KFC SuperCoach: Ultimate Champion Data pre-season formguide
Nick Daicos is one of the most popular selections in KFC SuperCoach, but will the pick pay off? Champion Data guru Fantasy Freako rates his top players from every team.
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Who will make the cut when the selection committee meets to select your starting KFC SuperCoach team for 2023?
Champion Data’s KFC SuperCoach guru Fantasy Freako puts every team under the microscope and names the players to pick and avoid.
ADELAIDE
Jordan Dawson $603,100 DEF – Tick
Consistency was the key for Dawson last season – dropping below 90 just three times. He was also the only general defender to rate elite for disposals, intercept marks, and intercept possessions. He was also one of five Crows to hit three figures against the Eagles in the practice match – finishing with 26 disposals (23 effective), 551 metres gained and a team-high four intercept marks.
Rory Laird $703,900 MID – Tick
Paying top dollar for a player is a deterrent for some SuperCoaches, but you’re paying that price for a reason. Laird dropped below 120 just six times last season and had 130-plus points in half of his games. He was relentless against the Eagles – finishing with 32 disposals, 10 tackles and two goals, while also ranking second in the AFL for points per 100 minutes game time with 170.
Wayne Milera $386,000 FWD – Question mark
Milera has been training in defence all pre-season and looks set to feature in that role as early as round 1. He missed the recent practice match due to personal reasons, but it’s unlikely to affect his availability for the season opener. He is awkwardly priced though and didn’t reach any great heights in his 12 games last season – scoring above 80 points just twice.
BRISBANE LIONS
Josh Dunkley $596,400 MID/FWD – Tick
Only Will Ashcroft has a higher ownership in KFC SuperCoach than Dunkley at the time of writing. Dunkley solidified his SuperCoach selection in Brisbane’s practice match against the Cats, finishing with 31 disposals, 20 contested possessions, eight clearances, seven inside-50s, seven tackles and 146 points. Lock him in!
Conor McKenna $167,500 DEF – Tick
There is plenty of competition for places in defence at the Lions and McKenna is one of several vying for a defensive spot. He played the fifth-most minutes of any Lion against the Cats but didn’t set the world alight from a numbers perspective, tallying 11 effective disposals and 53 points. A solid pick, nonetheless, even if it is for the bench.
Will Ashcroft $202,800 MID – Tick
Ashcroft hasn’t missed a beat over the pre-season and has been the standout Lion across match simulation. He attended 13 centre bounces against the Cats – ranked third for the Lions – and also helped himself to 26 disposals, three clearances, three tackles and 96 KFC SuperCoach points. There are still 26 per cent of SuperCoaches without the Rising Star favourite at the time of writing.
CARLTON
Adam Saad $567,900 DEF – Tick
On the back of a career-best season, Saad is a POD for your defence. He averaged 98 points with Zac Williams last season and 108 without – and with the latter sidelined for the season with injury, could Saad replicate those numbers? Saad wasn’t at his best against the Swans, managing just 15 disposals, zero marks and 65 points, but don’t let that deter you.
Sam Docherty $606,300 DEF – Tick
When Docherty plays all 22 home-and-away games in a season he generally has an excellent year – averaging 108, 114, and 109, respectively. So, if you think he’ll play every game this season then he’s a more than worthy selection, even at his high price. Docherty led the way against the Swans with 34 disposals, 717 metres gained, 11 marks and 154 points.
Alex Cincotta $102,400 DEF/MID – Tick
Cincotta could be a round 1 bolter after a promising display against the Swans, finishing with 16 disposals (86 per cent disposal efficiency), 10 contested possessions and three inside-50s. Defensively, he was excellent and applied six effective tackles from six tackle attempts. He had just 16 points to his name at halftime but tallied a respectable 70 for the match.
COLLINGWOOD
Nick Daicos $502,500 DEF – Question mark
Not many players enjoy a breakout year in just their second season, but if anyone can to do it, then it would be Daicos. But in what could be a sign of things to come the Hawks sent Finn Maginness to Daicos, and he managed just 17 disposals, while he was also the only Magpie not to take a mark.
