KFC SuperCoach 2020: The Phantom’s Round 3 review
What a round of KFC SuperCoach. More than ever, this weekend was a rollercoaster of emotion. The Phantom looks back at Round 3 and what the big moments mean moving forward.
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It’s been a big weekend of KFC SuperCoach - it’s had it all.
As usual, there’s been plenty of frustration but, this week, it’s turned into negativity off the SuperCoach field.
But that’s not what this game is about, it’s about fun.
So, while it wasn’t always fun for me, here’s my diary of the SuperCoach ups and downs from Round 3 and what we can all learn from the rollercoaster of emotions.
FRIDAY
9AM: I’m feeling good about today. Tonight’s Bulldogs-Giants clash should be a ripper – and a very SuperCoach relevant one at that. Lachie Whitfield could run wild against a Bulldogs side who gave up five SuperCoach tons to St Kilda midfielders last week. Brodie Grundy is nursing a sore knee – and will be up against Rowan Marshall and Paddy Ryder – so I’ll make him VC. I’ll write a story about it, too.
11AM: Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley tells the media Dan Houston back to defence “is a pretty simple move for us and I’m sure even Fremantle won’t be surprised”. Hmm. I need to get Lachie Neale this week so that will be a tough hold.
11.15AM: Actually, it can’t get any worse than last week can it?
5PM: It’s been a good day. And I still have a good feeling. Josh Kelly owes me one, too.
6.30PM: No action in the group chat. That’s good, there must be no late changes tonight. Mrs. Phantom is out so I’m one-out with Phantom Jnr.
7.05PM: Phantom Jnr asleep. Still no activity on the chat. Should I order dinner before checking Twitter? Yeah. I need my burger and fries before the first bounce.
7.10PM: Checked Twitter. Fantasy Freako is telling me he’s learnt his lesson with Kelly. What have I missed?
7.11PM: Oh.
7.16PM: I’ve just stared at the wall for five minutes. Quietly, of course. It felt like an hour.
7.17PM: What should I do? Do I trade Kelly to Neale? No. This cannot be a rushed decision. Tyler Brown on-field will have to do.
Two subpar scores and now Josh Kelly is out for the Giants. Lesson learned. #SuperCoach
— Fantasy Freako (@FantasyFreako) June 19, 2020
7.20PM: Oh well, at least I’ve got Whitfield as VC to enjoy. And, of course, the burger.
7.50PM: It’s quarter-time and Whitfield won’t return due to concussion. Well, at least the burger was good.
8.30PM: More starting. The TV is still on but I couldn’t tell you what’s been happening. Wait. It’s on!
10PM: I only stayed for the brawls. Can Jordan Dawson save my weekend tomorrow? Oh, no. I’m not going to sleep well now. Actually, it’s been a couple of weeks since I have. Why might that be?
SATURDAY
2.15PM: Dawson! Bang. After a running goal from outside-50, he hits the 70-point mark in the second-quarter. I’m back. Nothing could ruin today.
2.3OPM: Checked the group chat. The Eradicator just told The Hipster “there’s probably nothing you’re going to find out between now and the Saints-Magpies game that would change your Rowan Marshall to Max Gawn trade”. Yeah, that’s fair.
3PM: Umm.
3.15PM: Is that the end of the season? It plays with my feelings but I cannot lose SuperCoach again.
3.30PM: Gil just confirmed the Bombers-Demons will be postponed after a positive COVID-19 test. Think I’ll mute the group chat for a while.
3.35PM: But at least we’ve still got the footy – and SuperCoach. The decision for a best-18 week in SuperCoach shouldn’t divide us. It’s not fair on some teams but there was no answer which would’ve made everyone happy. It’s a difficult situation in a difficult year.
6PM: I’ll still stick to my trade plan. Neale has to come in and I can’t miss out on Marc Pittonet, after his 134-point Carlton debut.
8PM: PITT!
10PM: Continuing the rollercoaster of emotion that has been my weekend – and, in fact, the life of a SuperCoach – the two players I traded out, Hugh McCluggage (155) and Nic Naitanui (137) went big.
10.05PM: But With Pittonet’s 137 and Neale’s 164, it was still a win.
