Five strategies for picking a winning KFC SuperCoach defence
Picking a SuperCoach defence is tougher than ever this year, but you can set yourself up for success by getting your backline right. Here are five ways to do just that.
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Premiership teams are built from the backline, and the same is true in KFC SuperCoach.
Predicting the top-scoring defenders this year feels tougher than ever, but before taking a stab at that we need to get the structure right.
That will dictate how many players of each type you select. Do you load up on proven scorers, take a punt on mid-pricers or throw the rookies to the wolves — or some combination of those, or something else entirely?
Here are five selection strategies you can adopt when picking your squad. Note that the players listed here can be interchanged for others of a similar value while keeping the same structure — this is about having a plan that you’re backing for the season. And you can take it as a given that each suggested line-up also includes two cheapies on the bench who we are confident will get early games.
1. STACKING THE BACKLINE
The backline usually provides a good supply of top-scorers — last season six defenders averaged at least 98 points a game compared to three forwards who reached that mark — so it makes sense to invest in this part of the ground.
Defenders are also usually more reliable scorers with fewer wild swings, which means less stress and also fewer opportunities to pick up a gun at a bargain price during the season.
Stacking the defence with premiums also reduces the risk of playing low-scoring rookies on field — Sydney’s Will Gould is in 50 per cent of teams but after that defensive rookies are thin on the ground at this stage of the pre-season.
The downside is spending big in defence slashes the budget for other positions, especially if you’re locking in the two expensive ruckmen. That means exposing more rookies or risky mid-pricers in the midfield and up forward.
2. THIN DEFENCE
Taking the totally opposite approach, this strategy allows you to save big down back to finance a spending spree in other parts of the ground — especially the ruck and midfield.
There are doubts on most of the top-end defenders this season. Jake Lloyd is as reliable as they come but last year his scores suffered in the second half of the season when Jordan Dawson started taking kick-outs for the Swans. What will happen this year? Bachar Houli (31) and Shannon Hurn (32) are risks of soft-tissue injuries, while Zac Williams might not get as much midfield time at GWS this season. Do you really want to spend top dollar on players who are a good chance to drop in value?
On the other hand, there is potential value in players like James Sicily, Dan Houston and Sam Docherty, who could all finish the year among the top handful of scorers down back, plus super cheap options like Dylan Roberton and Stephen Hill.
Having some more expensive rookies who appear to be reliable point-scorers with solid job security makes this a more viable proposition — it will help if some more cheapies put up their hands in the Marsh Series.
3. GUNS AND ROOKIES
The classic, trusted approach to building a SuperCoach team — in any position.
This strategy is based on limiting your selections to top-line defenders priced above $500,000 and cheapies priced under $200,000.
This approach makes it easier to select three of the likely top-six defenders for the season, who you shouldn’t have to trade all year.
The main benefit is reducing risk by avoiding awkwardly-priced players who history tells us are likely to have to be traded out at some stage of the season. It also fosters cash generation from the best rookies to fund your future trades.
The downside is potentially missing out on bargain mid-pricers who might score as well as your premiums while saving a heap of cash.
And we are still waiting for more rookies to present themselves who we are confident in starting on the field in defence.
4. MID-PRICE MADNESS
Did we say mid-pricers are too risky? Forget that!
This approach limits your key defensive picks to players valued between $250,000-$500,000, who all have the potential to score way above what their price tag suggests.
If it works out, this strategy can give you five high-scoring players without breaking the bank, and avoids playing too many rookies on the field who could be dropped or rested.
Picking multiple mid-pricers in one position normally sets off the alarm bells, but there do appear to be a plethora of value options in the backline this year (although we’ve said that before). And if they pay off, you’re a genius.
But buyer beware — picking five mid-pricers in one team who all work out would be just about a first in SuperCoach, doing it in one position would be close to a miracle. Dealing with failed mid-price picks can take over your season, forcing you to pass on top rookies that emerge during the year.
And you’re missing out on the A-grade scorers like Jake Lloyd and Rory Laird.
5. BALANCED BACKLINE
This strategy allows you to have your cake and eat it too by picking the best of the selection approaches above — a couple of top-liners, the best rookies and a throw at the stumps with a couple of risky mid-price selections.
MORE SUPERCOACH ADVICE:
Seven selection strategies you can use to build a winning KFC SuperCoach team
Five strategies for selecting your KFC SuperCoach midfield in 2019
KFC SuperCoach Rookie Bible: Every potential cash cow for season 2020
KFC SuperCoach 10 commandments: Follow these rules for success
This is a flexible approach — depending how much you want to spend you could pick an extra premium or an extra rookie, going with just one mid-pricer.
The downside (apart from still relying on a mid-pricer or two, which some seasoned SuperCoach players swear off), is that it is too defensive. You’re picking a team to avoid major pitfalls, but is it brave enough to set you apart from the pack?
And where’s the personal stamp?
