KFC SuperCoach 2021: Herald Sun AFL reporter Chris Cavanagh reveals his team — with no Max Gawn

An injury in the ruck has derailed the KFC SuperCoach plans of AFL reporter Chris Cavanagh. But he has an answer — and it’s not Max Gawn. SEE HIS TEAM

Talk about throwing a spanner in the works.

I had been relying on Braydon Preuss to play plenty of footy as the No.1 ruckman at Greater Western Sydney this year and hold up my KFC SuperCoach ruck division alongside Collingwood superstar Brodie Grundy.

That was before Preuss’s untimely shoulder injury, which will sideline him for at least the first half of the season.

But like all good coaches, I’m about solutions rather than problems – and I think I’ve found an answer to the Preuss-induced dilemma which has forced a full team rethink.

I’ve landed on a ruck combination of Grundy and Adelaide’s Reilly O’Brien.

Hear me out.

O’Brien is entering only his fourth AFL season, is already the Crows’ No.1 ruckman and still has upside.

He averaged 106.2 KFC SuperCoach points last season, including logging 90 points or more in 13 of his 17 matches.

The 25-year-old is also out of contract at the end of the year. If ever there is a time to step up your game for a young player, it is in a contract year.

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There is lots of upside in Reilly O'Brien.

Sorry Max, you’re just too expensive.

As good as Melbourne’s Max Gawn is, I’m just not sure I can justify his $751,400 price tag, especially when I already have Captain Fantastic – Lachie Neale ($721,800) – in my midfield.

O’Brien at $570,800 seems a better fit, especially if he can further elevate himself this season as I expect.

Picking O’Brien over Gawn also gives me a little more money to use elsewhere and I’ve managed to squeeze North Melbourne’s Ben Cunnington (MID, $439,800) into my onball brigade.

The usual KFC SuperCoach philosophy is avoid mid-price players. But Cunnington is an A-Grader with a mid-pricer tag this season after playing only three games last year due to a back injury.

By all reports, the Kangaroo has been hopping over summer – aside from a minor concussion scare – and looks ready to return to his best.

In 2019, Cunnington averaged a pretty handy 102 KFC SuperCoach points from 22 games – not bad for a mid-price player.

Chris Cavanagh's revised KFC SuperCoach squad.

My rookie picks could yet change between now and Round 1, but I think I’ve found some early winners.

I’ve still got a watch on Jeremy Howe, Dyson Heppell, Jack Ziebell and Joe Daniher after their various injury issues last year.

However, if they’re all fit and ready to go Round 1, they’ll be staying in my starting team.

Originally published as KFC SuperCoach 2021: Herald Sun AFL reporter Chris Cavanagh reveals his team — with no Max Gawn