KFC SuperCoach: Best James Sicily replacements and top trade targets for round 14
James Sicily is out for a month – pending an appeal of his tackle ban. Where does that leave KFC SuperCoach players? Get the best trade advice plus top rookies.
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Oh Sicily, you’ve done it again.
Whether you agree with James Sicily’s three-week dangerous tackle ban or not, no one can deny the Hawks skipper has a way of getting himself into trouble.
The complicating factor this week is that the three-week suspension Sicily was served on Tuesday could be overturned six days later.
Yes, a whole six days later.
The appeal hearing has been scheduled for Monday evening in a disastrous outcome for KFC SuperCoaches considering trading Sicily this week.
What if you trade him, he gets off and you’re a premium down on other coaches in round 15?
Of course, the suspension could be upheld and those who trade this week will look like oracles for moving him on early.
It’s a tricky situation that more than 40,000 teams are dealing with, and, as of Thursday lunchtime, more than 10,000 had traded Sicily.
We examine the case for trading before round 14 or holding him in the hope Hawthorn’s appeal is successful.
THE CASE FOR TRADING
- Many teams are already struggling to field 18 players this round and trading Sicily could give you an extra premium for the next two weeks. You could trade him to Tom Stewart, Luke Ryan or Jack Sinclair who’ve already had their bye.
- There’s no guarantee he’s going to get off. The Hawks rolled out a biomechanics expert at the tribunal on Tuesday night and argued Tyler Brockman’s involvement in the tackle contributed to Hugh McCluggage’s awkward landing. But the tribunal didn’t buy it. If you trade this week and he is suspended, you’ll have an extra player for round 15 than you otherwise would have.
- If you’re low on trades and trying to finish your team, using Sicily’s $649k and trading for value would help. Although he has the round 15 bye, a trade of Sicily to Harry Himmelberg nets about $275k. That would be enough to then trade Seamus Mitchell, Jacob van Rooyen or Kade Chandler to Stewart coming off his bye.
- This is two suspensions in two games. Can you trust him to stay out of trouble?
THE CASE FOR HOLDING
- As appealing as Stewart is, if Sicily’s ban is upheld on Monday and you haven’t traded him, he’s your path to Clayton Oliver. Oliver’s ownership has dropped by more than 30 per cent in the past month as he was sidelined due to injury but at $658k you only need to spend $9k to turn Sicily into him using a dual-position switch (for example, moving Jordan Dawson from the midfield to defence). That way you don’t miss out if Oliver returns with a bang.
- He could get off on Monday. Who knows, maybe the appeals board will be feeling more lenient than the tribunal? Then Sicily would bolster your on-field stocks for round 15 and save you a trade. He has scored 128 or more in five of his past six games and would have posted 200 against St Kilda in round 11 if he didn’t give away two 50m penalties.
- Let’s say the three-game ban is upheld and Sicily is out for rounds 15-17. That means he’s back for the final six rounds. Depending on who you have at D7, maybe you could get away with fielding a rookie to cover Sicily? Josh Weddle scored 90 in round 12 when Sicily missed and someone has to pick up the intercept points in the Hawthorn defence. If you can survive his absence the Hawks skipper would be an amazing POD in KFC SuperCoach finals.
- Trades are gold at this time of year. If you go with the above plan and field a rookie, your scoring probably suffers by anywhere between 30-50 points a week. But your best chance to make that up is to trade well or take advantage when other teams run out of trades with a month to go. You can trade strategically in the last month, targeting a favourable match-up or two while other coaches have to sit and pray. Taylor Walker has West Coast again in round 24, as an example.
VERDICT:
Hold for this week and if the suspension is upheld trade to Stewart if you don’t have him, or look to grab a top-line midfielder like Oliver, Rory Laird or Zach Merrett, who will all be coming off their bye.
FANTASY FREAKO’S SICILY ADVICE, ROOKIE TIPS
James Sicily’s three-game suspension has thrown trade plans into disarray! There is now a glimmer of hope with Hawthorn appealing the ban, but the only problem is that the appeal won’t be heard until Monday night. That’s not a great result for SuperCoaches as we must decide whether to roll the dice and trade or hold and hope that the decision is overturned.
