KFC SuperCoach AFL: Round 2 late mail, Fantasy Freako’s trade tips and DPP watch
A host of KFC SuperCoach rookies looked to be in trouble, but there is good news from team announcements. Get all the late mail for round 2.
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A week can be an eternity in KFC SuperCoach.
If Jack Bowes had been named for his Geelong debut in round 1, he would have been a very popular pick as a last-minute replacement for injured Eagle Elliot Yeo.
But the former Sun was held back due to a minor calf issue and played in the VFL instead. After getting through that game without any problems, he will line up against the Blues on Thursday night.
Bowes has been named in the middle, with fellow recruit Tanner Bruhn on a wing. Bruhn attended 41 per cent of centre bounces in round 1, the sixth-most for the Cats behind Rhys Stanley, Cam Guthrie, Patrick Dangerfield, Mark Blicavs and Tom Atkins.
Where will Bowes fit?
“We brought him in thinking his best position was probably going to be an inside midfielder but the flexibility to play in other spots, with our inside mids at the moment, it can be a hard place to break into,” Chris Scott said this week.
“I think he’ll be in there a little bit but he’ll be in other spots as well ... but his ball use is going to be a real asset for us as well and we’re likely to try and get him into spots where we can get the ball into his hands.”
The Cats’ extreme flexibility might work against Bowes and Bruhn, but he’s one to put on your watch list ahead of a price change one week behind most of the rest of our teams.
ROOKIES RED FLAG A RED HERRING
Some cheapies like Harry Sheezel and Cam Mackenzie started the year with a bang, but looked to be in danger at selection this week.
Campbell Chesser managed just five disposals in 69 per cent of game time in the Eagles’ loss to North Melbourne, and more than 91,000 coaches were relieved to see him named at half forward for their Sunday clash.
Another team to watch on the rookie selection front was Gold Coast, where Charlie Constable (named at halfback) and Bodhi Uwland were both confirmed to face Essendon despite the return of rebounder Lachie Weller.
LOOK OUT FOR HOPPER
Jacob Hopper was another player who was a bit quieter than expected in round 1, finishing with 67 points from 18 disposals against the Blues.
But that low count might not have all been Hopper’s fault.
Richmond coach Damien Hardwick and defender Nathan Broad have both noted this week that teammates ignoring Hopper was highlighted during the week.
“Hopps was a bit out of the limelight, but we showed the players vision where he was open a lot and we didn’t get the ball to him when he could’ve hit the scoreboard,” Hardwick said on Thursday.
“We’re looking forward to that progressing.”
Broad told the Footy Talk podcast: “Watching through the vision we absolutely burnt him on the weekend, so I think he’ll get a spike this week.”
WILL A GIANT LOSS EQUAL A WIN?
GWS coach Adam Kingsley expects Josh Kelly and Lachie Whitfield to be available for the club’s round 3 clash against the Blues after the pair pulled up well from concussion.
The star duo come out of the AFL’s 12-day concussion protocols next Friday, one day before the home game against Carlton, and, providing they pass all the required tests, will be available for selection.
With Kelly back playing as a pure midfielder, more than 13,000 KFC SuperCoaches started the smooth-moving left-footer, and he was surging home after a quiet start against the Crows.
So, is it best to hold?
The usual answer to a one-week layoff is yes, but with clubs now extra cautious with head injuries, a round 3 return isn’t guaranteed just yet.
Do you have bigger problems? How is your bench cover? Could you fall behind by holding a premium as other KFC SuperCoaches trade aggressively?
Ask yourself these questions, because in the new age of KFC SuperCoach, there’s no right or wrong answer to this trade dilemma – it all depends on your team.
The spin-off question to the absence of Kelly and Whitfield, along with Harry Perryman who hurt his hamstring in the win over Adelaide, is what happens to Finn Callaghan’s role?
And the answer might be a good one for KFC SuperCoaches, with Kingsley hinting the second-year Giant could be used in an inside midfield role against the Eagles on Sunday.
“There’s a chance, certainly really happy with his role in the wing, I thought he played extremely well,” Kingsley said on Wednesday.
“But we are now down Perryman and Kelly from that midfield and we need to fill the void in there and certainly Finn has that potential.”
Callaghan, who had two last-quarter clearances against the Crows as GWS shuffled in-game to fill the void, averaged 26 disposals, eight contested possessions, five clearances and five tackles in three VFL games playing onball last year.
It followed a standout draft year, where his ball-winning on the inside developed rapidly, with Callaghan winning 10 contested possessions in each of his final three NAB League matches, and winning a combined nine centre clearances to finish the season.
The 19-year-old had the highest kicking efficiency (86.7 per cent) of the top-50 midfield ball-winners in round 1, on his way to 101 KFC SuperCoach points.
Callaghan’s ownership spiked past 40,000 as a result.
DOG WATCH
It’s fair to say Liam Jones didn’t have the ideal start to his second stint at the Bulldogs, and in more than 73,000 KFC SuperCoach teams.
The intercepting defender had managed one kick, one mark, one tackle and one free kick against Melbourne before copping a neck injury and being subbed off just before halftime.
