KFC SuperCoach 2021: The Phantom answers the burning questions ahead of Round 13
Brodie Grundy is on track for a Round 15 return. But with money still to be made, and points on offer, The Phantom assesses the value of trading him now.
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It’s the calm before the KFC SuperCoach storm.
Sorry about the cliché, but it’s true.
With the Tigers-Eagles clash moved forward to this Sunday, most KFC SuperCoach teams are looking OK in Round 13.
The following week, however, is a completely different story.
I’d say let’s take it one round at a time, but I’ve declared no more clichés and, in fact, looking at this weekend on its own is likely to just make things worse.
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So, how should we trade this week?
It’s all about balance.
You need to continue pushing towards a complete, full-premium team, while also making sure you stay competitive in Round 14.
But going too hard one way, and forgetting about the other - unless you are playing for league glory only – could cause you problems.
Keep upgrading, but don’t just settle for a playing coming off the bye. Of course, there are a number of great premium options who will play in the next two weeks, but there are nine rounds to come after the byes are over.
Cash will dictate how you handle your own unique situation but the big gun who you have to wait a week on could make up the ground on the fringe top-eight player you settle for in the run home.
Even though most KFC SuperCoaches will struggle to field a strong 18, you can’t forget about Round 14 altogether, however.
While some of you may have to concede there will be no big overall rankings climb, you don’t want to full too far behind.
It’s the same at the other end, too.
Use your trades to improve your team. It’s likely you will be better off making, say, three or four upgrades over the next two rounds, and playing one or two short in Round 14, than only brining into two extra big guns but filling out your on-field 18 with rookies.
Remember, Chad Warner (39), James Rowe (32), Riley Collier-Dawkins (27) and Tom Highmore (17) scored 115 points between them in Round 12.
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Which premiums should I target this round, then?
Lachie Whitfield looks to be the best option in any position heading into Round 13.
After missing the first six rounds through injury, the star Giant has worked into the season nicely, posting scores of 83, 74, 80, 110 and 120 in the five matches before last week’s bye.
He’s available for $58k less than his starting price and GWS take on North Melbourne on Sunday.
He was spotted running laps at training on Tuesday, but, remember, not every player takes part in every session. But, given his injury history, keep your eyes peeled.
Top-price midfield options Touk Miller ($616k) and Cam Guthrie ($609k) are coming off the bye, and are both ranked inside the top-eight by average this season.
But there is some value in the middle, too, with Power star Travis Boak available for $533k and Hawk ball-magnet Tom Mitchell for $68k less than his starting price.
Whitfield’s teammate Josh Kelly ($562k) sits in between and has posted five consecutive KFC SuperCoach tons after moving back into the Giants’ on-ball rotation.
With the extra trades – in case his injury history repeats – and very small ownership of 8.1 per cent, Kelly is my pick in the midfield this round.
Just remember, though, if you are close to finishing that area of your team, Gold Coast young gun Matt Rowell, who averaged 126 points in his first four matches last year, is likely to be available for less than $450k very soon. Right before the Suns play North Melbourne, too.
Wait, what? He’s back!?
Yep. The Suns have confirmed the 19-year-old is available for selection in Round 13.
Remember, this is the guy who has posted KFC SuperCoach scores of 120, 167, 189, 111, 147, 128, 146, 129, 177, 152, 266, 80, 172, 142, 114, 6 and 6 in his past 17 games covered by Champion Data at any level.
The two single-figure scores were, obviously, a result of a very early in-game injury.
There’s your M8 – or, if you have travelling really well – your M9 for the run home.
Rewind, Phantom, any forward premium targets?
Forward premiums? Ha. Nice one.
There are still so many questions about this group but there are some standout options.
Aaron Hall – speaking of questions marks – has posted five consecutive KFC SuperCoach tons and injury appears the only thing that could slow him down in his current role.
Unfortunately, he has history but it’s now hard to argue against the body of work, especially with the addition of two extra trades.
The other one to consider coming off the bye is Geelong forward Tom Hawkins. He’s averaging 117 in the past four matches and the Cats host – at least on the current fixture - the Bombers, Giants and Saints at the Cattery, as well as taking on the Blues and North in the run home.
But, like in the midfield, I’d suggest leaving a spot open for one player.
Patrick Dangerfield is likely to return this week and, with a breakeven of 198, his price is set to fall below $600k fast. And anything with a five in front of it is good buying for the Geelong star.
So, next week?
Well, it all depends on your team. His inclusion – if all goes to plan with is return from injury – into your KFC SuperCoach side for Round 14 would be an enormous boost.
And it’s something I am planning to do, even if his price is still falling. I’m not waiting just for another $30k that, given his scoring ceiling, may not even happen.
Just on forwards, why didn’t Lions appeal Dayne Zorko’s suspension?
GOOD QUESTION.
What other trades are you planning, Phantom?
As of Tuesday, I will be looking at these moves ahead of Round 13:
Matt Flynn to Ned Reeves.
James Rowe to Aaron Hall.
Hunter Clark to Lachie Whitfield.
Anthony Scott to Callum Coleman-Jones.
The plan was to move Clark on at his bye, but after last week’s performance, I’m going early, especially with Whitfield available. Coleman-Jones doesn’t help me in Round 14, but he’s hard to pass up with a breakeven of -102.
Next week, I’m looking at Caleb Poulter to Dangerfield and another premium midfielder. Ideally, Lachie Neale but I might not have the money so I’ll either wait or jump on Rowell a little early.
Phant, I heard you traded Grundy to ROB last week, is it too late for me?
Another good question.
Given Docker Sean Darcy’s hamstring injury and the fact you will only get Reilly O’Brien, and the other premium replacement Nic Naitanui, for one week, there’s not as much value in the move now.
Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley wasn’t convincing in his post-match press conference on Grundy’s Round 15 return but he still said that was the plan.
And Magpies high-performance boss Kevin White says Grundy, who is already back running, is aiming to be back in the full football program next week.
If you’re behind, however, and need to take a punt to catch up, there’s still some merit in trading Grundy all the way down to Coleman-Jones or Hawk Ned Reeves.
But only if you make two upgrades with the cash.
The extra trades added to your total will help you bring Grundy back in, because running with a rookie-price R2 isn’t a good long-term strategy.
If you have Matt Flynn, however, he’s your way back to the Magpies star.
So, CCJ regardless of the bye?
He’s set to make $80k after this week’s game so, yes, especially with not many other cash-generating rookie options on the horizon – unless the Hawks do KFC SuperCoaches a favour with their mid-season draftees.
It might hurt you in Round 14, but not getting him now might hurt you more in the long run.
For those of you struggling to make money, Coleman-Jones, who should continue to play a key role for the Tigers for a while yet, looks to be the perfect final upgrade candidate in the forward line.
All the above relates to Magpie Trent Bianco, too, who may even have better long-term job security.
Go with both if you need, but if you can improve your team immediately without them, don’t worry about overlooking one, either.
If you have to choose, Bianco makes you more cash.
Could we trade in CCJ just for his $80k price rise?
It seems wrong, given the cash he’s set to make over the next month but if it’s the difference between making your final upgrade next week - and a mid-season draftee does pop up - it is something to keep in mind.
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