KFC SuperCoach 2022: Latest whispers, selection and injury news from every club
Who’s under an injury cloud? From rookies to last-minute recruits, here’s all the news you might have missed that could impact your KFC SuperCoach team.
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The pre-season is almost done, Round 1 is just around the corner, and KFC SuperCoaches around the country are getting ready to lock in their teams.
Damo (@damosc) and Lekdog (@lekdog) from the Jock Reynolds SuperCoach community have all the relevant news to help you make the important final calls.
ADELAIDE
Rory Laird has suffered a hand injury which is going to rule him out for 4-6 weeks. That opens the door for Jordan Dawson ($550,300 DEF) to play full time midfield minutes and potentially gain DEF/MID status, but he has been battling a calf injury and missed the AAMI Series.
Ben Keays ($560,400 MID) could also be a beneficiary of Laird’s absence – the midfielder averaged 107 after Adelaide’s bye in 2021.
Matthew Nicks said after Adelaide’s pre-season game against Port Adelaide that Josh Rachele ($184,800 FWD/MID) was currently in the Crows’ best 22, which all but confirms a likely Round 1 debut.
BRISBANE LIONS
Popular cheaper option Keidean Coleman ($263,200 DEF/FWD) did not complete the pre-season game against Western Bulldogs after suffering a significant hamstring injury and will miss up to 10 weeks. Noah Answerth ($246,800 DEF) is the likely beneficiary if Coleman is out for any length of time.
CARLTON
Patrick Cripps ($454,800 MID), Adam Cerra ($490,200 MID) and George Hewett ($399,00 DEF/MID) look likely to be the main midfield brigade for Carlton, but contested ball beast Matt Kennedy ($440,900 MID) might be a sneaky option for KFC SuperCoach Draft while Sam Walsh is not playing.
Corey Durdin ($143,700 FWD) was subbed out during the Blues game against St Kilda, but appears all but certain to recover in time for Round 1, making him an option for your forward line bench.
COLLINGWOOD
Popular rookie Charlie Dean is out for 6-10 weeks after having foot surgery, but he’ll be a great downgrade option around the bye rounds. Nathan Murphy ($243,300 MID), who looked likely to benefit from the opportunity created by Dean’s absence, is also under an injury cloud after coming off during the pre-season match against the Giants.
Brayden Maynard ($502,500 DEF) will miss the start of the season after an errant arm made contact with Daniel Lloyd’s head during Collingwood’s pre-season game. He has been suspended for the first two games of the season.
Nathan Kreuger ($198,100 DEF) has also been suspended for one game for a separate incident.
ESSENDON
Nick Martin ($102,400 FWD) and Tex Wanganeen ($102,400 FWD) have both been added to SuperCoach after being signed to the Bombers on SPP contracts.
Martin came on for the second half of the Bombers’ AAMI Series game and picked up 16 disposals to push his claims for a Round 1 debut. Wanganeen kicked two goals in the final quarter of a practice game but didn’t play in the AAMI Series and seems to be behind Martin in the selection queue.
FREMANTLE
Even though Nat Fyfe ($546,500 MID) did not play at all during the pre-season, the club is fairly confident he will be available in Round 1 – but anyone looking to select him should be wary of his pre-season shoulder surgery.
Nathan O’Driscoll ($123,900 MID/DEF) and Neil Erasmus ($166,800 MID) were left out of the team for the AAMI Series game but are still in the frame for Round 1 debuts after strong performances for Peel Thunder in their pre-season match.
Justin Longmuir has flagged that Heath Chapman ($275,200 DEF) will play multiple roles this season, highlighting his flexibility as his greatest asset. Chapman could be a valuable option for coaches with an alarming dearth of available defensive rookies heading into Round 1.
GEELONG
Sam De Koning ($123,900 DEF/FWD) looks likely to take over the role Lachie Henderson left behind after a strong showing against Gold Coast at Metricon on Monday night.
GOLD COAST
Elijah Hollands ($123,900 MID/FWD) and James Tsitas ($102,400 MID) have both been left out of the Suns’ team again this pre-season. While a Round 1 debut for either of them is not completely off the table, it appears highly unlikely. Look elsewhere for rookies for now.