Jones’ name was there on the Thursday team sheet but he could be subject to a fitness test ahead of their clash with St Kilda.
If Jones does play this week he could have an easier time down back against the Saints; three Fremantle defenders – Brennan Cox, Luke Ryan and Hayden Young – combined for 46 marks against the St Kilda forward line last week.
Any score about 78 will have Jones on track for a price jump after round 3, and that round 1 score will drop out of his price cycle the following week.
Stats guru’s ultimate KFC SuperCoach DPP watchlist
– Fantasy Freako
Round 1 will go down as one of most brutal season openers in SuperCoach for some time – with a combination of injuries and underperformance from premiums making headlines.
Tom Stewart’s injury after just 16 minutes was the biggest blow of all considering his premium status –— with close to 55,000 SuperCoaches starting the star Cat.
He ended the match with just 18 points and will now be sidelined for up to one month.
Over 73,000 SuperCoaches jumped on Liam Jones after his dominant pre-season display, but like Stewart, he succumbed to injury and finished with just five points to his name.
Josh Kelly’s afternoon ended early after a concussion, but at least he had 80 points on the board.
His prognosis isn’t great, and he has already been ruled out for round 2.
Likewise, teammate Lachie Whitfield will be sidelined for this week’s clash with West Coast.
For the few that jumped on Tristan Xerri after Todd Goldstein was left out, their joy was short-lived after the former lasted just 19 minutes before going down with a knee injury.
He is also set for a stint on the sidelines.
Injuries aside, Rory Laird’s stinker was the major talking point as he posted his lowest SuperCoach score since Round 19, 2014.
What made his game even worse was the fact that he wasn’t even tagged — managing just 18 disposals and two tackles. As captain – it was even worse.
Andrew Brayshaw managed just 70 points despite winning 26 disposals, while Bailey Dale was practically unsighted after 56 points.
It was a tough round across the board for most.
Crisis creates opportunity though, and with Stewart and Kelly both out it gives KFC SuperCoaches the chance to restructure and fix gaping holes in their team.
So, who do you target?
In defence, you have the option of a sideways move to Sam Docherty or Jordan Dawson, or you could trade down to someone cheaper and bank the cash.
Hayden Young, Jordan Ridley and Nick Daicos fit that criteria at around the $500k mark — with the trio each topping 100 points in Round 1.
Young collected 30 disposals, 13 marks, 11 intercept possessions and 511 metres gained against the Saints, with his kicking a highlight – posting a kicking efficiency of 94 per cent.
Ridley on the other hand hit the target with all 16 kicks and played on from all five kick-ins – taking eight marks in the process. The Bombers flicked it around took 120 uncontested marks which was only surpassed by Fremantle’s 122.
Daicos had a free reign against the Cats, and he hit the target with 20 of 21 kicks — finishing with 35 disposals and 21 uncontested possessions. He was given far too much leeway, which is something he may not get in coming weeks should the opposition decide to tag him.
In terms of replacements for Kelly in the midfield, Luke Davies-Uniacke stands out like a beacon — while you could also opt for Stephen Coniglio. But the popular move looks to be moving down to Jason Horne-Francis and pocketing the cash.
As we look ahead to the coming weeks, identifying positional changes early in the season can help with future planning. There were quite a few shifts in Round 1 and below is a group to keep an eye on ahead of the first positional changes in Round 6. Take note, a player must play at least four of the first five games to be eligible for DPP status.
ROOKIE WATCH
It was a boom week for those with Harry Sheezel in the starting line-up as the AFL Rising Star nominee racked up 34 disposals on debut – the third-most of any player on record.
After playing the final term in defence in the Kangaroos’ final pre-season game, he continued in that role in Round 1 which was a surprise to say the least. Sheezel dominated and had a team-high 21 uncontested possessions and 12 handball-receives — also grabbing an equal team-high nine uncontested marks. That role is gold for SuperCoach and if he isn’t in your team — make him a priority!
Elsewhere, Reuben Ginbey was overshadowed by Sheezel, but he too had a game to remember – applying 12 tackles on his way to a solid 85 points. He also had 15 disposals and won 47 per cent of his possessions in a contested manner.
Cam Mackenzie had just one turnover from 18 disposals and tallied 93 points in his first match, while Mattaes Phillipou was workmanlike with 16 disposals, one goal, one score assist and 76 points.
The above quartet are must-haves and need to be prioritised.
If we look at the mature rookies, Conor McKenna was one of few winners for the Lions as they were comprehensively humbled by Port Adelaide – finishing with 20 disposals (92 per cent kicking efficiency), five intercept possessions and 93 points.
After averaging 107 points in the VFL last year, Kade Chandler was handed an opportunity and he didn’t miss a beat — scoring 93 points from 16 disposals, seven tackles, one goal and two score assists. Even with Bayley Fritsch returning this week, Chandler should keep his place in the team after Kysaiah Pickett’s two-game ban.
If you have missed one or even more of the boom rookies, then you could easily make a move for any of them this week, but take note, prices don’t change until after their third match.
Best of luck for Round 2!
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