KFC SuperCoach 2022: The Phantom’s pre-AAMI Series team revealed

The Phantom is taking a risk in the ruck this KFC SuperCoach season. But our expert is also banking on a midfield point-of-difference. See the pre-AAMI Series team.

The official pre-season games are here, and it’s time to get serious in KFC SuperCoach.

It’s important to note what – and who – happened in the intra-club matches, but it’s equally as important not to read too much into the player who had 30 touches against his own teammates. Scott Pendlebury and Nick Daicos sharing kick-in duties is a different story, however.

THIS IS THE PRE-AAMI SERIES TEAM, SEE THE PHANTOM’S FINAL SIDE HERE

The next fortnight will tell us even more, but you should be going with a solid structure – or two – in mind. Of course, things will change, but it’s time to start refining things.

That’s what I’ve done and I think I’m happy. But Braydon Preuss is the big Giant ruckman in the room. He’s at R2 at the moment – a change from the R3 strategy from my early team – and I love what the rest of the side looks like around him.

But I’d be lying if I didn’t say I was nervous about a rookie-price ruckman, though.

And, yes, I’ve been sucked into some value that I said I was going to avoid.

Jack Crisp hasn’t missed a game during his seven years at Collingwood. Picture: Morgan Hancock/Getty Images

DEFENDERS

Jack Crisp (Coll) $571,000, Mid
Jordan Dawson (Adel) $555,300
Jordan Ridley (Ess) $537,100
James Sicily (Haw) $448,100
Keidean Coleman (Bris) $263,200, Fwd
Nathan O’Driscoll (Fre) $123,900, Mid
BENCH: Garrett McDonagh (Ess), $117,300, Charlie Dean (Coll) $102,400

With a lack of rookie-price options in defence – at this stage anyway – I had played around with an extra premium and Sicily at D5, leaving just one cheapie on the field. But with Aaron Hall hurting his hamstring and Coleman continuing to impress in the half-back role, which also had him take kick-ins during Brisbane’s intra-club, I’ve reverted to a slightly more balanced approach. If you include finals, the talented Lion finished the year with a three-round average of 85. Given his scoring power, there’s just too much value in a fit Sicily playing in defence. O’Driscoll has a very KFC SuperCoach-friendly contested game and he played a major role through the midfield in Fremantle’s final internal trial.

Can Darcy Parish build on a huge 2021 season? Picture: Jonathan DiMaggio/Getty Images

MIDFIELDERS

Jack Macrae (WB) $699,900
Jack Steele (StK) $685,800
Darcy Parish (Ess) $621,300
Lachie Neale (Bris) $543,200
Caleb Serong (Fre) $451,000
Jason Horne-Francis (NM) $207,300
Nick Daicos (Coll) $193,800
Dylan Stephens (Syd) $167,800
BENCH:Jackson Mead (Port) $123,900, Charlie Parker (WB) $102,400 FWD, James Tsitas (GC) $102,400

There’s been some significant changes in the midfield. After the release of my initial team, I sat on a four premium-four rookie structure, which included Sam Walsh, for a while. With a standout group of midfielders, led by the top draftees, emerging, it’s a setup I like for 2022 – and one I’ll continue to consider. But the injury to Eagles mature-ager Greg Clark forced a re-think. Well, that, and the fact I can’t overlook Serong’s potential breakout – even though I tried for a while. Many KFC SuperCoach teams will go into the season with the trio of Macrae, Steele and Neale so when Sam Walsh went down, I looked for something different. Hawk Tom Mitchell’s back-end of 2021 is enticing but so was Parish’s first full-time year in the midfield. Given he was only a bit-part player through the middle in the opening month, along with his enormous ceiling, I think the star Bomber, who is in less than eight per cent of teams, can be a 120-point man very soon. I’m currently willing to overlook the tag and returning teammates concerns because he might just be, simply, too good for any of it to matter.

Braydon Preuss presents plenty of value in KFC SuperCoach. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

RUCK

Brodie Grundy (Coll) $627,100
Braydon Preuss (GWS) $204,700
BENCH: Dante Visentini (Port) $117,300, Fwd

It’s all roses until up until this point. But should I be any more worried than starting Sean Darcy who had Achilles tightness and copped a knock in the last month alone? He’s my other option, which I may revert to if Preuss can’t clearly knock Matt Flynn and Kieren Briggs out the way during the pre-season matches. Visentini would act as a non-playing loophole, who could swing with Charlie Comben – or Jack Hayes, when he’s officially signed – when ruck cover is needed. Grundy isn’t going anywhere.

Zak Butters tackles Sam Powell-Pepper during Port Adelaide’s intra-club match. Picture: Sarah Reed

FORWARDS

Josh Dunkley (WB) $558,200, Mid
Jordan De Goey (Coll) $463,500, Mid
Zak Butters (Port) $443,600
Cam Rayner (Bris) $278,600
Stephen Coniglio (GWS) $261,300, Mid
Josh Rachele (Adel) $184,800, Mid

BENCH: Elijah Hollands (GC) $123,900, Mid, Charlie Comben (NM) $123,900, Ruck

I was set on Dunkley and Duncan at the top but the news of the Geelong star fighting to be fit for Round 1 with a calf issue has forced a change. To be honest, though, I like where it’s ended up. De Goey averaged 110 in the final nine games of last year, playing through the midfield and, if the role stays the same, it’s a figure he’ll go close to again. Butters is lock, and the extra cash from the Preuss selection has also allowed me to push Coniglio down to F5 and add Rayner, whose strength and power through the midfield coach Chris Fagan continues to rave about. Blue Charlie Curnow is high on the watchlist, too. With limited on-field rookie options in the forward line, it also puts less pressure on the debutants. This way, I can switch between Rachele and Hollands.

KFC SuperCoach 2022: The Phantom's Pre-AAMI Series team

Originally published as KFC SuperCoach 2022: The Phantom’s pre-AAMI Series team revealed