KFC SuperCoach experts reveal how they will use their five trades for Round 2
Having five trades for the footy restart gives SuperCoach players a golden opportunity to fix early mistakes and grab bargains. But with so many choices, which way do you go? See what the experts are doing.
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Welcome back to footy, and the first KFC SuperCoach super trade round.
The ability to use five trades in one round creates a great opportunity to fix mistakes in our original teams and jump on the biggest Round 2 bargains. But it also opens a Pandora’s box of possibilities — do you tweak your starting squad or throw all your original plans out the window and start over?
Here is what our experts are doing.
AL PATON
There’s still a good chance I’ll go down the road of the five trades I outlined a couple of days ago, but the unexpected emergence of some brand new rookies opens a whole new world of possibilities.
The problem is I need even more trades (that’s right, five isn’t enough).
Getting your rookies right is one of the golden rules of SuperCoach, but doing that this week doesn’t leave much room for any other moves. Sam Sturt is the top priority because his price is set to soar after his second game. The likes of Darcy Cameron, Trent Rivers and Harley Bennell could wait a week before trading them in “on the bubble” (before their first price rise).
But you’ll notice a problem – next week we’ll have only two trades, so if you want all those guys you need to go early on someone.
Bennell is the one I’m most attracted to for potential points this week against Carlton, but Rivers could get the nod because he’s the SuperCoach unicorn — a playing cheapie in defence.
MY FIVE TRADES*
1. Ben Cavarra (WB) $123,900 FWD to Sam Sturt (Frem) $123,900 FWD
2. Brandon Zerk-Thatcher (Ess) $189,000 DEF to Trent Rivers (Melb) $117,300 DEF/MID
3. Marcus Bontempelli (WB) $623,000 MID to Jack Viney (Melb) $439,300 MID
4. Nat Fyfe (Frem) $651,600 MID to Patrick Dangerfield (Geel) $625,500 MID
5. Isaac Cumming (GWS) $245,000 DEF to Jeremy Howe (Coll) $431,900 DEF
* all trades subject to team selection and late changes of heart!
TIM MICHELL
My trade plans rest completely on whether Sam Naismith gets through training and is named to face Essendon. If he plays, the extra $200,000 from downgrading Nic Naitanui will allow me to go with the “stepping stone” trades I’ve been set on for the past few days.
MY FIVE TRADES
1. Nic Naitanui (WC) $457,800 RUCK to Sam Naismith (Syd) $251,500 RUCK
2. Billy Frampton (Adel) $165,400 FWD to Ben Long (StK) $283,100 FWD
3. Marcus Bontempelli (WB) $623,000 MID to Jy Simpkin (NM) $383,000 FWD/MID
4. Tom Green (GWS) $166,800 MID to Brett Bewley (Frem) $252,700 FWD
5. Brandon Zerk-Thatcher (Ess) $189,000 DEF to Jeremy Howe (Coll) $431,900 DEF
If Naismith isn’t named I’m going to have to get creative to land a few of the mid-priced targets with low or negative break evens. That likely means sacrificing Josh Dunkley, who, along with Bontempelli, could lose $50,000 or more in the next 2-3 rounds. My trades would likely be:
Marcus Bontempelli (WB) $623,000 MID to Andrew McGrath (Ess) $399,400 MID
Josh Dunkley (WB) $632,400 MID to Jy Simpkin (NM) $383,000 FWD/MID
Tom Green (GWS) $166,800 MID to Ben Long (StK) $283,100 FWD
Billy Frampton (Adel) $165,400 FWD to Brett Bewley (Frem) $252,700 FWD
Brandon Zerk-Thatcher (Ess) $189,000 DEF to Jeremy Howe (Coll) $431,900 DEF
I won’t enjoy punting two premiums but a short season is all about maximising value. As the SuperCoach Investor would say – that’s arbitrage.
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DAN BATTEN
The possibility of Darcy Fort being dropped for Geelong’s regular No. 1 ruckman Rhys Stanley has allowed me change the structure of my side.
Initially going deep in defence, I have downgraded underperforming premium Luke Ryan to Crows interceptor Tom Doedee, who should provide promising scoring and reasonable cash flow.
I missed Sam Sturt and consider him a must-have so out goes likely axing Ben Cavarra. Darcy Cameron and Trent Rivers are somewhat risky given they are yet to play a game, but Cameron’s match-up against no recognised Richmond second ruckman is too good to resist, and Rivers is the only notable cheap defender at this stage.
These moves allow for a mega-upgrade from cash cow Tom Green to Patrick Dangerfield, who has a mouth-watering first month back. If Fort is named and Doedee is left out, it will be a mad scramble at my laptop tonight.
MY FIVE TRADES
1. Luke Ryan (Frem) $520,400 DEF to Tom Doedee (Adel) $273,700 DEF
2. Darcy Fort (Geel) $264,800 FWD to Darcy Cameron (Coll) $123,900 FWD/RUCK
3. Ben Cavarra (WB) $123,900 FWD to Sam Sturt (Frem) $123,900 FWD
4. Brandon Zerk-Thatcher (Ess) $189,000 DEF to Trent Rivers (Melb) $117,300 DEF/MID
5. Tom Green (GWS) $166,800 MID to Patrick Dangerfield (Geel) $625,500 MID
DWAYNE DELMENICO (2019 SUPERCOACH CHAMPION)
I’ll be looking to get Harley Bennell and into the emergency loophole slot for midfield given the high ceiling he could have (although I’ll start him on the bench as an emergency given the low score he could produce).
