Doctor’s Orders: Which cubs will rise for Tigers in KFC SuperCoach?
Richmond’s injury crisis creates opportunities for other players — and for smart KFC SuperCoaches. With points up for grabs, the experts at Doctor SuperCoach look at who should we be adding to our teams. And an in-form forward stands out.
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Richmond is a team decimated by injuries and unusual circumstances.
Despite a return to form against the Demons, it turned out to be a horror weekend for the reigning premiers as it was revealed a further six key players could miss a large chunk of the season.
Prior to the game it was announced Shane Edwards and Bachar Houli would not be entering the hub due to family commitments, meaning they would miss the next five games. Then during the game they lost captain Trent Cotchin to a minor hamstring, Tom Lynch fractured his hand and both Dion Prestia and Toby Nankervis succumbed to serious ankle injuries.
With key defensive cog David Astbury also out for the next month, this means there are plenty of KFC SuperCoach points to be shared around a host of new names at Richmond. This week in Doctor’s Orders, the experts at Doctor SuperCoach look at three key options to separate you from the pack.
JAYDEN SHORT $441,100 DEF, Average: 89.4
Short came out of nowhere as a 22-year-old in 2018 and averaged 85.8 in a breakout year. The following season things started out well for him again, before he went down with a nasty elbow dislocation which sidelined him for 12 rounds. He never quite returned to form later in the year but has started 2020 in flying colours. What Short lacks in a scoring ceiling, he makes up with consistency as he hasn’t gone below 75 at all this season.
Why could his scores improve?
The obvious name missing is Bachar Houli. There is no surprise that Richmond love to play through their star defender, but now that he is out you can expect Short’s beautiful boot to be used much more frequently. In Short’s breakout year he averaged 94 in the games Houli was out injured, meaning he has a ton of room to improve this season. Considering he has averaged 90 with Bachar in the team so far this year, Short could hit career-high numbers if history is anything to go by. The crafty defender could become a top-10 premium option should he live up to expectations, all at a lowly price of $441,000.
SHAI BOLTON $405,900 FWD, Average: 81.3
Bolton started the year all guns blazing with consecutive tons to start his campaign. The 39 he scored in Round 3 brought his overall average down, but he was showing signs of being a solid KFC SuperCoach scorer. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, he was dropped last round after being overshadowed by the likes of Jack Higgins and Kane Lambert.
Why could his scores improve?
With Prestia and Cotchin out of the team, you can put your money on Bolton making a return. What makes this tantalising is he has the tools needed to play a midfield role. From rounds 16-18 in 2019 he played predominantly as a midfielder and produced scores of 122, 112 and 79. Despite being a small sample size, he eclipsed 22 disposals on all three occasions and looked right at home playing in the middle.
Should he be given the opportunity, there is no reason why Bolton can’t become a 90-plus scorer. His natural progression as a footballer and ability to rack up disposals and kick goals is a lethal combination — consider him in the same mould as a Jy Simpkin. He is one of the riskier choices at $405,900, but when you factor in that he’s already a solid scorer on a half-forward flank, he could be a nice POD or draft league pick-up.
KANE LAMBERT $422,500 FWD, Average: 85
Lambert is one of the most unappreciated SuperCoach scorers in the game. He consistently averages 88-plus and constantly flies under the radar as a genuine premium option.
What makes this more impressive is that he typically plays predominantly as a half-forward flanker, who rarely sees midfield time. He had a very slow start to the year by his standards, posting scores of 90, 58, 59 and 60 before exploding in Round 5 with a score of 158.
Why could his scores improve?
The same names noted above apply to Lambert, with Prestia and Cotchin missing in action. Kane was recruited originally as a midfielder and is at his best when he is up around the contest. If he has the scoring ability of 88-plus as a forward only, then more midfield time makes him a serious scoring threat.
The Tigers will be relying on veterans like Lambert during tough times like this, so expect him to stand up and play a role similar to Shane Edwards.
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Who else could rise?
Jake Aarts ($123,900 FWD) is the must have rookie of the week, who played superbly in his debut and will without a doubt play for the next few weeks.
Sydney Stack ($339,000 DEF) is a player who can play both as a midfielder and a running defender. Whether he plays in defence or the midfield, you can expect him to score quite well if given the chance.
Josh Caddy ($390,800 FWD/MID) has never reached elite levels as a KFC SuperCoach scorer but is another name who could throw his hat into the midfield mix.
Jack Higgins ($404,500 FWD) is of a similar mould to Bolton, without the pedigree of past midfield performances, although his numbers as a junior were elite. He is in great form at the moment and could be a massive gem, albeit a risky option.
Lastly, Jack Ross ($291,900 MID) has shown glimpses of talent as a midfielder and with a cheaper price tag, he could prove to be a decent cash cow if given the chance.
Listen to the latest episode of the Doctor SuperCoach podcast below
Originally published as Doctor’s Orders: Which cubs will rise for Tigers in KFC SuperCoach?