KFC SuperCoach AFL: Players set to gain dual-position status at Round 12

There are more than 30 players in contention for DPP after Round 11 in KFC SuperCoach. See the exclusive stats and full list here.

KFC SuperCoach forward lines are about to get a huge shake-up.

Two of the premier scorers in the game are on the cusp of having FWD status added in a huge boon for KFC SuperCoaches.

Western Bulldogs stars Bailey Smith and Marcus Bontempelli increased their overall forward time to 39 per cent during Saturday’s win over Gold Coast, all but assuring the pair will become FWD-MID eligible after Round 11.

Dogs skipper Bontempelli would rank equal fifth for total points of this year’s forwards, while Smith is only four points behind with 1110.

Bontempelli’s average of 112.7 would rank third behind Tim English and Josh Dunkley and Smith’s average of 112.2 would rank fourth.

SCROLL DOWN FOR ALL THE NUMBERS PLUS EXPERT VERDICTS

Unless they play 100 per cent midfield this round against West Coast, Bontempelli and Smith are all but guaranteed to be available as forwards come Round 12, giving KFC SuperCoaches a headache as they try to squeeze them into their forward lines alongside Luke Parker, Will Brodie, English, Liberatore, Heeney and co.

The most-likely strategy will be to use at least one of Bontempelli and Smith as a midfielder, allowing for a FWD-MID swing to be activated in the event of injury or illness.

While KFC SuperCoaches will likely be boosted by Smith and Bontempelli’s flexibility, there are several big names who are borderline DPP additions with one match left before changes take place.

Rowan Marshall, Jayden Short and Travis Boak are within reach of the 35 per cent threshold, but will need plenty of time in their secondary position in Round 11 to gain DPP.

This is where all the key mid-season DPP additions sit:

Marcus Bontempelli the forward? Yes please.

Bailey Smith is also in line to received DPP.

Marcus Bontempelli — time in position

MIDFIELD: 61 per cent

FORWARD: 39 per cent

DPP LIKELIHOOD: Likely MID/FWD

Total points: 1114

Season average: 112.7

Ownership: 9.4 per cent

Current price: $587,500

Projected R12 price: $595,900

TIM’S VERDICT: An absolute must-have as a forward. Just a matter of whether you bring him in now or wait until after the Dogs’ round 13 bye. No harm in getting Bont for the next two rounds considering he has scored 145 and 156 in his last two against the Eagles, this weekend’s opponent. I’d prioritise him this week over Bailey Smith if you’re deciding between the two.

AL’S VERDICT: Get on! After a quiet-ish start to the year he has found form and faces the Eagles this week. Very happy to bring him into the midfield before an almost certain MID/FWD promotion.

Bailey Smith — time in position

MIDFIELD: 61 per cent

FORWARD: 39 per cent

DPP LIKELIHOOD: Likely MID/FWD

Total points: 1110

Season average: 112.2

Ownership: 12.5 per cent

Current price: $552,800

Projected R12 price: $573,900

TIM’S VERDICT: Another must-have. Smith has elevated his game to another level this year and it appears he will average 105-plus. Those are elite numbers in the forward line. If you’re worried about not fielding 18 in round 13, choose one of Bont and Smith and then get the other after the Dogs’ bye. As above, I would grab Bont first and then bring Smith in for round 14.

AL’S VERDICT: The six Dogs forward line strategy is on – but it could be a nightmare in round 13. We probably have to wait until after the Dogs’ bye to complete the set. Although Bont has the higher scoring ceiling, Baz is $30k cheaper with a 65 Break Even so you could definitely grab him first.

Max Gawn — time in position

RUCK: 71 per cent

FORWARD: 29 per cent

DPP LIKELIHOOD: Long shot RUC/FWD

Total points: 1126

Season average: 112.6

Ownership: 48.7 per cent

Current price: $580,400

Projected R12 price: $547,400

TIM’S VERDICT: Wait until round 15 now if you don’t have Gawn. He’s not going to get DPP and continues to drop in price. He’s projected to be $533k in round 15.

