KFC SuperCoach Draft 2021: Expert consensus rankings in every position
Taking part in a KFC SuperCoach Draft? We’re here to help. Our experts have ordered their top players to deliver the ultimate consensus ranking for every position.
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If you haven’t played KFC SuperCoach Draft before, you’re missing out.
Arguably, it’s a fun, more-exciting way to play our favourite fantasy game.
Take part in a league with your mates – or join any available public league – and select a unique KFC SuperCoach team through a live draft where each player is only available once.
You can then trade players with other teams throughout the season and pick up any undrafted player from the free agency pool as you go.
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League settings – number of teams, squad size, trading and free agency options, gameplay and draft type, just to name a few – are customisable, allowing you to set up your competition your own way.
To help you pick the right players on draft night, our experts have ranked their top players in every position to come up with the 2021 consensus KFC SuperCoach Draft rankings.
BEGINNER’S GUIDE: GET STARTED IN KFC SUPERCOACH DRAFT
DEFENDERS
The Phantom: If you’ve got a pick between No. 5 and 10 in the first round, I’d be taking Lloyd or Laird. The next block is good but there’s a clear top-two. I’m big on Witherden at his new club, while Mills might finally be graduating into the midfield. But there’s plenty of depth here, so after the top-two, I’d look at pouncing on a decent forward first.
Al Paton: By far the deepest line in 2021 - I could have included another half a dozen players I’m confident will average 95-plus. Lloyd and Laird are likely to go early in drafts but I wouldn’t be surprised if players hold off on defenders for a while after that because of fears of filling out the forward line especially, which means you might be able to snap up a potential 105-plus scorer (anyone in this top 10) pretty late.
Tim Michell: This is the line to bide your time on. You need to pounce on forwards early as the depth just isn’t there, but you would be happy picking some defenders who don’t even make the top-20.
Dan Batten: Don’t fret if you miss out on the three L’s – Lloyd, Laird and Luke Ryan. The depth in defence appears stronger than in previous years, with a player like Harmes (ranked 102nd by average) even in with a shot of averaging 95-plus in a return to his previous midfield role. Stewart may slip under a few people’s noses with an average of 100.1 last year, which included an injury affected of 18.
Sam McInerney: Perhaps controversially, I’ve left Haynes (98.4 avg) and May (94.5 avg) out of my top 20. Neither had cracked an average of 90 in a season prior to 2020, so I’m tipping them to regress a little after amazing runs last year. McDonald at number four might surprise some coaches, but his average of 118 after his shift to the backline is too juicy to ignore. New Hawthorn captain Ben McEvoy could prove a handy DPP selection if he spends most of his time in the ruck ... or a bust if he plays lockdown full-back. Here’s hoping new recruit Kyle Hartigan and Sam Frost can hold down the key spots in the Hawks’ backline.
MIDFIELDERS
The Phantom: I’m tipping Sam Walsh to finish in the top-eight this year after averaging 114 points in the final 11 games of last year, while fellow next-gen midfielders Rowell, Brayshaw and McCluggage could all take another step. At the real top-end, though, you’d be more than happy with Nat Fyfe in the first round after watching him dominate in the midfield during the practice match, while Mitchell could be the steal of the draft if he gets up for Round 1. Cripps could easily sit at No. 3.
Al Paton: In KFC SuperCoach Classic many players - myself included - are steering clear of the most expensive midfielders because of their high price tags. Of course that doesn’t matter in draft and when you ignore that and some durability worries, this line is still stacked with elite talent. Getting a player like Bont or Kelly in the second round would be a great result
Tim Michell: I’m expecting a host of young talent to elevate their games to a new level. Tim Taranto, Walsh, James Worpel, Bailey Smith and Jy Simpkin are going to become top-liners. The top-five pick themselves, while Cripps will bounce back big time from a down year.
Dan Batten: Good luck predicting the top five scorers, let alone the top 20. The midfield will be one of the toughest assignments in Draft, with injury clouds and role changes hanging over a number of our favourite options of the past. There is no shortage of quality, though, and a smart play could be picking two uber-premium mids within your first few picks and then seeing who gets through. The uncertainty surrounding the Bulldogs midfield could see the likes of Macrae, Bontempelli and Treloar slide in your draft.
