KFC SuperCoach Draft 2021: The Phantom’s top 50 player rankings - Final edition
Taking part in a KFC SuperCoach Draft this weekend? You need to read the The Phantom’s updated player rankings first. Here’s who to pick and when.
SuperCoach
Don't miss out on the headlines from SuperCoach. Followed categories will be added to My News.
If you haven’t played KFC SuperCoach Draft before, you’re missing out.
Arguably, it’s a fun, more-exciting way to play our favourite fantasy game.
Take part in a league with your mates – or join any available public league – and select a unique KFC SuperCoach team through a live draft where each player is only available once.
You can then trade players with other teams throughout the season and pick up any undrafted player from the free agency pool as you go.
KFC SUPERCOACH DRAFT IS FREE TO PLAY, SIGN UP AND START YOUR LEAGUE NOW
League settings – number of teams, squad size, trading and free agency options, gameplay and draft type, just to name a few – are customisable, allowing you to set up your competition your own way.
To begin, here is the final edition of my Top 50 player rankings. For new players, it will give you an indication of how a draft might play out.
EXPERT CONSENSUS: PLAYER RANKINGS IN EVERY POSITION
BEGINNER’S GUIDE: GET STARTED IN KFC SUPERCOACH DRAFT
1. Max Gawn (Melb), Ruck (March 1st ranking: 1)
2020 Average: 140
With the scaling at the top-end set to even out a little, Gawn might not pass the 150-point mark on a staggering seven occasions this year. But he’s still the favourite to finish the season as the No. 1 scorer. You’re taking him with the coveted first selection.
2. Brodie Grundy (Coll), Ruck (2)
2020 Average: 121
Grundy is a close second. I’m tipping the ruck giants to meet at about an average of 130 in 2021. It will put them well clear of the next-best ruckman - and maybe even the No. 3 scorer in the competition.
3. Lachie Neale (Bris), Mid (3)
2020 Average: 134
Pick No. 3 is likely to be a very easy one in KFC SuperCoach drafts this year. Take whichever of the ‘big three’ slips through. The durable and consistent Neale is the likely No. 1 midfielder in KFC SuperCoach after 13 scores of 130 or more last year.
4. Patrick Dangerfield (Geel), Fwd (4)
2020 Average: 114
What limited pre-season? Initially, I was concerned about the lingering groin issue but not after Dangerfield’s midfield performances over the pre-season. Even if he does spend time forward again, given the lack of depth in the KFC SuperCoach forward line this year, I’d be taking the player who could average 10 points more than the next-best.
5. Jake Lloyd (Syd), Def (5)
2020 Average: 122
Another 122-point average might be a stretch but Lloyd, who has posted a KFC SuperCoach ton in 45 of his past 54 home-and-away matches, is the clear No. 1 defender. Lock him away here before someone else does, you’re still likely to get a great midfielder with your next pick.
6. Nat Fyfe (Freo), Mid (7)
2020 Average: 113
The Dockers star has missed 35 games through injury and suspension since 2015 and the rapid rise of the Fremantle midfield’s next generation saw him spend plenty of time forward in 2020. But he still averaged 113 points last year, a mark he’s passed five times in his career. And a very fit-looking Fyfe posted a game-high 128 points in the AAMI Series after attending 11 centre bounces - that’s probably all he needs - to push himself just in front of the next crop of midfielders.
7. Clayton Oliver (Melb), Mid (6)
2020 Average: 122
Oliver could be taken straight after Neale in some drafts - and I wouldn’t argue with that selection. So you would be more than happy with the star Demon, who has averaged 70, 111, 115, 109 and 122 in his first five seasons in the competition at No. 7. He kicked more, and was more direct in 2021, and with that added to his almost unmatched first-possession game. But a limited preperation sees him drop slightly.
8 Jack Steele (StK), Mid (8)
2020 Average: 122
Newly-appointed St Kilda co-captain Steele posted 13 KFC SuperCoach tons in a career-best season last year and multiple avenues of scoring will ensure he maintains his place in the top-bracket. The clear No. 2 defender and midfielders Jack Macrae and Patrick Cripps could all be in the mix here.
9. Rory Laird (Adel), Def (9)
2020 Average: 105
He led the Crows for contested possessions, clearances and ground-ball gets and averaged 118 KFC SuperCoach points from Round 10 onwards last year playing in the midfield. And, after attending the most centre bounces for the club in the trial match against Port, that role is set to continue this year. You’d be happy with the clear No. 2 candidate in defence at the back-end of the first-round.
10. Jack Macrae (WB), Mid (10)
2020 Average: 121
Macrae, who has averaged 120 points or more in the past three seasons, is probably too hard to overlook. The only reason he’s not higher on this list - like he has been in recent years - is the uncertainty around the make-up of the Bulldogs midfield with the arrival of Adam Treloar. But that concern has eased slightly, after his 39 disposals and 158 points against Melbourne. The next-best forward and midfielders Patrick Cripps, Josh Kelly and Tom Mitchell could all be in the mix here, but the latter two come with some risk.
