KFC SuperCoach: The premiums that start the season on fire, who is slow to get going
In a season which is clouded with uncertainty, capitalising on the early rounds will be more important than ever. These are the KFC SuperCoach big guns who can get you off to a flying start.
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Picking premiums who score well from the the get-go is the key to setting up your KFC SuperCoach side in the long run.
Big totals from your proven scorers early doors will see you skyrocket up the rankings, and will ensure you aren’t playing catch-up for the remainder of the season.
While the averages of our rolled gold premiums are there to see when we select our sides, their opening rounds of previous seasons can be easily forgotten.
Who is notorious for starting their season with a bang, and which premiums are often slow out of the blocks?
Check out the best scorers across the opening rounds.
Defenders
Despite an off year in 2019, Crows defender Rory Laird has been a superb starter over the past four seasons. The ball-magnet has averaged 105 SuperCoach points per game across the first five rounds since 2016, making his $525.8k price-tag all the more juicy ahead of 2020.
Returning blue Sam Docherty is the second best starter of the top defenders since 2016, but he has sat out the past two seasons with injury. He still remains an irresistable SuperCoach pick.
Swans kick-in king Jake Lloyd was the leading defender after five rounds in 2019 and faded as the year wore on. Shannon Hurn was a similar story out west, averaging 113 points across the first five rounds before dipping to a season average of 103.5 by season’s end.
Will opposition sides lock down on these rebounder in 2020? If not, both could be prove be underpriced.
Tiger veteran Bachar Houli looms as the opposite considering he averages just 85.5 points to open the season from 2016-2019, along with Giants defender Zac Williams, who finished last season with a bang.
Hawks interceptor James Sicily has begun the season averaging 104.8 and 102.4 points in 2018 and 2019 respectively, and is one to watch during the pre-season with recruit Sam Frost providing reinforcements down back.
Jake Lloyd ($591.4k)
2016: 128, 67, 85, 58, 71 (81.8)
2017: 89, 114, 99, 98, 84 (96.8)
2018: 119, 71, 85, 89, 94 (91.6)
2019: 131, 124, 130, 109, 111 (121)
Average over first 5 rounds 2016-2019: 97.8
Average over first 5 rounds 2019: 121
Bachar Houli ($571.6k)
2016: 74, 127, 144, 59, 59 (92.6)
2017: 43, 107, 88, 89, 87 (82.8
2018: DNP, 57, 73, 87, 90 (76.8)
2019: 112, DNP, DNP, DNP, 72 (92)
Average over first 5 rounds 2016-2019: 85.5
Average over first 5 rounds 2019: 92
Shannon Hurn ($562.2k)
2016: 66, 94, 102, 78, 79 (83.8)
2017: 103, 78, 75, 94, 50 (80)
2018: 112, 138, 85, 91, 58 (96.8)
2019: 108, 89, 109, 139, 121 (113.2)
Average over first 5 rounds 2016-2019: 93.5
Average over first 5 rounds 2019: 113.2
Zac Williams ($551.7k)
2016: N/A
2017: DNP, DNP, 75, 87, 88 (83.3)
2018: 92, 84, 109, 90, 96 (94.2)
2019: 82, 95, 101, 60, 91 (85.8)
Average over first 5 rounds 2016-2019: 88.5
Average over first 5 rounds 2019: 85.8
Rory Laird ($525.8k)
2016: 90, 127, 91, 95, 79 (96.4)
2017: 147, 76, 86, 112, 121 (108.4)
2018: 137, 120, 105, 129, 110 (120.2)
2019: 102, 89, 84, 106, 93 (94.8)
Average over first 5 rounds 2016-2019: 105
Average over first 5 rounds 2019: 94.8
James Sicily ($509.5k)
2016: 44, 92, 91, 54, 68 (69.8)
2017: 35, DNP, DNP, 77, 64 (58.7)
2018: 125, 61, DNP, 110, 123 (104.8)
2019: 100, 81, 95, 119, 117 (102.4)
Average over first 5 rounds 2016-2019: 85.6
Average over first 5 rounds 2019: 102.4
Sam Docherty ($436.1k)
2016: 118, 76, 116, 103, 87 (100)
2017: 91, 124, 111, 108, 93 (105.4)
2018: N/A
2019: N/A
Average over first 5 rounds 2016-2019: 102.7
Average over first 5 rounds 2017: 105.4
Midfielders
History suggests that Patrick Dangerfield is the man to lock into your team from the get-go, having averaged 121.4 points in the first five rounds since 2016 – including eight 130-plus totals.
Dual Brownlow Medallist Nat Fyfe often throws in a stinker to begin the season but also hits some herculean heights, registering four scores of 147 or more to go with four of 75 or less since 2016. His average across the first five matches is the third best of any midfielder from 2016-19.
Third on the list is clearance machine Tom Mitchell, who will prove to be a bargain at $630k if he can produce his 2018 exploits, amassing totals of 167, 148 and 149 in the first three rounds.