Already missing round 14 with the bye, if he remains suspended, we won’t see the Hawks skipper until round 18. No SuperCoach team can adequately cover a player that is averaging an equal career-high 114 points – also ranking No.1 in the league for marks and second for intercept possessions per game.
If we look at a shorter period, Sicily is averaging 128 since round 8, which ranks
him third in the AFL behind only Zak Butters (129) and Josh Dunkley (140). So, the safe play would be to hold Sicily and just go in with one less player for round 14. If his suspension stands – then you can just trade him ahead of round 15.
If you have plenty of trades up your sleeve, then you may want to move Sicily out now and hope that his suspension stands and get a leg up on the rest of the competition.
If you go down that path, then there is one clear standout that has just served his bye – Tom Stewart. He hasn’t been as prolific as Sicily since Round 8 – but he is still averaging 114 points, which is an elite return.
Stewart has taken a team-high 43 kick-ins – playing on from all but four of these. I’m expecting the Power to use Darcy Byrne-Jones in a negating role on Stewart – a role he has performed in recent weeks, with his list of opponents including Bailey Dale, Christian Salem, and Jack Sinclair. He hasn’t shut down any of these players, so I’d still expect Stewart to find his share of the ball.
Jack Sinclair would be my next choice – especially if you already own Stewart. Sinclair was hot property last round as the Saints came off the bye, scoring 125 from 32 disposals and equal season-high 12 contested possessions. He played 77 per cent of game time in defence – his highest percentage since round 3 – shaking an early Ryan Clarke tag.
St Kilda face just four top-eight teams in the run home, and Sinclair averages 111 against bottom-10 teams. In comparison, he averages 90 against top-eight opposition.
SuperCoaches were all over Jake Lloyd last round as he too came off the bye – but John Longmire threw a spanner in the works by playing him on the wing for the first time this season to accommodate the return of Dane Rampe – spending 70 per cent of game time in that role. Lloyd had just 25 points to his name at three-quarter time and if it wasn’t for the injury to Nick Blakey he would have struggled to get to 50.
But in true Lloyd fashion he was rampant in the final term after moving back into defence – collecting 11 disposals, three intercepts and 49 points. He finished with a respectable 74. He remains an option this week, but I would put Stewart and Sinclair well ahead of him.
Elsewhere, Luke Ryan was once again underwhelming last round with just 83 points while Caleb Daniel continued to rack it up – scoring 125 after helping himself to 169, 117 and 144 in his previous three games. His scoring spree has coincided with the injury to Jason Johannisen. But you’ll be paying top-dollar for Daniel now, and he has a round 15 bye.
Below are the leading scorers since round 8 – excluding anyone with a round 14 bye:
ROOKIE WATCH
It is all hands on deck this week as six teams have a bye. The rookies will need to play their part – no matter what they score.
Last round Ryan Maric became the first mid-season draftee to debut in West Coast’s humbling by Adelaide, finishing with eight disposals, two marks inside 50, two goals and 49 points. The Eagles also targeted him inside 50 on five occasions – ranked second behind Jack Darling with eight. Maric has the bye this round but at the basement low rookie price, he remains a downgrade option if you are chasing cash.
At the Giants, Josh Fahey started his first match of the season and scored a respectable 54 points – collecting 13 disposals, 10 uncontested possessions and three marks. Whether he keeps his place in the team is another question though – Josh Kelly, Isaac Cumming, and Sam Taylor all face fitness tests ahead of this week’s game against Fremantle.
Josh Sinn also started his first match, but he didn’t find a lot of the ball on the wing – managing just seven disposals and 21 points after 59 minutes game time before making way for Riley Bonner. Ken Hinkley has already confirmed that Sinn will play against Geelong this week, so he looms as an option should you decide to go down that path.
If you were relying on Oisin Mullin in defence this round then sadly you’ll need to bench him as he has been ruled out with an adductor injury. It’s poor timing for those that have already jumped on board and were hoping to play him on field in rounds 14 and 15.