Darcy Cameron $465,900 RUC/FWD – Question mark
Cameron averaged 104 points per 100 minutes of game time when playing in the ruck last season – identical to Tim English. But the Magpies look set to use Mason Cox a lot more in that role based on the pre-season – Cox attended 48 ruck contests compared to Cameron’s 37 against the Hawks. Cameron still scored 97 points, but the job share must be somewhat of a deterrent.
Tom Mitchell $528,600 MID – Tick
For a team that ranked 17th for contested possession and clearance differential in 2022, Mitchell is exactly what the Magpies need. He won a team-high 16 contested possessions against the Hawks and finished with 28 disposals and six first possessions (three clearances). Mitchell just ticked over 100 points, but he did have 20 handballs and just 107 metres gained.
ESSENDON
Darcy Parish $610,800 MID – Question mark
If we take out Parish’s injury-affected 51 points against Carlton in round 13, then his 2022 season average would be 115, which is on par with Marcus Bontempelli. In saying that, how much do you read into his 54-point return against the Saints? He had a stinker and just couldn’t get into the game after a close tag, recording just six effective disposals and zero marks. A likely Finn Maginness tag in round 1 also puts me off somewhat.
Jye Menzie $154,200 FWD – Tick
A calf injury to Matt Guelfi has paved the way for Menzie to start the season in attack. He didn’t kick a goal against the Saints, but the Bombers only managed three goals for the match. Menzie was more productive from a defensive viewpoint, applying six effective tackles from seven tackle attempts while he also led the Bombers for forward-half pressure points.
Jordan Ridley $504,300 DEF – Tick
Essendon’s new game plan could play right in the hands of Ridley. He was involved in everything coming out of defence against the Saints, finishing with 27 disposals and 12 marks – both team highs. He also had nine intercept possessions and took two intercept marks for a team-high score of 128. Ridley is slightly underpriced based on what he could produce.
FREMANTLE
Nat Fyfe $313,600 MID/FWD – Question mark
The biggest question mark around Fyfe is his durability, after missing 26 matches through injury in the last three seasons. But, unlike previous seasons when we’ve paid top dollar for him, Fyfe begins this year at a heavily discounted price. He’s set for a forward role, finishing with three marks inside 50, three goals and eight score involvements against the Power.
Luke Jackson $465,500 RUC/FWD – Question mark
If you are starting one of Darcy Cameron or Tim English in the ruck, then it makes sense to have a RUC/FWD in attack as back-up. That brings Jackson into the mix, and despite not playing in the practice match against Port Adelaide he remains an option for the forwards. He’ll share the ruck duties with Sean Darcy, but Jackson has a lot more strings to his bow than just ruck work.
Hayden Young $508,200 DEF – Tick
Young is set to take the next step this year, scoring 100-plus points in four of his last seven games last season – averaging 24 disposals, two intercept marks and 102 points over this period. With Luke Ryan missing against the Power, Young wasn’t overly involved, tallying 19 disposals, three inside 50s and 79 points.
GEELONG
Tanner Bruhn $311,400 MID/FWD – Tick
Starved of midfield time at the Giants, Bruhn was unleashed against the Lions, finishing with 19 disposals, 11 contested possessions, five inside-50s and an equal game-high seven tackles. Bruhn also helped himself to a team-high 112 points from 77 per cent game time. A DPP, he’s an alternative to Jacob Hopper, Dom Sheed or James Worpel in the midfield, or you could even add Bruhn to that group and go with two.
Esava Ratugolea $174,400 RUC/FWD – Tick
The Cats threw Ratugolea into defence in the VFL last season and he grabbed 10 intercept marks and had 22 intercept possessions in his last two games. He now looks set to play that role, especially after the injury to Jack Henry. Ratugolea had a team-high eight intercept possessions and three intercept marks against the Lions, collecting 49 points from 10 disposals.
Jack Bowes $277,500 DEF – Question mark
After playing in defence in the past three seasons, Bowes has thrown his hat into the ring for a role in the Cats midfield. He played there in the unofficial practice match but missed last week’s encounter against Brisbane as they decided to manage his workload. Based on that alone, it remains to be seen if Bowes makes his Geelong debut in round 1. If he does, then that changes everything.
