Heath Shaw reveals the players not to pick in KFC SuperCoach in 2021

Don’t take it personally. Some players are just not good KFC SuperCoach picks, and not always for the reasons you expect.

If there’s one thing as important as who you pick in your KFC SuperCoach team, it’s who you don’t pick.

It’s nothing personal, but if you want to win this game you have to be ruthless. There are a number of players I’m steering clear of this year. And there are good reasons to put these guys on your ‘avoid’ list in 2021 too.

It’s easier to think about if you group them into these categories.

INJURY WORRIES

Lance Franklin was a hell of a player at his peak — and I’ve seen it first-hand.

He actually played a big role in getting me to GWS by choosing the Swans instead.

When we first played against each other after that he said, ‘You owe me a beer, Shawy’, and I said, 'I think you we me a bit more than a beer!”

Sadly, his body has let him down the past few years.

Is he the player he was five years ago? No. Is he a player who can deliver some of the highest scores in KFC SuperCoach history? Yes. Is he a risk you want to take ....

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Lance Frankin has had another injury-interrupted pre-season

MATCH REVIEW ISSUES

Toby Greene should have won the Rising Star Award as a midfielder in his first year in the AFL, but he cost himself through suspension — setting the tone for his career.

When last season was called off we both jumped in a car and drove together from Melbourne to Sydney. He’s actually a very nice, smart kid, but he has a little thing called white line fever — and that’s what has made him as good as he is.

I don’t need to be worrying about my SuperCoach players being called out by the match review officer.

On top of that, now he’s playing more as a forward for the Giants so while he does have some big days out, he doesn’t score as consistently highly as he did when he was a midfielder.

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Toby Greene plays right on the edge.

TAGGERS

My old teammate Matt de Boer is the No.1 player picked by the GWS coaches every week because you know he will do a job for the team.

He’s the hardest trainer I’ve seen and his mental strength is incredible — he takes no prisoners. Whether he’s playing on a good mate like Nat Fyfe or his worst enemy, his effort will be the same.

But his role in SuperCoach is restricting players rather than scoring points himself. He gets messages on social media straight after games saying he cost them points, but Matty’s theory is, ‘You know what I’m like, so why would you make the guy I’m playing on captain of your SuperCoach team? I can take criticism, but that’s just stupidity’.”

LIST SHENANIGANS

Some of you may be wondering why Tyson Goldsack is appearing in the KFC SuperCoach website (as a $192,000 defender) after he retired from the AFL a few years ago.

Goldy was recruited in last year’s rookie draft by Port Adelaide, but that had more to do with managing the salary cap and his roles at the club as a development coach rather than seeing him charging off the half-back flank in Round 1.

He was never much of a SuperCoach scorer when played for the Pies and I don’t know how he thinks he’s a coach since he wasn’t that good.

So don’t pick him in your KFC SuperCoach side. He’s got a premiership and a job, so he’s happy.

Another draft surprise was the Crows recruiting the recently retired Bryce Gibbs. They do things differently in Adelaide.

Unlike Goldy, Gibbs is a former No.1 draft pick who has been a great SuperCoach scorer, but his move to Adelaide didn’t really work out. I can’t see him scoring too many points this year after he signed with SANFL club South Adelaide.

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Tyson Goldsack made a surprise comeback in the rookie draft. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

NEW RULES

Have a think about how the new rule changes this year will impact different players. One who hasn’t been mentioned yet is Mason Cox — he has shown some ability but his main role is to stand the mark when someone is having a shot from more than 40m out.

Since the man on the mark can’t move this season, it’s very hard to believe he’ll be playing a lot of footy — although this may change due to public uproar which may have been incited by the man himself.

NAME GAMES

Make sure you look closely at exactly who your selecting before you save your team.

Young rookie Will Martyn shows a bit of promise for Richmond, but Dustin Martin is the one you want. Patrick Cripps looks like a great pick this year, Jamie Cripps not so much.

The King brothers are coming into their third year, are identical twins who play identical positions and have an almost identical price (Ben is $299,700 and Max is $327,400). But if you think the Saints can finish closer to the top than the bottom, make sure you get it right.

And the Giants have recruited a half-back called Shaw, who is priced at just $102,400. Just to be clear — no, it isn’t me. The way you can tell is that I haven’t been that close to $100k my whole life.

Originally published as Heath Shaw reveals the players not to pick in KFC SuperCoach in 2021