KFC SuperCoach 2021: All the late mail, team news and trade advice ahead of Round 9
The Giants have named their team for Saturday’s clash with the Tigers and there is good news for KFC SuperCoaches. But it’s a different story at the Swans.
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The second release of Mumford & Sons will be unleashed at Marvel Stadium on Saturday night.
After Matt Flynn made his long-awaited AFL debut for the Giants in Round 1, Kieren Briggs – Shane Mumford’s other so-called adoptive ruck son – will follow suit against Richmond.
Briggs, who is averaging 90 KFC SuperCoach points in the VFL, has a special part in the club’s brief history as not only an Academy graduate, but its second western Sydney product and first who grew up as a Giants supporter.
Briggs has DEF/FWD eligibility in KFC SuperCoach and is priced at $123,900.
The 21-year-old will partner Flynn, with Mumford taking his usual break after a fortnight of playing, against Tigers premiership ruckman Toby Nankervis, who Briggs has been likened to.
Flynn’s return is a big boost for KFC SuperCoaches with the four-game big man set for another steep price rise on the back of 3-point Round 9 breakeven.
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None of this might have happened if not for a frank conversation with Mumford pre-Christmas in 2017, the year before Greater Wester Sydney drafted Briggs with the No.34 pick.
“I was having breakfast at the club, just as an Academy player, and he asked whether I’d paid for my meal or not, because I know all the boys on the list were paying for meals at that time,” Briggs said.
“So I was already startled at that – but it was a really eye-opening chat.
“It was sort of midway through pre-season and he just challenged me on whether I really wanted to be there or not, and whether I was doing all the right things to learn and be on the list.
“That was a bit of a juncture in changing the way I thought and trained.”
Mumford’s continued to be a major influence on him, so much so the playing group slapped them with the Mumford & Sons moniker, in honour of the English folk rock band.
“He’s nothing but helped me … he’s got his own kids, but there’s Flynny and I as well – Mumford and his other two sons,” Briggs said with a laugh.
“But he’s been great. Everyone knows he’s a pest around the club, but he’s also been a great role model and leader for the younger ruckmen.”
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At 200cm, Briggs isn’t lacking for height but equally still comes up short to the AFL’s true leviathans.
That’s why he rates his follow-up work after the ruck contest and tackling pressure as two of his key attributes.
Briggs is the latest Pennant Hills Demon to make it to AFL ranks, behind the likes of Lenny Hayes, the McVeighs (Jarrad and Mark), the Jacks (Kieren and Brandon) and Braeden Campbell.
So are there more AFL players on the way?
“I certainly hope so,” he said.
“I’ve been down to Academy training myself – I used to do a bit of coaching there in my final year as an Academy player – so there is definitely plenty of talent around in western Sydney.”
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Across town, boom Sydney KFC SuperCoach rookie Errol Gulden’s run of consecutive debut-season games is over with the young gun out injured.
The 18-year-old Swan is being treated for a stress reaction in his foot.
He won’t lose any more cash this week but, if you haven’t done so already, he’s the one to trade this week.
HE’S IN!
It’s the news every KFC SuperCoach has been waiting for.
After six weeks on the outer, bubble boy Tom Highmore is back for his third AFL game, recalled to face Geelong for St Kilda’s Friday night clash at Marvel Stadium.
More than 85,000 KFC SuperCoach teams will be rewarded for their patience, with Highmore projected to rise $60,000 by SuperCoach Plus.
His promotion comes as a surprise considering Highmore did not play in the VFL last week due to Sandringham having a bye.
But his recall comes off the back of tallying 32 disposals, 11 intercept marks and 136 SuperCoach points against Box Hill the previous week.
BOMBER ROOKIE IN MIX TO REPLACE STRINGER
Much-needed forward line reinforcement could be coming for 30 per cent of KFC SuperCoach teams with Alec Waterman ($148k FWD) in the mix to replace injured Bomber Jake Stringer.
Waterman has overcome an ankle injury to put himself back in the fame for selection after Stringer suffered a hamstring strain during the Bombers’ loss to GWS Giants.
Waterman was taken off the Bombers’ injury list on Wednesday and Essendon head of high performance Sean Murphy said the WAFL draftee would push his selection case this week.
“The (VFL) bye came at a good time for Watto,” Murphy said.
“He’s 100 per cent now and he’ll play this week and train this week. That ankle is no issue now.”
Waterman scored 81, 56 and 27 KFC SuperCoach points in three games this year.
MORE YOUNG PIES ON THE CUSP
With Collingwood’s struggles, and mounting injury toll, coach Nathan Buckley could unveil more KFC SuperCoach rookies in the coming weeks. Jeremy Howe has had a big hamstring setback and Jordon Roughead and Nathan Murphy will both miss this week after suffering head knocks against the Kangaroos. Third-year Magpie Tom Wilson ($123k FWD) will make his AFL debut against Sydney on Saturday. The basketball convert has been a standout in the VFL this season, averaging 25 disposals and 120 KFC SuperCoach points in the past three rounds.
“Tom Wilson has been excellent. He’s played a little on the wing and down back for us and is definitely around the mark,” Buckley said on Thursday.
Talented 2019 draftee Trent Bianco ($123k MID-DEF) is also pushing towards his first senior appearance, after tallying 29 disposals, eight tackles and 124 KFC SuperCoach points in his first game back from injury - a performance Buckley described as exceptional. Three-game midfielder Fin Macrae also impressed in the VFL, finishing with 31 disposals against Coburg.
