KFC SuperCoach Marsh Series week two: Tom Green stands tall, Bailey Williams looms as rookie ruck contender
Blake Acres was one of the forgotten moves of trade week but he shapes as a potential SuperCoach steal after an eye-catching Docker debut, while week two of the pre-season comp was a good one for rookies. EVERY MATCH
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Former Saint Blake Acres has thrown his hat into the crowded ring of underpriced forwards in KFC SuperCoach.
Acres, who was traded to Fremantle along with a raft of draft picks in echange for Bradley Hill, relished the wide open spaces of Rushton Park in Mandurah, helping himself to a career-high 31 disposals.
Acres, who is available as a $384,400 MID/FWD in KFC SuperCoach, averaged 106 points a game over a five game purple patch at the start of 2018, but he was thrown all over the ground by the Saints.
FIND THE KFC SUPERCOACH TALKING POINTS FROM WEEK TWO OF THE MARSH SERIES BELOW.
He said after Saturday’s Dockers debut he enjoyed being settled in one position.
“I suppose playing on the wing and on the ball for a bit, you’re going to find a bit of the footy and today that was my day,” Acres told the Fremantle website.
“I played a variety of roles at the Saints and JL (John Longmuir) just stuck me on the wing and put me inside a little bit. That was good to get a bit of continuity around the footy and just play my game.”
Put him on the mid-price watch list.
YOUNG GIANT COULD ANSWER ROOKIE RIDDLE
GWS big-bodied youngster Tom Green announced himself as a KFC SuperCoach star of the future after an eye-catching display in his first senior game.
The No.10 pick in the 2019 draft — who has drawn comparisons to Carlton clearance machine Patrick Cripps — had an immediate impact in the Giants thumping win, winning 21 disposals, 15 contested possessions and booting two goals on his way to 106 SuperCoach points.
His work in the coalface showed he is more than capable of competing with the best at AFL level and he has put his hand up for a Round 1 debut.
Green could be the beneficiary of Tim Taranto’s shoulder injury and is every chance to claim his spot despite the logjam of talented midfielders at the Giants.
The 188cm inside-midfielder said the pace of the game was a shock to the system at first.
“It’s quick but you get more comfortable as a player... It was felt really quick at the start but I felt better (as it went on),” Green told Fox Footy post-game.
Green’s game is built for SuperCoach as a strong clearance winner, highlighted by his remarkable 159-point average in the NAB League last season.
A bid didn’t come until pick 10 in last year’s draft for the Giants academy talent, meaning he is priced favourably at $166,800. He was projected by some draft pundits as a top-three prospect.
He looms as a SuperCoach goldmine this season, with his price set to skyrocket if he produces similar scores in 2020.
EAGLES RUCKMAN A ROUND 1 BOLTER
Nothing gets SuperCoaches as excited as a pre-season bolter.
West Coast’s Bailey Williams has emerged as a potential Round 1 partner for Nic Naitanui after impressing in the Eagles’ loss to Essendon on Thursday.
The No. 35 pick in the 2018 draft, 199cm Williams averaged 73 ranking points in the WAFL last season.
The 19-year-old has the rare DEF-RUC combination in SuperCoach and will have coaches considering whether to play the loophole should he be named for Round 1.
Williams rotated with Naitanui against the Bombers, finishing with 12 disposals and having a presence when stationed in attack.
“We’re missing probably five A-graders,” Eagles coach Adam Simpson said post-match.
“It’s great to give our kids some opportunity. Bailey Williams stood up, I thought, at stages, which was great.”
Asked whether Williams would be in the mix for Round 1, Simpson said: “He took another step forward today. There’s a spot there. We’ll probably have a look again next week., then Round 1 comes pretty quick.”
Tom Hickey continuing in the ruck in the 2nd half of West Coast’s WAFL scratchy v Swan Districts. Limited mins tomorrow. Draftee Ben Johnson has done some good things down back and has a serious kick on him. SSP hopefuls Jamaine Jones and Brady Grey also among the stand-outs. pic.twitter.com/m6c7NzQlvL
— Jordan McArdle (@jordan_mc12) February 26, 2020
The emerging big man appears to be battling former Saint Tom Hickey for a berth on March 22 when the Eagles host Melbourne in their season opener.
Williams’ best WAFL fixtures last year were in the second half of the campaign.
He showed his development by tallying 130 in Round 12, 122 in Round 14 and averaging 109 ranking points in the last three rounds.
WEST COAST V ESSENDON
TOP FIVE-SCORERS: Josh Kennedy (122), Luke Shuey (121), Will Snelling (119), Darcy Parish (115), Dom Sheed (113).
FULL EAGLES V BOMBERS SUPERCOACH SCORES
THUMBS UP: There was always a question mark over how West Coast’s midfielders would score with Tim Kelly for company. The first look at the Eagles’ new engine room was positive, with Shuey and Dom Sheed hitting triple figures and Mark Hutchings scoring 77. Elliot Yeo didn’t feature against the Bombers.
THUMBS DOWN: Jarrod Brander($133,000, DEF-FWD) features in 12 per cent of teams, although coaches might be rethinking their plans after the young Eagle scored 46 points.
YOUNG GUN: Key defender Brandon Zerk-Thatcher is awkwardly-priced at $189,000 but should get plenty of early opportunities after Patrick Ambrose’s PCL blow. He scored 58 in his only game last year and managed 61 against the Eagles.