11. Patrick Cripps (Carl), Mid (11)
2020 Average: 97
12. Josh Dunkley (WB), Fwd (12)
2020 Average: 104
13. Dustin Martin (Rich), Fwd (13)
2020 Average: 101
14. Reilly O’Brien (Adel), Ruck (14)
2020 Average: 106
AAMI SERIES: EVERY KFC SUPERCOACH SCORE FROM THE PRE-SEASON
15. Josh Kelly (GWS), Mid (15)
2020 Average: 115
16. Tom Mitchell (Haw), Mid (16)
2020 Average: 113
17. Tom Stewart (Geel), Def (17)
2020 Average: 100
18. Sam Walsh (Carl), Mid (18)
2020 Average: 101
19. Marcus Bontempelli (WB), Mid (22)
2020 Average: 116
20. Christian Petracca (Melb), Mid (19)
2020 Average: 117
As mentioned above, with the shallow forward pool, I’d be picking Dunkley and Martin early - there will still be some great midfielders available outside the top-20. I’m tipping big things for Walsh, while O’Brien could be the one to threaten the big two in the ruck. Bontempelli is the only addition to the top-20, after sitting just outside earlier in the pre-season.
DRAFT SLEEPERS: THE LATE-ROUND PICKS TO SET YOU APART
21. Zach Merrett (Ess), Mid (28)
2020 Average: 116
22. Steele Sidebottom (Coll), Fwd (21)
2020 Average: 109
23. Luke Ryan (Freo), Def (24)
2020 Average: 107
24. Caleb Daniel (WB), Def (30)
2020 Average: 101
25. Matt Crouch (Adel), Mid(25)
2020 Average: 111
26. Adam Treloar (WB), Mid (26)
2020 Average: 109
27. Zac Williams (Carl), Def (23)
2020 Average: 85
28. Dayne Zorko (Bris), Fwd (29)
2020 Average: 98
29. Isaac Heeney (Syd), Fwd (27)
2020 Average: 94
30. Jordan Ridley (Ess), Def (41)
2020 Average: 102
I was too harsh on Merrett early, while Daniel’s performance in the AAMI Series - and the likelihood the new rules will help him further - means he should be snapped up in the first two rounds. I’d happily take a punt on Williams exploding in Carlton’s midfield, too, even though he will miss Round 1 - you can cover that in the Draft format. Treloar’s pre-season calf setback is a worry but he could prove to be a great pick at around this point.
31. Lachie Whitfield (GWS), Def (20)
2020 Average: 104
32. Matt Rowell (GC), Mid (31)
2020 Average: 102
33. Todd Goldstein (NM), Ruck (32)
2020 Average: 112
34. Liam Duggan (WC), Def (36)
2020 Average: 83
35. Taylor Adams (Coll), Mid (33)
2020 Average: 110
36. Andrew Gaff (WC), Mid (34)
2020 Average: 106
37. Callum Mills (Syd), Def (38)
2020 Average: 101
38. Sam Docherty (Carl), Def (39)
2020 Average: 92
39. Zak Butters (Port), Fwd (44)
2020 Average: 88
40. Jarryd Lyons (Bris), Mid (42)
2020 Average: 112
Adams’ pre-season hamstring injury has tempered my expectations a little but I’m still expecting a big spike in a Treloar-less Collingwood midfield. Duggan will spend more time further up the ground this year, as we’ve seen over the pre-season, while Mills’ midfield move is also set to finally happen. After a standout summer, Butters rises given the lack of premium forwards in 2021 Whitfield is a top-15 lock if he recovers from a bruised liver in time for Round 1 - but that appears unlikely.
41. Jayden Short (Rich), Def (-)
2020 Average: 110
42. Travis Boak (Port), Mid (43)
2020 Average: 110
43. Toby Greene (GWS), Fwd (46)
2020 Average: 83
44. Alex Witherden (WC), Def (35)
2020 Average: 94
45. Tom Hawkins (Geel), Fwd (37)
2020 Average: 106
46. Andrew Brayshaw (Freo), Mid (40)
2020 Average: 101
47. Luke McDonald (NM), Def (45)
2020 Average: 95
48. Rowan Marshall (StK), Fwd (47)
2020 Average: 104
49. Adam Saad (Carl), Def (48)
2020 Average: 98
50. Jordan De Goey (Coll), Fwd (-)
2020 Average: 73
Rowan Marshall will miss the early stages of the year but he will be a great stash for the final two thirds of the season, while Short bolts into the top 50 after the AAMI Series. Like Daniel, it wasn’t just about his score, but more about how the running, outside defenders of the competition will benefit from a new-look game this year. At least to begin with, anyway. I’ve tempered my expectations on Hawkins with the arrival of Jeremy Cameron and, even though I’m big on Witherden’s role at the Eagles, there’s a number of safer picks. De Goey could be a steal at No. 50 if the midfield experiment continues.
More Coverage
Originally published as KFC SuperCoach Draft 2021: The Phantom’s top 50 player rankings - Final edition
Join the conversation
The AFL trades set to deliver big SuperCoach bargains
Bailey Smith and Clayton Oliver could be huge SuperCoach steals at a new club in 2025. Which other names should be on the watch list? Here are the moves to watch.
Read more
AFL obsession to NBL addiction: How SuperCoach hooked me on hoops
I hadn’t watch the NBL since the Andrew Gaze and Shane Heal days. Now I’m taking my son to United games and watching Phoenix on Kayo because of one reason.
Read more