Sam McInerney: There are plenty of opportunities to take chances in KFC SuperCoach Draft, but picking your first midfielder isn’t the time to get cute going early on the next breakout star. Youngsters Walsh, McCluggage and Brayshaw could join the top bracket, but I’m happy for them to be someone else’s problem if they regress for a year, so none are in my top 20. Rowell is the exception, because he’s Matt Rowell. Fyfe and Kelly have the potential to be top-five mids but haven’t put together a full season between them in the last three years. I’m unsure how the Bulldogs’ midfield depth will affect Bontempelli, Treloar and Hunter, but I’m confident Macrae will stroll around without a tag each week picking up SuperCoach points for fun.
TOP 50: THE PHANTOM’S TOP 50 OVERALL DRAFT RANKINGS
RUCKS
The Phantom: Given their seperation from the rest of the competition, Gawn and Grundy should be taken at No. 1 and No. 2 overall. And I wouldn’t wait too much longer on O’Brien - he could the the pair’s big challenger.
Al Paton: Gawn and Grundy will probably be gone in the first two picks, the next couple are handy, but if you can’t get those guys just wait and pick up a Draper type with a later pick. But don’t leave it too late - last year I ended up with Ivan Soldo leading my ruck division.
Tim Michell: It’s slim pickings if you miss out on Gawn and Grundy but at least O’Brien has a favourable fixture in the first six weeks. English should be No.4 but Stefan Martin was first-choice at bounces in the recent trial against Hawthorn.
Dan Batten: There is a significant gap between Gawn and Grundy – who will likely be off the table after the first three picks - and the next group of ruckman. Waiting to snaffle a bargain in the rucks looks to be the best strategy, particularly those with fewer competitors in their Draft league. There is still plenty of options towards the back-end like Ben McEvoy, the 13th ruckman down the list, who is set for an improved year as he returns to Hawthorn’s number one ruck role.
Sam McInerney: I’m confident the top five ruckmen will score well, but it’s a bit of a raffle after that. Some might go early on English, off the back of some monster scores in 2020, but his six scores under 75 and the addition of Stefan Martin have scared me off. The likes of Draper and Oscar McInerney (none of which are in my top 10) could be in for breakout years, so if you have a soft spot for a particular ruckman, back yourself and pick him.
FORWARDS
The Phantom: After the first few, there isn’t really much to be sure about. That’s why you should be taking Dangerfield, Dunkley and Martin very early and why Marshall, despite the injury setback, shouldn’t be left to fall too far. But there could be a few to surprise in the later rounds, too, with former Tiger Higgins and Eagles forward Liam Ryan at the top of my sleepers list in the forward line.
Al Paton: Yikes. Grab a forward early in your draft because if you don’t get one of the top six or so, the talent pool falls off a cliff. Hopefully players like De Goey, Butters and Bolton get some more midfield minutes. And I like Langford as a smoky who can average 90-plus.
Tim Michell: I have such little faith in this year’s forwards that my only advice is to back your gut with whoever is left. If you don’t get one of the top six, you’re going to be relying on a mid-pricer to breakout. Walters misses out altogether as I can’t reccomend him to anyone after the second half of last season.
Dan Batten: While we are spoilt for choice in other positions, it is slim pickings in the forward line. A permanent return to the midfield could see Dangerfield average 5-10 more points than the next best forward, so there is no doubt that he will be gone early. The quality drops off pretty quickly so it might be worth investing a couple of earlier selections in the forward line to avoid fielding some suspect options. However, there are some picks down the order who could prove to be worthwhile selections, like hard nut turned defender Jack Ziebell.
Sam McInerney: You know how many forwards averaged over 80 last year? 29. That number shrinks to 23 once you take out retirees Gary Ablett and Brad Ebert, and fringe players Rhys Mathieson (one game), Josh Jenkins (one), Taylor Duryea (two) and Matthew Kennedy (seven). Langford, Phillips, Isaac Smith and Jye Caldwell might seem like second-rate midfielders, but if they average above 80 for the year, they’re doing their jobs as forwards. Same goes for Wingard, Walters and Gray, who’ll pump out some low scores due to a lot of time inside forward 50. I’m excited to see if Liam Ryan can continue his stellar finish to 2020, where he scored over 100 in his final five matches (including 114 in the elimination final).
Originally published as KFC SuperCoach Draft 2021: Expert consensus rankings in every position
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