KFC SuperCoach 2023: The Phantom’s burning questions and all the Round 14 late mail
Two rookies — whose clubs have already had the bye — are set to boost KFC SuperCoaches’ hopes of having a finished team by round 16. Plus, a worrying Harry Himmelberg positional update.
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Here come the rookies.
Just as KFC SuperCoaches were running out of downgrade options to help finish their team, two debutants whose clubs have already had byes have been named.
Brisbane Lions have locked in father-son gun Jaspa Fletcher ($157,800, MID) to play his first AFL game against Sydney on Friday night.
Fletcher has averaged 71 ranking points in 10 VFL games this year, posting a season-high 122 when he had 30 disposals in round 9 against Coburg.
If you need to free up more cash by choosing a basement-priced cheapie, Jack Buller ($102,400, FWD) is your man.
The last player chosen in the mid-season draft impressed on his VFL debut for Sydney, kicking 5.3 from 17 disposals and tallying 129 ranking points.
Buller will play his first AFL match against the Lions.
“We picked up a couple of mid-season boys — Jack and Harry (Arnold) — and we had our first VFL win last week,” Swans coach John Longmire said this week.
“It was a really good game of footy and went right down to the last two minutes. They were great. Just to get two mature age, bigger bodies in our VFL team made a big difference and they did a good job.”
Jack Buller has 4.2 and 16 disposals during the 3rd quarter.
— Liam Clarke (@Clarkeyy23) June 9, 2023
Lock him in Horse. #GoSwanspic.twitter.com/0xCzToW7UD
KINGSLEY CAUSES HIMMELBERG UNCERTAINTY
Adam Kingsley has thrown thousands of KFC SuperCoaches into a tailspin by casting doubt on Harry Himmelberg’s defensive role.
More than 2000 coaches have traded in Himmelberg, who averaged 112 points playing as a defender during the second half of 2022.
The Giants swingman has been used largely in the backline in the past two matches, scoring 103 and 88 KFC SuperCoach points.
Most of the coaches banking on Himmelberg staying in defence would have been buoyed by these comments from Kingslley after his side’s win over North Melbourne.
“He had another really good game tonight. I think he’s a really, really good key back for us, can play tall, can play small. We trialled him in the first 10 or 11 games as he certainly had impact for us,” Kingsley said.
“But I think his best position is halfback and he showed a lot of aerial stuff that he can do today, but also on ground level. He’s going to be a really special back for a long period of time I think.”
But by Thursday, the Giants coach had clearly had a rethink as Sam Taylor and Isaac Cumming push to return from injury.
Kingsley was much left definitive when asked about Himmelberg’s role, telling reporters: “I’m probably leaning now more towards back. But as we know he’s a very capable forward. It’ll be needs dependent. If we need him in the front half, that’s where we’ll play him.
“If we need him in the back half, then that’s where he’ll play. But as of this moment, he’s in the backline. But again, we haven’t had match committee this arvo, so I don’t know what that holds for him.”
Where’s Mark McVeigh when you need him?
THE PHANTOM’S BURNING QUESTIONS FOR ROUND 14
There’s no time to enjoy your latest SuperCoach score, the biggest fortnight in KFC SuperCoach this year is upon us.
Round 14 starts on Thursday night, and the real bye pain is coming.
So, what can we do?
Sit in the corner of a dark room without your phone.
Thanks for reading.
Help us, Phantom…
You know I’ll always help you.
I hope you took in the Jack Ziebell numbers I presented last week and kept the Roos veteran, and considered my argument for Nat Fyfe.
So far, so good.
All good things come to an end, though.
Is it too late for Fyfe?
No.
Last week, I said the bones of his once formidable KFC SuperCoach game were still there.
On Saturday against the Tigers, it was far more than that.
Fyfe finished with 17 disposals, 11 contested possessions, seven tackles, one goal and 96 KFC SuperCoach points.
It wasn’t a consistent four-quarter performance and, like we’ve said, it’s probably not ever going to be from here.
But in a great sign moving forward, the 31-year-old lifted in the second-half, booting a major in the third term and kickstarting Fremantle’s late charge early in the last quarter, winning important possession at the contest, as well as hitting a leading Jye Amiss with a bullet pass inside-50.
At $275k, with a breakeven of -3 and no upcoming bye, Fyfe is still good buying ahead of Round 13.
Ideally, he’s still swinging bench cover on the other side of the bye rounds, given the injury and sub risk that still hovers, despite the impressive form.
Sheezel to Fyfe then?
I made this move last week, in preparation for Round 15. And I’d still recommend it now.
First-year star Sheezel was good, again, on Sunday, featuring in all three parts of the ground, following the trend of his position splits since Brett Ratten took over, that I outlined last week.
But with his skill so effective for North further up the ground – with Aaron Hall seemingly settled back in the side in defence – and four scores of less than 100 in his past five games, he’s probably not in your final side.