Wilson joins Tiger Hugh Ralphsmith ($123k MID-FWD) at the top level, after Richmond confirmed the 19-year-old will make his debut on Saturday afternoon. Ralphsmith, drafted with pick No. 46 in 2019, finished with 19 disposals and 62 points in the VFL last week and was one to catch the eye of coach Damien Hardwick over summer.
CLARITY FOR CRIPPS OWNERS?
The mystery of Patrick Cripps’ form slump has deepened. Carlton coach David Teague on Thursday downplayed reports Cripps had been playing with a crack in his back and required painkillers to get through games early in the season. “He’s fine,” Teague told reporters. “He doesn’t have a fractured back. He had a sore back at the start of the year, I’m not sure what the actual findings were. But he’s been completing full training since Round 3, it’s not an issue now, everything is healed.”
There was some evidence of a return to form in a 50-point first half against the Bulldogs last week but Cripps could manage only 22 points for the rest of the game, including two disposals in the game-defining last quarter. After starting in 52,000 teams, Cripps’ ownership has dropped to 39,000 and many of those owners will be waiting until the Blues’ Round 13 bye to see if he can improve his average of 82.8 - his lowest since his debut season in 2014 (three-round average of 67) - or move him on.
ANOTHER BUBBLE BOY BACK IN THE PICTURE
Port Adelaide expects to have young defender Lachlan Jones ($139k DEF) available for selection from next week. Jones was set to be the top rookie downgrade of Round 6 after scores of 61 and 69 in his first two AFL games. But he was diagnosed with ankle syndesmosis after Port Adelaide’s win over Carlton and has missed the past three rounds as he recovered. While a return through the SANFL seems likely, Power coach Ken Hinkley praised Jones after the victory over the Blues and he will be expected to push for senior selection soon. His return could be bad news for those who jumped on Martin Frederick ($170k DEF) early. Frederick scored 18 as medical sub in Port Adelaide’s Showdown win and will be competing for the same spot as Jones at halfback. Jones’ teammate Zak Butters ($501k) has suffered a setback in his recovery from syndesmosis, although Port has yet to put a timeline on his recovery.
He’s still got a limp and an ankle bracelet that makes him look he’s in home detention...but Zak Butters is trotting around on the slow comeback from ankle surgery.
— Max Burford (@mkfburford) May 13, 2021
Club is happy he’s finally able to get moving again@10NewsFirstAdlpic.twitter.com/CXQGCeV6iw
Across the road at West Lakes, in a big blow to more than 46,000 KFC SuperCoaches, the Crows have confirmed Taylor Walker will miss this weekend’s clash against the Eagles. The former skipper, who sits second in the Coleman Medal race with 27 goals, will be rested as part of a management plan. Walker added almost $200k to his price tag in the opening six rounds but has come crashing back to earth in a KFC SuperCoach sense with scores of 42 and 29 in the past two weeks. If you were thinking about trading him, the news makes your decision easier. But, just remember, he won’t lose any value in Round 9.
Meanwhile, scans have cleared defender Jordon Butts of serious damage to his finger and the club expects the cash cow to play on Sunday. It’s good news for more than 10,000 KFC SuperCoaches who have already enjoyed a $144k price rise.
DANGER ZONES IN
Put Patrick Dangerfield ($611k FWD-MID) on your watchlist for Round 13 or 14. The Brownlow medallist, who has only played twice this season due to suspension and injury, revealed this week he wants to be back playing in the next four weeks. “The bye probably buys an extra few weeks. I’d like to play before then but I’m obviously realistic about that … at the moment all signs are pointing well and I’d like to return within the month,” he said on SEN. “Whether they let me do that, I doubt it. But we’ll see.” Dangerfield said he was mindful of not rushing his return but hoped to be back running next week. Geelong has a bye in Round 12, so KFC SuperCoaches could even target Dangerfield in Round 13 if he made a quicker than expected recovery.
STAR DOCKER TO MISS AGAIN
In a blow to patient owners, popular Fremantle defender Luke Ryan will miss a third week with a calf injury. Ryan made a surprise attempt to return late last week but he’s back in the rehab group after another setback. “I have tweaked it a bit, I will probably miss this week,” Ryan said told 6PR in Perth on Thursday morning. The intercept star hopes to rejoin the main group ahead of Round 10’s clash against Sydney on Saturday week, a fixture he says he “should be right” for.
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ROOKIE IN LINE FOR BOOST
The job security - and role - of KFC SuperCoach bubble boy Ryan Byrnes looks set to increase with Saints midfielder Zak Jones reportedly set for another stint on the sidelines. Jones, who has battled a number of soft tissue injuries in the past, was sent for scans after he left training early on Wednesday with a thigh issue. The former Swan attended 16 centre bounces against the Suns - second only to Brad Crouch - and finished with 31 disposals. Byrnes, who has posted KFC SuperCoach scores of 52 and 62, impressed again on the outside in Round 8, but his two centre bounces against the Hawks a week earlier, shows he’s a chance to help fill the void.
With a breakeven of -40, Byrnes is a terrific downgrade option, regardless, after slotting straight back into the St Kilda side. The 20-year-old, who averaged 120 KFC SuperCoach as Sandringham’s captain in the NAB League in 2019, missed two months with a hamstring injury earlier this year but it only took the 20-year-old two VFL matches to convince coach Brett Ratten. “He’s going to be a good player for us for a while,” Ratten said after the win over the Hawks,
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Originally published as KFC SuperCoach 2021: All the late mail, team news and trade advice ahead of Round 9
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