I just cannot believe people cannot see that this was the absolute right call. It might be the best decision in the history of #SuperCoach
— The Phantom (@ThePhantomSC) June 21, 2020
Trading in Marc Pittonet, of course
SUNDAY
9AM: Is the footy on yet?
9.15: What about now?
1PM: Gee, I’ve had a long time to think about McCluggage’s 155 points.
4PM: How old is Matt Rowell? Maybe my half-serious VC suggestion on Thursday wasn’t much of a joke afterall.
5PM: Should I ever publically admit to supporting the Crows?
8.45PM: Is Sam Sturt on the ground?
9.18PM: Now I feel bad. The young forward has actually come off the ground with an ankle injury, after failing to touch the ball in the first half.
9.28PM: He’s back on. Have I mentioned the word rollercoaster yet?
9.45PM: My heart rate has been relatively steady today. Well, it may have picked up a notch when Rowell kicked a second left-foot goal on his way to 141 points. But the weekend ended on a good note. Hugh Greenwood posted a SuperCoach ton against his former side, while Brodie Smith was more productive across half-back, tallying 94 points. Even Houston (73) passed last week’s total of 66 playing in defence. And Nat Fyfe (166) was huge.
THE END
What a weekend.
The highs and lows are a part of the KFC SuperCoach experience.
But not just in an emotional context.
The stock market aspect of SuperCoach has always been a big part of the game – buy low, sell high, trade and upgrade your way to a full team.
With 30 trades over 17 rounds this season, however, the game has changed slightly.
It’s been well noted, building a complete side full of premiums is going to be difficult this year.
At least in the standard way.
More trades will enable SuperCoaches to follow the money. Trading premiums won’t be frowned upon this year.
It started with Dustin Martin on Thursday night, for those who had the rest of their team in order, and, for some, it will continue with Whitfield ahead of Round 4.
After his injury-affected eight-point score against the Bulldogs, Whitfield will lose more than $50k off his price tag.
And, if he recovers in time for the Friday night clash with the Magpies, the fall could be similar next week.
Depending on whether or not he can find form quickly, the endurance machine, who averaged 111 points per game last year, might be available for close to $450k by Round 6.
It’s time to jump off now.
You’ll make around $70k on a trade to in-form Demon Christian Petracca, who didn’t play – or rise in price – this week.
For a fraction more, there’s also North Melbourne’s Jy Simpkin, the seventh-ranked scorer in the competition, and Bulldog young gun Bailey Smith to consider.
Then, when Whitfield’s price bottoms out, and your cash cows begin to peak in price, he becomes the perfect fallen premium upgrade.
Round 3 #supercoach Price Projection* - Lachie Whitfield
— Brice Mitchell (@bricemitchell) June 19, 2020
2019Av 111 (16g)
R3Price $593.7k
R1/R2 Scores: 109/97
R3BE 128
R3Score 7**
R3:$594k->$539k ($-55k) NewBE 202
ProjScore 100
R4:$539k->$493k (+$-46k) NewBE 174
R5:$493k->$460k (+$-33k) NewBE 63
*approx
**HT score https://t.co/irw16rHXS1
Going the other way, Pittonet’s price has sky-rocketed past $300k but, given next week’s jump could be even bigger, it’s not too late.
Pittonet will almost certainly boast a price tag of more than $400k in two rounds.
Remember, given the changes to price increases this year – they happen after one, not two, games – the first jump isn’t as steep as we’ve come to expect.
If you persisted with a mid-price big man at R2, consider Pittonet ahead of Round 4.
In defence, after a quiet return from 15-month injury layoff in Round 3, Tom Doedee’s price rise was a small one, despite a 111-point performance against the Suns.
The Crows aren’t exactly hot SuperCoach property at the moment but with a negative breakeven, and terrific scoring potential, the classy defender provides significant value – especially for those who still have Houston.
THE PHANTOM ROUND 3
Score: 2016
Studs: Lachie Neale (166), Nat Fyfe (166), Matt Rowell (141), Marc Pittonet (137), Hugh Greenwood (116), Jordan Dawson (113)
Duds: Patrick Dangerfield (75)