With the Cats set to welcome back a host or premiership stars, Mullin is likely to face an uphill battle to get back into that Geelong team.
Lewis Melican could be a potential replacement for Mullin after scoring 87 and 52 in that order in his two games – although you would have to find some money to fund such a move. Melican held his place in the team last week even with Dane Rampe returning, so one would expect him to front up against Brisbane this week.
Teammate and DPP, Angus Sheldrick was solid against St Kilda – scoring 61 from 19 disposals and six tackles. But Luke Parker returns this week and Sheldrick may be the player to make way.
Whatever you decide, trade wisely and best of luck for Round 14 and the remaining bye rounds!
SICILY: TRADE OR HOLD, BEST REPLACEMENTS
– Tim Michell and Al Paton
James Sicily is the definition of pleasure and pain in KFC SuperCoach.
The Hawks captain was at his dominant best against Brisbane on Saturday, scoring 136 points from 32 disposals and 12 marks to be a key architect of an upset win.
It was his fourth straight score above 130, with his average of 144 in that time putting him in another league compared to any other defender in KFC SuperCoach (Caleb Daniel isn’t too far behind – more on him below).
Sicily’s past four scores don’t include round 12, when he was missing due to suspension – a huge blow for coaches in a best 18 bye round. And if you thought that was bad, it could be about to get a lot worse.
Sicily has been sent suspended for three weeks for his tackle on Hugh McCluggage which resulted in the Lions midfielder being taken from the ground on a medi-cart.
He will miss next week anyway due to Hawthorn’s bye and the suspension – if it stands – means he won’t be back until round 18.
If you can cover Sicily in round 15, you could hold on to one of the best scorers in the game – he would be a huge bonus in the final six rounds. But that’s a long way away and many coaches are not in that position.
Fortunately, there are a number of options if you suddenly need a defender, from top-end scorers to value picks that could free up money to help make other trades.
With teammates Seamus Mitchell and Josh Weddle also on the chopping block, here are the best trade targets to consider this week and over the final two weeks of byes.
Tom Stewart $593,500 DEF
The standout option to replace Sicily, coming off the round 13 bye after scores of 138 and 127 points in his last two games. A trade of Sicily to Stewart will make you a small profit, provide an extra number in rounds 14 and 15 and fill the premium hole in your defence Sicily being out would leave. Geelong next faces Port Adelaide, a team Stewart has scored 122 and 130 against in his last two games. After that it’s Melbourne (104 last year) and Sydney (101-114 in last three). Don’t overthink this one. If you don’t have Stewart, trading Sicily to him is one of the easiest moves you’ll make this year.
Jack Sinclair $552,800 DEF
The star Saint shook the Ryan Clarke clamp on Thursday night, playing one of his best games of the year. Sinclair recorded 32 disposals at 78 per cent efficiency against the Swans, also managing seven clearances, three tackles, four inside-50s and three rebound-50s. He might have only two scores above 110 in his past eight matches but Sinclair has a huge ceiling, has already had his bye and nets more than $50k in a trade from Sicily. He’s also up against Richmond next, and the Tigers traditionally leak huge points to half-backs. The issue there is Sinclair has been playing extra time in the midfield, which in some matches has been detrimental to his scoring.
Jordan Dawson $573,600 DEF
The obvious issue with trading Sicily to the Adelaide skipper is it won’t help your numbers this week as the Crows also have the bye. Dawson peaked at $667k after round 6 but can be bought for almost $100k cheaper than that now after a run of 89, 92, 120, 106 and 95 in his past five games. A five-round average of 100.4 is nothing to sneezed at, but Dawson set such high standards earlier in the year that those who paid top dollar have been slightly underwhelmed. If you already have 18 players for round 14, you could hold off a week on the trade and bring in Dawson before round 15. He scored 150 against Adelaide’s next opponent Collingwood earlier this year and 145 against the Crows’ round 16 opponent North Melbourne last season. If you already have Stewart, Dawson is the No.2 replacement for Sicily.