Trent Rivers provides flexibility in defence. He’s a big chance to end up in my team if the extra cash is needed.
Other than that will be hanging for the teams to come in.
As it stands, this is how my trades look — click here for more secrets from the SuperCoach winner.
MY FIVE TRADES
1. Dylan Roberton (StK) $260,400 DEF to John Noble (Coll) $215,400 DEF
2. Brandon Zerk-Thatcher (Ess) $189,000 DEF to Stephen Hill (Frem) $190,600 DEF/FWD
3. Ben Cavarra (WB) $123,900 FWD for Matt Conroy (GC) $102,400 RUCK via DPP swing with Darcy Cameron
4. Dan Houston (Port) $484,800 DEF to Tobe Watson (Frem) $123,900 DEF or any DEF playing rookie
5. Max King (StK) $123,900 FWD to Christian Petracca (Melb) $441,300 FWD
THE PHANTOM
The first KFC SuperCoach lockout since March is fast approaching and, for now, I’m settled.
Settled isn’t usually a word associated to a SuperCoach deadline, either, but, after a week of Harley Bennell nightmares, it’s where I’m at.
Besides the rookie-price options in defence, there’s no player I feel I must trade.
But, of course, to help my team improve – and improve quickly – in a shortened season, there’s a number of options who I feel need to come in.
Click here to see The Phantom’s full Round 2 team.
MY FIVE TRADES
1. Tom Green (GWS) $166,800 MID to Harley Bennell (Melb) $123,900 MID
2. Brandon Starcevic (Bris) $147,700 DEF-MID to Jeremy Howe (Coll) $431,900 DEF
3. Marcus Bontempelli (WB) $623,000 MID to Jack Viney (Melb) $439,300 MID
4. Ben Cavarra (WB) $123,900 FWD to Sam Sturt (Frem) $123,900 FWD
5. Andrew Brayshaw (Frem) $382,800 FWD to Brett Bewley (Frem) $252,700 FWD
FANTASY FREAKO (CHAMPION DATA EXPERT)
When looking at which players to trade in, form goes right out the window!
Our decisions are likely to be dictated by money alone — that is, potential increases and decreases.
I made the mistake of starting Darcy MacPherson and Andrew Brayshaw in my forward line.
When deliberating on what moves you’ll be making, remember, just because you have five trades up your sleeve doesn’t mean you have to use them all.
But most KFC SuperCoaches, including myself, will take the aggressive approach and use all five to ‘fix mistakes’ and get the balance right.
Below are the moves I have tentatively locked in ahead of Round 2.
Click here for Fantasy Freako’s full Round 2 preview.
MY FIVE TRADES
1. Jake Lloyd (Syd) $591,400 DEF to Jeremy Howe (Coll) $431,900 DEF
2. Andrew Brayshaw (Frem) $382,800 FWD to Brett Bewley (Frem) $252,700 FWD
3. Lachlan Schultz (Frem) $208,800 FWD to Sam Sturt (Frem) $123,900 FWD
4. Darcy MacPherson (GC) $443,800 FWD/MID to Patrick Dangerfield (Geel) $625,500 MID
5. Dylan Roberton (StK) $260,400 DEF to Darcy Byrne-Jones (Port) $473,400 DEF
JONATHAN BROWN
The biggest danger for SuperCoach players is having too much time to think about how to use those five trades. Don’t fall victim to analysis paralysis — back yourself and remember why you picked your original team in the first place.
My biggest regret was taking Chad Wingard out of my team just before the season started. I was hot on him all pre-season but baulked at the last minute, and of course he scored 131.
I’m also a huge Jack Viney fan and I love the way he’s handled his demotion from the Demons captaincy. He looks strong, determined and ready to grab the season by the scruff of the neck.
I toyed with the idea of trading his teammate Max Gawn but then I saw his new haircut. The last player to show up at training with a mohawk was a guy named Dustin Martin in the 2017 pre-season. We all know how that went.
Besides, I can’t flip on my No. 1 golden rule of picking Gawn and Brodie Grundy in the ruck.
MY FIVE TRADES
1. Brodie Smith $481,300 DEF to John Noble $215,400 DEF
2. Brandon Zerk-Thatcher $189,000 DEF to Adam Saad $443,500 DEF
3. Sam Walsh $471,900 MID to Jack Viney $439,300 MID
4. Cameron Zurhaar $353,800 FWD to Chad Wingard $412,300 FWD/MID
5. Hanging on to this one until we see the Round 2 teams. Sam Sturt ($123,900 FWD) is on the radar.
MORE SUPERCOACH:
KFC SuperCoach rookie bible: Every cheapie rated ahead of Round 2 price changes
The 10 must-have players in KFC SuperCoach for Round 2
SuperCoach Round 2 trade guide: Melbourne solves defensive rookie crisis
SuperCoach Investor: How to win on the KFC SuperCoach stock market
Doctor’s Orders: Which KFC SuperCoach stars will benefit from the unique 2020 season?
It’s not too late to win big in KFC SuperCoach AFL and take on your mates