KFC SuperCoach 2021: Round 12 trade guide
KFC SuperCoaches are hitting the trade button on Brodie Grundy but there is another way to dodge a ruck disaster. See all the best Round 12 trade options.
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The bye rounds are here and SuperCoaches have already been dealt their first curve ball.
Close to 95,000 SuperCoaches need to devise a plan how to deal with Brodie Grundy’s injury and the prognosis is that he’ll miss 2-3 weeks, which basically rules him out of the next two rounds before Collingwood’s Round 14 bye. As a best-case scenario, he will return for the clash against Fremantle in Round 15.
If you’re ever going to lose a premium then the bye rounds would probably be the best time to do it as only the best 18 scores count towards your total score. In saying that, we’ll be one premium short over the next two weeks, which isn’t ideal.
Whichever way you look at it though, you can’t win all the bye rounds and Round 12 seems to be the easiest to navigate based on those that are playing.
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In terms of what to do with Grundy, there are a variety of scenarios and any decision will have to be made with a long-term view in mind. Grundy is no doubt in the top-two ruckmen in the competition and we’ll all want him in our team when the whips are cracking during the SuperCoach finals. Also, as we all know, trades are precious and it’s no point wasting them in an attempt to cover him from week-to-week.
The sensible approach would be the bench Grundy over the next two rounds, as over 70,000 SuperCoaches have Matt Flynn as a back-up on the bench. Flynn serves his bye in Round 12 and will return the following week and he’ll hopefully continue to share the ruck duties with Shane Mumford in the coming weeks. In saying that, Flynn scored a season-low 51 points in the Giants’ loss against the Lions.
But there is also an alternative plan. Young Hawks ruckman Ned Reeves will be a popular trade target after Hawthorn’s Round 12 bye after scoring 82 and 90 points respectively over the past two rounds. Reeves will be on the bubble and a move from Flynn would net you $243,800, which will be more than handy as we look to strengthen our teams. Reeves would then cover Grundy until he returns.
If you’re set on trading Grundy regardless, then there are several candidates to consider. The most obvious is Max Gawn, but, like Grundy, he already boasts a huge ownership. The next best option would be Nic Naitanui. He’s coming off a season-high 163 points and if we look at his numbers since Round 7 he’s the highest scoring ruckman in KFC SuperCoach with a return of 123 per game. The Eagles have a Round 13 bye.
If you’re looking for the ultimate POD, then Sean Darcy ticks that box. He’s owned by just 2 per cent of SuperCoaches and has matched Gawn since Round 7. Darcy has topped 100 points in six of his past eight games.
Below are the highest scoring ruckmen since Round 7;
ROOKIE WATCH
During the bye rounds SuperCoaches can use up to three trades in Rounds 12-
14, but that isn’t a reason to go trigger happy and use nine trades over three weeks. The byes are the perfect time to offload those rookies that have fully matured in price, or, alternatively, rookies that aren’t even playing.
The No.1 target this week would have been Ned Reeves had he not had the bye, which leaves Callum Coleman-Jones as the standout ahead of Round 12 especially now that Toby Nankervis has been out for up to seven weeks with a knee injury. Add to that the extended time Tom Lynch will spend on the sidelines and Coleman-Jones looks to be a steal at his price.
Coleman-Jones starred on the weekend against the Crows and was the target inside 50 on nine occasions – just one fewer than Jack Riewoldt. He also grabbed four contested marks and kicked four goals on his way to 112 points. He came into that match with strong VFL form, averaging 19 disposals, three goals and 126 points.
No team has blooded more debutants than Collingwood this season and the latest first-gamer was Trent Bianco. A ball magnet as a junior, he ranked second on the ground for disposals per minute in the first half before finishing ninth in that measure across the game.
He hit the target with 15 of 19 disposals, also recording 13 uncontested possessions, three tackles, five inside-50s and two score assists. Bianco did enough to hopefully keep him in the side over the next two rounds as we look to field as many players as we can.
Jacob Koschitzke (break even 81) and Tom Powell (BE 93) are two popular cash cows that have a bye this week and thankfully, they won’t change in price. But having a plan for them ahead of Round 13 is important, with a double downgrade now a tempting option for those looking to make major upgrades elsewhere.
With no VFL football on the weekend, our potential debutants are likely to come from the SANFL and WAFL, so keep a close eye on the Thursday night teams.
As always, trade wisely and best of luck ahead of Round 12!
HOW TO SURVIVE BYES, GRUNDY CRISIS
— The Phantom, Al Paton
The bye rounds are here. The next three weeks will test KFC SuperCoaches, and also provide those who have prepared well a chance to climb the rankings.
A number of popular players missing from six clubs — Gold Coast, North Melbourne, Port Adelaide, Hawthorn, Geelong and GWS — won’t be the only immediate roadblock, though, with Brodie Grundy creating another gigantic headache.
