Best KFC SuperCoach replacements for injured Collingwood star Jeremy Howe
He’s a tick over $400,000, is about to make a stack of cash and has averaged 109 points across three games. Is there a better replacement for Jeremy Howe in KFC SuperCoach than Jordan Ridley? Check out the compelling stats.
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Precise by foot and strong aerially, Jordan Ridley has fast emerged as a key member of Essendon’s back six.
The 21-year-old, who featured in six games last year, ranks as one of the AFL’s premier defenders after four rounds.
Ridley has averaged 109 KFC SuperCoach points, behind only Sam Docherty, Jeremy Howe, Jake Kolojashnij, Adam Saad and Brayden Maynard.
“I think a lot of it is just confidence and continuity. It’s been a good couple of pre-seasons now where I have been able to get a full run at it and do pretty much all the load,” he said after the Bombers’ loss to Carlton on Saturday.
“That’s really helped for this season so far.”
FULL TRADE GUIDE: THE BEST OPTIONS AHEAD OF ROUND 5
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Ridley has averaged 17 disposals (up from 14.8), 6.3 marks and four rebound-50s in 2020.
The young Bomber looms as a KFC SuperCoach steal as coaches consider how to replace Howe after his long-term knee injury.
Ridley has posted scores of 100, 94 and 134 this season, yet is available for only $410,100.
Champion Data numbers show he ranks fifth for marks, eighth for intercept marks and first for spoils in the league.
A key to his KFC SuperCoach scoring his been his disposal effiency, hitting a target 88.6 per cent of the time.
As of Tuesday, more than 1000 coaches had traded Howe to Ridley, a shrewd move considering the Bomber’s break even of nine.
With a score of 93, he would make about $38,000 this weekend and boom to almost $450,000.
ROUND 4 REVIEW: KEY INJURIES LEAVE COACHES SCRAMBLING
That sound you heard on Friday night was the collective gasp of 42,000 KFC SuperCoaches when Jeremy Howe wrenched his knee against GWS Giants.
The Collingwood star features in more than 25 per cent of KFC SuperCoach teams and was the No. 1 ranked defender after three rounds.
Howe has scores of 156, 126, 88 and 112 in 2020, skyrocketing from $431,900 and making a profit of more than $100,000.
His horror injury blow with less than 10 minutes left in the Magpies’ loss has left coaches with a huge trade decision as they aim to replace Howe’s scoring prowess.
His significant price rise will put most players within reach, including fellow premium backmen Jake Lloyd, Shannon Hurn and Bachar Houli.
But Howe’s injury wasn’t the only blow to the SuperCoach premium stocks in defence with Geelong star Tom Stewart breaking his collarbone against Melbourne.
Jeremy Howe had a brief chat to the media upon landing in Mebourne. pic.twitter.com/hCbUAgnyvK
— Collingwood FC (@CollingwoodFC) June 27, 2020
The good news is, if you’re after value or planning to use a DPP move, there are fallen premiums ready to explode who can act as direct replacements.
Tim Michell and The Phantom assess 10 of the best trade options for the super-consistent Cat and the high-flying Magpie
Jake Lloyd (Sydney) $589,000 DEF
Maybe coaches had too long to think about that score of 77 in Round 1. Those who stuck by Sydney’s defensive general after a below-par start have been richly rewarded. Lloyd has scored 145, 101 and 102 since footy’s return and won’t get much cheaper than his current price. He’s one of the big guns you have to be prepared to pay top dollar for. While there’s plenty of depth in this year’s SuperCoach forwards, the defence has a reasonably predictable look about it. Lloyd will almost certainly be a top-six defender come season’s end, so why not grab him now? — TM
Bachar Houli (Richmond) $553,200 DEF
The Tigers veteran had 21 disposals and eight marks against the Saints on Saturday but failed to replicate the influence of the previous two rounds, finishing with just 68 points. But those performances against Collingwood and Hawthorn, which saw Houli tally a combined 51 disposals and post scores of 111 and 110, respectively, prove he’s still a SuperCoach threat as the Tigers’ chief distributor. At 32, his durability remains the only question. — Phantom
Nick Haynes (GWS) $514,300 DEF
Is there a more consistent defender in KFC SuperCoach? The signs were there Haynes would become a premium when he posted three hundreds from rounds 20 to 22 last year. The intercept star has been one of the leading Giants in the opening four rounds, producing totals of 114, 97, 110 and 101. His ceiling might be around 120, which is lower than other premium defenders, but if his worst is in the 90s he’ll be a worthwhile selection. Any seasoned KFC SuperCoach will tell you scorers you can bank on are worth their weight in gold. — TM