GOLD COAST
Touk Miller $662,400 MID – Question mark
Miller missed the Suns’ final pre-season match with a minor hamstring injury. The club is confident that he’ll be right to play in the season opener against Sydney – but is he a risk to start with? Miller finished in the top-three ranked players on the ground 11 times in 2022,– ranked equal-first alongside Rory Laird and Clayton Oliver.
Sam Flanders $256,300 MID/FWD – Tick
Flanders led the Suns for disposals per minute against the Giants, collecting a team-high 30 disposals from 87 per cent game time. He was sparingly used at centre bounces, attending just six, but he did push up the ground in a high half-forward role. Flanders is a prime breakout candidate after averaging 125 points in the VFL from 12 games last year.
Charlie Constable $123,900 DEF/MID – Tick
With Wil Powell and Lachie Weller likely to miss the early rounds, Constable is every chance to play against the Swans in round 1. He hit the target with 12 of 19 disposals against the Giants and was direct, finishing with 425 metres gained. He also took two kick-ins, and played on from both, and applied three tackles.
GWS GIANTS
Tom Green $534,600 MID – Tick
The sky is the limit for Green this year. Named in the leadership group, he’ll take on a greater role in the midfield after the departure of Jacob Hopper and Tim Taranto and he demonstrated that against the Suns, attending 25 centre bounces – the second-most behind Josh Kelly. Green racked up 34 disposals, along with 17 contested possessions, seven clearances and four tackles.
Finn Callaghan $244,000 MID – Tick
A shoulder injury kept Callaghan to just five games last season, playing exclusively as a wingman. He thrived in that role against the Suns, finishing with 22 disposals (90 per cent efficiency), 418 metres gained, five inside-50s and two goals. Callaghan is a lot pricier than most other rookies, but he could be worth that little extra especially if you start him on the field.
Isaac Cumming $521,200 DEF – Tick
Cumming’s ball use is the key to his game. He hit the target with 24 of 25 disposals against the Suns – also having 474 metres gained, 22 uncontested possessions and four inside-50s. His numbers have improved in each of his last four seasons and is a real chance to hit a three-figure average this year.
HAWTHORN
James Sicily $624,200 DEF – Tick
The Hawks conceded the third-most inside 50s of any team last season, and the expectations are is that we could see something similar again this year. Sicily led the AFL for disposals in the defensive 50 in 2022 and took 27 more marks than any other player across all zones and is a safe choice to start with.
Fergus Greene $123,900 FWD – Tick
Greene is a goalkicker and booted 83 majors from 26 games for Box Hill Hawks over the last two seasons in the VFL. He looks set to replace Jack Gunston as the Hawks’ roaming forward and he starred against the Magpies, finishing with five shots at goal (3.2) and eight score involvements. He also had a game-high five marks inside 50 and four lead marks to cap off a strong display.
James Worpel $303,300 MID – Tick
After averaging 96 in just his second season in 2019, Worpel’s numbers have dropped in every season since – culminating in a career-low 56-point average last season. But after the departure of Tom Mitchell and Jaeger O’Meara he looks like reviving his career – racking up 30 disposals against the Magpies. He was the top-ranked Hawk at three-quarter time after playing as a centre bounce midfielder – but he was taken out in the final term and had just two disposals. A nice pick at his price.
MELBOURNE
Max Gawn $622,100 RUC – Tick
Gawn dispelled the doubters with a monster score against the Tigers, racking up 153 points from 83 per cent game time. How the Demons use Gawn and Brodie Grundy was of great fantasy relevance and it ended up being a job share, with the pair attending 34 and 31 ruck contests, respectively. Gawn booted three goals and dominated around the ground with 17 disposals and eight marks.
Angus Brayshaw $550,300 DEF – Question mark
Brayshaw is yet to average three figures in KFC SuperCoach, but he got mighty close last year with 98-point average across the premiership season. The Demons have been public in their desire the spread the load in the midfield this year and they rolled nine players through there against the Tigers – with Brayshaw attending just four.
