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KFC SuperCoach 2020: The Phantom’s best captain options and Round 3 trade strategy

Brodie Grundy is ‘right to go’ but is he the best VC candidate in KFC SuperCoach this week? The Phantom believes there is another Giant to consider. See all the best Round 3 captain options and trade strategy

Lachie Neale of the Lions is seen warming up before the Round 2 AFL match between the Brisbane Lions and the Fremantle Dockers at The Gabba in Brisbane, Saturday, June 13, 2020. (AAP Image/Darren England) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY
Lachie Neale of the Lions is seen warming up before the Round 2 AFL match between the Brisbane Lions and the Fremantle Dockers at The Gabba in Brisbane, Saturday, June 13, 2020. (AAP Image/Darren England) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley has declared Brodie Grundy ‘right to go’ despite the star ruckman nursing bone bruising this week.

Grundy hasn’t missed a game since Round 22, 2017 so I’m not doubting his ability to push through but with St Kilda duo Paddy Ryder and Rowan Marshall waiting, is he the best VC option on Saturday afternoon?

Not for me this week.

I’m backing a Giants gun to run rings around a Bulldogs side struggling defensively on Friday night.

Here are this week’s best VC/C options plus a look at Round 3 trade priorities

Giants' Lachie Whitfield warms up in a black t-shirt to support the Black Lives Matter movement before the round 2 match between GWS Giants and North Melbourne Kangaroos at Giants Stadium in Homebush. Picture: Toby Zerna
Giants' Lachie Whitfield warms up in a black t-shirt to support the Black Lives Matter movement before the round 2 match between GWS Giants and North Melbourne Kangaroos at Giants Stadium in Homebush. Picture: Toby Zerna

THE BEST OPTIONS

Lachie Whitfield (GWS)

V WB, Friday night

If you think Luke Beveridge’s side is going to dish up a defensive performance similar to last week, Whitfield might run wild on Friday night. The Bulldogs conceded SuperCoach tons to five St Kilda midfielders in Round 2, with Jack Steele (137), Jack Billings (133), Zak Jones (127) and Jade Gresham (120) scoring 120-points or more. And Whitfield, who has played 95 and 97 per cent game-time, respectively, in the past two matches, scored 131 points, on the back of 30 disposals, 698 metres gained and seven score involvements, in the elimination final win over the Bulldogs last year. In the three matches before that, the endurance machine finished with tallies of 114, 114 and 105. And in his last appearance at Marvel Stadium in 2018, Whitfield scored a season-high 141 points against the Blues.

Bulldogs midfielder Josh Dunkley trains at Whitten Oval. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos
Bulldogs midfielder Josh Dunkley trains at Whitten Oval. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos

Josh Dunkley (WB)

V GWS, Friday

Dunkley is another to consider in the Friday night clash if you don’t want to play around with a tight VC/C call over the weekend. Giants tagger Matt de Boer will go to Marcus Bontempelli and who knows where Jack Macrae will be after spending the entire first half on a wing last week. And Dunkley scored a huge 169 points in the Round 22 clash with the Bulldogs last season and bounced back against the Saints, after a quiet Round 1, tallying 131 points on Sunday.

Todd Goldstein competes with teammate Tristan Xerri at training. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos
Todd Goldstein competes with teammate Tristan Xerri at training. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos

Todd Goldstein (NM)

V Sydney, Saturday

In the absence of Sam Naismith, who is likely to miss again, Callum Sinclair was impressive against the Bombers last week but he will be no match for an in-form Goldstein, who played every minute of North’s Round 2 clash. And the 31-year-old finished with 19 disposals, 14 contested possessions, nine clearances, seven hitouts-to-advantage and 164 points as a result. Add his Round 1 score of 136 and he’s scored more points than Grundy and Gawn.

Brodie Grundy (Coll)

V St Kilda, Saturday

It might the twilight fixture on Saturday but the Brodie Grundy VC is still very achievable in Round 3. And, with the star big man reportedly batting bone bruising in his knee, it appears a far better option that making him the fall-back C. He scored 149 points in the last meeting between the two sides and he boasts a career average of 112 against the Saints. But Brett Ratten’s side is a tougher challenge in the ruck with the combination of Paddy Ryder and Rowan Marshall, especially when you’re sore. I’m not doubting him but I’m slightly hesitant.

Lachie Neale (Bris)

V WCE, Saturday night

There should be no hesitation with this guy, though. KFC SuperCoach’s No. 1 scorer has amassed 28 more points than the second-ranked Goldstein after two rounds and averages 134 points in his past three matches against the Eagles.

