KFC SuperCoach: Tim Michell answers the burning questions for Round 7

What do injuries to premiums mean for overall strategy? Plus Swans rookies, Jayden Short’s scary stat and all the big issues for Round 7.

Jayden Short in action during a Richmond Tigers training session.

Resident KFC SuperCoach guru and burning question answerer The Phantom is on leave on what could be the toughest week of the season for coaches.

Coincidence? I’ll let you be the judge.

I’m stepping into his giant shoes to tackle some of the big issues confronting KFC SuperCoaches leading into Round 7.

WILL THERE BE A ROUND THIS YEAR WITH A PREMO INJURY?

If there is, we should all celebrate. The forward line premiums are a complete mess, with Dustin Martin and Josh Dunkley added to the frighteningly lost list of injuries in the first six rounds. Dunkley might not play again until finals and is a must-trade, but Martin should be back in Round 8. Then there’s Lachie Neale, who is looking at 6-8 weeks on the sidelines with an ankle injury after somehow battling his way to a score of 96 last round. If you’re one of the 596 players who went Dangerfield to Neale last round, my thoughts and prayers are with you. That’s brutal.

SO, JACK ZIEBELL IS GOING TO BE F1 AT THE END OF 2021?

Why not? At this rate he might only have to stay fit to achieve that mark. No one looked like catching Dunkley but now he’s going to be out for most — if not all — of the season, the No.1 forward slot is up for grabs. Ziebell has five hundreds in six games, a three-round average of 136.7 and could soon be $600,000. It’s not crazy to trade Josh Dunkley to the Roos skipper if he’s somehow still not in your team.

TRADE GUIDE: HOW TO SURVIVE SUPERCOACH INJURY CRISIS

Jack Ziebell is dominating in a new role in defence. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

AND TEX WALKER IS THE REAL DEAL THEN?

It certainly looks that way. The Crows take on GWS Giants next round before a tougher run of fixtures starts with the Showdown. That’s when we’ll find out if this renaissance can last a full season. But why can’t it? Walker is the leading goalkicker in the AFL and, unlike most key forwards, doesn’t need a huge bag of goals to hit triple figures. It’s time we started talking about Tex as a serious top-six contender.

WHAT IF I HAVE NEALE, DUNKLEY AND DUSTY, TIM?

Firstly, you’re not alone. Secondly, panic. Then when you’re done with that, it’s time to look at how you can best use Neale and Dunkley’s value to boost your KFC SuperCoach team. If you don’t have Jack Steele and Clayton Oliver, for example, swing a player from your midfield to the forward line and acquire two big guns. It’s time to turn the disaster that has been the first six rounds into a positive. Dunkley and Neale need to be traded, which means holding Martin. And that’s not a bad thing as he’ll still be a top-six forward — even if it’s just by being one of the last premiums standing after he misses a week with concussion.

Josh Dunkley needs surgery on an injured shoulder.

Dustin Martin suffered concussion in his 250th game.

SHOULD THE CARNAGE CHANGE YOUR STRATEGY?

This is a question for the real Phantom, but as his able replacement I’ll do my best. Many KFC SuperCoaches have been struck down by unprecedented injury problems this year and have been burning through trades as a result. That’s going to mean come the bye rounds, you’re going to need to be more conservative than other coaches. Why not get ahead of the curve and make your move now? Use the injured players in your side to go after the top scorers, start making up ground and then pray your luck — and that of most KFC SuperCoaches — changes on the injury front.

ARE THE SWANS ROOKIES COOKED?

It certainly looks that way — with the possible exception of Chad Warner. The Swans were poor against Gold Coast on Saturday but Errol Gulden and medical substitute Braeden Campbell had enough time to make an impact. Gulden scored a season-low 38 points, lost $6100 and is break even soared to 78. Campbell dropped $8200, scored 35 and his a break even of 65. You might have no choice but to hold if you’ve been hit by injuries, but you can trade this popular pair without much hesitation. The joy Gulden gave us was short-lived, but boy was it an enjoyable two or three weeks.

Braeden Campbell and Errol Gulden look like they need a rest.

TIM, HAVE YOU CURSED JAYDEN SHORT?

Yes. Next question.

OK, I’ll elaborate. Myself — and fellow KFC SuperCoach expert Dan Batten — traded Jayden Short into our teams two weeks ago.

After scores of 100, 120, 88 and 125 to start the season, Short has posted 74 and 61 in the past two rounds.

He had limited opportunities against St Kilda when he scored 74.

But the Bachar Houli factor has become a worry and was evident against Melbourne.

Houli is eating into Short’s primary scoring source — kick-ins — and his numbers are dropping as a result. Against the Dees Short took six kick-ins (playing on from all six) and Houli four (three). The week before Houli took three kick-ins and Short only two — and in a nightmare result for KFC SuperCoaches he took one of those from inside the square.

That was a week after I traded in Steven May only to see him cop a bizarre eye injury and end the game with seven points.

Is the Michell-Batten curse real? It’s hard to argue no.

WILL WE SEE TOM HIGHMORE AGAIN THIS YEAR?

The St Kilda defender didn’t play anywhere at the weekend.

The Saints raised hopes of a timely return when he didn’t feature in the VFL on Saturday.

That night Highmore was named an emergency for the senior game against Port Adelaide, then he wasn’t even chosen as medical sub on Sunday.

He still has the lowest break even in KFC SuperCoach of -68 and St Kilda’s form means he surely gets another chance soon.

Surely.

WILL THE PHANTOM BE BACK NEXT WEEK?

Let’s see.

Originally published as KFC SuperCoach: Tim Michell answers the burning questions for Round 7