Brodie Grundy $512,900 RUC – Question mark
Grundy is super value for his price, but will he get the game time to post decent scores? He had 69 per cent game time against the Tigers compared to Gawn’s 83 per cent, scoring 80 points from 10 disposals and three goals. The fact he needed goals to get that score is a worry. Grundy had 70 points to his name at the major break, but managed just 10 points in the second half.
NORTH MELBOURNE
Luke Davies-Uniacke $557,400 MID – Tick
You should never put a cross beside a player’s name after a poor pre-season score. Davies-Uniacke managed only 56 points against the Bulldogs, which is poor by his standards, but 49 of those came in the opening term. He finished with 19 disposals and a kicking efficiency of just 44 per cent, which contributed to his low score, also recording three inside-50s and one goal. Davies-Uniacke averaged 29 disposals and 113 points from round 12 last year.
Harry Sheezel $198,300 FWD – Tick
There is plenty to get excited about with Sheezel. He has hit he scoreboard across both of the Kangaroos’ pre-season games, kicking one goal and having seven score involvements against the Bulldogs. He switched ends in the final term and had an impact in defence, collecting a game-high 10 disposals in the final term.
Will Phillips $158,300 MID – Tick
Phillips has a role to thrive in SuperCoach, attending 24 centre bounces against the Bulldogs – ranked third for the Roos. He won 17 disposals around the ground, but errant kicking kept his score down, recording a dismal kicking efficiency of just 15 per cent. Phillips is a must-have to start with, but there is a debate as to whether you start him on your field or leave him on the bench.
PORT ADELAIDE
Jason Horne-Francis $348,800 MID/FWD – Question mark
Jacob Hopper and James Worpel are far better value at a lower price than Horne-Francis. But Horne-Francis looks set to feature prominently in the Port Adelaide midfield, with only Connor Rozee (20) attending more centre bounces than his 16 against Fremantle. Horne-Francis finished with 21 disposals (13 effective), three clearances, 10 inside-50s and six tackles.
Connor Rozee $513,800 MID/FWD – Tick
Rozee looks destined for more midfield minutes this year after having a 68 per cent-32 per cent Mid-Fwd split from round 6 last season. He attended a team-high 80 per cent of centre bounces against Fremantle, finishing with 25 disposals, 17 uncontested possessions, six clearances, five tackles and 111 points. Rozee is nicely placed to be a top-six forward this year.
Scott Lycett $429,900 RUC – Cross
Lycett looms as a risky choice if you don’t want to play top dollar for a ruckman. He has averaged over 100 points only once in his career and isn’t assured of the No.1 ruck role, with Brynn Teakle breathing down his neck. We can’t forget Jeremy Finlayson either, who was the Power’s preferred ruckman in the second half of last season. Lycett had just 60 per cent game time against the Dockers for a tally of 36 points.
RICHMOND
Jacob Hopper $303,000 MID – Tick
The Tigers have been in the negatives for clearance differential in each of the past eight seasons, with 2014 the last time they were in the positive in that stat. The addition of Hopper, a clearance specialist, is a huge boost for them as averages 5.5 clearances since 2018 – ranked in the top 20 in the AFL. Hopper had a team-high nine clearances against the Demons, along with 23 disposals, 14 contested possessions and 94 KFC SuperCoach points.
Tim Taranto $503,100 MID/FWD – Tick
Taranto could smash his previous best average of 103 points from 2019. He accumulated 33 disposals and 124 points against the Demons, but, interestingly, he did most of his scoring after Dion Prestia came off injured early in the second term. Taranto had a kicking efficiency of 73 per cent and won 12 contested possessions to go with five clearances.
Tylar Young $102,400 DEF – Tick
With Josh Gibcus and Robbie Tarrant sidelined with injury, Young is every chance to play in the season opener. He was serviceable against the Demons, defending five one-on-one contests and having a game-high 11 spoils (three effective). He also had nine disposals and scored 65 points. His job security long-term though isn’t assured.
ST KILDA
Mattaes Phillipou $166,800 MID/FWD – Tick
When you have Ross Lyon on your side, then it’s hard to overlook a player in KFC SuperCoach. Lyon has taken to the South Australian younger, who scored 53 points from 15 disposals, two score assists and one goal in 80 per cent game time against Essendon. Phillipou failed to attend a centre bounce and was a designated forward – a role he could be earmarked for.
