KFC SuperCoach 2021: The Phantom answers the burning questions ahead of Round 6

Are you one of the 20,000 KFC SuperCoaches with Jeremy Howe? The Phantom looks at the best replacements in defence plus all the big issues ahead of Round 6.

As always, the deeper we get into a KFC SuperCoach season, the more questions that pop up.

Upgrade season is fast approaching but many KFC SuperCoaches have bigger dilemmas than which fallen premium to jump on first.

Here’s my take on some of the big issues ahead of Round 6.

Do we hold Ridley?

Wot. The No. 1 ranked KFC SuperCoach defender, even with a 31-point score, who is only likely to miss one game? No. You are holding. Unless your team has huge holes - and I know some of you do, especially in the ruck.

What about the other injured guns?

If you are one of more than 20,000 KFC SuperCoaches with Magpies defender Jeremy Howe, then it’s a different story.

The Collingwood star is set to miss three-to-four weeks with a hamstring injury, pushing him close to the must-trade threshold.

So get out your phone and move him on.

Geelong’s Tom Stewart ($536k), who posted a huge 152 points on Sunday, is still available for less than his starting price, which was already low given the injury-affected 18 points last year.

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Luke Ryan, right, was back to his KFC SuperCoach best against the Crows. Picture: Will Russell/AFL Photos

Docker Luke Ryan ($543k) is also great buying after passing three figures just once in the opening four rounds – he did score 99 and 92, though.

With Griffin Logue back in the side, the intercept gun was able to play his “normal role”, as coach Justin Longmuir pointed out post-match, finishing with six intercept marks and 134 points – both season-highs - against the Crows.

If you are strapped for cash, though, there are a number of other options.

Hunter Clark ($442k) and Brodie Smith ($477k) both posted their third KFC SuperCoach ton for the year in Round 5, as the rise of the running defender continues, while Alex Witherden ($456k) finished with 28 effective disposals and 133 points in his Eagles debut.

Yes, I really did just mention Clark, Smith and Witherden in the same sentence.

But, seriously, Witherden’s performance highlights just how well he fits into what West Coast do with the ball in the back-half. The former Lion hit the target with all but one of his 21 kicks and played on from eight of his nine kick-ins. The only thing stopping him now is the return of Shannon Hurn.

But, surely, another similar performance – or two – as the skipper recovers from a calf injury, and he’ll be hard to drop.

So is that a yes on Witherden?

I’d love to say yes – and I would consider him if I had Howe – but the safe play is to wait one more week. Let’s see how he goes down at the Cattery, first.

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Demon Jake Lever ranks No.1 in the AFL for intercept marks. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

What about Jake Lever?

Now here’s an interesting one. At $472k, Lever is almost a straight swap for Howe. And, after four KFC SuperCoach tons in five games this year, he has to be considered.

The 25-year-old leads the competition for intercept marks and ranks equal-first for intercept possessions. Lever also rates elite for score involvements and above-average for rebound-50s, inside-50s, effective disposals, effective kicks and metres gained.

He may have finished with season averages of 69 and 70 in his first two injury-interrupted years at Melbourne but Lever averaged 86 in the final 10 matches of 2020. And he averaged 98 KFC SuperCoach points and three intercepts marks per game in his bottom-age NAB League season way back in 2013.

But will the return of Steven May affect his scoring?

Lever may have scored 107 against the Hawks, without May in defence, but he also posted his first three KFC SuperCoach tons for the year alongside Melbourne’s other key tall. Given his elite ability in the air, and winning the ball back off the opposition, Lever doesn’t appear to need as much of the footy as May. So, no, it’s unlikely to affect his scoring.

Is he top 8?

Given the number of early contenders, it’s hard to say yes. But, for the same reason, it’s hard to say no. He has to be chance

Matt Flynn played in the new-look VFL last weekend. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

What do I do if I’ve got Flynn at R2?