Elliot Yeo $399,500 DEF
Started at full-back on Taylor Walker, had five goals kicked on him in about 20 minutes and still managed to score 113. The risk with picking Yeo is that his body fails him again after a wretched run with injury. In the past four seasons Yeo has only played 32 games, with a high of 12 in 2021. But there’s no doubt that when he plays, Yeo has the talent to be a KFC SuperCoach premium. The problem has been he just hasn’t been out there enough. But in the past three weeks Yeo has scored 73, 125 and 113, amassing 26 and 30 disposals in the past two rounds. If you’re running low on trades you might not be in a position to risk Yeo getting injured during the run home. But if you have at least one for insurance to trade him out again – if required – he’s a great value selection. West Coast has the bye this round, so if you’re on the fence you’ve got time to mull it over.
Jarman Impey $436,400 DEF
As much as KFC SuperCoach evolves, there are times when history repeats itself. That’s the case with Impey, who was a popular selection in 2021 when he transitioned into a running half-back. Impey has been used in a similar role in recent weeks, scoring 112, 105 and 106 in his past three matches, and will take on extra responsibility in defence if Sicily is missing. You can make about $200k by trading Sicily to Impey to help finish your team, which will be a huge boost if you’re running low on trades. Impey has averaged 29 disposals in the past three weeks, rising to more than $400k for the first time since round 8 last season. Like Dawson, Impey has a bye this week, though.
Josh Worrell $328,100 DEF
If you really want to cash Sicily in and make $300k with the trade, Worrell is your man. He looks primed for an extended run in the Adelaide team after Tom Doedee suffered an ACL injury, and has scored 100 and 82 points in his two matches this year. He won’t get it much easier than Adelaide had it against West Coast on Saturday, but still impressively went at 84 per cent by foot and recorded seven intercept possessions. Say you have six or fewer trades and want to use two to help finish your team. You could go Sicily to Worrell and use the $300k to turn a round 14 bye rookie such as Josh Weddle into a top premium.
Caleb Daniel $615,200 DEF/FWD
There is no defender in better form than the helmeted Bulldog in the past month. Daniel has gone 144, 117, 169 and 125 in his past four matches, delighting those who jumped on for less than $500k a month ago. He didn’t play as much time on the inside against Port Adelaide on Friday yet still had 29 disposals at 83 per cent, seven score involvements, four inside-50s and four rebound-50s. Luke Beveridge appears to have given Daniel plenty of freedom to roam from midfield, defence and even on a wing, and it’s paying dividends. Daniel has risen to more than $600k, so you won’t make a huge profit by trading Sicily. But his value is increased by being a DEF-FWD and offering great DPP flexibility. He has a round 15 bye but if you need numbers for this week, Daniel is a leading option.
Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera $461,500 DEF/MID
The Saints struck gold in the 2021 draft (see Mitch Owens below) and the dashing Wanganeen-Milera is showing why he was snapped up at pick 11. With Jack Sinclair spending more time in the midfield, the 20-year-old is growing in confidence with his run off half-back, using his superb kicking to maximum advantage. Until round 10 this year he had not scored a KFC SuperCoach ton, now he has three in a row, plus a 97 in round 8, for a five-round average of 97.2, which presents fantastic value for his price. You would be taking a gamble on a player on the rise, but the fact he is now bye-free and has DEF-MID eligibility add to his appeal.
OTHER TARGETS
Tarryn Thomas $295,700 MID/FWD
The talented Kangaroo has had his issues off the field this season, but on the field we know he can play, as he has shown with scores of 89 and 112 since returning to the senior team. He attended 62 per cent of centre bounces on Sunday and finished with 19 disposals and three goals, and you can’t ignore the value if he can continue that kind of form. There are red flags, though, and not just an upcoming court appearance. Jy Simpkin, Luke Davies-Uniacke and Hugh Greenwood all missed the game against GWS and could eat into his midfield time. Then there’s the Kangaroos’ round 15 bye, which is a huge flashing warning sign for a week most teams will be struggling for numbers.
