KFC SuperCoach’s ultimate Round 13 trade guide: Top targets, rookies and players to punt
With one round to play before KFC SuperCoach finals and another footy frenzy on the way, you need the best of the best in your team. Who should be on your shopping list for Round 13? Plus this week’s best rookies.
Supercoach
Don't miss out on the headlines from Supercoach. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Welcome to KFC SuperCoach groundhog day.
In Round 5, popular mid-pricer Jack Viney had reached $523,600, making more than $80,000 for coaches who jumped on after his Round 1 score of 186.
But with a season-low 60 sitting in his price cycle, the Melbourne midfielder dropped by $30,100 the next week despite rebounding with a score of 123.
Viney was punted from 1.1 per cent of teams after his 60 against Richmond, but his next three scores were 123, 120 and 118.
Viney’s price hit another high point after Round 10 at $526,100 but has dropped to $497,200 after he fell 55 short of his 124 break even against Collingwood.
The temptation to cash in now will be strong for 25,000 KFC SuperCoaches still holding Viney.
At $497,200 in Round 13, you could make a profit of about $80k by trading Viney to teammate Angus Brayshaw — who has posted 91, 113 and 131 in the past three rounds and has a break even of 10.
Jy Simpkin will be another downgrade option at about $413,400, although the Round 15 bye North Melbourne shares with five other teams is prohibitive.
If you’re running short on rookies generating cash and need an alternative way to fund upgrades, downgrading Viney for a $100k profit makes sense.
While he has a career-best average of 104.4, that’s still well short of KFC SuperCoach’s premier midfielders.
Removing rookies from your field is normally always a priority, but does it really matter when three of the next four rounds are best 18 scoring?
Coaches will have to part with injured Cat Sam Simpson and hamstrung Crow Andrew McPherson, although their cash generation has been significant.
Breakout Docker Caleb Serong is another player whose price has all but peaked.
Here’s options to consider if you want to trade Viney and the best targets of Round 13:
DOWNGRADES
Angus Brayshaw MID $417,300
One Demon for another? This scenario would add about $80k to your bank and provide a further cash injection thanks to Brayshaw's low break even of 10. If he continues to play the inside role he has flourished in during the past three weeks, there’s every chance he averages more than Viney for the rest of the season. That extra money could give you the bank to grab an uber premium such as Clayton Oliver too. Brayshaw has gone 91, 113 and 131 in the past three weeks and had 23 possessions in Saturday’s win over Collingwood.
Jy Simpkin FWD-MID $413,400
He hasn’t quite recaptured the form he showed in the opening six weeks of the season but there’s been a lot to like about Simpkin’s last three weeks. Although his disposal efficiency has been well down, he’s posted scores of 103, 74 and 105 to shoot back above $400k. His Round 15 bye is an issue, but at that price a player with his scoring potential is difficult to ignore. If you don’t get Simpkin this round, you’re all but conceding he won’t be part of your team this season with his price projected to be about $430k by Round 14 — one week before he has a rest.
James Rowbottom FWD-MID $421,200
Second-year midfielders rarely produce the type of breakout which put Clayton Oliver into premium status. Rowbottom hasn’t scored to Oliver’s second-year heights this season, but has stepped up in the absence of Josh Kennedy and Isaac Heeney. His last three scores have been 92 or better and featuring in less than 2000 teams, he’s a real POD.
Darcy Parish FWD-MID $447,800
Playing as a pure midfielder in recent matches, Parish has lifted his KFC SuperCoach output after taking until Round 11 to reach triple figures — 114 against Gold Coast. He was one of Essendon’s shining lights against St Kilda on Sunday with 100 points and he’s worth consideration at less than $450,000. He will only net about $50k in a trade from Viney but his flexibility as a FWD-MID might save you a trade in coming rounds.
UPGRADES
Clayton Oliver MID $714,300
Oliver has soared above the $700,000 mark and has been playing like he’s worth every dollar. The star Demon has produced scores of 205, 137 and 137 in the past three rounds and is rivalling Lachie Neale and Jack Macrae for No. 1 status in midfield. In the past five rounds he’s averaging 152.2 and although an upgrade from Viney would cost more than $200,000 you won’t get Oliver without sacrificing someone with value.
Zach Merrett MID $555,100
Three scores of 119-137 from rounds 8-11 put Merrett back on the radar as an upgrade target without a bye. He went into Essendon’s Round 12 game against St Kilda with a break even of 73 is available for $555,100 after a score of 97. Merrett was averaging 110 to Round 12 and looms as an ideal M7 or M8 to finish your midfield. He’s less than a $60k upgrade from Viney.
Taylor Adams MID $559,600
If you like Collingwood’s Round 16 bye, then Adams is a perfect target at a similar price to Merrett. Adams has enjoyed a very consistent campaign for the Magpies despite their recent struggles and has responded from a Round 9 score of 67 with 138, 128 and 115 in successive games. With Adam Treloar out for at least another 3-4 weeks, Adams is the main man in Collingwood’s midfield and his scoring has suggested this.
