KFC SuperCoach no-go zone: The tempting players you shouldn’t pick in 2020
Temptation is high at this time of year as SuperCoach players try to squeeze as many premium scorers as possible into their teams. But starting these players could come back to haunt you.
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Picking injury-prone players is the fastest way to derail your KFC SuperCoach season.
For every Brad Crouch who overcomes years of injury troubles to average more than 95, there are several tales of woe which have resulted in the loss of trades, points or both.
Crouch’s brother Matt was a prime example last season.
The ball magnet started the campaign at $551,300, a price which proved too tempting for thousands of coaches.
M.Crouch opened the season with seven 90-plus scores before an injury which was originally diagnosed as a corked muscle turned into three weeks on the sidelines.
His price bottomed out at $484,200 two weeks after returning, more than $100,000 from SuperCoach’s premium scorers.
Learn your lesson and avoid players with an injury history if you’ve been sucked in previously. They generally come with a discounted price tag for good reason and will have you tearing your hair out when the worst inevitably strikes.
An exorbitant price tag or a change of role are other reasons to avoid some of the biggest names in footy when it comes to SuperCoach this season. Here are nine I won’t be touching.
Who’s on your never again list? Leave a comment below
THE 2020 NO-GO ZONE
TOM ROCKLIFF (Port Adelaide) 2020 price: $495,400 | 2019 average: 91.2
The greatest SuperCoach tease of the past three years. Rockliff started last year at $405,900 and those who took the risk were rewarded with six tons in his opening nine games and an injury-free run until Round 10. Disaster struck at that point when he was injured just before the bye, flew to China with the possibility of playing in Round 11 yet then didn’t feature again until Round 16. He hasn’t averaged more than 100 since 2016 and last played more than 20 games in 2013. Save yourself the heartache.
MATT CROUCH (Adelaide) 2020 price: $563,000 | 2019 av: 103.7
See above. Crouch has played more than 20 games in a season once in his career (2017) and his high disposal rates don’t always equate to big SuperCoach numbers. His starting price is higher than more reliable performers such as Tim Kelly ($561,800), Ben Cunnington ($554,100) and even Dustin Martin ($543,000).
NIC NAITANUI (West Coast) 2020 price: $457,800 | 2019 av: 93.7
If you are intent on going for a bargain ruckman, why not pick Sam Jacobs ($348,400) who is more than $100,000 cheaper? The veteran big man was traded from Adelaide to GWS Giants and should command the No.1 ruck role ahead of Shane Mumford. Durability wasn’t the reason Jacobs was squeezed out of the Crows, but rather Reilly O’Brien’s emergence. Naitanui is a rare talent but has played only 33 games in the past three years. When he has featured, it’s been for limited game time due to a lack of match fitness.
DAN HANNEBERY (St Kilda) 2020 price: $417,000 | 2019 av: 96
Hard to believe it was only four years ago Hannebery had one of the best midfield averages of any player at 113.4 points a game. He’s endured injury and form issues since then and was sidelined for most of his first season with St Kilda. He finished last year with scores of 122, 94 and 103, but you’re taking a huge risk on a battered midfield bull if you pick the 28-year-old who is already behind the Eight ball in pre-season after breaking his foot falling down a set of stairs.
LANCE FRANKLIN (Sydney) 2020 price: $394,200 | 2019 av: 72.6
Franklin would have come right into calculations had his pre-season not been hampered by knee surgery. The Swans have a friendly fixture to start 2020, taking on Adelaide, Essendon, Gold Coast and Carlton in the opening four rounds. That would have given Buddy the perfect springboard to launch into the season. The Swans have maintained Franklin is a chance to play in Round 1 but you have to wonder whether he’ll be risked after being ruled out of pre-season for 10 weeks.
TOBY GREENE (GWS Giants) 2020 price: $510,100 | 2019 av: 93.9
A combination of injury and suspension have meant Greene has played an average of 13 games a season in the past three years. He averaged 118 during an eight-game stretch as a midfielder between Round 17 and the Giants’ semi-final last year. But his increased midfield role came during a period when Stephen Coniglio was sidelined due to a knee injury and Callan Ward and Josh Kelly were also missing. At full strength, does Greene play midfield regularly enough to become a top 6-8 SuperCoach forward? It’s highly unlikely.
GRANT BIRCHALL (Brisbane Lions) 2020 price: $292,700 | 2019 av: 77
A change of scenery for the premiership Hawk, who has been earmarked for Luke Hodge’s role across half-back at the Lions. Birchall has never been a huge SuperCoach scorer, only averaging more than 90 in consecutive years from 2011-2013. At 32 and after being restricted to eight games in the past three years by injury, is he really worth the mid-price risk? Returning Crow Tom Doedee ($273,700) and Collingwood young gun Isaac Quaynor ($261,700) are cheaper and come with greater upside.
JAMES WORPEL (Hawthorn) 2020 price: $527,000 | 2019 av: 97
One of the breakout stars of 2019, the tough Hawks midfielder was a bargain for those who jumped on at $395,700 at the start of the year. Stepping up in the absence of Brownlow medallist Tom Mitchell, Worpel averaged 97 points and increased in value to $577,000 by the end of the season. As impressive as he was, Worpel’s average last year was outside the top-30 for midfielders. There’s too many question marks at his price with Mitchell to return and likely take the lion’s share of contested ball, which Worpel relished.
MORE KFC SUPERCOACH NEWS:
SuperCoach 2020: The mid-price ruckmen that can make an impact
KFC SuperCoach 2020: First take on SuperCoach defenders
KFC SuperCoach expert Al Paton reveals his 2020 team
SuperCoach Draft 2020: The Phantom’s top 50 player rankings - January edition
Seven players you will need in your SuperCoach team this year
ROWAN MARSHALL (St Kilda) 2020 price: $598,700 | 2019 av: 110.2
Thanks for 2019, but no thanks for 2020. Marshall came from the clouds to average more than 110 last season when he was classed solely as a FWD in SuperCoach. His role as the No.1 ruckman at St Kilda helped him score SuperCoach points freely. But the Saints were mindful of the workload placed on the mobile big man and have recruited Paddy Ryder from Port Adelaide to provide support. Marshall will still be the first-choice ruckman, but do you really want to pay almost $600,000 when the role which helped him accumulate premium points will decrease?
Originally published as KFC SuperCoach no-go zone: The tempting players you shouldn’t pick in 2020