The star Collingwood ruckman — who features in more than 90,000 KFC SuperCoach teams — was subbed out of Saturday’s clash with the Cats after pinching a nerve in his neck and the Magpies say they won’t take any risks with his recovery, meaning he’s unlikely to feature for several weeks.
So, what should we do?
Here’s a look at all the KFC SuperCoach trade options ahead of the Round 12 bye.
THE GRUNDY DILEMMA
Grundy has been ruled out of Saturday’s clash with the Crows, meaning more than half of all KFC SuperCoach teams have one fewer player from which to assemble 18 scoring bodies.
And it gets worse — with the Magpies’ bye approaching, it seems likely we won’t see Grundy again until Round 15.
That’s four weeks away. Just as the byes hit us between the eyes. This week will be different for every SuperCoach — only having to field 18 scoring players might mean you can afford to hold Grundy until he returns. Or you might have to pull the trade trigger just to get a full compliment on the park. Scroll down for our best options.
Trade to another premium
If you’re going to struggle to field 18 players in each of the next two rounds, this is something you may consider. It may help your overall ranking in the short-term. But, while your pondering the options below, how will go watching him in the final nine rounds?
Nic Naitanui $585,200
Average: 111.9
Nic Nat is the clear No.3 behind the big two this season, averaging 136 over the past three matches, thanks to a season-best 163 against Essendon. That makes it five KFC SuperCoach tons in a row for the Eagles star, who hasn’t scored below 93 since Round 1. Naitanui has played every game this year but that’s a rarity — he has played a full season once in his career (in 2010). And the Eagles also have a Round 12 bye, which means he’s unavailable next week.
BYE-ROUND PLANNER: ULTIMATE GUIDE TO SURVIVING ROUNDS 12-14
Sean Darcy $554,600
Pre-R11 average: 109
The Dockers youngster has emerged from the enormous shadow of Aaron Sandilands with seven tons for the season and just two scores below 90 (unfortunately one of those came against Port Adelaide on Sunday night). He has a five-round average of 105.8, has the same Round 14 bye as Grundy, and faces the Bulldogs and Gold Coast in his next two.
Tim English $465,900
Average: 87.6
The Bulldogs beanpole could be the value pick. He scored 100 in his first game back from a four-week concussion break, well short of his 156 break even, resulting in a $25k price drop. He has probably bottomed out with a 104 BE and a Round 13 bye is potentially attractive, but it’s worth noting his score against the Demons was just English’s second 100-plus score of the season in seven matches and he posted scores of 57 and 61 in non-injury affected games.
Reilly O’Brien $454,300
Average: 91.5
Now you’re talking ... maybe. ‘ROB’ stamped himself as a KFC SuperCoach star of the future with a 106.2 average in 2020 but his 2021 has been a bit of a rollercoaster. After two scores in the 50s to start the year he peeled off four consecutive tons, averaging 120.5 in that time. He followed that up with three disappointing scores then banged out a massive 147 against the Tigers. Finding value always comes with some risk — and this doesn’t seem as crazy as some. He shares Grundy’s Round 14 bye and a swap would net you almost $200k to fix other problems.
Todd Goldstein $504,600
Average: 93.9
Earns a spot here due to his KFC SuperCoach pedigree but the Kangaroos stalwart doesn’t have the scoring power he once did, with his 2021 average this year his lowest since 2012 — and that is boosted by a 150 in Round 9 against Hawthorn. The Round 12 bye just about rules him out anyway.
WAIT AND PRAY
Grundy was missing in Round 14 anyway so, if this didn’t happen on the eve of the bye-rounds, you wouldn’t even think twice about holding the second-ranked overall scorer on the bench for two matches. If you can field the required players — even if you’re just one short for a week — the sensible play is to bench him and proceed with your upgrade plan.
CASH IN FLYNN … OR GRUNDY?
Many KFC SuperCoaches were already considering this play, even with the two of the replacement options, Ned Reeves and Zac Smith, sharing the Round 12 bye with Giant Matthew Flynn. It would give you a terrific cash injection — more than $240k with Reeves, given Flynn’s $367k price tag — allowing you to follow through with your bye-round trade plan.
With Braydon Preuss’s latest injury setback, and Leon Cameron’s new willingness to play Shane Mumford and Flynn together, he will likely be there to cover in Rounds 13 and 14. Reeves’ first two games have been good (82 and 90, break even -98), but this play is all about the money.
A move to Tigers tall Callum Coleman-Jones is slightly different, though, given Richmond’s Round 13 bye. The 21-year-old booted four goals and posted a KFC SuperCoach ton on Sunday against the Crows in his second career game — and his first since 2019.
There’s also the risky strategy of reverting back to the rookie on-field ruck. Reeves had only seven disposals against the Suns but, as he stated before his debut, the 22-year-old’s strength is his tap work. He finished with 10 hitouts-to-advantage on Saturday night, after recording six in his first game at the top level. You could almost make two premium upgrades elsewhere with the money, but what will you do if Reeves hits a wall?
