KFC SuperCoach nuggets: Injury could open the door for Giants rookies, Izak Rankine update, Adam Treloar setback
Gold Coast rookie Izak Rankine is in more than half of KFC SuperCoach teams, but is under an injury cloud. And the Suns have hinted at his Round 1 chances. Plus, the latest SuperCoach whispers.
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There have been injuries galore in the past week with these blows having varying impacts on our KFC SuperCoach sides.
While some popular players have been marred by setbacks on the eve of the season, others could reap the rewards with senior opportunity beckoning.
Meanwhile, updates on popular rookies Stephen Hill and Izak Rankine – who were both left out of their respective sides in the opening round of the Marsh Community Series.
WILL RANKINE BE RIGHT FOR RD 1?
Perhaps the greatest concern for SuperCoaches is the uncertainty surrounding excitement machine Izak Rankine ($123,900, FWD), who will miss another Marsh Series game with a minor shoulder injury sustained in an unofficial practice match against Brisbane. Rankine is currently in 53 per cent of teams and the Suns are confident he will line up for their season-opener - whether that be in the senior side or the NEAFL.
“We’d expect him to be right for round one, it’ll just come down to a selection decision,’ Suns football manager Jon Haines told the AFL website.
“He’s just getting the strength back in his shoulder... we won’t have any concerns with it.”
Not playing in either Marsh Series clash puts his spot for the Suns’ matchup with the Power on Saturday March 21 in doubt.
If he misses, can we afford to start Rankine when SuperCoaches are already bereft of quality forward rookie options?
More injuries for rookies
Popular cash cows Aiden Bonar ($202,800, FWD/MID) and Ned McHenry ($123,900, MID) both suffered minor hamstring related injuries in their respective unofficial practice games over the weekend. Both were believed to be just tightness, but the pair are in more than 28 per cent of teams. If they aren’t selected for Marsh 2, other rookie options may have to be considered.
Rankine ($123.9k, FWD) is currently in 56% of teams. Uh oh... #SuperCoach pic.twitter.com/OSsylXyXr1
— Dan Batten (@danbatten_) March 3, 2020
Meanwhile, if you haven’t traded out Nakia Cockatoo ($148,200, FWD/MID), do so immediately. The injury-prone Cat is set to be unavailable for selection for up to four weeks with a hamstring issue.
Double injury blow a blessing for Giants’ top-10 picks
Reigning Giants best-and-fairest winner Tim Taranto ($555,900, MID) will miss at least half the season after dislocating his shoulder in the first 10-minutes in their Marsh Series clash.
“While disappointing for Tim, it does provide an opportunity to our young midfield group that are coming through and hungry to show what they can do at AFL level,” general manager of football Jason McCartney said.
However, more relevant to SuperCoach is the blow to dashing defender Zac Williams ($551,700, DEF), who is no certainty to line up in Round 1. He has been ruled out of their second pre-season game as he manages a case of Achilles tendinitis. Williams is currently in 17 per cent of teams after finishing as the fourth highest averaging defender last season but this setback should rule him out of your starting plans.
Zac Williams no certainty to play Round 1.
— SuperFooty (AFL) (@superfooty) March 2, 2020
DETAILS @RalphyHeraldSun | https://t.co/s82oboMn2n pic.twitter.com/GdCih6HIAT
The two injuries comes at an opportune time for top-10 talents Tom Green ($166,800, MID) and Lachie Ash ($193,800, DEF, MID) who shone in their first competitive hitout – particularly Green. The midfielder, earmarked as the next Patrick Cripps, tallied 21 disposals, 15 contested possessions, two goals and 106 points, while Ash trailed just behind with 19 touches and 88 points. Green looms as a like-for-like replacement for Taranto while Ash plays in the same attacking manner as Williams across halfback. Another strong pre-season hitout could book these two a spot in the Giants’ Round 1 side.
Adam Treloar injury
Pies star Adam Treloar ($615,800, MID) was on his way to 40 disposals against the Tigers before he was halted by a hamstring injury. The club has confirmed he will be sidelined for at least three weeks, which means we can’t start him in SuperCoach. Treloar was shaping up as a tantalising point-of-difference option coming off a career-best SuperCoach season, averaging 113.4 points per game and ranking first in the competition for disposals. But with the prolific ball-winning almost certain to miss Round 1, we will have to look elsewhere.
“Adam will work through the regulation 21 day rehab period and then we will reassess,” Pies football manager Geoff Walsh said.
It could see Collingwood call on emerging midfielder Brayden Sier ($242,700, MID) after he missed their first Marsh Series hitout. Or might the Pies turn to young running machine Jay Rantall ($117,300, MID) after scoring 34 SuperCoach points in a quarter over the weekend? We can only hope.
Will Docker cash cows play Marsh 2?
We are yet to see the most popular defender – injury plagued veteran Stephen Hill ($190,600, DEF/FWD) – take the field in the Marsh Series. But coach Justin Longmuir said Hill will play in Marsh 2, confirming that his absence on Saturday against the Bluess was planned due to his chequered injury history.
