KFC SuperCoach 2022: All the scores and standouts from the practice matches
The round of AFL practice matches was a lot more serious this year – and there is plenty for KFC SuperCoaches to learn. See all the scores here.
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It’s getting serious now, KFC SuperCoaches, the first lot of scores for 2022 are in.
The AFL’s round of practice matches is complete and there is plenty to learn from a KFC SuperCoach point-of-view.
Here is every player’s KFC SuperCoach score from the first six matches, thanks to Champion Data.
There are no scores for the Collingwood v Hawthorn, Sydney v GWS and Geelong v Richmond games as ranking points were not provided due to the non-AFL players and extended six quarters.
Note: More players are used in the practice matches, but there are still only 3300 points to go around.
WEST COAST v FREMANTLE
EAGLES
The main news out of the Eagles’ camp this pre-season is the mounting injury toll, with more players going down in their big loss to the Dockers. The biggest blow for KFC SuperCoaches was a foot injury to draftee Campbell Chesser ($148,800 DEF/MID) who was shaping as a likely Round 1 debutant. He’s now expected to miss the first half of the season. Tim Kelly (4464,700 MID) top-scored for the Eagles and Andrew Gaff ($496,600 MID) presents value after averaging 100-plus from 2018-20, but the Eagle to put on your radar is Alex Witherden ($471,700 DEF) who took the most kick-ins for the club (four, playing on from all of them) and is ready to assume a regular role as a backline distributor.
DOCKERS
There is a heap of upside in the Fremantle midfield with Andrew Brayshaw ($584,300 MID) ready to take another step up after improving his average from 101 to 107 last season and Caleb Serong ($451,000 MID) showing all the signs of a breakout season. Will Brodie ($224,300 FWD/MID) could be the best buy of the lot after crossing from Gold Coast if he can establish a regular spot in John Longmuir’s centre square brigade – 19 centre bounce attendances is a great start (Serong has 22, the equal-most of any player). Stick Nathan O’Driscoll ($123,900 DEF/MID) on your defensive bench.
FULL STATS: ALL THE TOP DISPOSAL WINNERS IN THE PRACTICE GAMES
BRISBANE v ADELAIDE
LIONS
All aboard the Jarrod Berry ($268,500 MID) train. The Lion had his fair share of injury troubles last year but looks to be a bargain buy in the midfield after booting three goals and scoring a mammoth 158 points. Berry, who attended 12 centre-bounces, showcased his power at stoppages and his forward-half impact, reminiscent of his 2020 season where he amassed six tons – all of those eclipsing 120. Speaking of 2020, Lachie Neale ($543,200 MID) showed signs of his Brownlow Medal-winning season with 144 points – and no, we won’t have to worry about his midfield minutes. Zac Bailey ($459,900 FWD-MID) is also one to watch in 2022 after his 141-point total, attending the fourth most centre-bounces for the Lions behind Neale, Jarryd Lyons and Hugh McCluggage. Cam Rayner ($278,600 FWD) has been a buzz player this pre-season but managed just the 41 points despite 12 centre-bounce attendances. We’ll cut him some slack considering it was his first game from a serious knee injury, but you’d want to see a lot more in his next outing. First-round draftee Darcy Wilmot ($139,200 DEF) provided drive from defence and was assured by foot on the way to 48-points in a promising audition for a Round 1 start.
CROWS
The Crows had under 30 players fit and available due to a Covid-19 scare but the main story was Josh Rachele ($184,400 FWD-MID). Fears about the No.6 pick’s role in a struggling team were allayed by his sparkling 85-point display in his first outing as a Crow. Rachele booted three majors and was a dangerous presence in the air and at ground level inside 50, with two of his goals coming from contested marks. He also worked his way up the ground and shapes as a lock in a line short of reliable rookie options. Andrew McPherson ($307,900 DEF) was the name that jumped off the page with 134 points - the fourth-highest scorer of the match – which was well clear of his regular season personal best of 90. McPherson, who is a noted interceptor, took a team-high six kick-ins, but we need to see more before considering him in KFC SuperCoach. Injury-ravaged midfielder Matt Crouch ($482,000 MID) made a successful return with 81 points and 17 centre-bounce attendances. He was only behind Rory Laird ($632,600 MID) in the centre bounce stakes, stationed at 21 on his way to 95 points. Jake Soligo ($117,300 MID) had a couple of nice moments a wing with 31 points, but may need to show more in his next match to clinch a Round 1 debut.
GOLD COAST v PORT ADELAIDE
SUNS
Touk Miller ($677,900 MID) took his game to a new level last season, averaging 124.5 points per game - the third-best in the comp. And, on this showing, he could get even better this year. If you like to stand out from the crowd, he’s currently in only 13 per cent of teams. Matt Rowell ($342,900 MID) didn’t score above 84 last season but the signs are all pointing to a return to his destructive best, while Heath Shaw special Lachie Weller ($400,300 FWD/MID) revelled in a new sweeping defender role, taking 11 behind kick-ins and playing on from eight of them. Put Alex Davies ($202,500 MID) on your rookie watch list, but we would like to see Elijah Hollands ($123,900 FWD) in action before Round 1 to pick him with confidence after he sat out the Suns’ first practice match.
POWER
Zak Butters ($443,600 FWD) showed his huge scoring power when he had 100 points on the board before getting injured early in the third quarter against Richmond last year. Evidently that was no fluke, especially with extra midfield minutes promised by Ken Hinkley in 2022, although Butters attended just five centre bounces against Gold Coast. Josh Sinn ($157,900 DEF-MID) did enough to push his claims for a Round 1 berth - and KFC SuperCoaches might need him given a lack of cheap options in defence. Jackson Mead ($123,900 MID) is another to watch for a potential bench spot and keep Sam Hayes ($123,900 RUC) in mind especially if Scott Lycett’s ankle injury is worse than first thought.