Now we are getting to the real problems. Shane Mumford in for one week was a concern for those who started rookie Giant Matt Flynn at R2, two was a disaster.

Those who had Lloyd Meek as cover, or traded Flynn to Swan Tom Hickey last round, probably aren’t even reading anymore.

But the last two weeks are gone, it’s all about what you do from here. And there could be good news.

Sure, Mumford was terrific again, and the Giants are 2-0 with the veteran in the side, but coach Leon Cameron said last week “Shane just can’t go back-to-back-to-back three or four weeks in a row”.

Then after the win in the Sydney Derby, Cameron suggested Mumford was “more unlikely than likely”.

“I think Flynny and (Kieren) Briggs are a huge chance to play next week,” Cameron added.

And, on Wednesday, Cameron confirmed Flynn will return against the Bulldogs on Friday night.

But keep my early idea of a restructure in mind. If you get stuck again, you could sacrifice one of your injured or under-performing premiums – even if only slightly – in another position, trade in an extra rookie, play him on-field and trade up to Max Gawn or Brodie Grundy. You still might be short but it’s worth trying. If you can trade one of your other premiums straight to a ruckman via DPP, that would be even better.

This week’s cash injection will be big but you need to start planning how you’re going to get to the big two.

Lachlan Jones has scored 61 and 69 in his first two games. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos

Is it true about Lachie Jones?

The strongly-built 19-year-old is averaging nine intercepts, eight contested possessions and six groundball gets – all rated elite – resulting in scores of 61 and 69. The Power love him and, on earlier this week, I said he was the No. 1 downgrade option this week. But, unfortunately, it was confirmed on Thursday he will be sidelined by an ankle injury. His breakeven of -48 will remain so here’s hoping he pops back up at the right time.

Will Tom Highmore return?

The tweet below, along with another poor performance from the senior side defensively, and Jimmy Webster’s injury, all points to a Highmore return. But, who knows?

Tom Highmore in VFL #SuperCoach

16 disposals
13 kicks @ 92 per cent
7 marks
9 intercept possessions
4 tackles
95 rank points

🙏🙏🙏

— Tim Michell (@tim_michell) April 19, 2021

Should I jump off Tim Taranto?

He might not be the top-eight keeper some thought he’d become but a player averaging 93, with significant room for growth if he can tidy up his ball-use, is unlikely to be your biggest on-field issue. The temptation is there to trade him to a sure thing in the midfield, but is that helping you get rookies off the field?

Lachie Neale or Clayton Oliver?

For the KFC SuperCoaches who escaped the carnage, this could be the biggest question of the week. Both have all-but bottomed out and might not be available for cheaper this year. Neale, fresh off a 157-point return to form, is at $580k with a Round 6 breakeven of 98. He completed every session ahead of the Bombers clash, his first full-week in a while, so it appears he’s finally overcoming the back issue.

Clayton Oliver won’t be available for less than $600k for long. Picture: David Crosling

Oliver, on the other hand, has posted a KFC SuperCoach ton in all but one game this year, after finishing with 115 points against the Hawks. But that Matt de Boer-affected 67 in Round 3 has resulted in a significant price drop with the Melbourne star available for $591k, with a breakeven of 101.

Both will shoot back past $600k with a big score in Round 6, which will also bring a low breakeven the following week.

Neale has a better scoring history against this week’s opponent, Carlton, but the threat of attention from Ed Curnow – and the idea of seeing Neale back it up - swings the dilemma in Oliver’s favour, just.

Any CBAs for Josh Kelly this week?

No.

What about Shai Bolton?

23 – 3rd at Tigers – after attending the fifth-most in Round 4. And he’s posted back-to-back scores of 110. He did finish with 29 points in the loss to the Swans, after starting the year with consecutive scores in the 80s. Is the Round 3 score a blip? If you think it is, $420k is great buying. My KFC SuperCoach friend Tim Michell is all over this one.

Who is the king?

After playing on from 13 of his 14 kick-ins against the Cats, Jack Ziebell is.