POD PICK: Josh Kennedy ($335,600, FWD) features in only three teams and was the highest scorer on the ground after booting six goals. Key forwards are volatile scorers but generally have a huge ceiling.
GWS V SYDNEY
TOP FIVE-SCORERS: Jackson Hately (129), Jordan Dawson (125), Jacob Hopper (116). Zac Langdon (109), Matt de Boer (107)
FULL GIANTS V SWANS SUPERCOACH SCORES
THUMBS UP: In a dark day for the Swans, Jordan Dawson ($467,800, FWD/FWD) was the shining light, posting 125 points from 19 disposals showing great composure across half-back. He offers our side’s great flexibility and his 7 per cent ownership is set to rise.
THUMBS DOWN: Tim Taranto’s shoulder popped out in the first quarter and the Giants will be sweating on the extent of his injury. Popular cash cow Dylan Stephens collected just 13 disposals and 38 points from 73 per cent gametime.
YOUNG GUN: A plethora of cash cows were on show and midfield bull Tom Green ($166,800, MID) shone the brightest. The youngster – who has drawn comparison to Carlton clearance machine Patrick Cripps – won 21 disposals, 15 contested possessions and scored 106 points. Taranto’s injury will help Green’s chances of a Round 1 berth. The Giants’ other 2019 first round draftee Lachie Ash was prominent in defence with 19 and 88 and is also in the mix.
POD PICK: For those looking for a unique alternative to Max Gawn, Sam Naismith ($251,500, RUCK) might be your man. The ruckman hasn’t played an AFL game since 2017 and finished with 79 points while Callum Sinclair played second fiddle.
FREMANTLE V CARLTON
TOP FIVE-SCORERS: James Aish (138), Rory Lobb (121), Luke Ryan (113), Blake Acres (111), Lachie Schultz (101)
FULL DOCKERS V BLUES SUPERCOACH SCORES
THUMBS UP: Could James Aish be a revelation in 2020? The former Pie led all comers in his first game for his new club, scoring a formidable 137 points, including 24 touches, six tackles and six clearances. At $353,000 as a defender, he looms as a potential steal. It was also good to see Sam Docherty get through a full match, despite his modest total of 69. Former Saint Blake Acres ($384,400 FWD/MID) enjoyed his new role on a wing, finishing with 111 points. Mid-price forwards, anyone?
THUMBS DOWN: Nic Newman was a top-10 defender last season but that looks set to change with Sam Docherty returning to the Blues backline. The rebounding defender managed 17 touches and just 56 points.
YOUNG GUN: Caleb Serong’s ($175,800, MID) 56 per cent game time yielded 60 points, with 11 of his 14 possessions won in a contest. The top-10 draftee, who attended 11 centre bounces, is every chance to be given opportunity early and is one to monitor in their next Marsh Series clash.
POD PICK: Another new Docker who dominated, Blake Acres split his time between outside and inside midfield. He finished with 31 disposals and 110 SuperCoach points, putting his hand up for a spot in our sides. Showed his potential in a midfield role for the Saints a couple of years back and is in just 1 per cent of teams.
COLLINGWOOD V RICHMOND
TOP FIVE-SCORERS: Darcy Cameron (127), Liam Baker (120), Chris Mayne (119), Jack Crisp (118), Adam Treloar (114)
FULL PIES V TIGERS SUPERCOACH SCORES
THUMBS UP: Marlion Pickett was the most popular player in SuperCoach going into his Marsh Series debut and that is unlikely to change. He didn’t dominate but showed enough to confirm he’s part of the Tigers’ best 22 with a 61-point return. Darcy Cameron ($123,900 RUC/FWD) gave his chances of a Round 1 start a big boost with two goals and 127 points, but can the Pies play all of Cameron, Brodie Grundy and Mason Cox?
THUMBS DOWN: Jordan De Goey looked only slightly interested in the first three quarters before bursting to life in the final term, booting two goals. That gave him a healthy 71 SuperCoach points, but it also shows how unpredictable his impact and scoring is likely to be. He told Fox Footy he’s likely to split his time 50-50 between attack and the midfield this season.
MORE SUPERCOACH:
Gary Buckenara names the best KFC SuperCoach cash cow prospects for 2020
KFC SuperCoach crystal ball: Expert predictions for top-six scorers in every position
KFC SuperCoach winner Dwayne Delmenico reveals his tactics to go back-to-back in 2020
Who are the most and least durable KFC SuperCoach stars
The 10 must-have KFC SuperCoach players to build your starting team around
YOUNG GUN: Many of the youngsters who featured in Wangaratta are likely to lose their spots when State of Origin stars return, but keen an eye on talented Pie Tyler Brown ($123,900 MID). He has generated plenty of excitement at the Holden Centre over summer and gave us a hint of why with 16 disposals and 65 SuperCoach points.
POD PICK: As if we didn’t have enough tricky options in defence in the $300,000-$500,000 price range. there are a couple more after high-scoring displays from Magpie Jack Crisp ($482,800) and Tiger Jayden Short ($349,400). Crisp averaged 96 points a game in 2018 but dipped to 89 last season, while Short’s highest season average is 86 in 2018.
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Originally published as KFC SuperCoach Marsh Series week two: Tom Green stands tall, Bailey Williams looms as rookie ruck contender
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