KFC SuperCoach AFL: Last-minute expert advice, Tim Michell team reveal

The first rolling lockout of KFC SuperCoach is here — but there’s still time to change your team. Recap the advice from our experts before Round 1.

As Paul Roos famously said … here it is.

The team reveal you have all been waiting for (OK … maybe not).

It’s taken me about 1627 screen shots and far too many versions of my KFC SuperCoach team, but here’s what I have settled on – at least until the Round 1 rookie carnage hits.

If like me, you’re still tinkering, leave a comment below to take part in our live Q&A on Tuesday.

But first, my team.

Let’s go through each line:

LIVE Q&A: SCROLL DOWN AND LEAVE A COMMENT

MORE: ULTIMATE SUPERCOACH PRE-SEASON FORMGUIDE

TEAM REVEAL: SEE AL PATON’S STARTING SQUAD

Tom Stewart is primed for a big year in Geelong’s defence.

DEFENCE

Jake Lloyd $656,400

Rory Laird $564,800 DEF/MID

Tom Stewart $535,000

Jayden Short $519,300

Hayden Young $279,400

Lachlan Jones $139,800

Bench:

Tom Highmore $117,300

Aiden Fyfe $102,400 DEF/MID

KFC SuperCoaches can only make judgments on the limited evidence we have of the new man on the mark rules, which suggest half-back flankers — particularly those with elite kicking skills — will dominate in KFC SuperCoach this year. That’s why the ownership of Jayden Short and Caleb Daniel has been climbing in the past two weeks.

I’m loathe to grab both in case the pre-season trend doesn’t translate to the home-and-away season, so Short gets the nod as he’s cheaper. In Lloyd, Stewart and Short, I have three of the best defensive ball users in the game. Of course, the risk is coaches start using negative forwards to negate their influence. But all of these players take kick-outs, which will boost their scores regardless.

Rory Laird won’t be roaming halfback but when you consider he had 37 disposals in a game with shorter quarters, he’s impossible to leave out. Hayden Young has a perfect role at Fremantle and is capable of reaching at least $400,000. Lachlan Jones will be a perfect D6 if he gets the nod from Ken Hinkley in Round 1.

I’m not willing to pick Jacob Koschitzke from Hawthorn as I think his job security and scoring potential will be an issue. He’s not going to kick six goals every week and Mitch Lewis didn’t play against North Melbourne. Aiden Fyfe will be my captain’s loophole.

Player I can’t squeeze in:Hunter Clark $438,900 — Was a regular at centre bounces in pre-season and he looks ready to take the next step for St Kilda. I just wonder whether he can match the scoring of the regular back-flankers I have, especially if he’s used in a variety of roles.

Tim Michell isn’t willing to spend a season chasing Lachie Neale again.

MIDFIELD

Lachie Neale $721,800

Marcus Bontempelli $623,900

Patrick Cripps $523,700

Tim Taranto $453,700

Braeden Campbell $189,300 MID/FWD

Tom Powell $153,300

Errol Gulden $117,300

Connor Downie $117,300

Bench:

Charlie Lazzaro $117,300

Harry Sharp $117,300 DEF/MID

Anthony Scott $102,400 MID/FWD

Lachie Neale is the best KFC SuperCoach midfielder in the business and after starting without him for the past two years, I’m not willing to go without again. The spectre of his nemesis Ryan Clarke looms in Round 1, but he’s not even guaranteed to be in Sydney’s best 22.

If you’ve been playing KFC SuperCoach for long enough, you know Champion Data’s secret herbs and spices always seem to fall in the Bont’s favour. He’s too frustrating not to have and was going to be a POD until he tore Melbourne to shreds.

Cripps and Taranto are value, while the four on-field rookies are all capable of scoring well from their debuts — which are likely to be in Round 1. If Sharp isn’t chosen, I’ll use him to have two cracks at the M8 position.

Players I can’t squeeze in: Sam Walsh $543,300 and Jack Macrae $650,100 — I had Macrae for about a week after his prolific outing against Melbourne but the fact we haven’t seen the Dogs midfield with Adam Treloar scared me off. I downgraded him to Rory Laird instead. My heart says to pick Walsh and Cripps, but I’ve gone with the value option of the two Blues.

RUCKS

Max Gawn $751,400

Brodie Grundy $648,200

Bench:

Matthew Flynn $123,900

Set and forget. Is there really any other option?

The two big dogs are so far ahead of the rest you can’t really afford not to have them. Braydon Preuss would have been worth considering but he’s out for another four months after shoulder surgery. Paul Hunter has strong claims at R3 but I think Matthew Flynn will have the best job security of the cheap big men.

The dream scenario would be Keiren Briggs playing in Round 1 so you could pick him in defence and go with Hunter at R3.

Player I can’t squeeze in:Paul Hunter $102,400 — Had to choose one of Flynn and Hunter and the GWS ruckman seems to have a long-term claim on the No. 1 ruck role. What happens if you go with Hunter and Paddy Ryder and Rowan Marshall are back in Round 2 or 3? Lloyd Meek also interests me.

EXPERT: STATS GURU REVEALS SURPRISING SUPERCOACH TEAM

WARNING: TRADE THESE PLAYERS OUT OF YOUR TEAM NOW!

Patrick Dangerfield is this year’s most-expensive forward.

FORWARDS

Patrick Dangerfield $611,900 FWD/MID

Josh Dunkley $560,200 FWD/MID

Tom Phillips $402,600 FWD/MID

Jack Ziebell $257,900

Tom Fullarton $128,900 RUC/FWD

Tyler Brockman $117,300 FWD/MID

Bench:

Harrison Jones $123,900

James Rowe $117,300

I flirted with the idea of Jack Ziebell at F1 and at one stage had the Roos skipper, Paddy Dow, Jarman Impey and Joe Daniher. Ultimately, only Ziebell has made the final cut.

Tom Phillips is the bolter. The former Magpie hasn’t averaged more than 90 in his career but I think everything is set up for him to have a huge first year as a Hawk. He’ll score well spending more time as an inside midfielder and is one of the best gut runners in the game. Therefore, the 75 interchange cap will suit him.

I expect Dangerfield will be the best forward of 2021 and is a genuine captaincy option against his old side Adelaide in Round 1. If all goes to plan, Josh Dunkley will be No.2.

Fullarton looks set for a decent run early due to Daniel McStay’s injury and his FWD-RUC swing could be handy. Brockman was a pre-season standout for the Hawks, while Jones and Rowe have close to the best job security of any rookies even though they’ll likely be a slow burn in terms of making money.

Player I couldn’t squeeze in:Paddy Dow $202,400 FWD-MID — Maybe as a Blues fan I can just enjoy if he breaks out this year. I had to sacrifice somewhere and Fullarton, Brockman, Rowe and Jones are safe enough rookies. I could only fit one player in the $200,000-$260,000 bracket in and you need to have Ziebell.

Good luck KFC SuperCoaches!

Tim Michell’s starting KFC SuperCoach team for 2021.

Originally published as KFC SuperCoach AFL: Last-minute expert advice, Tim Michell team reveal