KFC SuperCoach AFL: Contenders for dual-position status before round 6 revealed
A bunch of players will earn dual-position status after round 5 of KFC SuperCoach. Who are the best options, and which popular picks will be part of the additions?
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Some of the top scorers in KFC SuperCoach are in line to gain a second position in the first batch of DPP updates.
Reborn mid-pricer Jack Ziebell, rookie revelation Harry Sheezel and mid-price breakout contender Will Day headline the players certain to have a second position added after round 5.
But it looks like a KFC SuperCoach favourite in Jack Macrae will just miss out on returning to his former forward status.
The Western Bulldogs star has been a victim of Luke Beveridge’s magnet moves early in the season, spending more than 20 per cent of game time forward in the opening three rounds, however it may not be enough.
Max Gawn and Brodie Grundy were both in the mix for DPP after round 1, but Gawn’s knee injury has all but put an end to their chances of becoming RUC-FWDs.
With the help of Champion Data, we’ve crunched the numbers on the opening three rounds of 2023 to reveal who’s likely to become DPP and analysed what it could mean for your trade plans.
ROUND 6 DPP CONTENDERS
LOCK IT IN
Harry Sheezel FWD to DEF-FWD
Alastair Clarkson has done KFC SuperCoaches a huge favour by using the No.3 pick from last year’s draft as a rebounding defender to start his career. Sheezel built a reputation as a dangerous forward in the NAB League, but Clarkson has reinvented him in the role which has been so profitable in recent years for players such as Jack Ziebell and Aaron Hall. Hall’s VFL form has been strong, but why would Clarkson mess with what’s working? Ziebell has been the main kick-in taker for North Melbourne in the opening three rounds, but Sheezel has been trusted with the important role in each match as well. Sheezel has been one of the leading uncontested possession winners in the AFL with 57 and sits second for rebound-50s.
HOW RELEVANT IS IT? Sheezel is a lock to be DEF-FWD heading into round 6, which could open up a FWD spot for coaches who want to go after Stephen Coniglio or another fallen premium in attack. You could station one of Sheezel and Ziebell at either end of the ground for DEF-FWD swing, too. It’s a big opportunity for KFC SuperCoaches and could open up trade possibilities in coming rounds.
Jack Ziebell FWD TO DEF-FWD
Guess who’s back, back again. Premium Ziebell, tell a friend. Alastair Clarkson has sent the former Roos skipper into defence and his scoring has returned to 2021 levels as a result. The only change has been that Ziebell’s partner in the back six has been Sheezel, rather than Aaron Hall as it was two years ago. Ziebell has the perfect formula for KFC SuperCoach when he plays behind the ball, preferring to kick his way out of trouble and filling the role as North Melbourne’s main kick-in option. Hall has been racking up huge numbers in the VFL, but even if he wins a senior recall, it’s hard to see Ziebell averaging less than 90. Having both Ziebell and Sheezel as DEF-FWDs would allow you to swing the pair between defence and your forward line as required.
HOW RELEVANT IS IT? Very. Ziebell gaining DEF status means you could be in a position to cash in a defensive rookie such as Reuben Ginbey or Conor McKenna as soon as round 7-8. Then you can swing Ziebell back and target a topscoring forward you missed or a fallen premium like Stephen Coniglio.
Will Day DEF TO DEF-MID
He may have copped a two-week suspension, but Day has already met the games quota for midfield status. Day’s centre bounce numbers spiked from eight against Essendon in round 1 to 15 in round 2, when he was Hawthorn’s leading disposal getter against the Swans. He backed that up with 15 CBAs, a game-high 29 disposals and 139 points against North Melbourne. The addition of MID status is less influential in KFC SuperCoach than a midfielder gaining DEF or FWD, but Day becoming DEF-MID will at least give his owners greater flexibility. Forgive the score of 60 in round 1, when he uncharacteristically had six turnovers as he adapted to the midfield role.
HOW RELEVANT IS IT? We can rule him out of our trade plans for the next fortnight, but he shapes as a promising option after that. He has climbed to $450k and KFC SuperCoaches strapped for cash could upgrade an underperforming midfield rookie like Alwyn Davey to him ahead of round 7 with a minimum of fuss.
Lachie Whitfield MID TO DEF-MID
Whitfield missed round 2 with concussion, which means barring an injury at training this week, he will be eligible for the first round of DPP additions. His opening games of the season have mirrored the pre-season talk from Sydney’s west which suggested Whitfield was heading back to defence under Adam Kingsley. Whitfield showed flashes off his best against the Bombers with 24 disposals and 89 points, and is set to drop in price after round 5.
