AFL 2021: Richmond-West Coast fixture change means for KFC SuperCoach

Here’s what West Coast and Richmond’s rescheduled Round 13 game means for KFC SuperCoach.

The AFL has confirmed Richmond’s Round 14 game against West Coast will now be played as part of Round 13.

That means KFC SuperCoaches will have seven games to field a ‘best 18’ from next week, but only five in Round 14.

FULL STORY: RICHMOND, EAGLES GAME MOVED IN FIXTURE SHUFFLE

Best 18 scoring will remain despite one less game in Round 14, but to compensate we are awarding KFC SuperCoaches an extra two trades.

During the next week, the trade limit will increase from 30 to 32 to help coaches field a full team in Round 14.

These extra two trades can be used at any time, so you will gain an advantage if you planned ahead and already have enough players for Round 14.

Instead of three trades, KFC SuperCoaches will be able to use a maximum of four for the next two rounds.

Any further changes are subject to other fixture announcements from the AFL and will be communicated via KFC SuperCoach social media and News Corp websites.

Nic Naitanui and the Eagles will take on Richmond in Round 13, instead of Round 14.

ROUND 12 LATE MAIL: POPULAR ROOKIES AXED IN BLOW

The axing of two popular rookies is a huge blow for KFC SuperCoaches for the first multi-bye round.

Under bye rules for Rounds 12-14 only the best 18 scorers count, but fielding that many active players has just become a lot more difficult.

Saint Tom Highmore (85,000 teams) and Lion James Madden (36,000) were both dropped on Thursday night.

In more bad rookie news, Adelaide has dropped Nick Murray and Sam Berry will miss the Crows’ clash against Collingwood with concussion.

Finlay Macrae also misses out after playing a quarter and a half as the medical sub for the Pies last week.

Highmore, Madden and Macrae have all been named as emergencies so if you are short for numbers put them on the field and hope for a late change or early sub activation — any points are better than none this week.

Watch the 2021 Toyota AFL Premiership Season. Every match of every round Live on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try 14-Days Free Now >

Lachie Neale (left) is back but James Madden (right) is out.

In some good rookie news Alec Waterman and Riley Collier-Dawkins have both been named for Saturday night’s Dreamtime clash in Perth, and Magpie Trent Bianco has been named for his second game.

Bulldog Anthony Scott is on an extended interchange bench but Lachie McNeil has been omitted.

Highmore has been replaced by Hunter Clark at St Kilda while Madden and Rhys Mathieson made way for Lachie Neale and Ryan Lester at the Lions.

Neale returns after five weeks out following surgery to repair a syndesmosis injury. Priced at $578,700 and with a break even of 94, the proven KFC SuperCoach stud is one to watch and could be a popular trade target after Brisbane’s Round 13 bye.

The biggest out for the week is Brodie Grundy, with coaches torn on whether to trade the fifth-highest scorer of the season.

BEST MID-SEASON DRAFT PROSPECTS RATED

— Dan Batten and Tim Michell

At a difficult period of the season for KFC SuperCoaches, the mid-season draft may provide some welcome relief.

More picks were used than initially expected, with 22 players finding new homes – including a host of mature-age prospects from the state leagues.

It is these players in particular who will be of interest to coaches, given they are more likely to be used in the short-term, stand up to the rigours of AFL footy and score well.

Just one former AFL player was taken – former St Kilda cheapie Matt Parker – whose price will remain low after paltry returns in his two matches last season.

The rest will be at bargain basement rookie price, which is an added bonus for coaches looking to downgrade across the byes and towards the end of the season.

These are the 10 mid-season draftees to watch out for in the run home in KFC SuperCoach.

Jai Newcombe seems destined for an early chance at Hawthorn.

Jai Newcombe (Hawthorn)

SC average: 112 (VFL)

Approx price: $102k

Newcombe dominated headlines in the lead-up due to his nominated draft terms, and the 186cm, 85kg midfielder looms as one of the better mid-season rookie options for KFC SuperCoaches. The 20-year-old averaged 23.3 disposals at 77 per cent, 7.3 tackles, 5.8 clearances and 112 KFC SuperCoach points for Box Hill in the VFL, suggesting he can step in and play a role from the get-go.

Ned Moyle (Gold Coast)

SC average: 61 (VFL)

Approx price: $102k

Moyle shapes as more of a long-term proposition but Gold Coast’s ruck shortage may see the 204cm big man given an opportunity at senior level in 2021. Moyle, 19, averaged 111 points in four NAB League games and 61 points across three VFL matches for Collingwood – including 17 disposals, 11 contested possessions, 19 hit-outs and 82 points against Coburg. Veteran Zac Smith isn’t setting the world on fire, so the Suns could look to Moyle in the back-half of the season.