Jack Steele $604,400 MID – Tick
After averaging over 120 points in 2020-21, Steele is underpriced to start 2023. He averaged 120 in the opening seven rounds last season, which is roughly what we’d expect this year – making him a safe player to start with. Steele scored 89 points in last year’s pre-season match and managed just 84 against the Bombers, so there’s nothing to be concerned about there.
Rowan Marshall $506,500 RUC – Tick
Marshall’s return of 92 points per game last year was his lowest since 2018, but he’s close to a must-have to start with this year. He’ll take the mantle of the No.1 ruckman and when he played at least 80 per cent of game time in that role last season he averaged 115 points from nine games. Marshall was the highest scoring ruckman for the pre-season with 155 points from 24 disposals and 19 contested possessions.
SYDNEY SWANS
Callum Mills $642,400 MID – Tick
Mills ticks all the boxes as a POD in the midfield. Last season he had the best tackle efficiency of the top-50 players in the AFL for tackle attempts and ranked fifth for points per game among midfielders. He missed the pre-season match against the Blues with a finger injury, but there is little doubt about him fronting up in the season opener.
Chad Warner $532,700 MID – Question mark
Warner’s ability to hit the scoreboard sets him apart from most other midfielders. Only Jack Macrae, Marcus Bontempelli and Christian Petracca had more score assists than Warner last season, while he also chipped in with 17 goals. He was workmanlike against the Blues – finishing with 24 disposals, five clearances, seven inside-50s and one score assist.
Errol Gulden $472,000 MID/FWD – Tick
Gulden was used on a wing/forward role last season, but he has played as a centre bounce midfielder in the Swans’ two pre-season games. He had a blinder against the Blues with 45 disposals – one of only three players to collect at least 45 disposals in a pre-season game alongside Lachie Neale and Sam Mitchell. Gulden also tallied 887 metres gained and booted three goals. A breakout season is looming.
WEST COAST
Oscar Allen $210,200 FWD – Tick
Allen has been earmarked to replace Josh Kennedy as the focal point in the Eagles’ attack. Allen missed the entire 2022 season through injury but averaged 64 in 2021 and 77 in 2020 and is more than capable of kicking bags of goals. He was targeted inside 50 a team-high seven times against the Crows but was off target with 1.3. In what was a one-sided game, he managed just 52 points.
Elliot Yeo $337,000 DEF – Question mark
Yeo has missed a total of 22 matches through injury over the last two seasons, but he hasn’t missed a beat this pre-season and he finally looks injury-free. He finished with 20 disposals, three tackles, three inside-50s, one goal and 81 points against the Crows. His selection does come with an element of risk, but at his price it’s a risk worth taking.
Rueben Ginbey $171,300 DEF/MID – Tick
Ginbey is all but certain to debut in the season opener against the Kangaroos. He scored 99 points from just 56 per cent game time against the Crows, hitting the target with 15 of 17 disposals. He also attended 12 centre bounces while winning a team-high 10 contested possessions. Ginbey ticks every box and is as close to a must-have as anyone in the league.
WESTERN BULLDOGS
Oskar Baker $123,900 MID – Tick
Baker was busy against the Kangaroos and collected 22 disposals from 85 per cent game time, also having 441 metres gained, 19 uncontested possessions and three inside-50s. He was deployed as a wing/forward and chipped in with one goal and looms as a solid bench option. You could even mount an argument to start him on the field ahead of Will Phillips given his maturity.
Tim English $581,000 RUC – Question mark
An injury interrupted pre-season places a question mark on English. He missed seven games through injury last season and a further four in matches in 2021 but when fit, he’s one of the most prolific scorers in the game – averaging 122 from the first five games last year, ranked seventh in the competition. He scored 76 points against the Kangaroos from 14 effective disposals and five hitouts-to-advantage.
Liam Jones $228,100 DEF – Tick
Jones’ intercept play was on display against the Kangaroos, finishing with eight intercept marks and 13 intercept possessions. He also had two effective spoils from a tally of seven. Jones hit the target with 12 of 19 disposals and scored 102 points – one of 10 Bulldogs to his three figures. He’s a safe choice for your defence.
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