HOW RELEVANT IS IT? Whitfield isn’t going to go close to the top-eight midfielders but KFC SuperCoaches know that at his best he’s in the top handful of defenders. The last time he averaged 100 was in 2020, but the year before he averaged 111. If he can recapture those heights he will be one of the best defenders of the year. Adam Kingsley has him in the right role, but it’s still a big if.
Bailey Smith MID to FWD-MID
I think we would all acknowledge Luke Beveridge hasn’t always been the greatest friend to KFC SuperCoaches. But we have to concede he has provided the odd gift. Last year it was Marcus Bontempelli and this year the Bulldog all but locked in for FWD status is Smith. He was very close to being a FWD from round 1 – only his midfield time in last year’s elimination final cost him. Smith’s CBA stats have dropped from 16 in round 1 to one in round 3, a huge shift as Adam Treloar’s return from injury pushed him outside the centre square. Heat maps show Smith won plenty of ball at half-back and on a wing against the Lions, but that was starting forward and pushing up the ground.
HOW RELEVANT IS IT? Extremely. His average might only be 83.5 after round 4 but Smith averaged 98.6 last year with six tons in 16 games. That average would currently have him 14th of this year’s forwards. He could be a top-six or top-eight forward from here, especially if Beveridge throws the magnets around and chucks him back in the middle. But his disposal efficiency will always hinder his scoring.
Taylor Adams MID TO FWD-MID
So long regarded as a pure inside midfielder, Adams has added another string to his bow by playing in Collingwood’s forward half in the early rounds of this season. Last season, only Jordan De Goey (77) had a greater percentage of centre bounce attendances than Adams (65) at the Magpies. But the onus has shifted this year – at least for a few rounds – with Scott Pendlebury’s numbers up, Tom Mitchell an integral cog after joining from Hawthorn and Jack Crisp/De Goey preferred to Adams in the guts. He still recorded 31 CBAs in the first three rounds despite noticeably spending more time in attack.
HOW RELEVANT IS IT? Adams hasn’t played 20 games since 2017 and even then, that was the only season in his career where he achieved that. With durability a concern, you would need to jump on at the right time. That might be if there’s an injury in Collingwood’s midfield which means his time in the middle will spike. Adams is more one for the POD (point of difference) hunters.
Ben Keays MID TO FWD-MID
Rory Laird’s partner in crime in recent years has been bumped from Adelaide’s midfield as Matthew Nicks makes room for Izak Rankine, Josh Rachele, Sam Berry and Jake Soligo. Keays averaged 79 per cent of CBAs in 2021 and 69 per cent in 2022. This year, he has so far been at only 24 per cent. Keays was trialled as a forward, and at times a pressure forward, late last year with mixed results. The Crows floated the likelihood of a half-forward role for Keays throughout the summer and that has so far eventuated. Keays was stationed forward for more than 75 per cent of matches against GWS and Richmond, still managing to score 102 against the Giants.
HOW RELEVANT IS IT? A bit like Adams, I would want to see an increase in midfield time before jumping on. And we did somewhat in round 4, seeing his overall midfield time increase from 23 per cent to 33 per cent for the year. But as soon as there's an indication Keays is back partnering Rory Laird in the middle, be prepared to jump on. He might be under $500k which is great buying for a player who averaged 99.6 and 103 in the past two years. He’ll be a point of difference and likely to push for top-six forward status if used in the right role.
Darcy Wilmot DEF to DEF-MID
One of the most popular KFC SuperCoach rookies this year is set to gain a second position after spending most of the opening three rounds on a wing. Wilmot’s heat maps from rounds 1-3 confirm the switch as Chris Fagan makes room for Conor McKenna in Brisbane’s defence.
HOW RELEVANT IS IT? If you’re looking to offload Campbell Chesser from your midfield bench, you could trade him and swing Wilmot there. That would be a perfect scenario if another defensive cheapie emerged in round 4 or 5. You could also make the Chesser/Wilmot swap without a trade and use Wilmot to cover two lines. That will mean you won’t have to rely on Chesser as emergency or hope Charlie Constable gets his spot back at Gold Coast.
LIKELY
Jordan Dawson DEF to DEF-MID
Things are about to get even better for teams who started the Crows skipper in KFC SuperCoach. Dawson is the third ranked defender for total points after four rounds but 90 points better off than any of the big five who started at more than $600k (Jack Sinclair is second with 404 points). After attending no centre bounces in round 1 and one in round 2, Dawson has had 37 CBAs in the past two rounds. He was enormous against Fremantle, winning five clearances and going at 96 per cent disposal efficiency. Only a full game in defence could stop him being a DEF-MID after this round and even then, Dawson may have already done enough to gain a second position.