Matt Parker has joined Richmond.

Matt Parker (Richmond)

SC average: 99 (WAFL)

Approx price: $140k

A KFC SuperCoach cash cow back in 2019, Parker, 25, has fought his way back onto an AFL list with a scintillating campaign for South Fremantle after being delisted by the Saints last year. The high-impact forward is finding more of the footy, averaging 20.4 disposals, 6.7 score involvements, 4.4 tackles and 99 points — capped by 25 touches and four goals against West Coast’s reserves last week. Will come at a higher asking price than other mid-season draftees after averaging 37.5 points from two games last year, but the 25-year-old averaged 53.5 points across 17 games in 2019, and should have more footy coming to him inside 50 once he breaks into the Richmond side.

Kye Declase has won a list spot after training with Melbourne in pre-season.

Kye Declase (Melbourne)

SC average: 95

Approx price: $102k

Declase is a ready-made option who is capable of playing all over the ground and thrives on the outside. A 195cm prospect, the 24-year-old has averaged 22.2 disposals, 16 kicks (at 70 per cent efficiency), 7.4 marks, kicked six goals and averaged 95 KFC SuperCoach points in five matches for Werribee in the VFL this season. His versatility means he should get a look-in at the Demons if injury strikes.

Jackson Callow has the size to step straight into senior footy.

Jackson Callow (Hawthorn)

SC average: 77

Approx price: $102k

Eighteen-year-old key forwards are generally risky KFC SuperCoach buys but Callow is built like a seasoned tall at 195cm and 96kg. The powerful Callow amassed a monster 184-point total for Norwood against Adelaide’s SANFL side, registering 24 disposals, 18 contested possessions, seven contested marks and an inaccurate 3.7 – he could have been on track for Jonathan Brown’s record-breaking 283 if he kicked straight. The Hawks have Mitch Lewis and Jacob Koschitzke as their two forward-line talls at the moment, but Callow will be waiting in the wings and is AFL ready from a physical perspective.

Ash Johnson is expected to push for senior action at Collingwood.

Ash Johnson (Collingwood)

SC average: 84 (SANFL)

Approx price: $102k FWD

A mature-age forward from the SANFL, Johnson looms as one of the most likely mid-season draftees to feature in the next month. The athletic forward was playing SANFL reserves last year but developed into one of the country’s best mature-age draft prospects in the past 12 months. Johnson has tallied 91 ranking points or more in four of his six games this year and the goal-starved Pies will find it hard to resist giving him a debut if he performs strongly in the VFL. He could be perfect forward bench cover during the run home.

Sam Durham (Essendon)

SC average: 65 (VFL)

Approx price: $102k MID

The Dons were linked with forward Jackson Callow and defender Angus Baker before the mid-season draft but instead went for midfielder Sam Durham. The Dons flagged Durham would be a player capable of pushing for a senior debut this season after being nabbed from Richmond’s VFL program. He’s a player noted for his work on the outside and skills, going at 80 per cent disposal efficiency in the VFL this season. Might not play much, but he should be on your watch list if other midfield rookie options don’t present.

Jed McEntee looms as a long-term prospect for Port Adelaide.

Jed McEntee (Port Adelaide)

SC average: 92 (SANFL)

Approx price: $102k MID

His SANFL numbers from this season are certainly eye-catching, but how is McEntee going to break into one of the AFL’s premiership contenders? He has featured as an on-baller for Sturt and averaged 105 ranking points in his past five SANFL games. The Power said McEntee’s skills would be suited to their “front half”, which suggests any senior chance he gets this year could be as a small forward. Even then, it’s a long shot. Put him on the 2022 watch list instead.

Connor West (West Coast)

SC average: 109 (WAFL)

Approx price: $102k MID

West has been one of the dominant midfielders in the WAFL this year, averaging 27.4 disposals, four marks, seven tackles and five clearances a game. He’s likely a fair way down the pecking order in the Eagles’ midfield, which has just regained Elliot Yeo from injury. As a mature-age draftee he will be ready to make an impact if called upon, but seems more likely to stay on the fringes. He’ll be worth monitoring if he gets a chance though based on his state league numbers.

Jordan Boyd’s kicking efficiency will be a positive for KFC SuperCoach.

Jordan Boyd (Carlton)

SC average: 68 (VFL)

Approx price: $102k FWD

Blues recruiting boss Nick Austin must have liked what he had seen from Boyd to pluck him from his former club’s Footscray VFL program. Boyd has mixed his time between attack and defence in the VFL this year and his best game was a 79-ranking point outing against Frankston. The positives for his KFC SuperCoach potential are he loves to kick the footy – 67 of his 83 disposals in the VFL this year were by foot. He’s still unlikely to be a massive scorer though.