Suns veteran Smith has recorded KFC SuperCoach scores of 76 and 68 since returning from injury.
After his 76-point score, and resulting break even of more than 160, Grundy’s price could fall below $600k — but it will still be a significant gap down the track, if you want him back.
THE OTHERS TO JUMP ON - OR OFF
Even if they are playing this week, every premium KFC SuperCoach option will miss one match in the next three rounds, so it makes it another very interesting round of trading. Some KFC SuperCoaches will continue aggressively moving to improve their team, others will be sideways trading to avoid an on-field zero.
Jump on
Zach Merrett $541,800 MID
The Bombers star has bounced back after being shut down by Docker Caleb Serong in Round 9, with scores of 117 and 119 in the past two matches. But he lost money again and is available ahead of Round 12 at more than a $70k discount. Merrett has a bye in Round 13 so, if you’re short in Round 14 and want to keep upgrading to strengthen your side this week, he’s the value option.
Darcy Parish $622,100 MID
For around $60k more, you can get Merrett’s in-form teammate. And we’re not just talking form at the Bombers. Parish, after moving into a pure midfield role, is averaging 36 disposals and 134 KFC SuperCoach over the past six rounds – only Clayton Oliver has averaged more points during this period.
Jack Steele $576,900 MID
Speaking of value, the St Kilda skipper was back to his KFC SuperCoach best on Saturday night, tallying 154 points against North Melbourne. He’s increased in price for the first time – albeit only slightly - since Round 5 and he’s only going to get more expensive from here. If the next two rounds are your tough weeks, Steele is a great buy.
Trent Bianco $123,900 DEF-MID
He’s only played one game but, if you’re after a downgrade option who will provide valuable cover over the next two weeks, the young Magpie is the one to consider. Bianco ranked second on the ground for disposals-per-minute in the first half on Saturday before finishing with 19 disposals, six score involvements and 83 KFC SuperCoach points on debut.
Callum Coleman-Jones $161, 200 FWD-RUCK
You will have to wait until after Richmond’s Round 13 bye for a price rise, but it could be worth the wait. The 200cm Tiger, who played one game in 2019, was dominant against the Crows on Sunday, tallying four goals and 100 KFC SuperCoach points before three-quarter-time (before finishing with 112). Even with the elevated price tag, there’s a big price rise coming — and then a few more, too, with Tom Lynch on the sidelines. As mentioned above, he would cover Grundy right away, if the star Magpies misses. You could also consider him for a forward bench spot.
When can I trade in CCJ and Bianco? #supercoach
— Tim Michell (@tim_michell) May 30, 2021
James Harmes $424,200 DEF
After an impressive midfielder performance on Friday night – both offensively and defensively – Harmes has now posted scores of 132, 84, 80 and 116 since returning from injury in Round 8. Jack Viney is still to return to the Demons’ on-ball rotation, but Harmes is a quick-fix option for those KFC SuperCoaches looking to trade out Changkuoth Jiath.
Marcus Bontempelli $665,600 MID
Value isn’t a word we can associate with the Bulldogs star at the moment but he keeps posting big scores — even with close attention from Harmes — and will be there this week and in Round 14. With a likely breakeven of 112, Bontempelli is set to hold his price over the bye-rounds so if you want him – and you probably do – you’ll have to spend big.
Dayne Zorko $579,300 FWD/MID
Zorko, who also has the bye in Round 13 along with Bontempelli, isn’t cheap either but he’s closing the gap on the top-ranked KFC SuperCoach forward Jack Ziebell very quickly. The star Lion’s 162 was his sixth score of 100 or more in the past seven weeks.
Jump off
Changkuoth Jiath $369,400 DEF
After four scores of 66 or less in the past five weeks, the Hawthorn defender is at the top of the list of sideways trade options heading into his Round 12 bye. Jiath will be there to cover in the final two bye weeks but, if it fits in with your plan and structure, this is the week to upgrade him to a genuine top-six candidate. Docker Luke Ryan could be a nice point-of-difference after posting two KFC SuperCoach tons since his return in Round 10.
Jacob Koschitzke $270,600 DEF
The defender-turned-forward’s price will fall again after finishing with just 29 points – his second-lowest score for the year – against the Suns. It’s time to trade him out with the Hawks having the bye.
Tom Powell $322,000 MID
It’s a similar story for the young midfielder, if you haven’t already done so. Powell, who has dropped almost $60k from his highest price, won’t be in action this round, and will face another break even of close to 100 when he returns in Round 13.
James Jordon $369,900 MID
After an impressive 85-point performance against the Bulldogs, Jordan could make a little more clash before the Demons’ Round 14 bye. But it’s unlikely to be enough to convince you not to upgrade if that was your plan in preparing for the next three weeks.
Originally published as KFC SuperCoach 2021: Round 12 trade guide
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