SuperCoach Round 7 formguide: Fantasy Freako’s top rookie picks, fast starters and finishers
Geelong’s Sam Simpson has been one of the most-popular KFC SuperCoach trade targets of the week after scoring 112 against Brisbane Lions. But can he back it up? Champion Data looks at the key numbers.
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There’s nothing more exciting for KFC SuperCoaches than seeing your players on top of the scorers list at quarter-time.
Getting off to a quick start is vitally important, especially in a match where the margin balloons out early. Points on the board are a lot better than playing catch-up throughout the game.
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If we rank players based on points scored in first quarters, then Lachie Neale is the leader of the pack with 303 – 52 more than the second-ranked Nic Naitanui (251). Neale faces his sternest test of the season this round, with a match-up against Matt de Boer on the horizon – a player that kept Neale to eight disposals in the 55 minutes they were matched up in last year’s semi-final. Put a line through him as a captain or vice-captain option in Round 7.
One of the most popular forwards from 2019, Travis Boak, ranks third for points scored in first quarters (243). He has been somewhat overlooked this season as a midfielder, with just a touch under 8200 SuperCoaches jumping on board. He has taken his game to another level in 2020, averaging a career-high 115 and posting 120-plus points in half of his games.
Tom Mitchell has returned strongly from injury – ranking fourth for points scored in opening quarters (230). His past three games are exactly what we can expect from him – averaging 122 points. Mitchell reached 30 disposals for the first time this season last round against Collingwood – racking up 33 for the match.
Todd Goldstein and Brad Sheppard round out the top-five for points scored with 222 apiece, while Christian Petracca is close behind despite playing one fewer game — he has averaged 43.4 points in first terms — ranked second behind Neale (50.5). Petracca owners will be hoping he can improve his ability to score like that for full games, he currently averages 63 in the remaining three quarters.
Below are the leading scorers in opening quarters this season:
Often there are plenty of points up for grabs in the final term, but you need to be involved in the play to get among them. If we look at points scored in final quarters, Michael Walters is the clear standout with 250 – 42 more than Max Gawn (208).
Gawn has played one fewer match though, which ranks him equal-first alongside Walters based on points per game (42).
The big surprise packet is Jy Simpkin, who ranks third with 205. In fact, he ranks fifth overall in the competition for points scored across all quarters – averaging a career-high 120. Simpkin is clearly the most-improved player in the competition and has enjoyed the fifth-biggest price rise of any player in KFC SuperCoach.
Sam Docherty demonstrated his worth in final quarters last round against the Bulldogs, scoring 31 of his 49 points in that term. It was an uncharacteristic display from Docherty – posting his lowest score since Round 13, 2014.
Rounding out the top-five is Docherty’s teammate Patrick Cripps. Like his co-captain, Cripps was well below his best against the Bulldogs – recording just 57 points – his lowest score since Round 11, 2018. In his defence though, he suffered a shoulder injury during the match and played a season-low 81 minutes game time.
Below are the leading scorers in final quarters this season:
ROOKIE WATCH
It’s not often that SuperCoaches are spoiled for choice for cash cows in the same round but if there was ever a time to do a double downgrade – then Round 7 is it!
Round 6 was a boom for cash cows with Sam Simpson (112), Izak Rankine (111), Will Day (92) and Andrew McPherson (76) all posting excellent scores in their first AFL games.
Unfortunately, though, four doesn’t go into two and we can only trade-in two players this round.
The No.1 target has to be Rankine after his scintillating debut. He had a game-high six shots at goal – the equal second-most ever recorded by any player on debut. He also kicked three goals and was involved in 44 per cent of all Gold Coast’s scoring chains. His six disposals inside 50 were a game-high as he capped off a memorable display. As a current owner of Ben Cavarra, there has never been an easier swap to make.
Based on scoring potential alone, Simpson has to be the next-best option. But is he? Jack Steven is set to return on Thursday night after he was rested last week, but he’s likely to replace one of Mitch Duncan or Quinton Narkle, who are both injured. Simpson looks set to keep his place in the side, but will he be there thereafter? We witnessed first-hand last season when Chris Scott often overlooked Charlie Constable despite his solid displays, and there is every chance that Simpson could suffer a similar fate.
That’s not a question we can answer definitively at this stag. If Simpson is named, he’ll be hard to overlook.
The other two options are both in defence, where SuperCoaches are in desperate need of reinforcements. Day and McPherson looked right at home at AFL level last round, and with Brandon Starcevich (BE 91) set to plummet in price, trading in one of these cash cows has plenty of appeal. Of the two, I think that McPherson may get more opportunities in a developing Crows team compared to Day, whose Hawks are still in the finals mix.
Best of luck for the round ahead and trade wisely!
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Cats vs Magpies
Sam Menegola has dominated over the past three rounds – scoring 108, 116 and 152 points in that order. Brayden Maynard dropped below 100 points for the first-time in 2020 last round, scoring 89.
Bombers vs Bulldogs
Zach Merrett didn’t have a major impact in his return from suspension, finishing with a season-low 68 points. Jack Macrae enjoyed his most productive game of the season, collecting 138 points.
Giants vs Lions
Stephen Coniglio has been well below his best in 2020, averaging 94 points – his lowest return since 2015. Cameron Rayner has lifted his output in recent weeks, scoring 99 and 95 points respectively in his past two matches.
Swans vs Suns
Callum Mills recorded a career and round-high 173 points last round on the back of 15 intercept possessions. Touk Miller enjoyed his fifth consecutive price rise of the season after scoring a season-high 142 points.
Tigers vs Kangaroos
Dustin Martin scored a season-low 66 points last round as he fell by $24,700 – his fourth consecutive price fall. Jy Simpkin is enjoying a career-best season – ranking fifth in the competition for points scored with a return of 120 points per game.
Blues vs Power
Sam Docherty suffered his first price fall of the season after he managed a season-low 49 points against the Bulldogs. Zak Butters has topped 100 points twice already this season, averaging 84 points – 23 more than in his debut season.
Hawks vs Demons
Tom Mitchell averages 27 disposals, eight tackles and 105 points from six career games against Melbourne. Christian Petracca averages 69 points from six games against Hawthorn – his second-fewest against any AFL side.
Dockers vs Eagles
Caleb Serong scored 71 points in Fremantle’s win over St Kilda on the back of a 56-point third term. Dom Sheed exceeded 25 points in every quarter last round on his way to 115 points.
Crows vs Saints
Brodie Smith was the top-ranked Crow last round with a season-high 124 points against West Coast. Rowan Marshall could manage only 76 points against Fremantle – his second-lowest score of 2020.
MORE SUPERCOACH:
KFC SuperCoach 2020: The best rookie options ahead of Round 7
KFC SuperCoach: Rookies to trade out to make way for Round 7 bubble boys
KFC SuperCoach Round 7 trade guide: Best rookies and bargain-priced stars
Callum Mills, Izak Rankine and Sam Simpson shine in KFC SuperCoach Round 6
The most-reliable KFC SuperCoach performers of 2020 revealed
Originally published as SuperCoach Round 7 formguide: Fantasy Freako’s top rookie picks, fast starters and finishers