Caleb Daniel (Western Bulldogs) $540,500 DEF
Daniel followed up his 23-disposal, 134-point performance in Round 3 with another impressive – and efficient – display against the Swans. The 168cm defender was clean and was the only player on the ground to have more than seven disposals and record no clanger. In fact, he’s only recorded two over the first four rounds. Daniel’s ability to impact the game on limited possession is likely to see him surpass last year’s 99-point average in 2020. — Phantom
Shannon Hurn (West Coast) $528,600 DEF
Hurn had the best average of any Eagle or Dockers defender at Optus Stadium last year, finishing with 101.7 from 11 matches at the venue. With both clubs about to head back to Western Australia, now is the right time to consider the efficient Eagle. Hurn hasn’t been able to emulate his Round 1 effort of 152 since football’s return, but that only makes him a more attractive option to his price falling. If you think West Coast will turn its form around when it returns to its home base, consider Hurn. He’s only in 12.1 per cent of teams too. — TM
James Sicily (Hawthorn) $523,400 DEF
In a familiar story, the intercept star started slow on Sunday before a big second half saw him finish with 117 points. Sicily had seven intercept possessions and 68 points in the third quarter alone. And the performance against North Melbourne made it back-to-back SuperCoach tons, after 114 points against the Tigers in Round 3. Thanks to a quiet Round 1, Sicily is still a terrific buy this week at just over $500k. But his price is only going up from here. — Phantom
Brayden Maynard (Coll) $517,400 DEF
The long-kicking left-footer made it four consecutive SuperCoach tons to start 2020 with 118 points, on the back of 23 disposals and 584 metres gained, against the Giants. Only Howe and Carlton star Sam Docherty have scored more points in defence. Of the top 20 players in the competition for kicks, Maynard is No. 1 for efficiency. And with Howe missing, he might get even more of the ball. Maybe the 23-year-old, who is in two per cent of teams, is the real deal. — Phantom
Marcus Bontempelli (Western Bulldogs) $575,900 MID
With his annual date with Matt De Boer gone, the Bulldogs captain ignited his side and had 111 points at halftime against Sydney. He finished with a score of 166, still managing 55 points despite having Callum Mills for company in the second half on Thursday night. Bontempelli started the campaign at $623,000 after averaging 114.7 last year. He’s available at a significant discount but won’t be for long after his spectacular performance against the Swans. You could trade Howe to Bontempelli by swinging Trent Rivers or Brandon Starcevich into defence. — TM
Jack Macrae (Western Bulldogs) $606,600 MID
The most-expensive on-baller at the start of the season, Macrae is yet to score less than 92 despite being used in an unfamiliar wing role. That position hasn’t traditionally been conducive to KFC SuperCoach scoring. With Josh Dunkley to miss at least another five weeks with an ankle injury, Macrae’s time in the engine room should increase. He might have only posted 92 against Sydney, but the Swans put a lot of time into limiting his output. We’re close to KFC SuperCoach shopping season and Macrae is a fallen premium you must consider. — TM
Jy Simpkin (North Melbourne) $520,400 FWD/MID
If you didn’t do it last week – and your team allows it via dpp – you could turn one of the topscoring defenders into the topscoring forward and still come out with change. The North Melbourne young gun posted his fourth SuperCoach ton for the year, after tallying 23 disposals, 12 contested possessions and seven clearances in the loss to the Hawks. It’s fair to say non-owners were happy to see Simpkin’s last-minute kick go through for a behind – and not a score-boosting, matchwinning goal. — Phantom
And one more to consider …
Jordan Ridley (Ess) $410,100 DEF
The young Bomber has already added more than $80k to price tag but, if Saturday night’s performance is anything to go by, that may only just be the start of it. Ridley hit the target with 17 of his 18 disposals to finish with a team-high 134 points in his 12th career game. Of the 21-year-old’s 51 disposals for the year, 46 have been effective. Ideally, you like to replace a top-six certainty with another but Ridley has shown enough to suggest he’ll be on the fringes and the trade will make you more than $100k. — Phantom
MICHELL’S TRADE: Howe to Haynes. Especially if it helps you upgrade a mid-pricer to a premium in another position.
PHANTOM’S TRADE: After last week’s blow to the midfield rookie stocks, I’m leaning towards a midfield premium via Trent Rivers. And Bontempelli is at the top of the list. With Fyfe to deal with, however, my trade plan is still up in the air.
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