Patrick Dangerfield MID $554,500
While he has the dreaded Round 15 bye, Dangerfield’s scoring while playing the bulk of games in attack has highlighted how dangerous he is. In the past four rounds the Cats champ has recorded totals of 121, 89, 117 and 124 despite what he estimated had been a 65-35 split playing as a forward-mid. His ability to have an impact when thrown on the ball and explode away from contests makes him a KFC SuperCoach beast. He’s also up against the winless Crows this round — look out.
TOP ROUND 13 TARGETS
PREMIUMS
Tom Hawkins FWD $562,100
Hawkins’ price jumped by more than $60k after he entered the KFC SuperCoach 200 club with a dominant display against Port Adelaide. He was the No. 3 ranked forward for total points before Round 12 and although coaches will be loathe to pay more than $550k for a key forward with a Round 15 bye, he plays Adelaide this round. Imagine the damage he could do after dismantling the ladder leader’s defence.
Luke Parker MID $528,900
Parker had another outstanding performance in Sydney’s shock win over GWS, leading the Swans midfield with 29 disposals and six tackles. His score of 127 was 12 less than his break even of 139 and the gun Swan will be one of the cheapest premium midfielders of Round 13 as a result. With no bye to come, an impressive average and a guaranteed midfield role, Parker is well worth a look.
Zac Williams DEF $487,200
There are few players available for less than $500k who have managed three hundreds in as many games. Williams has scores of 112, 105 and 111 since returning from injury for GWS and boasts one of the best three-round averages of any KFC SuperCoach defender. The Giants’ battle to secure a top-eight spot likely means they’ll have to throw caution to the wind and continue playing him despite past soft-tissue concerns. In an ideal position he’d be managed but GWS can’t afford not to play its best team.
Nat Fyfe MID $581,500
Get him for less than $600k while you can. Fyfe has shown he has no issues scoring big while spending time forward in the past two rounds with scores of 130 and 121. He’s still available for about $70k less than his starting price which is a huge bargain for a player with sky-high potential and who had the bye in Round 10. The Dockers need to keep winning to stay in finals contention which Fyfe owners will hope mean he isn’t managed. The risk is certainly there with a player who has struggled with soft-tissue injuries though.
Luke Ryan DEF $582,200
The rebounding Docker is in career-best form and ticks all the boxes KFC SuperCoaches want a defender to. He takes kick-outs, is a brilliant intercept mark and has an average of 18 disposals at 83 per cent efficiency. He was available for as cheap as $471,100 after Round 6 but has gone on a run of seven consecutive tons including his season-high 162 against Carlton. He’s always had a huge ceiling but his consistency has made him one of the defenders of the year along with Jake Lloyd. He’s also a POD too, chosen in less than 6000 teams.
ROOKIES
Matt Cottrell DEF $142,200
The second-gamer was one of the leading disposal winners on the ground during the last quarter of Carlton’s thrilling win over Fremantle. While his disposal efficiency was only 29 per cent from 14 disposals, Cottrell had three intercept possessions, three clearances and kicked a goal. The energy he’s brought to Carlton’s forward line suggests he’ll hold his spot for a while yet and the Blues have had their bye.
Tom De Koning RUC $148,900
The young Blues big man scored 71 against Fremantle in his first outing as Carlton's No. 1 ruckman, finishing with 21 hit outs and eight disposals. You could choose to cash in Darcy Cameron to De Koning this week, but be aware Marc Pittonet is expected to return for the Blues in 1-2 weeks from injury.
Zac Foot FWD-MID $123,900
Foot will be a popular downgrade target in Round 13 after scoring 61 KFC SuperCoach points on debut. He had 10 disposals at 80 per cent efficiency against the Giants and comes with the added bonus of having already had a bye. In the worst-case scenario where he is squeezed out of the Swans team, he can swing between your midfield and forward line to become a loophole option.
Nic Reid FWD $102,400
Mature-age draftee Reid made his West Coast debut in Round 12, scoring 51 KFC SuperCoach points from nine disposals and two tackles against Hawthorn. He’ll be a borderline selection considering the Eagles’ depth, but did enough to suggest he’ll feature again before the end of the campaign. Only consider him if you need the extra $20,000 to complete an upgrade — Foot is the better option of the two forward cheapies this round due to his DPP.
MORE KFC SUPERCOACH ADVICE:
KFC SuperCoach experts Al Paton, Tim Michell and Dan Batten rate the most popular trades of Round 13
KFC SuperCoach Round 13 late mail: Max Gawn will miss third-straight game with PCL injury
Doctor’s Orders: Four left-field trade options with a Round 14 bye
How KFC SuperCoach will run during the second footy frenzy of 2020
Originally published as KFC SuperCoach’s ultimate Round 13 trade guide: Top targets, rookies and players to punt