KFC SuperCoach: All the latest news and whispers ahead of Round 3
First Dustin Martin, now another KFC SuperCoach star. Lachie Whitfield left the field on a paltry total and did not return, leaving 94,000 teams in arrears. Meanwhile, a pre-season flame has been called-up.
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Here is all you need to know on the eve of Round 3 lockout.
WHITFIELD INJURY FORCES HORROR SCORE
It is difficult to find a side without Lachie Whitfield.
More than 90,000 SuperCoaches will be stuck with a stinker score from the star after being ruled out with concussion.
Whitfield copped a glancing blow to the head from an Aaron Naughton bump in the opening term.
He went down into the rooms at quarter time in the hands of trainers and did not return, looking groggy on the broadcast.
The running machine managed just four touches prior to the injury, with two clangers leaving SuperCoaches with a nightmare score of just eight points on the field.
It comes after star Josh Kelly was a late withdrawal with calf soreness.
Whitfield VC and Josh Kelly. Yep. Time for bed. #SuperCoach #AFLDogsGiants
— The Phantom (@ThePhantomSC) June 19, 2020
Lachie Whitfield (concussion) out for the game. pic.twitter.com/fNrEPgAsSJ
— 7AFL (@7AFL) June 19, 2020
STEVEN CALLED-UP
Jack Steven will make his Geelong debut on Saturday night, called-up to replace injured Cat Brandan Parfitt. Steven was a popular selection prior to Round 1 after scoring a century in his lone Marsh Series appearance and will be one to keep a close eye on, priced at a favourable $361,700 and sporting FWD/MID status.
ONE WEEK FOR DUSTY?
Richmond coach Damien Hardwick has allayed fears superstar Dustin Martin will be sidelined for an extended period, saying he is “probable” to return in Round 4.
The dual Norm Smith medallist was ruled out of Richmond’s clash with Hawthorn with rib soreness which Hardwick revealed he aggravated against Collingwood last week.
Hardwick couldn’t recall exactly when Martin suffered the blow, believing it may have been sustained in an intra-club match in the week before the competition’s restart.
Richmond opted to “nip it in the bud” and give Martin a rest rather than risk drawing out the injury longer.
“He’ll be probable for next week,” Hardwick said on Fox Footy.
“He came into the Collingwood game with the injury and probably aggravated it a bit… it was one of those decisions where we’re like, ‘do we nip it in the bud now and take a week or does it continue nagging him for a period of time?’”
“We’ve got a relatively healthy list, so we’re hoping it’s just the one week at this stage.
“It was probably the intra-club possibly the week before, we knew he was a bit uncomfortable with it and just didn’t cope too well with it during his rotations.”
It presents an all-important question for more than 100,000 SuperCoaches in a shortened season: should we trade or hold the Richmond superstar? The answer to that depends on personal circumstances, and our experts have had their say here.
Some possible options for Dusty are:
Michael Walters ($570,000, FWD/MID) Avg: 129
Christian Petracca ($470,000, FWD) Avg: 115.5
Jy Simpkin ($423,400, FWD/MID) Avg: 117.5
ROOKIE RELIEF
Those looking to cover Martin’s zero with a rookie would be comforted by Nathan Buckley confirming that Darcy Cameron has kept Mason Cox at bay for another week. Cameron impressed in his Magpies debut, clunking three contested marks and posting 73 points and looms as a possible option for non-owners. No. 1 restart rookie target Sam Sturt is also back for Fremantle, missing their return fixture due to a back complaint. Injury-riddled cheapie Stephen Hill has been named, with GWS young gun Lachie Ash set to make his AFL debut. These two and returning Blue Tom Williamson are all worth keeping an eye on this weekend.
WHICH ROOKIES ARE OUT?
Like most weeks, SuperCoaches were bracing for rookie carnage when teams are announced. Those in trouble include midfield cash cows Tyler Brown and Justin McInerney, while DPP cheapie Jarrod Brander tallied just 12 disposals in West Coast’s dour loss on Saturday night. All three of those players kept their spot, and Collingwood has signalled that Jaidyn Stephenson and Rupert Wills will be among their inclusions in Round 3, putting Tyler Brown in some doubt. Gold Coast coach Stuart Dew said tough calls will have to be made at selections with Brandon Ellis and David Swallow back, meaning youngster Connor Budarick could be an unlucky omission.
CAPTAINS AND VICE-CAPTAINS
Who should we whack the VC and the captaincy armband on this week? Unfortunately those with Roos loophole ruckman Charlie Comben – whose side plays on Saturday afternoon – will have to use their ‘VC’ slot on Thursday or Friday night. But with rookies likely to be dropped, there is sure to be contingency plans later in the weekend.
THURSDAY
Tom Mitchell
Avg v RICH: 107.1
Last 3: DNP, 149, 128
Richmond are notorious for letting ball-magnets run rampant and we know what Tom Mitchell is capable of when he’s let off the chain. Hard to see him not topping 120 points – especially after a disappointing outing last weekend.
FRIDAY
Stephen Coniglio
Avg v WBD: 93
Last 3: DNP, 129, DNP
The Bulldogs have been dismal in their two games so far and if the result gets ugly, expect Stephen Coniglio to feast on the carcass. This could be his first big score of the year.
Lachie Whitfield
Avg v WBD: 104.2
Last 3: 114, 114, DNP
If you are after a left-field VC option, Lachie Whitfield might be your man. The amount of uncontested possessions the Bulldogs have given up of late bodes well for the running machine, with Marvel Stadium the perfect place for him to show off his sublime footskills.
SATURDAY
Patrick Dangerfield
Avg v CARL: 108
Last 3: 156, 133, 108
Patrick Dangerfield loves playing at Kardinia Park, but he has never had the pleasure of meeting Carlton there. The Geelong superstar posted 156 points in his last game against the Blues, with stopper Ed Curnow the only thing standing in the one of another monster score.
Lachie Neale
Avg v WCE: 111.7
Last 3: 127, 151, 120
Neale is in a rich vein of form and normally goes up another gear facing his former cross-town rival. Neale averages a whopping 111.7 points against West Coast, winning three Glendinning-Allan Medals in western derby clashes during his time at Fremantle.
Max Gawn
Avg v ESS: 115.8
Last 3: 126, 168, DNP
Gawn was a colossus last week in the ruck against lesser-light Marc Pittonet and he faces another favourable opponent in Tom Bellchambers on Sunday. If your vice-captain fails, Gawn looks to be a safe bet.
Originally published as KFC SuperCoach: All the latest news and whispers ahead of Round 3