Potential KFC SuperCoach positions switches for 2021 revealed

Bailey Smith has been one of the top KFC SuperCoach forwards of the season, stepping up in a prominent midfield role for Western Bulldogs. But will that cause him to lose DPP status next year?

Lachie Whitfield is likely to go from a FWD-MID to a DEF in KFC SuperCoach.

Hailed as one of the coaches of the year, Justin Longmuir might be about to win thousands of extra fans.

The first-year Fremantle coach has used young guns Andrew Brayshaw and Caleb Serong in midfield alongside veteran Davis Mundy, allowing skipper Nat Fyfe to spend more time in attack.

Fyfe is on the cusp of hitting the 35 per cent threshold required to be listed as a FWD-MID in KFC SuperCoach next year.

Kayo is your ticket to the 2020 Toyota AFL Premiership Season. Watch every match of every round Live & On-Demand. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >

The dual Brownlow medallist had played 33 per cent of game time in attack prior to Round 16 — when he spent about 42 per cent of time in the forward half.

Fyfe being made available as a FWD-MID in 2021 would provide significant relief for SuperCoaches with many popular selections set to lose dual-position eligibility.

Nat Fyfe could be listed as a FWD-MID in SuperCoach next season.

Brodie Smith is tipped to gain DEF-MID status in 2021.

North Melbourne breakout star Jy Simpkin (45,000 teams, FWD-MID) is likely to be listed as a MID only after becoming a key cog of the Roos’ engine room in the absence of Ben Cunnington.

Western Bulldogs young gun Bailey Smith is almost certain to lose his forward status and join Simpkin as MID only after averaging 91.6 points to Round 16.

Two other top forwards of 2020 — Andrew Brayshaw and Hugh Greenwood — are also likely to be MID only, limiting the dual-position prospects.

In a boost, Josh Dunkley is in line to regain FWD-MID status and Collingwood’s Steele Sidebottom is also projected to be dual-position.

Despite spending long periods in attack as Geelong has managed players through a gruelling season, Patrick Dangerfield is tipped to remain MID only next year.

Lachie Whitfield is likely to have one of the biggest positional shifts and could lose both FWD and MID status to become a defender.

These are some of the potential positional switches to watch for:

MORE AFL NEWS:

Champion Data reveals the players whose output has dropped this season, according to their ranking points

Essendon premiership defender Dean Wallis calls for sweeping changes at the Bombers

Jon Ralph analyses the list management calls Melbourne must make to improve

AFL run home: Which teams will finish top four and make the top eight

AFL run home: Which teams will finish top four and make the top eight

Originally published as Potential KFC SuperCoach positions switches for 2021 revealed