KFC SuperCoach 2021: Last-minute consensus rookie rankings
Which cheapies should you pick in KFC SuperCoach? See our experts’ verdict and watch SuperCoach TV live from 12pm AEDT.
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The first lockout of KFC SuperCoach for 2021 is almost upon us.
After months of speculation, we need to make the big calls — and there are none bigger than which rookies to pick in our starting teams.
The cheapest players in our teams are arguably the most important, which will become very clear a few rounds into the season if we select the wrong ones.
So who should we select? We asked our panel of KFC SuperCoach experts.
Here are their top picks in every position (note that we have listed MID/FWD dual-position players in the midfield but you can pick them in either position — in fact it’s a good idea to have a couple across both lines to add flexibility to your squad).
Our expert panel: Al Paton, Tim Michell, The Phantom, Antimo Iannella (aka Mr SuperCoach from The Phantom’s Lair), LekDog from jockreynolds.com.au and Pistol from Doctor SuperCoach.
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TOP 5 ROOKIE DEFENDERS
Finding rookies in defence is the biggest challenge for KFC SuperCoach players in 2021. We are crossing our fingers for most of these players, but Jacob Koschitzke ($123,900) surely played his way into Hawthorn’s Round 1 team with six goals against North Melbourne in the AAMI Community Series.
St Kilda’s mature-age recruit Tom Highmore ($117,300) is in pole position to cover for injured defender James Frawley and Lachie Jones ($139,800) is hoping to get the nod from Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley — but that is a tough team to break into.
With playing rookies limited, experts have looked far and wide — some are prepared to pay a bit more for Bomber Nik Cox ($175,800 DEF/FWD) or Crow Jordon Butts ($176,800) even though they aren’t likely to be big scorers. Lekdog has even stretched the rookie definition to include GWS backman Connor Idun ($214,900).
Some have gone in the other direction, finding the cheapest players available in Aiden Fyfe from Gold Coast or Crow Nick Murray (both $102,400) in the hope they get a game at some stage, or can be deployed for the vice-captain loophole.
TOP 5 ROOKIE MIDFIELDERS
Swans Academy gun Braeden Campbell ($189,300 FWD/MID) is the fifth-most selected player in KFC SuperCoach and he gets a big tick from our experts, along with teammate Errol Gulden, who has also been confirmed as a Round 1 debutant.
The Phantom has been a huge fan of North Melbourne ball magnet Tom Powell ($153,300) since he was putting up huge numbers at junior level in South Australia, and the rest of our experts are on board.
Hawk Connor Downie ($117,300) should be a solid scorer — if he gets a game this weekend, watch the Round 1 teams closely — and the Bulldogs’ 25-year-old rookie Anthony Scott ($102,400) is one of this year’s best footy stories. His bargain-basement price is the icing on the cake.
And keep cheap as chips Dogs teammate Lachlan McNeil ($102,400) in your plans after his Friday night debut was confirmed by coach Luke Beveridge.
TOP 3 ROOKIE RUCKS
Total agreement here that Giant Matt Flynn ($123,900) is the best cheap ruckman on offer this year. Lloyd Meek ($123,900) and Paul Hunter ($102,400) will also debut in Round 1 — giving us rare riches in the R3 category — but Flynn appears most likely to stay in the role long-term. Braydon Preuss set to miss half the season but Docker Sean Darcy and Saints Rowan Marshall and Paddy Ryder could be back as soon as the early rounds.
Tim Michell and Pistol were the only experts to throw another name in the top three, with both putting Lions dual-position big man Tom Fullarton ($128,900) on the podium.
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TOP 5 ROOKIE FORWARDS
If you haven’t already locked Crows goalsneak James Rowe ($117,300) into your team, do it now! Opinions are much more divided after that, but Port Adelaides Miles Bergman ($123,900) and Sydney’s Chad Warner ($144,000) were ranked highly by most experts.
Jarman Impey ($212,800) is a safe bet to play every week and one rookie who has been overlooked by many coaches is Essendon’s Harrison Jones ($123,900). As a tall forward his scoring is likely to be inconsistent but he seems to have a safe spot in the Bombers’ line-up, so sit him on your bench and wait until he has made enough money to trade out (which could be a while!).
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Originally published as KFC SuperCoach 2021: Last-minute consensus rookie rankings
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