KFC SuperCoach 2020: The Phantom ranks the top trade targets in every position
We’re one game into Round 2 of KFC SuperCoach but there’s still plenty of moves to make. To help, The Phantom ranks the top five trade targets in every position after this week’s teams were announced
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Rookie forwards, underpriced defenders, cash cow ruckmen and, of course, plenty of mid-price value - there’s still so many ways to use your trades in KFC SuperCoach ahead of Friday’s second lockout of Round 2.
But with the first bounce of the Geelong-Hawthorn blockbuster fast approaching, it’s time to execute the rest of your trade plan.
To help get you finalise your moves, The Phantom ranks the top five trade targets in every position, following the announcement of this week’s teams.
DEFENCE
1. Jeremy Howe (Coll) $431,900
Round 2 score: 126
The Phantom’s No. 1 option in defence delivered on Thursday night against the Tigers, tallying 20 disposals, seven intercepts and 126 SuperCocah points. If you missed out, get him next week before his price tag shoots past $500k.
2. Jarrod Brander (WC), Fwd $133,000
Round 1 score: 59, Breakeven: -8
The only sub-$180k defender to feature in the opening round and the only player in the position who will go into Round 2 with a negative breakeven. The tall-wingman role came to fruition in the season proper against the Demons and the 21-year-old benefited from the precise ball-use of the Eagles defence, taking seven uncontested marks in Round 1. If you were one of the 40 per cent of SuperCoaches who started without Brander, make sure you bring him in this week.
3. John Noble (Coll) $215,400
Round 2 score: 41
Noble, who worked up-and-down Marvel Stadium in Round 1, finishing with 19 disposals, four intercepts and three score involvements, struggled to have an impact against the Tigers, finishing with just 41 points. But he’ll still enjoy a small price rise and is in almost 50,000 teams.
4. Trent Rivers (Melb) $117,300
DNP
And it’s not because we are desperate for basement-price rookies in defence. The West Australian, who will make his debut against the Blues on Saturday, starred at last year’s national under-18 championships, averaging 22 disposals – at 77 per cent efficiency – and 94 points per game. His ball-use and speed from halfback was a highlight, as it was at WAFL Colts level, where he averaged 149 points across nine matches.
5. Tom Doedee (Adel) $273,700
The return of the Adelaide defender, who hasn’t played since tearing his ACL in the opening round of 2019, is welcome news for SuperCoaches, given the ommission of Dylan Roberton and Stephen Hill’s absence on the Fremantle teamsheet. If you take out the injury-affected 24 against Brisbane in Round 18, Doedee averaged 85 points per game in his debut season of 2018. So don’t hesitate pulling the trigger on a Roberton - or Brandon Zerk-Thatcher - to Doedee trade.
And if you didn’t start with…
Sam Docherty (Carl)
Round 1 score: 117, Breakeven: 49
Don’t make the same mistake again.
MIDFIELD
1. Jack Viney (Melb) $439,300
Round 1 score: 186, Breakeven: -19
With a renewed focus on his own game, after handing over the captaincy, and after “maintaining the rage” during the shutdown, there’s every chance Viney posts the first three-figure average of his career in 2020. And, in a season when building a complete team full of premiums will be difficult, he could finish the year as a more-than-handy M8. But that’s a best-case scenario - it’s the rapid price rise which makes him so appealing ahead of Round 2. Even if Viney, who posted a competition-best 186 points in Round 1, scored 95 in the next two matches, he’ll be worth more than $530k by Round 3. And that will already put him in touching distance of a fallen premium, if, at that point, you don’t think Viney will become a keeper himself.
2. Patrick Dangerfield (Geel), $625,500
Round 1 score: 83, Breakeven: 155
Many would have Lachie Neale as the No. 1 premium target ahead of the restart but I’ve got Dangerfield outscoring him from this point onwards. The Geelong star boasts a career average of 121 against the Hawks and Alastair Clarkson’s side haven’t played at the Cattery since 2006, a venue Dangerfield averages 130 points at in his past 32 matches. Then, either side of a trip to the MCG to take on the Demons, it’s Carlton and Gold Coast at home. And, after their Round 1 meeting, there’s no Matt de Boer to worry about. I’m not sure those banking on a price drop, given Dangerfield’s Round 2 breakeven of 155, will get what they are after, either.
3. Lachie Neale (Bris) $658,500
Round 1 score: 157, Breakeven: 94
But I do very much understand why some will choose the Brisbane ball-magnet – we should all aim to have them both at some stage. The 26-year-old scored 157 points in the opening round, on the back of 26 disposals and 16 contested possessions, and he’s missed just two matches since 2013, highlighting his durability, which will be key in 2020. And then there’s the four consecutive home games to restart the year, meaning Neale’s preparation will be as normal, a huge contrast to the other visiting teams in the Queensland Hub.
4. Harley Bennell (Melb), $123,900
DNP
He starred in the Demon’s intra-club hitout, averaged 23 disposals, one goal and 97 SuperCoach points in his final 67 games at the Suns and he will make his first appearance as a Demon on Saturday.. Sure, he’s only played two games since 2015, both at the Dockers, butthe 27-year-old is almost too hard to pass up at $123k. If Bennell plays a full game, it’s likely he scores 85 points or more, given how damaging he is with the ball. If his body fails him again, you’ve got extra trades.
