Heath Shaw’s tips for racking up KFC SuperCoach points at half-back

Rule 1: Always play on from kick-ins. Heath Shaw reveals the tricks half-backs use to balloon their KFC SuperCoach scores — and who to pick.

Half-back flankers are some of the best scorers in KFC SuperCoach. Trust me, I was one of them.

I remember fondly the day I scored 203 points against the Bulldogs in 2016 — 36 kicks at 100 per cent efficiency was a pretty good day out.

Now I’m on the other side of the fence and the pressure is on to win my KFC SuperCoach match-ups every week. I’m going to be relying on the remaining members of the half-back flanker club, so, listen up guys — here are some tips I learned over the years you can use to catapult yourself up the KFC SuperCoach scoring table.

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1. PLAY ON FROM KICK-INS

If a team kicks 10 behinds in a game that’s 10 opportunities to pick up a possession.

You need to make sure you’re involved in all kick-in meetings and try be at least top two preferred kick-in players at your club.

Most teams have a small number of players who take kick-ins from opposition behinds and the closest of those when a point is scored gets the job. If you’re in the vicinity, get to that bag of balls quick.

When kicking in there are usually three options: hit a target from inside the goalsquare, step outside the square and hit a target, or play on, hit a target then run past to receive a handball.

If you want to boost your KFC SuperCoach score, go for the last two options whenever you can.

Jake Lloyd had 96 behind kick-ins last season and played on from 91 of them. You know the drill, Jake.

MORE: SEE HEATH SHAW’S KFC SUPERCOACH TEAM

Sydney’s Jake Lloyd knows all the scoring tricks out of defence. Picture: Phil Hillyard

2. Out-on-the-full frees

Another way to pick up some extra stats — and KFC SuperCoach points — is to be ready in case a shot at goal misses everything.

When an opposition player is clearly going to make the distance and is lining up on a tight angle, if you’re standing in the middle of the goals all you’re going to do is watch the ball sail over your head.

Much smarter to stand next the behind post so you’ll get the free if the ball sails out on the full. The hardest part is deciding whether to choose the near or far post.

3. Cheap handballs

Half-backs are often the best kicks in the team, and if you can use your best kicks, why wouldn’t you?

In my days at Collingwood players like Simon Prestigiacomo and Nick Maxwell were very comfortable handing the ball off - every time I ran past I knew I’d get a handball.

These days there are guys over 190cm whose ambition goes beyond their capabilities, but don’t be shy about running past and calling for the ball.

A tip for my old GWS teammates: if Shane Mumford takes a mark or wins a rare free kick, get on your bike.

Greatest quote of all time. https://t.co/kvHe4iCmA5

— The Phantom (@ThePhantomSC) February 19, 2021

4. The switch

In the modern game teams will often control possession late in quarters.

Make yourself available for the lateral kick and you can pick up an easy uncontested mark. Sometimes the ball hasn’t gone forward one metre in 30 seconds but you’ve picked up three or four possessions.

Just watch out for midfielders who love to push back hard if they think they can get an extra kick out of it.

MORE: IS MATT ROWELL A MUST-HAVE IN SUPERCOACH?

Caleb Daniel is the kind of defender we love in KFC SuperCoach. Picture: Michael Klein

5. Get in the hole

The KFC SuperCoach scoring system rewards defensive acts like spoils and smothers, but don’t go picking lockdown defenders who get six touches a game.

Defenders don’t tend to tackle as often as midfielders because they are always around the ball, but you can really rack up points by taking marks from opposition kicks. Side note sometimes going back with flight and standing in the hole not a good idea with some big forwards eg. Barry hall (I learnt my lesson)

Guys like Jeremy Howe and Nick Haynes are great at this. Follow their example.

6. Bonus points

It’s always good to sneak forward and get on the scoreboard but, as I discovered when I kicked my first goal in about six years from 25m out against Essendon last year, it’s a long way from the forward pocket back to the goalsquare at the other end for the centre bounce.

If you do push into the forward line you have to hope the ball doesn’t come into the opposition forward line too quickly from the next clearance because you really are cooked.

Originally published as Heath Shaw’s tips for racking up KFC SuperCoach points at half-back