Ben Keays $418,200 FWD/MID
Another player with the round 14 bye – yes, there’s a few. But if you can wait a week and swing some DPP, you could trade Sicily to the resurgent Crow. After a frustrating run as a defensive forward, Keays has been back in the midfield rotation in the past three rounds and has scored 102, 106 and 115. He’s back above $400k, so unfortunately you missed him at his cheapest, but this week (and next after the bye) still looks like a good time to buy. Keays started the year at $548k and has averaged 103 and 99.6 in full seasons before. He’s available as a FWD-MID this year, too, so he might be the value option you need to finish your forward line.
Nat Fyfe $275,900 FWD/MID
We can confirm that once again, Fyfe is life. He’s back in the midfield, scored 96 against Richmond, has had his bye and his price is on the rise. Like Yeo, Fyfe carries a huge injury risk and there’s every chance he is subbed during games or managed during the second half of the season. More than 8000 coaches jumped on last round and if you wanted more evidence on why you should take a punt on Fyfe, he delivered with 17 disposals, 11 contested possessions and a goal. He’ll likely be the most popular trade-in this week.
Mitch Owens $408,900 FWD
The kid who scored two points on debut might win this year’s Rising Star award. How crazy is that? Owens has been asked to play as a key forward and second ruck due to St Kilda’s injury issues and has excelled, scoring his third ton of the campaign against Sydney on Thursday. He was also on track for a hundred against GWS in round 10, scoring 42 in 45 minutes before being concussed. If you started Owens at $249k you got one of the bargains of the year and he has only twice scored less than 76 – one of those being the game he was concussed. If you need a value forward who’s already had his bye, Owens is a standout option. The kid is going to be something special.
ROOKIES
Back to the drawing board – again.
The No.1 rookie trade target this week in KFC SuperCoach has been ruled out with injury.
Oisin Mullin ($102k DEF) was set to play his third game with a Break Even of -32, but coach Chris Scott has ruled the Irishman out of Thursday night’s clash against the Power.
“He just had this little bit of an adductor issue that some players could play through, but we’re not going to do that with Oisin,” he said.
“We want to think long-term with him ... because he’s such a physical player. Great speed, power, mechanical work.”
It’s another blow for the 27,000 coaches who have already brought him into their teams, and thousands more who are looking for a cheap downgrade this week.
If you don’t like the other rookies on offer, one option is to generate cash by trading a top-end player who is missing this week – suspended Hawk James Sicily is candidate A – for a bargain like Harry Himmelberg, Nat Fyfe or Tarryn Thomas. More on those players below.
But if you want a bench cheapie, there are some other options.
Giant Josh Fahey ($126,700 DEF/MID), who has been putting up huge numbers in the VFL, played his first full game for the year last round after two as the sub, and scored 54 points against the Kangaroos. His DPP is attractive, but the round 15 bye could be an issue.
If you don’t mind paying a little bit more, three cheapies who have already had their bye are Swans Angus Sheldrick ($158,800 MID/FWD, BE 22) and Lewis Melican ($172,300 DEF, BE -39) and Docker Sam Sturt ($154,500 FWD, BE 28).
Sheldrick has the strongest scoring potential of the trio if he can retrain his midfield role, but Luke Parker is back from suspension this week. Melican has scored 87 and 52 in his two matches this season and seems to have a safe role in defence, but is that too much to pay for a player you really only want on the bench after the byes? Sturt was Fremantle’s sub before the Dockers’ bye and held his spot when Michael Walters returned, which is a positive sign for his job security. He also threaded a lovely goal from the boundary line on the way to 46 points against the Tigers, but the fact he was dropped from rounds 8-10 shows he’s right on the fringe of the best 22.
If you can field 18 players this week you could back in a rookie on the bye like Magpie Harvey Harrison ($123,900 FWD, BE -37), who has scored 50 and 59 in his first two games and will be on the bubble in round 15 – if he is selected – or Eagle Ryan Maric ($102,400 FWD), who kicked two goals and scored 49 points on debut. The No.1 pick in the mid-season draft has another two matches to play before he starts making money, but providing bye cover could be his biggest asset and he would be extremely unlucky to get dropped given the Eagles’ injury problems.
Originally published as KFC SuperCoach: Best James Sicily replacements and top trade targets for round 14
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