KFC SuperCoach: 2021 champion Emily Challis gives early tips for 2022

Emily Challis knows a thing or two about picking a successful KFC SuperCoach team after taking out the $50,000 prize in 2021. What is she thinking this year?

Winning KFC SuperCoach in 2021 was a surreal experience, a dream come true.

My kids were super excited when I won, especially with the KFC merchandise and a promise of a holiday. Hubby has gained a greater appreciation of the game, he even understands the VC/C loophole.

This time last year I almost quit, I hadn’t made a team yet (even with team picker) and wasn’t sure if I would make one. Life had gotten in the way. However, I knew I had to find a way to make it work. I loved playing SuperCoach, so I needed to implement some strategies and make a game plan.

I started playing SuperCoach in 2013 when I was on maternity leave. I loved watching footy and barracking for my Geelong Cats. I had always had an interest in numbers, probability and statistics, especially footy stats. I work as an occupational therapist with special kids, which involves a lot of problem solving and sometimes “thinking outside the box”. which I love.

Emily Challis, coach of SuperCoach Mumma, the top-scoring team of 2021.

When I was at home, I found that my “analytical problem-solving tank” was not getting filled and Sudoku was not cutting it. Once I started playing SuperCoach I was hooked, I loved filling a team full of famous names, trading players and the buzz when a player went well.When I first started playing, boy I loved using those trades. I think my record of running out of trades was in week 18, after that I just prayed that I didn’t get any injuries. I also loved a Point of Difference (POD) and thought that was the secret to winning SuperCoach.

Before last year, my highest ever season rank was 698. In a few seasons I was in the top 300 after the byes but dropped significantly when I ran out of trades or that POD I got didn’t work out.

Fast forward to 2021, I decided to change the way that I constructed a team. I decided that every player in my team needed to be there for a reason.

SuperCoach is open 🥰 Looking for women/ladies who play SC. Will set up a fun ladies league.
Experience not necessary.
Will try and set up a group chat too if interested (can opt out of this)
DM me or reply on this thread

— Supercoach Mumma (@EChallis) January 24, 2022

I decided I couldn’t be on my phone all the time in February constantly changing my team. I would allocate 20 minutes at a time to assess my team and make 1-2 changes.

I developed my clinical reasoning by reading SuperCoach articles, listening to podcasts, and studying the statistics. My starting team was the reason why I didn’t need too many trades early and got a great start.

Luck does have a play to part in winning SuperCoach, but treating trades like diamonds is also the key. You’ve got to know when to hold them and when to trade.

Looking at 2022, I have just started planning my team but I’m leaning towards a gun and rookie approach with one or two mid-pricers sprinkled in. There are a few good rookies around and there also seems to be bucketloads of options in the midfield.

Docker Sean Darcy is challenging the big name rucks in KFC SuperCoach. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

The question will be how many premiums and expensive rookies can you fit in your team? Can we afford five premiums and Jason Horne Francis ($207,000 MID) and Nick Daicos (193,800 MID)?

The rucks will be one of the biggest talking points and there does seem more choice this year. I do think the Gawn/Grundy era may be over. I am very hesitant in picking Sean Darcy ($642,600 RUC) this year because his injury history concerns me. His scoring potential (even on one leg), however, is massive.

Then there is the dilemma of Braydon Preuss ($204,700 RUC). Can you trust his body? Will he be the No.1 ruck at GWS? Will he be rested? At such a juicy price he does have to be looked at.

Bring on the debate and bring on the 2022 KFC SuperCoach AFL season, it should be a blast.