AL’S VERDICT: The rucks have been chaotic enough without Gawn getting forward status, but it probably won’t happen unless he doesn’t leave the goalsquare this week.

Max Gawn is only an outside chance to become a RUC/FWD.

Rowan Marshall — time in position

RUCK: 66 per cent

FORWARD: 33 per cent

DPP LIKELIHOOD: In the mix for RUC/FWD

Total points: 796

Season average: 88.4

Ownership: 3.8 per cent

Current price: $458,800

Projected R12 price: $455,000

TIM’S VERDICT: I started with Marshall this year and although he hasn’t hit the heights I was expecting, he becomes a very real option if he gains FWD status. Just ask anyone who had Marshall as a RUC/FWD during the run home last year when he scored 127, 158, 123, 73 and 120. The Ryder factor is real, but he’ll be hard to resist at less than $500k.

AL’S VERDICT: The Marshall dilemma is always that he needs Paddy Ryder in the team to play forward enough to get DPP, and Ryder out of the team to score well enough to justify selection. My forward line is already almost full and barring a long-term Ryder absence I can’t pick him ahead of Bont, Smith and Tim English.

Robbie McComb — time in position

MIDFIELD: 45 per cent

FORWARD: 55 per cent

DPP LIKELIHOOD: Locked in, MID/FWD

Total points: 292

Season average: 58.4

Ownership: 21.7 per cent

Current price: $227,100

Projected R12 price: $246,300

TIM’S VERDICT: If you don’t already have him, there’s no point bringing him in now just for DPP. There will be other FWD/MID rookies. It’s a nice bonus for those who picked him at $102k, though.

AL’S VERDICT: Another Dogs forward! You can’t bring him in now but this will be very helpful in rounds 12 and 14 for McComb owners.

Ben Hobbs — time in position

MIDFIELD: 30 per cent

FORWARD: 70 per cent

DPP LIKELIHOOD: Locked in, MID/FWD

Total points: 353

Season average: 58.8

Ownership: 12.4 per cent

Current price: $266,800

Projected R12 price: $288,500

TIM’S VERDICT: Far too expensive to bring in now, but if you took the punt at $153k you will get the benefit of DPP and be able to swing Dunkley, Butters, Parker etc into midfield if needed.

AL’S VERDICT: Huge win for coaches who copped some very low scores early. With a BE of just 9 try to hold onto him through the Bombers’ bye if you can.

Jayden Short — time in position

DEFENCE: 59 per cent

MIDFIELD: 32 per cent

FORWARD: 9 per cent

DPP LIKELIHOOD: 50-50, DEF/MID

Total points: 1092

Season average: 109.2

Ownership: 42 per cent

Current price: $556,300

Projected R12 price: $551,100

TIM’S VERDICT: I wouldn’t be rushing to bring him in if he gains DPP purely due to that factor. Jordan Dawson and Jack Sinclair are arguably better options and both already have DPP status. If you don’t have Short and have been saving a spot in defence, jump on round 13 after Richmond’s bye.

AL’S VERDICT: A rookie DEF/MID would be a lot more useful but I’m happy to take it.

Darcy Cameron has stepped into the void left by Brodie Grundy’s injury.

Darcy Cameron — time in position

FORWARD: 50 per cent

RUCK: 50 per cent

DPP LIKELIHOOD: Locked in, FWD/RUC

Total points: 676

Season average: 75.1

Ownership: 2.8 per cent

Current price: $449,500

Projected R12 price: $467,800

TIM’S VERDICT: My guy! Cameron has been a revelation for those who jumped on at $330k and RUC status always seemed likely after Brodie Grundy went down and he assumed the No. 1 mantle. Those who own Cameron and Braydon Preuss should keep a close eye on the form and fitness of both. Whoever has the higher Break Even is the one you can consider cashing in after the byes.