More recently, SuperCoach studs Lachie Neale and Patrick Cripps got their 2019 campaigns off to a flyer topping a 130-point average in their first five matches, Neale maintaining this lofty standard until Round 9. It will be fascinating to see if both can replicate this form in 2020, particularly Neale who copped numerous tags in the second half of the season.
This pair was closely followed by consistent Bulldog Jack Macrae, who hasn’t fallen below 97 across the opening five rounds in the past two seasons.
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Giants smooth mover Josh Kelly is perhaps the most interesting player of the midfield bunch, failing to average more than 105 points in the first five games of a season across his career. It suggests that he may be a player SuperCoaches look to upgrade to, rather than start with. However, these slow starts are likely a result of his interrupted pre-seasons in recent years, enjoying a perfect preparation into season 2020.
The outlier here is Rory Sloane, who is notorious for his hot starts to the season, going at a whopping 130.8 points per game across the first five rounds in 2017. Sloane averaged a formidable 111.8 SuperCoach points across this period in 2019, finishing the season with a much less impressive average of 103.
If you want Sloane in your side, start him.
Jack Macrae ($668.9k)
2016: 95, 82, 82, 95, 96 (90)
2017: 92, 98, 108, 107, 121 (105.2)
2018: 120, 142, 131, 103, 98 (118.8)
2019: 132, 127, 139, 110, 97 (121)
Average over first 5 rounds 2016-2019: 108.8
Average over first 5 rounds 2019: 121
Lachie Neale ($658.5k)
2016: 109, 92, 100, 120, 104 (105)
2017: 83, 129, 84, 140, 119 (111)
2018: 99, 96, 77, 85, 100 (91.4)
2019: 127, 140, 177, 140, 91 (135)
Average over first 5 rounds 2016-2019: 110.6
Average over first 5 rounds 2019: 135
Nat Fyfe ($651.6k)
2016: 61, 167, 115, 141, 53 (119.6)
2017: 108, 117, 113, 107, 126 (114.2)
2018: 75, 120, 160, 101, 151 (121.4)
2019: 147, 124, 63, 110, 128 (114.4)
Average over first 5 rounds 2016-2019: 117.4
Average over first 5 rounds 2019: 114.4
Josh Kelly ($637.7k)
2016: 86, 89, 77, 82, 76 (82)
2017: 105, 120, 110, 92, 96 (104.6)
2018: 116, 108, 91, DNP, DNP (105)
2019: DNP, DNP, 95, 114, 97 (102)
Average over first 5 rounds 2016-2019: 97.1
Average over first 5 rounds 2019: 102
Patrick Cripps ($635.9k)
2016: 106, 101, 83, 96, 117 (100.6)
2017: 50, 109, 100, 77, 109 (89)
2018: 130, 115, 92, 92, 151 (116)
2019: 126, 116, 157, 169, 110 (135.6)
Average over first 5 rounds 2016-2019: 105.1
Average over first 5 rounds 2019: 135.6
Tom Mitchell ($630.9k)
2016: 127, 133, 108, 71, 113 (110.4)
2017: 116, 118, 103, 85, 127 (109.8)
2018: 167, 148, 149, 90, 75 (125.8)
2019: N/A
Average over first 5 rounds 2016-2019: 115.3
Average over first 5 rounds 2018: 125.8
Patrick Dangerfield ($625.5k)
2016: 162, 77, 166, 99, 137 (128.2)
2017: 138, 140, 138, 90, 120 (125.2)
2018: DNP, 130, 100, 103, 135 (117)
2019: 97, 154, 128, 66, 127 (114.4)
Average over first 5 rounds 2016-2019: 121.4
Average over first 5 rounds 2019: 114.4
Rory Sloane (559.3k)
2016: 96, 81, 92, 137, 103 (101.8)
2017: 77, 146, 168, 124, 139 (130.8)
2018: 89, 141, 78, 59, DNP (91.8)
2019: 155, 105, 107, 88, 104 (111.8)
Average over first 5 rounds 2016-2019: 109.9
Average over first 5 rounds 2019: 111.8
Rucks
The sensational starts from Brodie Grundy and Max Gawn should have SuperCoaches locking them in and throwing away the key.
Grundy and Gawn both average over 109 SuperCoach points across the opening five rounds since 2016, and their numbers in recent years are even more impressive.
While Grundy has started the last two seasons with sub-100 totals, he has bounced back to average 128.4 and 122 respectively over the first five rounds, and Gawn isn’t far behind him, registering first five round averages of 123.2 and 113.6
The next best competitor in this category Nic Naitanui, who is set to be a popular pick due to his discount price. If he can replicate the 106.5 SuperCoach points he averaged in the first five rounds of 2016 and 2018 (2017 and 2019 he was injured at the beginning of the season), he will prove to be a shrewd buy.
Roos ruckman Todd Goldstein racked up points late in the year but hasn’t had a strong start since 2016.
