KFC SuperCoach: The case for starting Western Bulldogs guns Jack Macrae, Josh Dunkley and Marcus Bontempelli

Studying the fixture is an underrated tactic to achieve KFC SuperCoach success. These are the players who scored the most points at every ground in 2019, including a few surprise names.

It’s a strategy which will either have your tail wagging or leave you in the doghouse.

Choosing three midfielders from the same team appears a KFC SuperCoach tactic destined for disaster.

But when those midfielders are Jack Macrae, Josh Dunkley and Marcus Bontempelli, it warrants further consideration.

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Macrae finished as the No. 1 midfielder last year with 2710 points, while Dunkley (2562) ranked third and Bontempelli (2524) fourth.

The Western Bulldogs trio ran amok in 2019 at their home ground — Marvel Stadium — averaging a combined 368 points in the 12 matches Luke Beveridge’s side played under the roof.

The Bulldogs have another 12 Marvel Stadium games scheduled in 2020, including five in the opening seven rounds – (Collingwood R1, Carlton R2, North Melbourne R4, Brisbane Lions R5 and Hawthorn R7).

All signs point to another dominant campaign from three of the AFL’s ball magnets.

Only seven players enjoyed greater success at one of their home venues last year, headlined by Stephen Coniglio’s average of 153.6 (from four games) at Giants Stadium.

Max Gawn (128.8), Brodie Grundy (125.4) and Patrick Cripps (118.5) relished games at the MCG, while Patrick Dangerfield (122.4) dominated at GMHBA Stadium.

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Ben McEvoy (122.2) thrived when Hawthorn travelled to Launceston, while Nat Fyfe (119.5) and Lachie Whitfield (119) excelled at their respective home grounds.

It begs the question, could you consider three Bulldogs in your starting midfield?

Macrae ($668,900), Dunkley ($632,400) and Bontempelli ($623,000) cost a combined $1.9 million, but if they replicate their dominance at Marvel Stadium it will more than reward the outlay.

The Dogs trio boasted the best averages at Docklands last season, with Cripps (116.6, eight games), Zach Merrett (116.5, eight games), Todd Goldstein (114.5, 11 games) and Rowan Marshall (113.7, nine games) the only other players above 110.

Fixture analysis is an underrated tool in SuperCoach planning.

Most coaches will factor in the bye rounds, which is where fielding three premiums from the same club could come unstuck.

However, the Bulldogs have the Round 14 bye — ideal for SuperCoach.

This provides two rounds and six trades to be ready for the last of the three byes when Macrae, Dunkley and Bontempelli will leave a gaping hole in midfield.

The trio shares the week off with Tom Mitchell, Rory Laird, James Sicily, Josh Kelly, Coniglio and Whitfield, another factor which could influence your starting team.

But how could you not consider three of SuperCoach’s most prolific on-ballers when they play 12 of their 23 games at a ground where they have such an imperious record?

If you wait until Round 15, you will have missed seven of their 12 games at Marvel Stadium.

As crazy as it might sound, starting three Bulldogs could be the risk which launches you to SuperCoach glory.

BEST AVERAGES BY GROUND IN 2019

Originally published as KFC SuperCoach: The case for starting Western Bulldogs guns Jack Macrae, Josh Dunkley and Marcus Bontempelli