SuperCoach AFL: Mick Randall’s mid-price madness

The standard KFC SuperCoach rookie-premo strategy isn’t for everyone. Mick Randall finds success in mid-price bargains. Here’s his 2021 team.

When most people begin building their KFC SuperCoach team, they tend to follow a few standard rules.

Premos, rookies and a few returning injured stars are usually the order of the menu.

Aside from a couple of different picks, most of these teams look the same.

I do it a little differently.

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Let me preface this by saying that I obviously work for NewsCorp, so I can’t win the prize and so I enjoy the challenge of picking out a mid-pricer or three who turn into rolled gold KFC SuperCoach superstars.

I’m not saying the Grawndys, Neales and Lloyds of the world won’t end up in my side at round 1, but I’ll start with a number of mid-pricers across the board and then refine from there.

Here’s a first look at a team that will probably have 10-15 changes before the season starts in a little over a week.

Let the trolling begin!

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Mad or genius? Mick Randall's Mid-Price Madness team.

DEFENDERS

I always seem to spend the most money, proportionately, in defence. Jake Lloyd goes without saying (even if he does have a sore knee, just precautionary, right?), I’ve got a thing for the way Brayden Maynard plays footy (yeah, I know, pick with your head, not with your heart) and Jayden Short might have been my second-picked defender even before he made a mockery of the new man-on-the-mark rule in pre-season. I have to confess I’ve picked him the last three years, but I think he is finally ready to make a giant leap. James Harmes is back in the guts, so that should help his scoring and Freo always have one or two guys on the other side of the country who outproduce their price: Hayden Young is a popular pick. We’re looking for guys who can take the next step and Hawk Will Day is going to be charged with a LOT of responsibility in 2021. He’s good enough to handle it. Jacob Koschitzke could end up a starter in Round 1.

James Harmes is back in the guts for the Dees. Picture: AAP

MIDFIELDERS

Lachie Neale is a no-brainer and I’ve gone with Zach Merrett because I reckon guys in a contract year always ball out — think Carlos Boozer (Cavs 07-08 and Jazz 09-10). I have always been a massive rap for Tim Taranto and I don’t think any team should be without him at that price. Chance to be a top-10 midfielder in the new-look GWS set up. His Giants midfield mate is The Phantom’s man-crush Tom Green, whose body was chiselled by the football gods. Ditto everyone’s man-crush Matt Rowell and the older guys need help in Geelong — lucky they have Jordan Clark. I’m either crazy or a genius picking Tom Phillips and Is Paddy Dow a cash cow, or just no good? I’m giving him the chance.

Tim Taranto is as fit as a fiddle and ready to lead the Giants’ midfield. Picture: Getty Images

RUCKS

$1.4 million is A LOT to spend on two rucks, but I don’t think you can go without Max Gawn. Call it a leap of faith, but with Brayden Preuss going down, Matt Flynn is cash money in the ruck, even if he doesn’t ton up every round. He’s got an injury too and, If he doesn’t get named, Lloyd Meek is next cab off the rank. I’ve got Josh Treacy in that third ruck slot, but it looks like he might get picked, so I might have to find another avenue there — maybe even start him? Stay tuned.

Zak Butters is ready to breakout. Picture: AFL Photos/Getty Images

FORWARDS

There are so many Port mid-pricers I’m keen on, I just hope I’ve nailed the right ones. I really wanted to pick Connor Rozee, but injury has ruled that out for me, so it’s fellow Power young gun Zak Butters, who incidentally is my pick for boom forward of the year (I’m 0-20 on that, so come follow me into purgatory). He just does a little bit of everything and he does it all well. And then Peter Ladhams gives me potential premo scoring with ruck flexibility. I did a story a couple of years ago with Kingy saying Bolton was ready to take the league by storm and I tell Al Paton every year that ‘This is Shai Bolton’s year’. It took a while, but last year he was awesome, but I think he goes to the next level and averages a ton this year as the maturing Tiger cubs begin to take over. High-priced rookie Braeden Campbell is a walk up starter — ready-made footballer — and then pick one of the last three for F6.

Originally published as SuperCoach AFL: Mick Randall’s mid-price madness