KFC SuperCoach trade guide: All the top targets for Round 10

Who will be the top-scoring KFC SuperCoach forwards in 2021? Our experts have named their top six for the season and for the run home. TRADE GUIDE

We’ve tried to ignore it for nine rounds, but the time has come to take a serious look at the KFC SuperCoach forward line.

And some genuine — and in many cases unexpected — contenders are starting to emerge.

When SuperCoach prices were released back in December there were six players available in the forward line who averaged over 100 points last season: Patrick Dangerfield (114), Steele Sidebottom (109), Tom Hawkins (106), Josh Dunkley (104), Rowan Marshall (104) and Dustin Martin (101), with Michael Walters (98.9) close behind.

SCROLL DOWN FOR THE TOP ROUND 10 TRADE TARGETS

A series of injuries, unpredictable form slumps and even bigger surprise packets have combined to throw predictions of the 2021 pecking order out the window.

But nine rounds is a big enough sample size to make some calls on who we want in those positions in our finished teams — especially with news Marshall is set for more surgery and Zak Butters, who started the season like a house on fire, has had another setback in his rehab from an ankle injury.

Who will make the top six in 2021? See our expert predictions and scroll down for this week’s top trade targets — including some big forward bargains.

TIM MICHELL

Top 6 Overall: Ziebell, Zorko, Martin, Impey, Hind, Dale.

Top 6 Rounds 10-23: Martin, Zorko, Ziebell, Hind, Impey, Heeney.

It seems foolish to predict Ziebell will be knocked off his perch as the No.1 with a 163-point lead over Zorko after nine rounds. Zorko might spend a bit more time forward when Lachie Neale returns but it’s hard to see him not being a top-two or three forward when he’s only scored less than 92 twice.

Martin is the one I think will come with a bullet, which makes him a great buy at $425,500 this week. He has to assume more midfield responsibility with so many senior teammates out and generally builds form heading into the finals. He’s the 14th-ranked forward now, 73 points behind Toby Greene. I expect that gap will close — fast.

KFC SuperCoach is all about half-back flankers this year, which is why I have more confidence Impey, Dale and Hind can fill the top-six spots over Tom McDonald or Tom Hawkins. History tells us key forwards will throw in a 30 at some point.

Isaac Heeney is currently the 73rd-ranked forward but if he stays fit he’ll average 95-plus from here. Injury is the main reason he currently has fewer points than Steven Motlop, Charlie Spargo and James Rowe.

Dayne Zorko looks a safe bet to finish in the top three forwards this year. Picture: Michael Klein

AL PATON

Top 6 Overall: Ziebell, Zorko, Martin, Impey, Hawkins, McDonald.

Top 6 Rounds 10-23: Zorko, Martin, Ziebell, Hawkins, Bolton, Sidebottom.

Crazy to think we could have bought four of the top five forwards to this point for a combined $1.1 million before Round 1 — Ziebell $257,900 (No.1), Impey $212,800 (No.3), Tom McDonald $323,000 (No.4) and Hind $331,000 (No.5).

Ziebell and Impey are almost certain to finish in the top six forwards for the season and McDonald and Hind are in a big bunch of players who could fill the last couple of spots in that coveted group.

But I think some more familiar names will make their presence felt if we are trying to pick the top-scoring forwards from here, which is really what’s relevant when looking for trade targets.

Dayne Zorko hasn’t scored below 92 in the past five rounds and I can see him and Dustin Martin — now over a concussion and minor foot problem — challenging Jack Ziebell’s 163-point lead, with the Roos not conceding the huge numbers of inside-50s they were in the early rounds.

I’m still kicking myself for passing on Impey so maybe it’s wishful thinking that he will average closer to 90 than 100 for the rest of the year, opening the door for the likes of Tom Hawkins and Steele Sidebottom if they produce a few mega scores to go with a regular output around the 90-95 mark.

Shai Bolton is the bolter but if he can average 105 over 12-13 game that will go past the likes of Impey and Nick Hind who score 85-95 every week.

Jarman Impey has been one of the KFC SuperCoach buys of the season.

THE PHANTOM

Top 6 overall: Ziebell, Zorko, Impey, Martin, Hawkins, McDonald

Top 6 Rounds 10-23: Ziebell, Zorko, Martin, Dangerfield, Impey, Hawkins

The top few aside, this wasn’t an easy exercise. Zorko has been consistent since the difficult day in Ballarat in Round 3 – something he hasn’t been in previous years. Even if another low score does come, the big games will make up for it, keeping his name at the pointy end of the overall scorers, even when Lachie Neale returns. But, unless there’s a dramatic role change, he’s unlikely to catch Ziebell.