”It was planned all pre-season that he would have this first Marsh Series game off, after having two big hit outs in our two intraclubs, he needed to rest, play a full game next week and rest into round one. That’s been the plan all along, so we’ll stick with that, so far so good,” Longmuir said post-game.
He also said: “We’ll get Fyfe, Walters and Stephen Hill back next week and we’ll go a little bit stronger.”
The news isn’t so concrete for Docker youngster Hayden Young ($180,300, DEF) after joining the rehab group last week.
“He’s a chance, I haven’t gotten an update on how he went (on Saturday) with our training session that he was involved with. If he went really well and hits his markers, he’ll play. I can’t guarantee what level, but he’ll play next week.”
Hayden Young averaged more than 100 points at the under-18 national championships last year and is in 28 per cent of teams. We may have to move on the smooth-moving left footer if he is misses again.
MORE SUPERCOACH NEWS:
KFC SuperCoach Rookie Bible: Every potential cash cow for season 2020
The 10 must-have KFC SuperCoach players to build your starting team around
Greaves for Hardwick
Champion Data number cruncher Fantasy Freako was quick to tweet that Hawk Damon Greaves ($123,900, DEF) was a Round 1 lock. Why? Because astute defender Blake Hardwick has been ruled out for three months after rupturing his pectoral muscle in their unofficial practice match last weekend in Morwell. The setback could open the door for uncapped defender Greaves, who finished with 17 disposals and 77 points in Marsh 1. We are crying out for basement-price rookies, and Greaves looms as a promising option for our bench defence.
Rnd 1ðŸ”. #SuperCoach #AFLFantasy #2020AFLProspectus pic.twitter.com/ENrsBoRfX6
— Fantasy Freako (@FantasyFreako) March 1, 2020
Adelaide, Power to play their best sides
Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks has confirmed they will select their best players for their final pre-season hitout – including their first pick from the 2019 draft, Fischer McAsey ($184,400, DEF).
“Fischer hasn’t put a foot wrong since he came on board and we expect that from him as a really early, high draft pick,” he said
“You’ll see our best players out there for this game, the guys who deserve to have a crack at it and we’re really now looking towards round one.”
McAsey is another high-priced defender to consider given his intercepting ability and is worth keeping a close eye on in their match-up with Gold Coast.
Adelaide Advertiser football journalist and The Phantom’s Lair SuperCoach podcast regular Matt Turner said on this week’s edition that the Power would also select close to their best available.
He also flagged that Power assistant coach Matthew Lokan believed rookie Jackson Mead ($117,300, MID) – who was ruled out of the Crows-Power U23 trial game as a precaution – was in the mix for their second Marsh Series game. Mead is coming off a pre-season hamstring injury.
BZT firmly in Bombers’ selection mix
Rookie defender Brandon Zerk-Thatcher ($189K, DEF) is looming as a Round 1 selection certainty for Essendon, with Cale Hooker racing the clock to face Fremantle on March 21.
The Bombers swingman underwent hip surgery in September and conceded he wouldn’t be playing until “the early part of the season”.
Whether that is Round 1 remains to be seen, but Zerk-Thatcher was already in the selection frame due to Patrick Ambrose’s PCL injury.
The 21-year-old made his debut in Round 22 last season, tallying 11 disposals, six marks and 58 KFC SuperCoach points in a 32-point win over Fremantle.
“I played a little bit injured at the end of last year and it probably cost me a little bit this pre-season,” Hooker said on Triple M.
“I won’t start playing until the early part of the season, probably in the early few rounds. My body is starting to feel good.
“I did a 12km session on Saturday before I went to Perth so I am starting to feel good and get some momentum.”
Hooker said he was more at home as a defender and expected to slot into the backline once he returned.
“I think the reason I went forward a couple of years ago was because we were lacking a little bit of firepower down there and (to) help mentor and provide some experience out on the ground for Joey (Daniher) and (Orazio Fantasia).
“These sort of guys coming through, Walla Tipungwuti. But those guys are sort of coming on now where they can hold their own.”
West Coast signs two new rookies as SPP players
Former Geelong small forward Jamaine Jones is one of two forwards who has signed with West Coast under the supplementary player rules. The Eagles announced on Tuesday Jones, who played seven games for the Cats in 2018 for a SuperCoach average of 44.1, had won a spot on their list for 2020 after Dan Venables was placed on the long-term injury list due to concussion. Jones was a $215,700 FWD last year but is likely to be available for closer to rookie price. Nic Reid, who averaged 76 ranking points in 15 WAFL games for West Coast’s reserves last year, has also inked a rookie deal.
Welcome to the West, Nic & JJ!
— West Coast Eagles (@WestCoastEagles) March 3, 2020
We're excited to add two new Eagles to our list for season 2020!
Read: https://t.co/JBV7eRMKuo pic.twitter.com/tH1dXSY40W