KFC SuperCoach late mail: All the injury and selection rumbles ahead of round 11

Is it time to trade out Matthew Flynn in KFC SuperCoach? Plus new rookies, a returning favourite and some surprise injuries. Selection news and whispers.

Tom Highmore is back — again.

The Saints have made five changes after their horror loss to the Bulldogs and Highmore has been named at centre half-back after being the unused medical sub last week.

Highmore has a break even of -24 and is projected by SuperCoach Plus to increase in price by $37,600 after his fourth AFL game.

But it’s not all good news out of team selection for the Saints, especially for the almost 10,000 Hunter Clark owners — he’s out with a groin injury.

In other teams news, mature-age rookie Anthony Scott (managed) is out of the Bulldogs team to face Melbourne and Mitch Duncan (concussion) will miss for the Cats, but Cam Guthrie (shoulder) survived.

At Fremantle, Andrew Brayshaw returns after missing one week with a calf injury and forgotten Eagles gun Elliot Yeo was named for his first game of the season. Yeo is priced at $483,000 after a injury-interrupted 2020 season, but he averaged 107 in 2018 and 2019.

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Hunter Clark is out with a groin injury.

In a major rookie boost, Cody Weightman and James Madden have both been named for their third games. If you read anything into job security from team selection, Weightman was named on the half-forward flank while Madden has the final spot on the Lions bench.

Alec Waterman was named in the forward pocket for Essendon, surviving the return of Jake Stringer, while Trent Bianco (Pies), Riley Garcia (Dogs) and Oscar Clavarino (Saints) will all make their AFL debuts — more on them below.

Young Hawks beanpole Ned Reeves has been named in the forward pocket for his second match after an impressive 82 points on debut last week.

Richmond is on extended bench watch — we’ll find out about 5pm on Friday if Riley Collier-Dawkins is part of the starting 22. Chad Warner has been named on Sydney’s extended seven-man bench which will also be cut to four on Friday. Miles Bergman and Martin Frederick are in the same position at Port Adelaide. Lachie Jones was named in the first 18.

BIG NEWS FROM THE GIANTS

The Giants twin towers are here to stay — for one more week, at least.

Coach Leon Cameron confirmed on Thursday GWS will again roll out the two-ruckman combination of Shane Mumford and Matthew Flynn against Brisbane.

That is great news for Flynn’s 71,000 KFC SuperCoach owners after the young ruckman scored 94 points in his sixth game last weekend playing alongside Mumford.

“What we did like on the weekend is that combination of Mumford and Flynn,” Cameron said.

“We reduced Mumford’s game time down to about 65 per cent and gave Flynny a great opportunity and he played some really good footy.

“We also like what (Kieren) Briggs did (in his Round 9 debut). We feel as though over the next 12 weeks, these guys are going to be coming in and out and given opportunity to play ruck. Whether we play two or one will be determined on the opposition but equally how it’s working for us.”

MORE: WHAT FIXTURE CHANGES MEAN FOR KFC SUPERCOACH

Matthew Flynn wrestles with Shane Mumford at GWS training. Picture: Phil Hillyard

With a break even score of just 12 points, Flynn is projected to add $33,000 to his price tag this weekend by SuperCoach Plus, which will then create a dilemma for owners.

GWS has the bye in Round 12 and Flynn will still have more cash to make, and can potentially provide vital bench cover in Round 14 when Brodie Grundy and Max Gawn both have a bye.

But the temptation will be huge to cash him in to unlock a pile of money to spend over the bye rounds, especially with young Hawthorn ruckman Ned Reeves potentially on the bubble that week.

Flynn’s longer term job security received a boost on Wednesday with Braydon Preuss suffering another injury setback.

Preuss, who had just recovered from a left shoulder reconstruction, was meant to make his return against Brisbane this weekend.

But the 206cm Giant has injured his right pectoral muscle in the gym on Tuesday and will require surgery. The 25-year-old will miss two months.

Giants head of medical Cullan Ball said Preuss would see a specialist on Wednesday.

“It’s shocking luck for Braydon who was on the cusp of returning from his shoulder injury,” Ball said.

“Scans on Tuesday afternoon revealed he’s torn his right pec muscle and he’ll consult a specialist on Wednesday.

“We expect he’ll undergo surgery and is likely to be sidelined for three-to-five months.”

Young Collingwood midfielder Trent Bianco will play his first AFL game this weekend.

ANOTHER PIES DEBUTANT

The Collingwood rookie production line is in full operation, churning out another great cheapie option this weekend.

Trent Bianco ($123,900 DEF/MID) will make his debut on Saturday against Geelong, making him the Pies’ seventh debutant of the season, following Finlay Macrae, Beau McCreery, Caleb Poulter, Tom Wilson, Oliver Henry and Jay Rantall.

Beware that Rantall lasted just one week in the senior team, so there’s no need to jump on Bianco just yet, but if he can hold his spot he will be an ideal rookie downgrade option during the byes when SuperCoaches will be searching for cheapies to fund their trade plans.

The former Oakleigh Chargers captain — and lifelong Magpies fan — was selected with pick 45 in the 2019 draft.

After a delayed start to 2021 due to a knee problem, Bianco has averaged 26 disposals and 7.5 tackles (ranked No.1 at the Pies) in his two VFL appearances.

The only complication is if Bianco plays the next two rounds he’ll be on the bubble in Round 13, then will miss the next week with Collingwood’s bye.

McCreery, meanwhile, will miss Round 11 with a low level calf strain in a blow for more than 15,000 coaches.

The Western Bulldogs have also named a Round 11 debutant, with 20-year-old Riley Garcia ($123,900 MID) to be thrown into the cauldron of Friday night’s clash against Melbourne.

The No.62 pick in the 2019 draft, Garcia has averaged 23.8 disposals and six tackles in five VFL games this season.

St Kilda first-gamer Oscar Clavarino ($123,900 DEF) gets his chance four years after being drafted in 2017. He’s a tall defender — one of many at the Saints — and is unlikely to be SuperCoach relevant.

Originally published as KFC SuperCoach late mail: All the injury and selection rumbles ahead of round 11