If your Round 15 line-up is looking pretty thin, consider taking the $160k.
Is Tarryn Thomas better value?
Last week, the right questions were obvious. This week, deciding which ones to ask seems a little more difficult.
At $295k with scores of 89 and 112 since returning to the senior side, Thomas is incredible value. His talent undeniable and he averaged 109 KFC SuperCoach points in the final five rounds of 2021, offering a glimpse of his scoring power.
But the real question is, can you trust him?
We’re talking strictly KFC SuperCoach here. Does he stay in the side and maintain his form after a very interrupted year footy-wise?
That’s a hard question to answer.
If you are – somehow – looking OK in Round 15, when North Melbourne is one of six clubs with a bye, and need to think a little differently in order to complete your team, then I’d consider it before his price sky rockets.
Thomas attended the third-most centre bounces for the Roos against the Giants, but it’s important to note Jy Simpkin and Luke Davies-Uniacke are likely to return soon.
The 23-year-old booted three goals and recorded another two score assists, among seven score involvements – the second most for North – proving, again, he doesn’t need to be a centre-bounce midfielder to score well.
And his scoring-well-enough line isn’t very high at the price.
But the Round 15 bye does make it hard. If he can score well again on Sunday against the Bulldogs, we might have to start thinking of him as more than a money-maker coming out of the byes.
Isn’t Harry Himmelberg that guy?
The sub $400k option who could be among the top scorers in his – dual – position for the rest of the year?
Over to you, Adam Kingsley.
“I think he’s a really, really good key-back for us – he can play tall, he can play small,” the Giants coach said on Sunday.
“We trialled him in the first 10 games as a forward and he had an impact for us, but I think his best position is half-back.
“He’s going to be a really special back for us for a long period of time.”
Cue SuperCoach pandemonium, the answer is yes.
But…
No buts.
Himmelberg has now played three games as a defender, but let’s take out Round 10 against St Kilda when he suffered a concussion and didn’t return after half-time.
Against the Tigers in Round 10, Himmelberg, who played on with four of five kick-ins, tallied 18 disposals, seven rebound-50s, three intercept marks, 488 metres gained and 103 KFC SuperCoach points.
In Sunday’s clash with the Roos, the strong-marking tall recorded another 22 disposals, six rebound 50s, six intercept possessions and 88 KFC SuperCoach points.
He’s building and, if his finish to 2022 is anything to go by, where he gets to could make him close to a KFC SuperCoach must-have.
In the final 12 games of last year, Himmelberg averaged 24 disposals, 2.5 intercept marks and 112 KFC SuperCoach points per game, playing in defence, leading to the club’s declaration that Himmelberg is “potentially an All-Australian centre half-back.
But, what about when Sam Taylor returns?
**Rolls eyes**
Yes, Taylor is their best defender, but with Kingsley’s comments coming after Himmelberg’s performance as a defender, despite Nick Haynes’ inclusion and forward Aaron Cadman’s omission, I’m convinced.
Taylor’s return might even help Himmelberg.
And if it doesn’t?
Well, I’m off the Giants for good.
OK, so do we trade him in this week?
Again, it comes down to your team.
His price is likely to surge past $400k, so this week is the cheapest he’ll likely be for the rest of the year.
But if you can’t afford to carry another Round 15 bye round player, factor him in your Round 16 trade plans.
So we can consider him a cheap premium to finish our teams?
That’s what I’m likely to do.
Is Yeo a cheap premium?
As I said last week, out of Fyfe and Yeo, the Eagles veteran was the one most likely to average 105 for the rest of the year.
And he proved that point again on Saturday, despite spending time on Taylor Walker at fullback, tallying 30 disposals, 12 contested possessions and 113 points.
Yeo being available in Round 15 could help, but I still prefer waiting for Himmelberg.
I trust the Giants more than I trust Yeo’s body.
I think.
Given these value options, do we cash in on Sicily?
I’ll get back to you.
If he’s suspended for two or more weeks, on top of this weekend’s bye, I’d look to trade.
Sometimes, an elite scorer like Sicily might make up the ground in the long-run, but a potential Round 18 return is pushing it.
Again, it all depends on your side. If you don’t have the trades, but do have the cover, holding him might be the play.
Tom Stewart is a great option coming off the bye and you can still make $56k.
If you want more money from the trade, wait and consider Bomber Jordan Ridley, who has now scored four KFC SuperCoach on the trot after returning from concussion, next week.
Or, if you’re going to be OK in Round 15, Sicily to Himmelberg could be the ultimate cash grab, without – hopefully – sacrificing too many points if Himmelberg really gets going.
Why aren’t we talking about Josh Dunkley more?
It’s a good question. If you haven’t been already, it’s time to start considering Dunkley in your VC/C combination every week.
His five-round average of 140 is 10 more than any other player in the game.
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Originally published as KFC SuperCoach 2023: The Phantom’s burning questions and all the Round 14 late mail
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