GWS GIANTS
Popular cheap ruck option Brayden Preuss ($204,700 RUC) may have played himself into KFC SuperCoach teams with 102 points in the Giants’ AAMI Series win against Collingwood – then straight out again after copping a one-match suspension for a dangerous tackle on Brodie Grundy. Some KFC SuperCoaches who have him in their second ruck position will need to restructure their entire team, but you could still pick him on the bench anticipating a Round 2 return.
HAWTHORN
Tom Mitchell ($638,100 MID) missed Hawthorn’s last pre-season game as a precaution with a groin issue, but according to the club it’s likely he’ll be available for Round 1. If Mitchell was to miss the start of the season, it should see Josh Ward ($180,300 MID), Connor Nash ($310,300 FWD/MID) and James Worpel ($399,800 MID) as the beneficiaries.
Ward attended 17 centre bounces against Richmond and thrived in the role but expect a drop in CBAs when Mitchell and Jaeger O’Meara return to the centre square.
MELBOURNE
Christian Salem ($514,500 DEF) is expected to line-up for Round 1 after missing the pre-season match against Carlton with knee soreness.
NORTH MELBOURNE
David Noble has confirmed that Jared Polec ($246,900 MID) will play on the wing for North Melbourne in Round 1. In his last full season of senior footy, Polec averaged 87.7 SuperCoach points.
Noble has also indicated that top-priced rookie Jason Horne-Francis ($207,300 MID) is likely to spend more time forward than in the midfield to begin his career. He can impact the scoreboard – kicking two goals in the last AAMI Series match – so he still has avenues to score KFC SuperCoach points, but don’t expect 35 possessions every week.
PORT ADELAIDE
Ken Hinkley told the media that Robbie Gray ($455,500 FWD) was subbed out of Port Adelaide’s pre-season against Adelaide due to hamstring awareness, but that he should still be in the mix for Round 1.
Jed McEntee ($123,900 FWD/MID) was the only rookie-priced Port Adelaide player to play the majority of the game against Adelaide, with Josh Sinn ($157,800 DEF/MID) and Jackson Mead ($123,900 MID) only playing around half a game each. It appears both are on the fringe of the best 22 for Round 1.
RICHMOND
At the KFC SuperCoach launch event Herald Sun reporter Jon Ralph revealed to passengers on “The SuperCoach” (SuperCoach’s official bus) that Josh Gibcus ($171,300 DEF) looks likely to play every match in 2022 as long as he remains fit. His Round 1 chances are even further boosted by Dylan Grimes looking unlikely for the game against Carlton after thumb surgery.
PODCAST: @lekdog and @PatchToTheMax were lucky enough to head down to the official @Supercoach launch today and spoke to @al_superfooty, @EChallis Heath Shaw, Clayton Oliver and Heath Shaw.
— Jock Reynolds (@jock_reynolds) March 7, 2022
This is a must-listen: https://t.co/o4dKIMWGzc
ST KILDA
Hunter Clark ($401,100 DEF/MID) will be missing for up to six weeks after injuring his AC joint, and Jack Billings ($451,200 MID) hurt his hamstring, with no time frame provided by St Kilda on his recovery.
Jack Hayes ($102,400 RUC/FWD) has been added to SuperCoach after being signed by the Saints during the Supplementary Selection Period, and should be a popular rookie selection given his basement price and RUC/FWD swing.
SYDNEY
Callum Mills ($612,100 MID) returned for Sydney against North Melbourne in the pre-season game and scored an incredible 85 SuperCoach points in just 41 per cent game time.
WEST COAST
Hugh Dixon ($102,400 RUC/FWD) has been added into SuperCoach, and will likely get opportunities early while Oscar Allen recovers from a foot injury. Although coaches should be wary that Allen is expected to return in Round 5, so cash generation via Dixon may be minimal.
The Eagles have been decimated by injuries which could hand early-season opportunities to other late signings including Patrick Naish, Tom Joyce and Luke Strnadica – watch for their prices as they are added to KFC SuperCoach in coming days. Joyce attended 10 centre bounces in the AAMI Series and finished with 18 disposals.
Alex Witherden ($471,700 DEF) will miss a week after being suspended for a high hit on Andrew Brayshaw during the pre-season derby against Fremantle.
WESTERN BULLDOGS
Josh Dunkley ($558,200 FWD/MID) looks like he’ll be resuming his role as a full-time midfielder for the Bulldogs after strong performances in both of the pre-season games.
Pick him with confidence.
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