SuperCoach late mail: Devon Smith managed as Sam Draper and Jack Bytel are named for second game
Essendon have pulled a selection move that will impact 70,000 KFC SuperCoach teams. Devon Smith will miss his side’s clash with St Kilda, while two rookie trade-ins have been named.
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If you’ve been searching for another reason to trade Devon Smith out of your KFC SuperCoach team, here it is.
Smith, a popular starting selection who has frustrated owners with just one ton since Round 2, has been managed for the their clash with St Kilda on Sunday.
Smith has averaged just 78.5 points per game in 2020 and his 70,000 owners would be forgiven for rage trading him after holding on this long.
Essendon ruckman Sam Draper is a key inclusion for SuperCoaches without Max Gawn, but will have his hands full up against two-pronged St Kilda ruck outfit Rowan Marshall and Paddy Ryder.
Saints rookie midfielder Jack Bytel has also held on despite his side being bolstered by fellow midfielders Zak Jones and Seb Ross.
Bytel was traded in by more than 26,000 coaches this week and his selection is a vote of confidence for his job security after posting 76 points on debut.
Forgotten cheapie Ben Cavarra has also been named for his second game of 2020 and his first since Round 2.
Eagles mature-age forward Nic Reid will make his debut and is worth keeping an eye on as a potential Round 13 downgrade option.
SIMPSON SUFFERS HAMSTRING BLOW
It was the moment the hearts of Sam Simpson and his 41,000 KFC SuperCoaches collectively sank.
The popular rookie suffered a hamstring blow against Port Adelaide on Friday night while leading for a mark during the third term, left stagnate on the other side of the ground with full knowledge he had done a hammy.
It left owners who fielded him with a disappoing 44-point total, having tallied nine touches and three marks in just 46 per cent game-time.
Patrick Dangerfield described the incident as “disappointing” and said scans later in the week will determine the extent of the issue.
“Disappointing tonight with what looks like a hammy for Sammy Simpson, we’ll wait for obviously scans later in the week but he’s been in really good form for us,” Dangerfield told Fox Footy post-game.
Simpson at least made his break even of 21 but a stint on the sidelines beckons for the 22-year-old, meaning it is best to cut your losses ahead of Round 13.
SATURDAY TEAMS: THE POD GAWN REPLACEMENT
Melbourne hard nut Jack Viney is back after missing with concussion while Dockers livewire Michael Walters will play his first game since Round 8.
But perhaps the most team news comes from Carlton, who have named young forward Josh Honey ($124,900, FWD/MID) and will task cheapie Tom De Koning ($123,900, RUCK) with the ruck mantle.
De Koning had his moments against athletic Eagles ruckman Nic Naitanui but scored just 38 points in his first game of 2020 as second fiddle to Marc Pittonet.
Trusted with the ruck reigns against Fremantle’s Sean Darcy, De Koning shapes as a potential option for those looking to avoid a zero, provided Essendon ruckman Sam Draper is not named.
The Bombers are yet to indicate if Draper, who was managed for their Round 11 clash against Gold Coast, will face St Kilda on Sunday.
The Blues don’t play until 8.10pm AEST, so in the event Draper is left out, a move from Draper to De Koning is also worth considering — if you wish to hold onto Gawn.
Popular rookie Trent Rivers has been omitted after just one game back in the Melbourne side.
WHO DO WE BRING IN FOR MAX?
The game’s No.1 scoring ruckman Max Gawn will miss Melbourne’s clash against Collingwood as he battles shoulder and knee problems and already 9,100 coaches have traded him out.
Braydon Preuss will come into the side for his first senior game of the season against the Magpies at the Gabba after Gawn failed to recover from a PCL injury in time.
“Max won’t play,” Goodwin said on Friday.
“He did some running yesterday and he has started his progression forward but we are really confident (he’ll play) the following week.”
The news is a huge blow for more than 50,000 KFC SuperCoach players, with Gawn averaging 141 points per game this season.
SCROLL DOWN TO SEE BEST GAWN TRADE OPTIONS
Goodwin said Brayden Preuss, who has not played since Round 23 last year, would take over the ruck duties.
“We are expecting Max back next week, but at the moment it is a big job for ‘Preussy’ to take on Grundy and we are looking forward to seeing how that goes.
“Obviously, he has been sitting on the sidelines for a little while, we have had a few match simulations with our players and getting them up to speed, but there is nothing like full-blown AFL games.
“He has done the work, done the preparation and he has waited for his opportunity and there is no bigger opportunity than against Grundy tomorrow night.
“We are excited to see what Preussy can bring.”
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Goodwin said the Demons had given Gawn every chance to prove his fitness to take on the Magpies, but it was ultimately “too big of a risk” to play him.
But the Demons coach was confident the All-Australian would be fit to take on the Western Bulldogs next week.