5. Justin McInerney (Syd) $123,900
Round 1 score: 81, Breakeven: -34
With no Sam Sturt in Round 2, McInerney’s price rise, on the back of a -34 breakeven, is something every KFC SuperCoach needs to take advantage of, given anything could happen with this week’s debutants at selection in Round 3. And the young Swan, who rated above average for SuperCoach points, disposals, uncontested possessions, marks and inside-50s in his rookie season in the NEAFL last year, will get opportunity after an impressive 81-point performance on debut
Tyler Brown, who finished with 43 points on Thursday night, was previously at No. 5, while young Crow Ned McHenry should also score well on debut.
And if you didn’t start with…
Matt Rowell (GC), fix it and pretend like you did.
RUCK
1. Sam Naismith (Syd) $251,500
Round 1 score: 121, Breakeven: -25
Well this ended well. Naismith won’t play against the Bombers after failing to overcome a hamstring injury but everything below is still something to consider in the weeks to come.
With a 100-point score against the Bombers, Naismith’s price will rise by more than $50k after his next game. A similar score the following match will result in a $370k price tag – and a cash injection of $120k.
2. Darcy Cameron (Coll) $123,900, Fwd
DNP
After an impressive first appearance for the Magpies, given his dual-position status, Cameron might become a must-have next week if he can hold Mason Cox out of the Collingwood side. The former Swan supported Grundy in the ruck and took a number of big marks at either end of the ground.
FORWARD
1. Brett Bewley (Freo) $252,700
Round 1 score: 95, Breakeven: 1
Rises to No. 1 with Sturt’s injury and the news fellow runners Blake Acres and Stephen Hill won’t play against the Lions, meaning Bewley will, again, have a wing to himself.
And he was everywhere in Round 1, working up-and-down the wing from half-back tallying 20 disposals at 85 per cent efficiency, a game-high 498 metres gained and 95 points in his eighth career game. New Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir put an emphasis on skill over summer and it showed in Bewley’s role against the Bombers. I think the mature-age draftee can score at similar rate as a number of mid-price options - hello Andrew Brayshaw, Christian Petracca and Jy Simpkin - for a far cheaper price.
2. Curtis Taylor (NM) $123,900
Round 1 score: 79, Breakeven: -32
In Round 1, the second-year North Melbourne forward was sitting on single digits at half-time, before a big second half saw him finish with a 79-point score. Sure, the inconsistently is a concern, but there’s a big positive to take out of it – impact. In shortened matches, some players won’t win as much of the ball but, given the same amount of SuperCoach points are allocated, if effective - just as Taylor was againts the Suns - their scoring will remain. The 20-year-old finished with just 10 disposals but recorded nine eight effective kicks, seven contested possessions, five score involvements, two marks inside-50, one goal assist and a major of his own. Given Sturt’s injury, the performance of a number of other basement-price rookies in Round 1 and the omission of Billy Frampton and Ben Davis at the Crows, Taylor is almost a must-have.
3. Jon Ceglar (Haw) $417,000, Ruck
Round 1 score: 101, Breakeven: 57
I like teammate Chad Wingard – and even North Melbourne breakout candidate Jy Simpkin – but, I’m finding it hard to justify spending the cash and picking either over Bewley at this stage. Ceglar is a different prospect, however, given he will provide all-important ruck cover - something which coulld prove vita for Naismith owners. But it won’t be at the detriment of points with the 29-year-old one of 10 ruckmen to post a SuperCoach ton in Round 1, after tallying 10 hitouts-to-advantage against the Lions.
4. Ben Long (StK) $283,100
Round 1 score: 118, Breakeven: -10
In a similar story to Bewley, it’s hard to ignore the value of the skilful 22-year-old, who made the move to half-back in Round 1 after a successful summer audition. He may have only had 14 disposals but Long finished with 11 intercepts, 11 contested possessions and two contested marks in his first official appearance in the new role.
5. CHAD WINGARD (HAW) $412,300, Mid
Round 1 score: 131, Breakeven: 26
Even though, I do prefer Bewley and Ceglar, as mentioned above, Wingard still presents plenty of value ahead of the clash with the Hawks.
After a tough, injury-plagued first year at the Hawks in 2019, Wingard could be about to explode. He has the ability to impact that game like few others, a key SuperCoach trait in shortened games, and the 26-year-old was dominant in Round 1 with 20 disposals, three goals and 131 points in a midfield-forward role. And it was a role he impressed in late last year, with the former Power star averaging 26 disposals and 91 points from Round 20 onwards.
But also consider Gold Coast rookie C onnor Budarick ($106,900 FWD-MID), if you didn’t start with him. He only scored 44 points in Round 1 but the Gold Coast Academy gun is as cheap as they come and his job security appears to be as good as it gets.
And if you didn’t start with…
Devon Smith (Ess)
Round 1 score: 105, Breakeven: 23
Change that now – all 68,000 of you.
Originally published as KFC SuperCoach 2020: The Phantom ranks the top trade targets in every position