KFC SuperCoach 2023: The Phantom’s burning questions and Round 17 trade advice

Is the Callum Mills value real? Should we trade Josh Dunkley? Who’s David Cuningham? The Phantom answers the big SuperCoach questions ahead of Round 17.

Death, taxes, the English complaining and Nat Fyfe and Elliot Yeo getting injured.

They are the sad guarantees in life.

Well, not all sad.

I mean, how can you not enjoy the carry on from the Poms over former GWS Giant Alex Carey’s dismissal of Jonny Bairstow.

I certainly haven’t lost sleep over the spirit of the game.

That deprivation is saved for my KFC SuperCoach team.

Like Carey throwing the ball at the stumps as Bairstow left his crease early, there’s no rule against trading in Fyfe and Yeo in SuperCoach.

But maybe it’s time to rewrite the rules.

Some coaches will say ‘you should’ve known better’, but we’re all a sucker for value.

John Longmire with Callum Mills – what could go wrong? Picture: Phil Hillyard

Where’s the value this week then, Phant?

Callum Mills at $404,100.

That’s it?

That’s the tweet … is what I would say if Elon didn’t limit my Jonny Bairstow tweet viewing.

But, basically, that’s it. The Sydney star is available for a huge $238k discount on his starting price this week.

Sure, he might not average 117 from this point onwards, like he did last year to bring about the $642k price tag, but, at the price, he doesn’t need to.

If cash and trades are tight – if they’re not, you’re probably not listening to me – don’t hesitate to finish your side with Mills.

After Longmire moved him around early in the season, before the injury, Mills was back purely in the midfield against the Cats, attending a season-high 76 per cent of centre bounces.

He tallied 24 disposals, 11 contested possessions, six tackles, five intercepts, five score involvements and 106 KFC SuperCoach points.

In typical fashion, Mills was clean and efficient, with 21 of his 24 disposals hitting the target.

Before you ask, yes, it’s important to note Chad Warner was missing.

Yes, I was going to say he only attended 24 per cent against the Eagles a week earlier?

That’s true, but that figure might be misleading moving forward.

Of course, there’s a chance Longmire moves his versatile star around in the back-end of the year, but Warner was only in attendance at 32 per cent of centre bounces against the Eagles.

The Swans rotated heavily, with the CBAs of Errol Gulden and Tom Papley up that day.

And Mills was subbed out after three quarters.

Would you make a downgrade to make it happen?

It’s a difficult question and it’s all team dependent. Would I use my last trade to facilitate a Mills upgrade? Ideally, no.

And don’t make me go back and look at post-bye injury and suspension history again.

Look at Josh Dunkley this week. He’s going to miss, do you have cover? What if it turned in to two weeks? And it’s not even KFC SuperCoach finals time.

Josh Dunkley won’t play against the Eagles. Picture: Chris Hyde/AFL Photos

Wait, what’s wrong with Dunkley?

It turns out the star Lion’s calf issue might be a little more than a ‘corkie’ as Chris Fagan said after the win over Richmond.

A heavily-strapped Dunkley didn’t train on Tuesday and has been ruled out of the West Coast clash and listed as 1-2 weeks on the Brisbane injury list.

As the fantasy GOAT, Selby Lee-Steere, tweeted on Tuesday, the last time KFC SuperCoaches dealt with a corked calf, it was Blue George Hewett, who ended up missing the final five games of 2022.

Shudders.

The last time we dealt with a corked calf was George Hewett in 2022 and that didn’t end well.

— Moreira’s Magic (@MoreirasMagic) July 4, 2023

Phant, c’mon …

I’m just saying. S**t happens – whether you stay in your crease or not.

Try and be ready because, as we say every year, there’s a chance you lose more ground, when you can’t cover a 0 in the final few games, than you make up forcing one last upgrade now.

Of course, that’s not always the case, and it does work out – but just calm a down.

If that second trade strengthens your bench cover, though, then maybe

David Cuningham has a breakeven of -46. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

As in David Cuningham?

Yep.

In Round 15, the forgotten Blue scored 42 KFC SuperCoach in his first senior game since 2021.

But, following the bye, Cuningham reminded Blues fans – and KFC SuperCoaches – of his talent, tallying 16 disposals, seven contested possessions, seven score involvements, two goals and 96 points, in a clean and efficient display against the Hawks.

With Sam Docherty seemingly settled back in defence, and Sam Walsh spending some time across half-forward, Cunningham attended six centre bounces in a forward-mid role on Sunday.

In those three games he played in 2021, the 26-year-old posted KFC SuperCoach totals of 67, 78 and 93 in this games in 2021.

Cuningham, who had 24 disposals, two goals and 124 points in the VFL before his return, isn’t cheap but could act as decent mid-forward swing cover – while also making some money – in the run home.

But – and this has to be said – just be aware Cuningham has reached double digit games in just one season since being drafted in 2015.

I don’t really need the cover, and have a few trades left, would you throw a bench position just to make the final upgrade?

Yes, especially if a $102k trade gets you to a big-name premium.

Back to Dunkley, could we actually trade him?

If your team is complete and you have trades spare for luxury moves, then you could consider in an aggressive attempt to make up ground.

But, given he’s the No. 1 KFC SuperCoach scorer in the game since Round 8, you’d, ideally, want to have a trade to get him back in.

If you still have an upgrade left to make, that should be your priority.

And, anyway, it might be more a it’s-the-Eagles-let’s-be-cautious situation rather than a Hewett-season-ending one.

But, hey, I’ve still got Clarry.

OK, back to the value, is there anyone else?

$494k is good buying for Luke Davies-Uniacke this week, even with the Roos on their way down to Geelong.

In his first game since Round 9, the star midfielder recorded team highs for contested possessions (12) and clearances (8) in just 67 per cent game-time.

If you can wait, and he returns this week, Gold Coast gun Touk Miller could be available for close to a $100k discount on his starting price ahead of Round 18. Talk about a big KFC SuperCoach finals POD.