HOW RELEVANT IS IT? Dawson would currently be the second ranked midfielder in KFC SuperCoach behind Clayton Oliver. If you’re planning to hold Will Day through his suspension - or trade him in when he returns - Dawson and Day will provide great flexibility between your defence and midfield. If you are keen on some of the cheaper backline premium contenders such as Day, Mason Redman and Ed Richards, using Dawson in midfield might allow you to open up an extra spot in your defensive six.
UNLIKELY
Jack Macrae MID TO FWD-MID
Macrae isn’t exactly the go-to KFC SuperCoach midfielder he was for the past 4-5 years, but that would change instantly if he gained forward status. Just think, Macrae had what many KFC SuperCoaches deemed to be a down year last season, yet still average more than any player who started 2023 with FWD status. Bevo roulette can be frustrating and we have already seen Macrae stuck at half-forward this year, after spending time on a wing last season. It looked to be a sniff until the bubble against the Tigers, with Macrae now facing an uphill battle to gain forward status. Macrae went from 18 CBAs in round 1 to just nine in round 2. But after a slight uplift in midfield action in round 4 (54 per cent CBAS), DPP Macrae is looking unlikely unless Bevo really starts to get innovative.
HOW RELEVANT IS IT? If Macrae becomes a forward? Very. He would be one of the biggest must-haves of the year. Even if he averages 105-110 he would be a top forward. The last time he averaged less than 105 was 2016.
Charlie Comben FWD to FWD-RUC
Comben has barely been sighted in the ruck since he was thrown in the middle to replace the injured Tristan Xerri in round 1.
Since attending 75 per cent of centre bounces against the Eagles, Comben has spent less than 20 per cent of time in the ruck with Todd Goldstein back in the side.
With his ruck time declining, he would need a miracle to earn DPP status.
NO CHANCE
Oskar Baker MID to MID-FWD
This would have been a handy bonus with another versatile rookie able to be swung from midfield to our forward lines, but not to be.
Baker has been stationed mostly on a wing for the Bulldogs since being picked up and would need an 18 per cent swing his way.
Travis Boak MID to MID-FWD
Boak to the forward line and KFC SuperCoach DPP looked to be on the cards in the pre-season, but Boak isn’t close isn’t close to the forward threshold from his three matches.
That is despite not attending a single centre bounce against the Swans.
He spent less than 30 per cent of time at the restart from rounds 2-3, however, Boak would need to be parked inside 50 to secure MID-FWD status.
Brodie Grundy RUC-FWD
The Grundy-Gawn ruck combination was set to put both of the former ‘set-and-forget’ KFC SuperCoach duo in the mix for DPP at round 6.
But that scenario went up in smoke the minute Gawn limped off the Gabba with a knee injury in round 2.
Gawn played 28 per cent forward in round 1 and Grundy spent 52 per cent in attack.
But that changed dramatically in round 2 after Gawn went down in the opening minutes as Grundy attended 79 ruck contests – compared to 29 per cent in round 1.
Players need to feature in at least six games to be eligible for DPP after round 11 and Gawn is tipped to miss a further 1-2 weeks with the knee injury he suffered against the Lions.
A return in round 6 could put Grundy in the mix for forward eligibility in the next round of DPP.
But he may fall short again after his extended ruck minutes with Gawn out of the side.
The last batch of DPP updates in round 18 might be more likely, but by then your team will likely be full premium – especially in the forward line, where most coaches started a combination of Josh Dunkley, Tim Taranto, Connor Rozee, Errol Gulden and Stephen Coniglio.
Jayden Short MID TO FWD-MID OR DEF-MID
Short needed to return from his calf setback last week to put himself in the frame for DPP status, but it wasn’t to be.
His primary position in the opening two rounds was still midfield, despite the expectation Tim Taranto and Jacob Hopper’s arrival would prompt a shift back to defence.
Short had spent 27 per cent of time in the forward line, 27 per cent in defence and 46 per cent as a midfielder.
Keep an eye out for his role for the next round of DPP switches, given he could end up as a FWD-MID or a DEF-MID.
HOW RELEVANT IS IT? I would want to see a full-time return to defence before jumping on. That’s where Short has scored best in KFC SuperCoach. In midfield and as a half-forward, his scoring has been mixed at best.
OTHER NAMES IN THE MIX: Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera DEF-MID, Cam Rayner FWD-DEF, Josh Bruce FWD-DEF, Lachie Ash DEF-MID, Charlie Comben RUC-FWD, Oskar Baker FWD-MID
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