AL’S VERDICT: Did Tim influence the judges? One of his great KFC SuperCoach picks was grabbing DC a few weeks ago when he was just over $300k. And just quietly $449k is still a good price for a player with a three-round average of 109.3.

Tom Mitchell — time in position

MIDFIELD: 74 per cent

FORWARD: 26 per cent

DPP LIKELIHOOD: Unlikely, MID/FWD

Total points: 861

Season average: 95.7

Ownership: 3.5 per cent

Current price: $498,500

Projected R12 price: $485,700

TIM’S VERDICT: Won’t get DPP but is still cheap enough to be considered as an M8 option if you’re low on funds. Covers round 12 and 13.

AL’S VERDICT: Looked a different player after a week off although Fantasy Freako warned he still isn’t getting much centre bounce action. Can’t be ignored at the price but I would prefer someone like Smith as my M8.

Connor Rozee — time in position

MIDFIELD: 49 per cent

FORWARD: 51 per cent

DPP LIKELIHOOD: Locked in, FWD/MID

Total points: 772

Season average: 77.2

Ownership: 3.6 per cent

Current price: $450,800

Projected R12 price: $451,000

TIM’S VERDICT: No thanks. $450k is too much to pay for a player with only one ton in his past four, and coming off a score of 46 his Break Even is 104.

AL’S VERDICT: A bonus for my draft team but too risky for classic.

Travis Boak is likely to just miss out on FWD status.

Travis Boak — time in position

MIDFIELD: 71 per cent

FORWARD: 29 per cent

DPP LIKELIHOOD: Long shot for MID/FWD

Total points: 1119

Season average: 111.9

Ownership: 8.7 per cent

Current price: $529,600

Projected R12 price: $489,400

TIM’S VERDICT: Would be close to a must-have if he gained FWD status, but it appears he will fall short. If the half-forward/midfield role continues and he gets DPP in the pre-round 18 changes, he might be a finals POD to jump on for the run home. For now, I’m willing to wait.

AL’S VERDICT: That projected price caught my attention. Unlikely to be DPP but if you want a midfield POD coming off the round 12 bye you could do a lot worse than a guy averaging 112.

Sam Walsh — time in position

MIDFIELD: 73 per cent

FORWARD: 27 per cent

DPP LIKELIHOOD: Not this time

Total points: 1049

Season average: 116.6

Ownership: 5.1 per cent

Current price: $609,200

Projected R12 price: $632,400

TIM’S VERDICT: Won’t get DPP but is a great buy regardless. I’d hold off until after the round 12 bye now, though. Most KFC SuperCoaches jumped on Patrick Cripps instead, so he’s a great POD.

AL’S VERDICT: This is the guy I want after round 12. Just finding his groove (three-round average 123.7) and in only 5 per cent of teams. If he gets DPP in round 18 that’s a bonus.

Mark Blicavs is set to become a DEF-RUC.

Mark Blicavs — time in position

DEFENCE: 48 per cent

RUCK: 41 per cent

MIDFIELD: 11 per cent

DPP LIKELIHOOD: Locked in, DEF/RUC

Total points: 977

Season average: 97.7

Ownership: 1.0 per cent

Current price: $538,800

Projected R12 price: $542,600

TIM’S VERDICT: Hasn’t scored less than 93 since round 4 and has six tons in his past seven games. Blicavs has well and truly slipped under the radar this year. His RUC/DEF DPP could be very useful if you plan on trading Sam Hayes down to Domanic Akuei ($102k) or Oscar Adams ($117k), who are both DEF/RUC. That would mean if one of your ruckmen missed a week later in the season, you could swing Blicavs in from defence to avoid a donut.

AL’S VERDICT: Have never thought about this guy in KFC SuperCoach but that’s one of the great things about this game. Unlike the forward line, the top 6-8 defenders are wide open – and Blicavs is No. 8 if you rank by five-round average. The worry is he’s almost too versatile. I wouldn’t put it past Chris Scott deciding in round 14 he’s a lockdown defender.

Originally published as KFC SuperCoach AFL: Players set to gain dual-position status at Round 12