KFC SuperCoach 2020: The Phantom’s Round 8 review and Round 9 trade advice
KFC SuperCoaches will have three trades available in each of the next four rounds — but should you use them all? The Phantom provides his advice and answers this round’s burning questions.
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KFC SuperCoaches are starting to panic and, given what is coming, rightly so. And that means there are even more questions ahead of the first bounce of Round 9 on Wednesday.
EXPLAINED: HOW KFC SUPERCOACH HAS CHANGED FOR ROUNDS 9-12
Should you trade Tom Doedee?
Scans on Monday confirmed Doedee’s injury was minor one and the stand-in skipper is still a chance to play in Adelaide’s clash with the Kangaroos on Saturday.
“The defender sustained a high-grade contusion to the gluteals and were reassuring as to his hamstring health,” Crows Head of Medicine Steve Saunders said.
“Tom, like all players, has four games to play in 16 days.
“While we expect Tom to be ready to play by Saturday, these time frames and general load management will be carefully considered.
“At the end of the week when we sit down to make a decision, we’ll be considering that with the entire list.”
Even if he does miss one match, given his recent scoring – and potential keeper-status – try to hold if you have the cover.
And the 23-year-old sitting out for one round is likely given the Crows will play again on Wednesday, four days after the Round 9 clash with North Melbourne.
But sideways trading Doedee now, instead of executing your upgrade plan, while it could give you a small points-boost in Round 9, it’s unlikely to put your team in a better spot in the following rounds.
Improving your bench cover this week is a good idea, anyway.
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Is it too late to jump on Crow Andrew McPherson?
The young defender, in his third senior appearance, was the top-ranked Crow on the ground once Doedee went off injured. In fact, McPherson’s 73 KFC SuperCoach points in that period was the third-highest of any player. Add to those impressive numbers a breakeven of -15 and very solid job security, and the 21-year-old, who took three intercept marks and finished with 90 points against the Bombers, is still a great buy at $215k to help with bye-round cover.
Is he a better option then North’s Ben McKay?
Given there’s only $24k between the two after McKay’s 70-point score in Round 8, I think McPherson is the better option. For both scoring ceiling and job security.
How good is Caleb Daniel’s kicking?
That was a statement.
Caleb Daniel elite kicking 2020 AFL season thread:#MightyWest pic.twitter.com/nzXurw0yy8
— Caleb Daniel Kicks (@CalebDanielKick) July 24, 2020
But, really, how good is it?
Very. The skilful Bulldog’s kick-retention rate is 10 per cent higher than any other of the top-50 ball-winners in the competition. But it’s not just his kicking. Daniel’s disposal efficiency of 84 per cent also ranks No. 1 on this list. And the 24-year-old, who rates elite for ground-ball gets, rarely fumbles. If you’re desperate, and Doedee misses, Daniel at $533k is one of your best bests.
Can Patrick Cripps turn it around?
He has to, surely. The Carlton skipper’s 75-point score against North Melbourne made it three scores of 85 or less on-the-trot.
In Round 7, his inefficiency cost him, with Cripps hitting the target with just one of his seven kicks. On Saturday, he copped close attention – and a kick in the guts – from Kangaroo Jed Anderson and gave away five free kicks. Even if bounces back and records KFC SuperCoach tons in the next two rounds, as long as they aren’t huge scores, he’ll still be available for less than $500k following the Blues’ Round 10 bye. After what will be a much-needed week off, he could be one of the buys of the season.
Is he the best value pick over the next four rounds?
He’s very close. Cats Tom Stewart and Mitch Duncan, Bomber Zach Merrett, North Melbourne’s Jy Simpkin, Eagles skipper Shannon Hurn and Port Adelaide midfielder Travis Boak are all up there, too.
Is it too early to jump on Stewart and Duncan this week?
They are both likely to be cheaper next round but at $450k and $530k respectively, it’s still great buying ahead of Round 9. And going early on one of them may help your trade plan, given the long list of value options popping up, going forward. You may only be sacrificing $20-$30k, too. On Monday night’s form, Duncan may get close to his breakeven of 157 anyway.
Should we be trading Brodie Grundy to Darcy Cameron?
No.
But is Cameron a legitimate option?
Definitely, especially if you have a dual-position ruck-forward at R3. The former Swan, who tallied eight disposals, two goals, two contested marks and 92 KFC SuperCoach points against the Eagles in Round 8, could be a great money-maker and, more-importantly, terrific cover over the next month, especially if the Magpies decide to rest Grundy. Cameron’s price skyrocketed to almost $200k after the performance on Sunday but with a breakeven of -4, he still has plenty of money to make.
Is Christian Petracca a must-have?
With no bye for the rest of the year and scores of 111, 104, 160 and 141 in the past four matches, it’s getting hard to say no. The 24-year-old is in career-best form and is becoming increasingly difficult for opposition side’s to stop. At around $580k, Petracca won’t come cheap but with a number of value options on the horizon, maybe this is the week you spend the money.
Should you use all of your Round 9 trades?
There are no rules but you should have no worries about using all three. It’s time to prepare yourself, before the panic sets it, for the next four rounds. Executing one upgrade – or two, if you have the cash – and strengthening your bench ahead of Round 9 will – hopefully – allow you to improve it again next week.
But with teams only announced the night before the game, it is vital to analyse the fixture and work out when you need to make your trades. To make sure you are ready to deal with the KFC SuperCoach carnage, wait as long as you can in the round to execute.
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Originally published as KFC SuperCoach 2020: The Phantom’s Round 8 review and Round 9 trade advice