Martin is likely to close the gap, but he might not pip Hawks running-defender Impey, who just keeps winning the ball across half-back, for total points come Round 23. But, from this point, I think he does.

I’m tipping Dangerfield to do the same – he could even push Dusty. The Geelong star is eyeing a Round 13 return, meaning he’ll start three games behind. But we know he’s capable of averaging 120, and you cannot say that about any other KFC SuperCoach forward apart from Ziebell. It will be tight, and Dangerfield will need to hit the ground running, but he’ll have the bottom-half of the top 10 covered.

Hawkins could be in for a big score over the next two rounds, with the Cats hosting the Suns before playing the Magpies at the MCG. Geelong also play the Bombers, Giants and Saints at the Cattery in the back half of the season and I’m expecting some big tallies to make up for the odd quiet week.

In an overall total score sense, the same goes for Tom McDonald, who is the fourth-highest scorer after nine rounds. The Demons are flying and they still play Adelaide twice and take on Collingwood, Essendon and Hawthorn at the MCG.

Magpie Steele Sidebottom will be around the mark from this point, too, but will there be enough big scores?

Tom Hawkins is a forward line sleeper. Picture: Alison Wynd

DAN BATTEN

Top 6 overall: Ziebell, Zorko, Impey, Hind, Hawkins, Martin.

Top 6 Rounds 10-23: Zorko, Martin, Ziebell, Impey, Hind, Hawkins.

With Lachie Neale sidelined for at least the next month, expect Zorko to perform during this period in particular. The winning ways of the Lions suggests he should maintain strong scoring once he returns as well. Martin is as durable as they come and only missed a game due to concussion protocols. His role in the midfield and ability to turn games – as he did against the Giants – mean there are some big scores left in him.

I am expecting a drop-off from Ziebell with Aaron Hall taking some of his backline points and potentially Luke McDonald joining him once he returns from injury. Ziebell has a 160-point lead on the next best forward, Zorko, ahead of Round 10. Could he jump ahead? Perhaps, if Ziebell misses a game through injury, with durability being a point of concern in the past for the North Melbourne skipper.

There are plenty of points up for grabs in the Hawthorn backline for Impey, so I expect his promising season to continue, while speedy Hind is hitting his straps and the Bombers love to get the ball in his hands. The one to watch here is Hawkins, who generally does not miss games and is capable of producing monster totals. The addition of Jeremy Cameron should ensure he isn’t double-teamed and Hawkins has a variety of lucrative scoring avenues, including goals, score assists and contested marks.

CONSENSUS VOTES:

OVERALL: Ziebell 24, Zorko 20, Martin 12, Impey 12, Hawkins 6, Hind 5, McDonald 2, Dale 1.

R10-23: Zorko 22, Martin 20, Ziebell 18, Impey 7, Hind 5, Hawkins 5, Dangerfield 3, Bolton 2, Heeney 1, Sidebottom 1.

ROUND 10 TRADE TARGETS

DAYNE ZORKO $511,100 FWD/MID

The Lions skipper pushed his season average into three figures with a season-best 140 in the QClash, revelling in the absence of suspended nemesis Touk Miller. Zorko is prone to the odd stinker but he has scored 90 or more in seven of his nine matches, with a three-round average of 108. And you can get him for $15k under his starting price. Dual-position only adds to the appeal.

DUSTIN MARTIN $425,500 FWD/MID

Non-Dusty owners were planning on waiting until Round 11 or 12 to target a player almost everyone expects to finish as a top-six forward. Those plans might have to be brought forward after a powerhouse 28-disposal, four-goal performance against the Giants. Dusty dispelled any worries about a lingering foot injury with his highest KFC SuperCoach score since Round 1 and he won’t have any fears about playing the Lions next round — he averages 117.6 in his past three against them. He has well and truly bottomed out (down $116k from his Round 1 price) and this is as cheap as you’ll get him with a break even of 68 this week.

Dustin Martin returned to form in a big way against GWS.