“We wanted to hold him off as long as we could and give him the opportunity (to play against the Magpies),” Goodwin said.
“And running yesterday (was) still not to the level that we’d like him to be to be able to play tomorrow, it is probably just too big of a risk.
“He has just got a slight PCL on that knee with a little bit of swelling, but all of the swelling has subsided, he ran yesterday and he pulled up well today and with a full week of training next week he will be ready to go.”
After missing two games, trades options must be considered.
Gawn has been a warrior for KFC SuperCoach teams, getting to within $9700 of becoming the second player in the game’s history to reach $800,000 and averaging 141 points.
With time running out for KFC SuperCoaches to make a tilt at league finals or rankings glory, more than 56,000 teams with Gawn need to start considering alternate plans.
Here’s six options to consider if the Demons skipper misses again in Round 12 and you don’t have ruck cover such as Darcy Cameron or Sam Draper to fill the void.
SIX MAX GAWN TRADE OPTIONS
1. TODD GOLDSTEIN
The Roos ruckman looks the safest of the downgrade options, unless of course you don’t have Brodie Grundy. Goldstein still features in only 7.3 per cent of teams and although he’s shared ruck duties with Majak Daw in recent rounds, his huge tank and North Melbourne’s mounting injury list have diminished the likelihood he will be managed. He’s got Oscar McInerney this round and should be able to exploit the Lions big man around the ground, although a Round 13 match-up against Grundy will be testing.
2. NIC NAITANUI
Naitanui has recorded scores of 146 and 129 in his past two matches, dominating games against Carlton and Geelong. His next two opponents will be a combination of Jon Ceglar/Ben McEvoy and either Shane Mumford or Sam Jacobs. Those shape as favourable fixtures for Nic Nat to continue his rollicking form. He’s expected to have a break-even of about 40 in Round 12 which guarantees an immediate price rise and will put Gawn within reach if you plan to get him back when he returns. Naitanui also has the benefit of having already had his bye in Round 10, but beware of a possible rest during the next fixture frenzy.
Nic Nat has played 78 and 77 minutes in the past two rounds - his most for the season. Scores of 146 and 129 in that order. #SuperCoach
— Fantasy Freako (@FantasyFreako) August 13, 2020
3. SAM DRAPER
If your KFC SuperCoach season is running out of steam, here’s the ultimate Hail Mary play. After being managed by Essendon in Round 11, two-gamer Sam Draper will still be $166,100 in Round 12. That’s an attractive price for a player who has posted 73 and 74 points in his opening two games. Draper battled to four points at halftime against GWS Giants but showed his scoring potential by posting 70 points in the second half. While his average is about 65 points less than Gawn’s, you can make those points up with the $560,000 a trade would net. That’s enough to turn two mid-pricers into uber stars such as Nat Fyfe and Lachie Neale.
4. OSCAR MCINERNEY
The Big O has never had much KFC SuperCoach relevance before this season. But having taken on Brisbane’s No. 1 ruck role in the past three weeks, he’s emerged as a genuine trade option for the run home. McInerney has averaged 111 in the past three rounds and had a career-best 39 hit-outs against Western Bulldogs. At a price of about $430k you would pocket almost $290k to use on another upgrade which would help finish your team.
5. PETER LADHAMS
This would be a serious point of difference move. Like McInerney, Ladhams has RUC-FWD eligibility which could be beneficial if the Power avoids sharing a bye with Collingwood and Darcy Cameron. Ladhams has three tons in his past four matches and posted 138 points in Round 11 — despite the return of Scott Lycett to Port Adelaide’s line-up. Ladhams will be available for about $420k in Round 12, netting almost $300k in a downgrade from Gawn.
6. BRODIE GRUNDY
The obvious replacement if you’re not in the 67 per cent of teams who already have Grundy. A trade will net a profit of more than $100k to upgrade in another position and unless Grundy is rested, he’ll provide an immediate points injection in Gawn’s place. The Demons skipper was the No. 1 scoring ruckman of the opening 10 rounds (nine games) with 1270 points, but Grundy was only 10 points behind.
BAZ’S BULLDOG RELIEF
Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge had good news on Friday for the more than 34,000 KFC SuperCoaches with Bailey Smith in their team.
Smith and Laitham Vandermeer both had scans on Thursday, and Beveridge said Smith will play against the Crows but Vandermeer would be rested.
Smith’s reduced centre bounce numbers following the return of Josh Dunkley have impacted his scoring, but at least he’ll be out there.
MORE AFL NEWS:
KFC SuperCoach Round 12 trade guide: Top targets, how to finish your forward line
KFC SuperCoach winner Dwayne Delminco reveals his secrets for run home
KFC SuperCoach 2020: The best rookie options and cash cows for Round 12
Originally published as SuperCoach late mail: Devon Smith managed as Sam Draper and Jack Bytel are named for second game