Will you be backing Patrick Dangerfield in again at home? Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images
Will you be backing Patrick Dangerfield in again at home? Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Patrick Dangerfield (Geel)

V Carlton, Saturday night

Like Mitchell, Dangerfield let a few SuperCoaches down as VC at the Cattery last Friday night but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t back him in again. In his last two meetings with the Blues at home, the star midfielder has posted scores of 156 and 133.

Matt Rowell (GC)

V Adelaide, Sunday

But seriously, after 171 points last week and the way Adelaide’s midfield is going, it would be a captaincy move you could talk about forever.

Max Gawn (Melb)

V Essendon, Sunday

As mentioned above, Sinclair had the measure of Essendon’s Tom Bellchambers in the ruck last week so Gawn, who scored 184 points in Round 2, should have no trouble on Sunday. Just like in his past two meetings with the Bombers, which have resulted in scores of 126 and 168. The perfect Sunday captain option.

THE PHANTOM’S CALL

VC: Lachie Whitfield, C: Lachie Neale

If I end up trading Lachie Neale in – which is the plan at this stage – he will wear the captain’s armband. I really like Patrick Dangerfield again but the fixture doesn’t allow that combination to work. So I’m taking the punt on Lachie Whitfield on Friday night, given I’ve got Neale to fall back on.

BY THE NUMBERS

Average past three matches v opponent

Tom Mitchell (Haw) 134

Lachie Neale (Bris) 134

Patrick Dangerfield (Geel) 132

Max Gawn (Melb) 126

Brodie Grundy (Coll) 122

Josh Dunkley (WB) 122

Lachie Whitfield (GWS) 119

Scott Lycett (Port) 119

Rory Sloane (Adel) 119

Jack Macrae (WB) 115

ROUND 3 TRADE STRATEGY

Another five trades would come in handy this week, given the countless issues for KFC SuperCoaches to deal with ahead of Round 3.

Welcome back to real world.

It means you must make tough decisions and get your priorities right.

But in a season with more trades and less rounds, those priorites might be different for some.

The injury to Dustin Martin brought into play the ‘sideways premium trade’, with more than 18,000 teams moved him out ahead of the first bounce on Thursday night.

Such a trade is omething which is frowned upon in a regular SuperCoach year but, my friends, this isn’t a normal 22-game, 30-trade season.

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Dustin Martin won’t play on Thursday night against the Hawks. Picture: Michael Dodge/AAP
Dustin Martin won’t play on Thursday night against the Hawks. Picture: Michael Dodge/AAP

If you used five trades last round, you could use two every week until Round 14 and still have three left for SuperCoach finals.

So, if you’ve got the rookie situation covered and don’t have a failed mid-pricer to deal with, trading Martin was the aggressive, but right, call.

The points differential between Martin and a rookie-price replacement from the bench over one – or maybe two – weeks is something which might have a greater effect on your overall ranking this year.

And with those extra trades, moving Dusty out now doesn’t mean you can’t bring him back in.

WHAT THE LEADER IS DOING

A SuperCoach, who actually knows what he’s doing, is thinking that way.

Paul Osborne’s team ‘#819 in 2019’, in what is reference to his top-1000 finish last season, is the top-ranked SuperCoach side after two rounds.

And, after going early on Harley Bennell and starting with Trent Rivers and Sam Sturt, he’s traded Dusty.

Not to Christian Petracca or Connor Rozee, either

Osborne will replace Martin with West Coast star Andrew Gaff, who has posted scores of 119 and 137 to start the year.

The top-ranked SuperCoach team is trading Eagle Andrew Gaff in this week. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images
The top-ranked SuperCoach team is trading Eagle Andrew Gaff in this week. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

“Gaff is a gun and is in very few teams so he’ll be a good point-of-difference early in the year,” he said.

“A sideways trade isn’t something I would normally do, especially as I play for league titles but this season is different with less rounds and after a great start, I’m going for overall.”

With all the in-form big guns – Lachie Neale and the Brodie Grundy-Max Gawn combination lin particular – Osborne will be moving Martin out this week with the idea of trading him back in later this year.

DO YOU NEED ALL THE ROOKIES?

Like Paul, if you’re turning your attention to Dusty, it means you have all the top early-season cash cows and you’ve made a solid start across the field.

If not, Demons Bennell ($123k Mid, Breakeven: -12) and Rivers ($117 Def-Mid, BE: -18) and Docker Sturt ($123k Fwd, BE: -53) are on the bubble this week and should be at the top of your shopping list.

The scoring potential and ruck-forward status of Collingwood’s Darcy Cameron ($123k) is appealing but how long will he hold out Mason Cox for? It’s hard to be sure and that’s why I have the others ahead.