TOM McDONALD $462,300 FWD

Steven May was the hottest property in KFC SuperCoach when his price dropped to close to $400,000, but we could have picked up teammate McDonald for an obscene $353k before Round 5. Since then he has peeled off a 107.6 five-round average, including two scores of 136, one of them coming against the Blues on Sunday. Key forwards can be a scoring rollercoaster but TMac has dropped below 87 only twice this season, and in one of those games he was thrown into defence after Adam Tomlinson hurt his knee. The phrase “real deal” comes to mind.

THE FORWARD PREMO CURSE STRIKES AGAIN #SUPERCOACHhttps://t.co/XXVAzVMbCP

— Tim Michell (@tim_michell) May 16, 2021

NICK HIND $455,800 FWD

If you thought McDonald came from out of the blue (average 60.1 last year), what about this guy? At least McDonald has a 97 average in his scoring history. Hind was one of the lowest-profile deals of the 2020 trade period, shifting to Windy Hill after averaging 57 over two seasons as a small forward at St Kilda. But after being moved to a half-back flank by Ben Rutten, Hind has been a revelation with his season-high 127-point game against the Dockers taking his season average to 93.6 — ranked eighth among forwards. Sunday’s score was just his second ton but as a result of his lucrative role has only gone below 85 twice, and that was with a 76 and a 77. We’d take that kind of consistency from any forward this year.

The Bombers love getting the ball in Nick Hind’s hands.

ISAAC HEENEY $342,100 FWD

The Swans star is almost impossible to get a read on — he opened the season with scores of 115 and 102 but dropped three scores of 54 or lower before rebounding with a 110 in Sydney’s win against Collingwood. Injuries have clearly hampered him and he is heavily reliant on goals to score well — he has booted three in each of his 100-plus games — but he has a great scoring pedigree and is very, very cheap.

PATRICK DANGERFIELD $611,900 FWD/MID

Don’t forget this guy. We’re not suggesting anyone trade in Dangerfield this week (please don’t!) but he’s one to keep on your radar especially when planning trades to navigate the byes. He is hoping to return just before or just after the Cats have the week off in Round 12, and with a break even of 198 we’ll want to wait another couple of weeks before looking to bring him in for around $550k — if he has fully recovered from ankle surgery.

WHERE HAVE ALL THE ROOKIES GONE?

After being spoiled for choice last week KFC SuperCoaches looking to make a downgrade this week will really have to do their homework.

There are no obvious bubble boys this week unless Port Adelaide defender Lachie Jones ($138,800 DEF, break even -47) returns from injury or Eagle Harry Edwards ($123,900 DEF, BE -30) or Giant Zach Sproule ($123,900 FWD, BE -12) earn a surprise recall for their third game.

You could take a (big) risk on one of the one-gamers who didn’t exactly set the world on fire first up like Adelaide’s Ronin O’Connor ($123,900 MID, scored 47), Giant Kieren Briggs ($123,900 DEF/FWD, 42), Tiger Hugo Ralphsmith ($123,900 MID/FWD, 33), Gold Coast’s Malcolm Ross ($123,900 FWD, 21) or Magpie Tom Wilson ($123,900 FWD, 19).

Hugo Ralphsmith showed some exciting signs in his first game for the Tigers.

Alternatively, you could spend more than we would like to on a rookie to get one of the Round 9 bubble boys a week late.

Caleb Poulter ($174,100 MID/FWD, break even -43) and Riley Collier-Dawkins ($182,500 MID, BE -22) both seem to have secure roles and more cash to make, but it’s a tough call if that’s enough to make up for missing out on their big first price rises.

Saint Ryan Byrnes ($159,500 MID, BE -8) is a bit more affordable but doesn’t have the scoring power, or likely cash generation, of Poulter or RCD.

Another option if you need to find money from somewhere is to cash in GWS ruckman Matt Flynn ($316,600 RUC), who jumped $43k after scoring 103 against the Tigers.

Flynn has a break even of 16 and is projected by SuperCoach Plus to make another $140k, but that could take a long time if GWS plays Shane Mumford as its No.1 ruckman for the next 2-3 weeks.

There are no cheap rucks who are actually playing but you could swap Flynn to Docker Josh Treacy and make more than $200k profit.

Treacy’s dual-position status is less of an asset without Rowan Marshall to swap with in the forward line, but some flexibility is always better than none. And it’s possible he could get more games for the Dockers.

The best solution is you already have a large savings account ready to spend on a well-priced premium scorer like Jack Steele ($569,200 MID).