KFC SuperCoach 2021: The Phantom’s burning questions and all the Round 23 late mail
It’s the news no KFC SuperCoach player wanted to hear before grand final weekend. See who’s out, who’s in, and the Phantom answers the big KFC SuperCoach questions.
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The most popular player in KFC SuperCoach will miss grand final weekend in a late blow to thousands of fantasy coaches.
Jack Ziebell, who has been one of the best buys of the season and features in more than 107,000 teams, hasn’t come up after hurting his calf last weekend and will sit out North Melbourne’s clash against Adelaide.
With trades at a minimum, the news will test bench depth in the forward line and there is some good news on that front — GWS has selected Kieren Briggs to lead the ruck division against Carlton while Shane Mumford takes a pre-finals rest.
Midfield benches will be stretched after the Suns dropped Jeremy Sharp and Hawthorn “managed” Jai Newcombe in the final round of the season after the mid-season recruit scored 94 points last week against the Bulldogs.
MORE: SEE ALL THE ROUND 23 TEAMS
In better news, Sydney’s star defenders Callum Mills and Jake Lloyd both return from injury and should score well against Gold Coast.
Steven May is also back after he was a late withdrawal last week with general soreness.
Andrew Brayshaw returns for Fremantle and Patrick Cripps is available for the 27,000 loyal coaches who have stuck with him in a disappointing season.
KFC SuperCoach players looking ahead to next pre-season will be disappointed to see more promising rookie options for next year earning a late-season debut.
Alex Davies is priced at $102,400 this year and would have started next season at a similar value, but a Round 23 debut for the Suns Academy star is likely to bump up his 2022 starting price tag by $30k or more.
Matthew Allison, taken with pick 26 in last year’s draft, will also debut for St Kilda, goalkicker Lachlan Gollant will play his first AFL game for the Crows and two more potential debutants are on extended benches for Sunday games — Collingwood’s No.23 pick Reef McInness and exciting Kangaroos forward Phoenix Spicer.
THE PHANTOM ANSWERS THIS WEEK’S BURNING QUESTIONS
It’s the Tuesday of KFC SuperCoach Grand Final week.
But it feels more like a Monday morning after a big Uni pub crawl – the type where a lot of bad things happen.
The type that results in you waking up, not really sure about what went on in the previous 24 hours.
The type that leaves you with more than one zero.
Your bank account, your dignity and the amount of new phone numbers you received.
Full premo plans The delta variant pic.twitter.com/UbAWhIr5cT
— The Phantom (@ThePhantomSC) August 13, 2021
Yes, back in my day – sadly, I’m old enough to use this term now – people went out, spoke to each other, and shared numbers.
But when you open up with Joel Bowden’s uncontested possession count, the conversations never lasted very long.
Anyway.
There’s no time to skip the next lecture, even if your KFC SuperCoach headache, on the back of too many zeros, is as bad as mine.
Despite the chaos that was Round 22, some of you have a grand final to win or one last chance to charge up the overall rankings.
TRADE GUIDE: THE TOP GRAND FINAL TARGETS
Phant, we have zero trades left, what can we do?
Firstly, don’t give up just yet. Most KFC SuperCoaches are in the same boat.
Many had zeros on the weekend, and many will – likely – have more again in Round 23, given the AFL has scrapped the pre-finals bye. But more on what that could mean for KFC SuperCoach later.
If you end up having excess cover, it’s important to make the most of it.
Some of you won’t have a choice, but don’t miss any chance to maximise your final score if it comes.
Port Adelaide and the Bulldogs will kick off the round on Friday night, so the teams with Cody Weightman, who only scored 42, last week, might get the opportunity to look at his score first.
Hawthorn take on Richmond in the first game on Saturday, meaning popular bench cover options Jai Newcombe and Lachie Bramble will be in play early.
Despite Newcombe’s 94 points, I’d still be fielding Bramble first if you have the choice. Star midfielder Jaeger O’Meara is likely to return for the final-round clash with the Tigers.
Bomber mid-season draftee Sam Durham has been impressive in his five games, with the 93-point performance against the Suns proving crucial for many KFC SuperCoaches covering the loss of a number of premium defenders.