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Brodie Grundy ($705.9k)
2016: 109, 96, 86, 54, 81 (85.2)
2017: 82, 135, 105, 113, 71 (101.2)
2018: 95, 139, 154, 141, 113 (128.4)
2019: 81, 137, 132, 160, 100 (122)
Average over first 5 rounds 2016-2019: 109.2
Average over first 5 rounds 2019: 122
Max Gawn ($697.1k)
2016: 95, 85, 172, 105, 160 (123.4)
2017: 128, 111, 27, DNP, DNP (88.7)
2018: 139, 97, 117, 112, 151 (123.2)
2019: 87, 116, 126, 113, 126 (113.6)
Average over first 5 rounds 2016-2019: 109.3
Average over first 5 rounds 2019: 113.6
Todd Goldstein ($609.4)
2016: 126, 95, 172, 121, 125 (127.8)
2017: 105, DNP, 52, 96, 87 (85)
2018: 105, 123, 57, 76, 77 (87.6)
2019: 102, 66, 114, 113, 99 (98.8)
Average over first 5 rounds 2016-2019: 100.6
Average over first 5 rounds 2019: 98.8
Nic Naitanui ($457.8k)
2016: 153, 80, 114, 100, 115 (92.4)
2017: N/A
2018: 113, 85, 110, 92, 103 (100.6)
2019: N/A
Average over first 5 rounds 2016-2019: 106.5
Average over first 5 rounds 2018: 100.6
Forwards
Lachie Whitfield wasn’t listed as a forward last year but his blistering start to 2019 should fill SuperCoaches with confidence. Whitfield posted just one score below 105 in the opening five rounds of last season at 120 points per game, and is the second ranked forward for opening five round average since 2016.
The man atop that list, Dustin Martin, has also received forward eligibility this season and has pumped out 105 points per game in the opening five rounds since 2016. He and Lachie Whitfield will situate the F1 and F2 spots of most SuperCoach sides this season,
Isaac Heeney has failed to live up to his SuperCoach potential in recent years but you can’t fault his starts to the season, registering five round averages of 112.4 and 103.4 in 2018 and 2019 respectively. The big question with the blond bombshell is whether he can keep it up for a full season in 2020.
Of the top priced forwards in 2020, Michael Walters recorded the second highest average opening five round average, while Toby Greene averages a promising 94.2 points since 2016 across his first five matches.
New Cat Jack Steven’s early season form isn’t encouraging as we would have hoped, but it’ll be difficult to pass on the former Saint if he receives good midfield minutes.
Lachie Whitfield ($604.1k)
2016: 73, 78, 104, 103, 36 (78.8)
2017: N/A
2018: 114, 115, 64, 89, 90 (94.4)
2019: 105, 123, 152, 137, 86 (120.6)
Average over first 5 rounds 2016-2019: 97.3
Average over first 5 rounds 2019: 120.6
Michael Walters ($547,200)
2016: 76, 106, 39, 84, 102 (81.4)
2017: 47, 62, 77, 86, 45 (63.4)
2018: 83, 116, 132, 72, 98 (100.2)
2019: 109, 50, 120, 103, 109 (104.2)
Average over first 5 rounds 2016-2019: 87.3
Average over first 5 rounds 2019: 104.2
Dustin Martin ($543k)
2016: 86, 134, 81, 83, 79 (92.6)
2017: 159, 118, 155, 54, 92 (115.6)
2018: 139, 160, 93, 141, 91 (124.8)
2019: 109, 66, 60, DNP, 115 (87.5)
Average over first 5 rounds 2016-2019: 105.2
Average over first 5 rounds 2019: 87.8
Isaac Heeney ($510.7k)
2016: 95, 69, 62, 123, 52 (80.2)
2017: DNP, DNP, DNP, DNP, 75 (75)
2018: 105, 110, 104, 120, 123 (112.4)
2019: 85, 67, 137, 130, 98 (103.4)
Average over first 5 rounds 2016-2019: 97.2
Average over first 5 rounds 2019: 103.4
Toby Greene ($510.1k)
2016: 51, 120, 52, 112, 129 (92.8)
2017: 72, 138, 92, 84, 118 (101)
2018: 131, DNP, DNP, 93, 55 (93)
2019: 78, DNP, DNP, DNP, DNP (78)
Average over first 5 rounds 2016-2019: 94.6
Average over first 5 rounds 2019: 78
Jack Steven ($361.7k)
2016: 101, 81, 120, 100, 93 (99)
2017: 75, 63, DNP, DNP, 88 (75.3)
2018: 135, 98, 71, 76, 121 (100.2)
2019: 92, 67, DNP, DNP, 74 (77.7)
Average over first 5 rounds 2016-2019: 90.9
Average over first 5 rounds 2019: 77.7
Lance Franklin ($394.2k)
2016: 91, 102, 109, 101, 83 (97.2)
2017: 125, 103, 74, 77, 70 (89.2)
2018: 175, 87, 106, 98, 48 (102.8)
2019: 55, 77, 61, 80, 77 (70)
Average over first 5 rounds 2016-2019: 90
Average over first 5 rounds 2019: 70
Originally published as KFC SuperCoach: The premiums that start the season on fire, who is slow to get going