Doctor’s Orders: Four KFC SuperCoach mid-pricers under the microscope for Round 3
It’s not too late to grab bargain SuperCoach stars Jeremy Howe and Jack Viney. But is another gun mid-pricer flying under the radar> The Doctor SuperCoach team look behind the numbers.
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What a week of footy it was, and there were plenty of new faces elevating their games to the next level upon return.
This week on Doctor’s Orders, the expert team at Doctor SuperCoach look at four mid-priced bolters and determine whether they are the real deal, or simply on a hot run of form.
REAL DEAL: JEREMY HOWE –$485,100 DEF — 141 average
Howe is not a fresh face to KFC SuperCoach stardom. Since making the switch to a permanent defender, Howe averaged over 91 SuperCoach points on three consecutive occasions from 2016-18.
Last year after an interrupted pre-season, season and role adjustment, it looked like Howe was done and dusted as a genuine premium option. The rise of Darcy Moore asserting his intercepting prowess and Jack Crisp accumulating plenty of the ball at half-back meant Howe found himself in a more defensive-orientated role, where he averaged just 79 SuperCoach points.
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After entering the 2020 season priced at $431,900, the now bleached-blond defender has thrived in his role as a pure intercepting loose man. He has benefited from the extended rest period and is looking like an All-Australia calibre player once again.
Over the first two games of 2020 Howe has averaged 22.5 disposals, eight marks and three tackles, which is sublime in shorter quarters. This means that since his return from injury last season, his following 10 matches have resulted in a huge 108 SuperCoach-point average.
Considering his high ceiling thus far, there is little doubt that Howe can maintain an average worthy of being in your SuperCoach team. Jump on now because with a break-even of -9 he likely won’t be this cheap for the remainder of the season.
CASH COW ONLY: JACK VINEY $486,800 MID – 136 average
Another man who is benefiting from a long rest period is rugged midfielder, Jack Viney. Until last season, Viney was a consistent threat to average over 90, including a career-high of 97 in 2016. The arrival of Clayton Oliver, combined with persistent foot issues, meant his output was down from what fans knew he was capable of.
Viney however, began 2020 with an absolute BANG! He scored a round-high of 186 KFC SuperCoach points with 34 disposals, six tackles and a goal capping off arguably his best game ever. In Round 2 his score of 86 may seem underwhelming, but he battled through an early Ed Curnow tag which highlights his ability to perform despite the odds being stacked against him.
There is no reason why Viney couldn’t average slightly over 100 SuperCoach points, but his longevity in your team should only go so far. He is not going to be anywhere near a top-10 scoring midfielder by season’s end, so once he peaks in price around $550-600k, you should look to trade him out for a proven premium. As for anyone who missed the boat on bringing Viney in last week, it is no longer worth making the trade.
REAL DEAL: JY SIMPKIN $423,400 MID/FWD – 117.5 average
This once crafty Kangaroos forward wasn’t on the radar of many to begin this season, but he has certainly staked his claim as a potential breakout candidate.
Originally priced at $383,000, the former pick 12 has never shown great scoring prowess, but this comes down to a small forward role for most of his career. After playing predominantly as a midfielder to start the season, Simpkin has shown signs of a breakout year.
Across two games he has averaged 24 disposals, 5.5 clearances and two tackles which highlight his importance in this North Melbourne resurgence. The most promising aspect across these two games is he has attended the second-most centre bounce attendances for the team, behind only hard-nosed midfielder Ben Cunnington.
There are question marks on Simpkins consistency given he is so young, but with a ceiling already proven, and a midfield role, there is plenty of evidence to suggest he can average 90-plus. If you are not yet sold on Simpkin, then there is no harm on waiting to see how he progresses over the next few weeks. At $423,400, it’s likely his pricing will hover around the $450-500k mark for most of the season.
REAL DEAL: Connor Rozee $471,600 FWD – 135 average
To put it simply, Connor Rozee is a star in the making. After showing glimpses of brilliance in his first season, Rozee has already showed signs of becoming an elite player of this competition.
Playing predominantly as a forward in year one, Rozee had eight games scoring 85-plus including three games where he eclipsed 113. Fast-forward to season two and Rozee has already begun evolving his game by adding midfield stints to his repertoire.
After 33 per cent game time as a midfielder against Gold Coast, he attended eight centre bounces in the Showdown game the following week. The former No.5 draft pick has averaged 19 touches, three marks, five clearances and a goal a game across his first two outings.
This added time as a midfielder will give Connor plenty of opportunity to improve upon his 78-point average in 2019.
The kid has a proven ceiling, so with a few extra disposals per game there are grounds to average 90-plus this season. He is quite pricey for a forward eligible player, so there may be safer options, but with a current 135 average and low ownership, he could be an epic point of difference for someone brave enough to take a chance.
MORE SUPERCOACH ADVICE:
KFC SuperCoach Round 2 rage trades: Big guns in firing line after slow starts to 2020
KFC SuperCoach 2020: The Phantom’s Round 2 review and Round 3 trade tips
SuperCoach Round 2 trade guide: Melbourne solves defensive rookie crisis
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Originally published as Doctor’s Orders: Four KFC SuperCoach mid-pricers under the microscope for Round 3
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