And given each player’s first price rise isn’t as steep this year, with changes occurring after one game, not two, if you don’t yet have Curtis Taylor (NM - $173k Fwd-Mid, BE: -59) and Brandon Starcevich (Bris - $179k Def-Mid, BE: -26), it’s not too late.

Brandon Starcevich is still worth considering in KFC SuperCoach this week, despite one price rise already. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images
Brandon Starcevich is still worth considering in KFC SuperCoach this week, despite one price rise already. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Starcevich tallied 17 disposals and 99 points in Alex Witherden’s role across half-back for the Lions and, given the lack of genuine rookie-price options in defence and the likelihood of two big consecutive price rises, is one to consider.

But if you’ve had a slow start, you might be able to let one slip in order to stay in the race for total points.

Especially with Stephen Hill ($190k DEF-FWD), Lachie Ash ($193k DEF-MID) and Tom Williamson ($146k DEF) set to be on the bubble next week after being named on Thursday.

Remember, there isn’t as many rounds to play catch-up with a full team this year.

I’m not saying throw cash generation out of the window - not by any stretch - but if you still have plenty of money coming in, consider addressing a Lachie Neale-less midfield, a ruck line without Brodie Grundy AND Max Gawn/Todd Goldstein or a defence which features Dan Houston and not Jeremy Howe.

Neale is the runaway train here, though. He’s still in arm’s reach but he won’t be for long.

After posting scores of 157 and 171 in the opening two rounds, the Brisbane star sits 56 points clear at the top of the SuperCoach midfield rankings.

And with a Round 3 breakeven of 63 and three consecutive games to come at the Gabba, he is about to explode past the $700k mark.

You’re going to fall further behind without him – trust me, I would know.

There’s plenty of value in Carlton’s Marc Pittonet, right. Picture: Michael Klein
There’s plenty of value in Carlton’s Marc Pittonet, right. Picture: Michael Klein

With Carlton big man Marc Pittonet ($234k ruck), who is set for a big Round 3 price rise after scoring 134 points against Gawn last week, you get both cash generation and points.

Well, hopefully.

Bringing in Pittonet for a Nic Naitanui or Tim English is the value move this week.

Spend the cash elsewhere and start plotting your plan to get Gawn in.

The effect on your points tally with Pittonet and an upgrade/fix-it trade in another position, is likely to be similar to if you went straight to Gawn.

At least in the short-term, anyway.

MY DILEMMA

And this leads me to my dilemma and the idea behind this column.

Pittonet to Naitanui leaves me with plenty of money to spend.

But I didn’t go early on Rivers - I went with Bennell and Ned McHenry instead.

There could be no coming back from a poor first three rounds in a short season, though. And that’s why I will consider letting a rookie go.

Rivers at $150k might be still be a great buy next week – and hopefully I’m still in the race thanks to Neale’s inclusion.

Of course, for league-focused SuperCoaches there might be more time.

Back to the ruck situation, though.

If you’ve got Rowan Marshall, whose centre bounce attendance is down 40 per cent with the arrival of Paddy Ryder, jump straight to Gawn, given the proximity. With a breakeven of 159, don’t wait a week to do it, though.

Port Adelaide’s Dan Houston training at Alberton Oval. Picture: SARAH REED
Port Adelaide’s Dan Houston training at Alberton Oval. Picture: SARAH REED

As a mid-price selection, however, Naitanui’s form doesn’t scream ‘trade me’ yet.

Unfortunately, it’s a different story with Houston, Hugh McCluggage and Brodie Smith.

Yes, I have all of them. You can now see why I’m desperate to make up ground.

Houston isn’t a must-trade yet but after taking a back seat in the midfield – just seven centre bounces out of a possible 25 – and the injury to defender Ryan Burton, I’m concerned.

If you don’t have Howe, it’s a no-brainer. And you haven’t missed the boat on the Collingwood intercept star. Anything less than $500k is great buying for a likely top-six defender.

If you already have Howe, upgrading Houston to, say, Tom Stewart, or, if your team allows it, to Neale in the midfield via DPP, is another reason to overlook that second cash cow ahead of Round 3.

How will you use your five trades this week?

Oh, wait.

MORE SUPERCOACH NEWS:

Champion Data Round 3 KFC SuperCoach formguide

Rookie ratings: KFC SuperCoach rookies you must buy ahead of Round 3

KFC SuperCoach Round 3 trade guide: Todd Goldstein joins Brodie Grundy, Max Gawn in elite ruck bracket

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Original URL: https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl/supercoach-news/kfc-supercoach-2020-dusty-neale-or-rookies-the-phantom-looks-at-round-3-trade-priorities/news-story/5dfcf82a2a624c72485065411d9472ab