MELBOURNE v NORTH MELBOURNE
DEMONS
The one-sided nature of the contest was reflected in the KFC SuperCoach scores, with nine Demons tallying 90 points or more, compared to one at North. And there’s no surprise at the top, with Max Gawn ($657k RUCK) and Clayton Oliver ($672k MID) leading the way again. Oliver dislocated his finger and Gawn spent some time on the bench in the third term, before finishing the game rucking against young Roo Jacob Edwards. Fourth-year Demon Tom Sparrow ($262k MID-FWD) attended 15 centre bounces and recorded 92 points in an impressive midfield showing. Steven May ($492k DEF – 62 points) played on with four of his five kick-ins, while Christian Salem ($514k DEF – 111 points) took the other three for Melbourne.
KANGAROOS
Jack Ziebell ($585k DEF) was the only player to pass the 90-point mark, finishing with 114 points in a reminder of just how KFC SuperCoach-friendly his role in defence is – especially without Aaron Hall. Recruit Hugh Greenwood ($507k MID) attended the most centre bounces of any player on the ground, on his way to 85 points, while Will Phillips ($260k MID-FWD – 52 points), Tom Powell ($368k FWD-MID – 71 points) and Tarryn Thomas ($459k FWD-MID – 81 points) were also a part of North Melbourne’s first-choice midfield, with Jy Simpkin, Luke Davies-Uniacke and Ben Cunnington missing. No. 1 pick Jason Horne-Francis ($207k MID), who attended 12 centre bounces of his own, took a while to get going but was one of the better players on the ground after half-time, tallying 83 KFC SuperCoach points – the third-highest for the Roos – in his first competitive hitout.
CARLTON v ST KILDA
BLUES
To the delight of Blues fans and KFC SuperCoach mid-price enthusiasts alike, Adam Cerra ($490k MID) top scored in his first competitive hitout in the Navy Blue. The former Docker kicked two goals and won plenty of the ball in a classy midfield display. Fellow recruit George Hewett ($399k DEF-MID) also showed what he will bring to the Carlton midfield, tallying 99 KFC SuperCoach points after attending 14 centre bounces – the same number as Cerra. Great numbers for a mid-priced defender. And the duo’s arrival is likely to give Patrick Cripps ($454k MID) a boost, if Thursday’s 98-point performance is anything to go by. The skipper moved well through the midfield after what has been described by assistant coach Ash Hansen as a “faultless” pre-season. Maybe he’s not done with in KFC SuperCoach just yet. Mitch McGovern’s ($256k FWD) much-talked about move to defence might bring him into the KFC SuperCoach conversation, too, after impressing in the air against the Saints and taking three kick-ins. Nic Newman ($477k DEF) took the most for the Blues, playing on with each of his five. Corey Durdin ($143k FWD) was lively in the forward-half while Brodie Kemp ($156K DEF) had some nice moments in a high-half-forward role, after playing in defence late last year.
SAINTS
The surprise packet was Jack Sinclair ($479k DEF) off halfback who topped the charts with KFC SuperCoach 121 points, also taking a team-high four kick-ins – but only playing on from two. The 26-year-old’s transformation into a running defender has really flown under the KFC SuperCoach radar, after he averaged 93 points from Round 7 onwards last year. Midfield beast Jack Steele ($686k MID) cruised to 115 points with little fuss, attending the most centre bounces for the Saints. Don’t be too concerned by Jade Gresham’s ($299 FWD-MID) score of 41 - he was eased through the match after his long injury lay-off and should be at full tilt in their next practice game. He attended two centre bounces and provided spark at stages. Rookie hopeful Jack Hayes (33 points) showed promise in a forward/ruck role after coming on at halftime - the highlight being a strong contested mark - as the SANFL powerhouse vies for a list spot. Hayes shapes as a crucial rookie cog with RUC/FWD status likely to come his way if he is signed by the Saints.
ESSENDON v WESTERN BULLDOGS
BOMBERS
Andrew McGrath’s ($464k MID) move to half-back could be a big win for KFC SuperCoaches, after the mid-price midfielder impressed against the Bulldogs, finishing with 115 points. He found plenty of the ball in the back-half, and pushed up through the middle, in a role which might see him receive dual-position status by Round 6, if it continues. As KFC SuperCoaches were hoping, the arrival of Jake Kelly allowed Jordan Ridley ($537k DEF) to play with more freedom. After a slow star, the star defender, who took a handful of intercept marks and three of his side’s eight kick-ins, finished with 104 points, the fourth-most for the Bombers. Darcy Parish ($621k MID) had plenty of the ball, on his way to 94 KFC SuperCoach points, while newly-signed rookies Tex Wanganeen (47), who only played the final quarter, and Nick Martin (45) did enough to end up straight on the basement-price watchlist. Tempting mid-price option Jye Caldwell ($266k MID) finished with just 51 points, after spending plenty of time across half-forward and attending only two centre bounces.
BULLDOGS
Josh Dunkley ($558k FWD-MID) attended 16 centre bounces and was back to his prolific best through the midfield, tallying 124 KFC SuperCoach points – only, you guessed it, Jack Macrae ($699k MID - 126 points) had more. In what is likely to make forward-line decisions even more difficult, Adam Treloar ($483K FWD-MID) was brilliant, too, before being rested late. He tallied 93 KFC SuperCoach points and attended his fair share of centre bounces while on the ground. Bailey Dale ($518k DEF) was precise with his ball-use in the back-half and took five of the Bulldogs nine kick-ins, on his way to 120 points.
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