Back him in again in Sunday’s clash with Collingwood at the MCG, but if you’re only able to use him in the midfield, I’d go with the Hawks pair.
I have a trade left, where should I be using it?
Well done. Let’s start at the back.
DEFENCE
Lachie Whitfield ($484k) is cheap and the Giants take on the struggling Blues, a side he’s scored 83, 170 and 141 against in the past three matches.
If you have the cash, and he returns from injury – John Longmire is hopeful - Callum Mills ($588k) has to be on your radar given his season and Sydney’s Round 23 opponent; Gold Coast.
The Suns woes are obvious and they conceded another four KFC SuperCoach tons to opposition defenders in Round 22 – Nick Hind (133), Mason Redman (111), Dyson Heppell (110) and Jordan Ridley (108).
It’s why you should also consider Jordan Dawson ($531k), who is averaging 108 since the bye.
MIDFIELD
Brisbane stars Jarryd Lyons ($565k), Lachie Neale ($474k) and Hugh McCluggage ($504k) will take on a struggling Eagles midfield this week – and the Lions could be playing for a top-four spot.
Dockers Caleb Serong (135) and David Munday (134) dominated in the Derby and Neale has posted scores of 166, 127 and 151 in his past three against West Coast. And McCluggage scored 155 points of his own in Round 3 last year against Adam Simpson’s side.
The only thing is it could also become a meaningless game for the Lions - more on that below.
Giant Josh Kelly hit the ground running, after a week off, with an impressive 148-point performance against the Tigers under the roof at Marvel.
He’s back there this weekend against the Blues – a side he’s scored 131 and 205 on in his past two.
FORWARD
If the Lions dominate the Eagles midfield as mentioned above, Dayne Zorko ($534k) will be among the top-scorers again, while Chad Wingard ($495k) has posted two scores of 130 or more in his past three matches. And he scored 122 in his previous meeting with Richmond.
At the top-end, Aaron Hall ($589k) should have a field day against the Crows.
At the bottom-end, Toby Greene ($417k) is back and could kick a bag against the Blues, while Zak Butters ($398k) is threatening.
Back to the pre-finals bye being scrapped, how will that affect us?
How won’t it affect us, more like it.
It started last week, with a number of key players rested, but, with the confirmation on Monday there will be no bye before the first round of the finals, there are likely to be more.
Thankfully, there are still top-eight, and top-four, spots up for grabs as well as the right to host a qualifying final.
It’s very early to call, but …
Western Bulldogs v Port Adelaide
The Bulldogs could fall out of the top-four and a Port Adelaide win will mean a home final in the first week. So, hopefully, the best sides will run out on Adelaide Oval.
Melbourne v Geelong
The Demons are playing to hold on the minor premiership but with a top-four spot sewn up, does Simon Goodwin have another Steven May – who is likely to return - in him? He is on record saying if a player is sore, they won’t play. Young ruckman Luke Jackson is going really well ….
Sydney v Gold Coast
On paper, this is a worry for KFC SuperCoaches but Longmire says he expects Mills, Lloyd, and even Franklin, to play. Josh Kennedy has a very low-grade hamstring injury so the veteran midfielder will miss.
The pre-finals bye has been scrapped. Brace yourselves. #SuperCoach#AFLFantasy
— Fantasy Freako (@FantasyFreako) August 16, 2021
Adelaide v North Melbourne
The Kangaroos have the wooden spoon – and the No. 1 pick – sewn up so it doesn’t matter who wins – or loses. But Jack Ziebell came off late on Saturday with what coach David Noble described as a “pretty sore calf” that they’ve been managing. He will have plenty of time off after this weekend, but, again, will the Kangaroos bother pushing him through?
Essendon v Collingwood
Brodie Grundy looks a little tired, but he, too, will get plenty of rest after this weekend.
Brisbane v West Coast
I know I spoke about how big some of the Lions stars could go against the Eagles but, if the Bulldogs win on Friday night, Brisbane will host a home elimination final regardless of what happens against the Eagles.
See you at the - virtual - pub next week.
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