KFC SuperCoach AFL 2022: The Phantom’s early pre-season team

The KFC SuperCoach pre-season is officially here – and The Phantom is back ready to learn from his mistakes. See our guru’s first team now.

Forget the BBL, forget the Australian Open, forget going to ‘sink piss’ watching Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis play doubles tennis.

The KFC SuperCoach pre-season is officially here. The game is open to all and it’s time to start preparing for a big 2022.

THIS IS THE EARLY TEAM, SEE THE PHANTOM’S FINAL SIDE HERE

Don’t forget your past KFC SuperCoach mistakes, however, it’s important to acknowledge, accept and learn from where you went wrong.

I’m not saying go back into your KFC SuperCoach shell and play it completely safe, but your risks need to be calculated in a season which is, again, likely to involve Covid interruptions.

Stream every match of the 2022 NAB AFLW Season Live & On-Demand on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try 14-days free now.

But there are more trades and new rules to help make KFC SuperCoach an even better game for all in 2022.

Am I going to be better this year?

Well, at this point, there is no Tom Green, no Braydon Preuss at R2 and no Will Brodie-led mid-price trio in the forward line.

But I have thought about it.

Instead, I’m looking at a more simple structure of guns, rookies and a mid-price player on each line that I can be sure about.

DEFENDERS

Jack Crisp (Coll) $571,000, Mid

Jordan Dawson (Adel) $555,300

Jordan Ridley (Ess) $537,100

Will Day (Haw) $345,000

Will Gould (Syd) $123,900

Garrett McDonagh (Ess) $117,300

Bench:Nathan O’Driscoll (Fre) $123,900 MID, Charlie Dean (Coll) $102,400

Crisp averaged 110 points from Round 8 onwards in a big finish to last year, as he floated through the Collingwood midfield, and he hasn’t missed a game in his seven seasons at the Magpies. His durability, along with his dual-position status, will be vital in another KFC SuperCoach year of unknowns. Crows recruit, and a long-time Phantom favourite – yes it took me two players to get to one – averaged 114 points in his final nine games as a Swan and the Crows will look to get the ball in his hands whenever they can going forward. Jake Kelly’s addition to Essendon’s back-six should allow Jordan Ridley more freedom to play the KFC SuperCoach-friendly role of early 2021, while value Hawk Will Day, who is priced at an average of 64, scored 122 and 112 in an injury-plagued five-game season last year. And it’s not pre-season, if Will Gould isn’t in your team.

MIDFIEDERS

Jack Macrae (WB) $699,900

Clayton Oliver (Melb) $672,000

Callum Mills (Syd) $612,100

Lachie Neale (Bris) $543,200

Caleb Serong (Fre) $451,000

Jason Horne-Francis (NM) $207,300

Jackson Mead (Port) $123,900

Greg Clark (WC) $117,300

Bench:Matty Roberts (Syd) $117,300, Bodhi Uwland (GC) $102,400 DEF, Charlie Parker (WB) $102,400 FWD

Jack Macrae and Clayton Oliver need no explanation - I’m spending big at the top two spots. Callum Mills averaged 112 in his first season playing as a full-time midfielder and he battled an Achilles issues for most of the run home. KFC SuperCoaches often forget, or ignore, those who lose their dual-position status and are thrown into the crowded midfield pool. But Mills is my early point-of-difference, I think he’s got another level in him. You can’t start without a fit Lachie Neale at that price, it was only 18 months ago he finished with an average of 134. With Adam Cerra departing, Nat Fyfe spending more time forward, and after a huge finish to 2021, Caleb Serong is one I’m tipping to jump into the premium category this year. He was a KFC SuperCoach star as a junior and averaged 32 disposals and 118 points in the final three games of 2021, as he was set free from tagging duties. And if you listen to anything I say this pre-season, let it be this; just pick Jason Horne-Francis.

RUCKS

Sean Darcy (Fre) $642,600

Brodie Grundy (Coll) $627,100

Bench: Braydon Preuss (GWS) $204,700

As mentioned earlier, I thought long and hard about Preuss at R2, but I’ve gone with the tried-and-tested two-premium-ruck combo. Press is still in, though, as a cash cow and back-up ruck option – something which, again, could be important this year. I’m tipping Brodie Grundy to return to his best and, if last year’s scoring is anything to go by, Sean Darcy could be about to take over.

The Phantom's first KFC SuperCoach team for 2022

FORWARDS

Josh Dunkley (WB) $558,200, Mid

Mitch Duncan (Geel) $540,000, Mid

Zak Butters (Port) $443,600

Stephen Coniglio (GWS) $261,300, Mid

Elijah Hollands (GC) $123,900, Mid

Kaine Baldwin (Ess) $123,900

Bench: Jacob van Rooyen (Melb) $126,300 DEF, Jesse Motop (Carl) $117,300

Only another Luke Beveridge magnet change – and we know they are pretty common – could alter my top two in the forward line. Go without either Josh Dunkley and Mitch Duncan and it might cost you early. Zak Butters has a big KFC SuperCoach ceiling and he’s likely to spend even more time in the midfield this season – the Power need him in there. I love the injury-prone Jade Gresham, and I will pick Will Brodie if he’s Fremantle’s Round 1 side, but a fit Stephen Coniglio is the mid-price forward option with the least risk attached at this point. Elijah Hollands aside, forward rookies could be an issue but there is plenty of time to work on that.

Originally published as KFC SuperCoach AFL 2022: The Phantom’s early pre-season team