KFC SuperCoach AFL 2020: Everything you need to know
The first game of the AFL season is closing fast. Don’t miss out on the chance to challenge your mates in Australia’s biggest fantasy game and take a shot at the $50,000 grand prize. Here’s everything you need to know to play SuperCoach AFL.
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The start of the 2020 AFL premiership season is closing fast with Richmond to face Carlton at a packed MCG on Thursday, March 19.
AFL clubs and players are ramping up their preparations — make sure you are part of the action in Australia’s biggest and best fantasy sports game: KFC SuperCoach.
Register today to take on the role of coach and manager of your own team of AFL stars, take a shot at the $50,000 grand prize and claim ultimate bragging rights over your mates.
Brodie Grundy, Dustin Martin, Patrick Cripps and Patrick Dangerfield are sure to be popular selections this season, while Marlion Pickett could be the bargain of the year. Who will make your squad?
New features for 2020 include a one-stop SuperCoach shop to play all your favourite sports and games in one place, a cleaner and easier to use site and updated mobile experience.
There’s also more SuperCoach news and video to ensure you have the best expert advice at your fingertips as you pick a side to take you to SuperCoach glory, and a fully upgraded SuperCoach Draft experience. And brand new prizes from sponsor KFC to reward more SuperCoach players than ever before.
Our experts have already been hard at work analysing every team and the players you need to have on your SuperCoach radar.
Start with Al Paton’s first draft team, the 11 must-have players of 2020, best value picks and your club’s SuperCoach bolter
If you want to know who is appearing in other sides, check out the most popular SuperCoach playres at every club. But to strike out for SuperCoach glory, you need to make some bold calls.
Scroll down for a quick introduction (or refresher) to Australia’s biggest and best fantasy game, then get picking!
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THE BASICS: HOW IT WORKS
You’re a coach with a team to pick, a salary cap to work under and games to win.
You pick a squad of players from across the AFL and score points based on their real-life performances, using a unique formula developed by Champion Data.
During the year you’ll deal with form and injuries just like an AFL coach, but with the benefit of trades to replace sidelined or out-of-form players and to improve your squad.
Take on your mates in your own private league for ultimate bragging rights, and track your progress against all other SuperCoaches in the race for weekly and major prizes.
WHAT YOU CAN WIN
At the end of the AFL home-and-away season the top SuperCoach in the country takes home $50,000 in cash. Second place receives $5000 and those placed third to 10th win $1000 each.
There are also weekly prizes of $1000 for the best score each round, $500 for the second-ranked SuperCoach and $250 for third. This year there will be extra prizes from major sponsor KFC.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
Registering for KFC SuperCoach is completely free and only takes a few minutes. Herald Sun subscribers get the added benefit of live scores, exclusive stories and SuperCoach Stats, an extra suite of boutique information including score and price projections. You can also get early access to the 2021 team picker!
HOW TO REGISTER
Whether you’re an experienced SuperCoach or a brand new player, it’s easy to join the fun and take on your friends for ultimate bragging rights. Follow the five steps below and join the action.
1. Go to supercoach.com.au.
2. Played before? Click on ‘login’. New? Click ‘register and play’.
3. Select AFL and enter your details.
4. Pick a name for your all-conquering SuperCoach side, nominate your favourite AFL team, select your level of expertise and you’re ready to go.
5. Start picking your team of AFL superstars to compete for the $50,000 grand prize.
HOW TO PLAY
Once registered:
— YOU have a $10 million salary cap and 30 players to pick.
— FILL each position. You need eight defenders, 11 midfielders, eight forwards, and three rucks. Remember to save your team!
— MIDFIELDERS are the most consistent performers, accounting for about 40 per cent of your weekly score. So don’t skimp there.
— NEED help picking a side? Try the auto select feature which picks a team for you instantly and then make all the changes you want.
— CHANGE your team as much as you like until Round 1 starts on March 19.
— BEFORE each round, choose a starting 22 and emergencies in every position.
— NOMINATE a captain who he earns double points, and a vice-captain as back-up.
— YOU get 30 trades to maintain your side during the season. Each week you can make up to two trades, except for the bye rounds when you get three trades.
— STAY on top of your team with our Apple and Android apps.
WHO SHOULD I PICK?
Defenders: 6 starters, 2 emergencies
Look for ball-winners, interceptors and defenders with good kicking skills. Avoid lockdown, dour-type backmen. In AFL SuperCoach, weight of possession and execution is king.
Consider: Jake Lloyd, James Sicily, Sam Docherty
Midfielders: 8 starters, 3 emergencies
The engine room, where SuperCoach is won or lost. A loaded midfield should be responsible for about half of your weekly score. When picking your midfield, look for ball-winners with good skills, and a nose for goal. Aim to have a minimum of five players priced at over $500,000 in your starting line-up for Round 1, then pad out with cheap players ( Lingo alert: “Cash cows” ) with plenty of upside.
Consider: Nat Fyfe, Jack Macrae, Patrick Cripps, Patrick Dangerfield, Marlion Pickett
Rucks: 2 starters, 1 emergency
You don’t want to be burning too many trades here. Aim for durable big men, who have an impact around the ground and not just at stoppages. Only hitouts to advantage register SuperCoach points.
Consider: Brodie Grundy and Max Gawn are the clear standouts but don’t come cheap.
Forwards: 6 starters, 2 emergencies
Like defenders, you want ball-winners with good skills in attack. A midfielder-forward (Lingo alert: Dual Position Player, also known as DPP) who racks up 25 touches and kicks one goal will score more points than a key-position forward booting five goals from just a handful of possessions.
Consider: Lachie Whitfield, Dustin Martin, Jack Steven, Devon Smith
HOW PLAYERS SCORE POINTS
Players score SuperCoach points based on a formula devised by Champion Data to reward actions that have the biggest impact on matches — there is more to SuperCoach than simple kicks, marks and handballs. This game rewards players who win a crucial one-on-one battle and hit a target when the game is on the line over backwards kicks in junk time.
The ability to win the ball (clearances and contested possessions), use it well (disposal efficiency), impact the scoreboard (goals and goal assists), win the footy back off the opposition (intercept possessions) and tackles all score well.
Champion Data also factors in the timing and nature of the game when allocating scores, so a matchwinning goal after the siren is worth more than a regulation goal that puts a team up by 60 points with five minutes to go.
And just as turnovers cost a team on the field, they also cost players SuperCoach points.
MORE SUPERCOACH HELP:
KFC SuperCoach Rookie Bible: Every potential cash cow for season 2020
How to pick a KFC AFL SuperCoach team for 2020 in less than five minutes
Dan Batten and Tim Michell’s verdict on 30 KFC SuperCoach forwards
KFC SuperCoach winner Dwayne Delmenico reveals his tactics to go back-to-back in 2020
Five ways to enjoy SuperCoach without being an expert
NEED TO KNOW MORE?
You never have to worry about being left in the dark when making your SuperCoach selection and trade calls. Bookmark the SuperCoach news page to get all the latest news and tips from the experts, and follow SuperCoach on Facebook and Twitter.
Register for free and start picking your KFC SuperCoach team now!
Originally published as KFC SuperCoach AFL 2020: Everything you need to know