, Houston looked like a steal as a $484,800 defender.
Like most things in this fickle game it hasn’t gone to plan with Houston playing almost solely as a defender, averaging 81 points across the season.
After failing to pass 80 in his first four games, Houston repaid the faith of frustrated owners with 21 disposals and 117 points against Brisbane in Round 5.
That could change this weekend if defender Ryan Burton returns to the Power line-up, having missed since Round 2 with a knee injury.
Houston said he isn’t fussed what position he plays but hinted at an enhanced midfield role if Burton is recalled.
“I’m happy playing whatever position at the moment. Hopefully we get Ryan Burton back this week, but whether that means I play back or mid, I don’t mind,” Houston told reporters on Thursday.
Houston remains in 18 per of teams and more midfield minutes would make him worth persisting with.
Likewise, he would become an attractive option for non-owners at just $430,100.
CATS CHEAPIE MAKES RETURN
It’s been a long time between drinks for Geelong’s Sam Simpson — 729 days to be exact.
The injury-riddled Cat priced at $123,900 in SuperCoach will play his first AFL game since Round 17, 2018 against Brisbane on Thursday night, replacing recruit Jack Steven.
The 22-year-old’s SuperCoach record isn’t too crash hot, averaging under 40 points from his six career games, but he is worth a look given he could be playing a midfield role.
EXCITING SUN TO GET HIS CHANCE
—Simeon Thomas Wilson
Izak Rankine could finally make his AFL debut for the Gold Coast Suns this weekend.
The X-Factor forward was one of the most talented prospects in what looks to be an impressive 2018 draft class – eventually taken by the Suns at Pick 3.
But while fellow draftees Sam Walsh, Connor Rozee, Bailey Smith, Jack Lukosius, Tarryn Thomas, Chayce Jones, Zak Butters, Xavier Duursma and Max and Ben King have played plenty of senior footy in their first two years in the AFL Rankine is still waiting for his debut.
A hamstring injury after impressing fans in the 2019 pre-season, followed by a hip injury limited the former West Adelaide prospect to only three NEAFL games last season.
Another hamstring injury ruled Rankine out of Round 1 and he hasn’t been a part of a resurgent Suns outfit in 2020.
But this is about to change, with it understood Rankine is primed to be an inclusion for the Suns’ match against Melbourne in NSW after shining in reserve practice matches in recent weeks.
There was even some consideration to include the livewire for the Suns’ match against Geelong, but Gold Coast football staff decided to not change a winning formula for the Cats game.
Suns football manager Jon Haines last week said Rankine had hit top speed in a promising sign.
“It isn’t so much about fitness, just getting some games under his belt,” he said on The Heat Room podcast.
“He has played four or five games in 18 months so we need to make sure he is conditioned for the demands of AFL football. He is getting really close.”
Young gun Matthew Rowell’s dislocated shoulder suffered early on in the Cats loss, which resulted in Brownlow Medal betting on the third favourite in his first year of footy being suspended, means the Suns will have to make at least one change.
Rowell is set to go under the knife meaning he will face up to three months on the sidelines.
Despite not playing a game last year Rankine signed a contract extension to stay at the Suns, which was a big coup at the time for Gold Coast.
SWANS DRAFT DUO TO DEBUT
-Ben Horne
The parents of Sydney Swans debutant Chad Warner will send a desperate plea to the Western Australia Premier for special permission to attend their son’s big day on Sunday.
It’s an unlikely bid, but an avenue that’s not even available for the family of the Swans’ other young debutant, Dylan Stephens, even though his parents live within a stone’s throw of NSW in the Victorian border town of Mildura.
Neither the Warner or Stephens families are complaining – they realise their mild frustrations pale in comparison to some of the real struggles going on around Australia at the moment with COVID-19.
But it doesn’t make it any easier to think they might miss an achievement they, until now, have been there for every step of the way.
Anita Warner hasn’t given up hope of a miracle mission across the country to Brisbane where the Swans will face Richmond on Sunday, but the prospect of having to quarantine for two weeks when she and her husband Travis return to Perth will likely mean they’ll be watching on TV.
“We’re going to give it a go (write to the WA Government),” Mrs Warner told The Daily Telegraph.
“Both Trav and I are both self-employed and have fairly big schedules with our businesses so to take two weeks off would probably be a bit tough.
“This isn’t life or death stuff and I know there are people who are going through a lot harder things emotionally and compassionately than what this would be.
“My guess is probably no, we won’t get an exemption (to not have to quarantine) for this and that’s OK. Things are getting eased more and more each week, we know that, so that’s why we figure we’ll have a crack and see if we can. We’ll see what happens.
“We’re so happy for Chad to get a chance finally and he’ll make everybody proud.”
Proud father of Dylan Stephens, the Swans’ No.1 pick in last year’s draft, dad Rob was in a blissful state of shock on Tuesday despite coming to the realisation that he and family will have to watch the debut at home.
If the match was at the SCG they would have driven up on Tuesday night before borders closed, but the fact the match is at the Gabba kills their chances – with Victorians already banned in Queensland.
“It’s crazy because we’re on a border town and there’s been no COVID-19 here for months and months,” said Robert Stephens.
“But we’re not allowed to do it. That’s OK. We’ve been prepared for staying home from day dot. We thought it was all going to be like this possibly, so we’ll have a function at home and see friends and family. It’s disappointing but a reality of the world we live in at the moment.
“To find out he’s going to debut is bloody amazing to be honest. Very emotional.”
Coach John Longmire surprised both young midfielders at training on Tuesday, although players had to observe social distancing measures as they congratulated their newest teammates.
“It’s been a dream of mine since I was a kid. Since I started plying footy,” said Stephens.
Warner said he would miss his parents if they can’t make it across.
“They were at every game with me supporting me. Dad said he wanted to drive up to the game. If they can be there like they always have