KFC SuperCoach whispers: Why Harley Bennell didn’t get dual-position status
SuperCoach players have a brand new player to add to their teams after Melbourne signed Harley Bennell. See his price and position plus the latest on Tom Mitchell, a Brisbane bolter and more.
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Newly signed Demon Harley Bennellpresents KFC SuperCoach players with a tantalising new cash cow option for 2020.
Bennell has signed with Melbourne after playing 83 games with Fremantle and Gold Coast.
Despite Bennell suffering another calf issue recently, Melbourne has thrown the 27-year-old a career lifeline as a rookie through the supplemental selection period.
“Although he has faced some minor setbacks over the past two months, he has taken this opportunity with both hands, and maintained a strong, positive outlook,” Melbourne football boss Josh Mahoney told the club website.
👀
— SuperCoach AFL (@Supercoach) February 5, 2020
Latest on Harley, Tom Mitchell, a Crows pre-season bolter and more: https://t.co/MTyq01D3QT pic.twitter.com/vvwzKDNdo9
“We’re excited to be able to reward him for his efforts so far and give him further opportunity to reach his full potential.”
After playing just two games in the past four years, Bennell has received a hefty price discount and is available for $123,900.
However, those hoping he would be given MID-FWD status in SuperCoach are set to be left disappointed.
Champion Data statistics show Bennell played 80 per cent of his four WAFL matches last season in midfield and only won two of his 70 disposals in the forward 50.
Bennell was listed at $167,700 last year but failed to play a game.
He has a career average of 85.3 and averaged at least 95 from 2012-15 as a Sun, including a career-high 101.7 in a 2015 campaign that featured three scores of 139 or higher. Watch his pre-season closely!
Sam has given the strongest indication yet on Tom's Round 1 availability. 👀
— Hawthorn FC (@HawthornFC) February 1, 2020
ðŸ“: https://t.co/qiZsvJTM0R pic.twitter.com/QL6QadHY7Z
HAWKS RATE MITCHELL A ‘REALISTIC’ ROUND 1 CHANCE
One of the trickiest decisions for SuperCoaches this year will be whether to start Brownlow medallist Tom Mitchell. The Hawks are bullish about his chances of returning in Round 1, with assistant coach Sam Mitchell tipping the ball magnet would feature in pre-season games. The Hawks assistant said he rated Mitchell a “realistic chance” of being fit for the club’s opening-round clash with Brisbane on March 22 after missing all of last season with a broken leg. The 26-year-old averaged 129.1 points in 2018 yet is available for $630,900 after being sidelined for the past year.
JONES ‘DESTROYING’ PRE-SEASON UNDER NICKS
Remember when Clayton Oliver launched from a SuperCoach average of 70.3 points in his debut year to 111.5 in 2017? Adelaide’s No. 9 draft pick Chayce Jones looms as one of the potential bolters of 2020 after showcasing his midfield talents in Round 23 last year. Jones played predominantly as a forward in his debut campaign but scored 86 from 18 disposals in the last game of the home-and-away season. New Crows coach Matthew Nicks is clearly a fan too. “Chayce is obviously destroying it. He’s smashing the 2km time trial. He embraces the contest which is something we’re big on. He enjoys putting his head in the hole and enjoys body contact. Going up against Brad Crouch and Matt Crouch you’d want to enjoy the contest,” Nicks told Sportsday SA. Jones is an awkward price at $271,500, but the same was said about Oliver when he started at $382,500 three years ago.
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STEVEN OVERCOMES CALF SETBACK
Jack Steven’s calf setback is hardly cause for concern this far out from Round 1. The new Cat’s availability for pre-season games against Gold Coast and Essendon won’t be determined until later this month. That’s when you should make a call on whether the $361,700 FWD-MID makes your starting team. Teammate Patrick Dangerfield said Steven was “just about back in full pre-season training” on January 28, which suggests he’s got plenty of time to be primed for Geelong’s season opener. If he’s named, he’s too cheap not to start. Nathan Kreuger ($123.9K, FWD) is another Cat worth monitoring after declaring his intent to earn an AFL debut early in 2020. The 20-year-old averaged 59 ranking points a game in 16 VFL matches last year.
STURT READY TO SHOWCASE TALENTS
A first-round draftee in 2019, Fremantle forward Sam Sturt ($123.9k, FWD) is reportedly over the concussion issues which derailed his first year with the Dockers. A 189cm forward, Sturt has put on 5kg since joining Fremantle. Mid-sized forwards are often inconsistent SuperCoach scorers, however Sturt is a player who should be on your pre-season watchlist due to a lack of forward rookies.
SKINNER A PRE-SEASON STANDOUT FOR LIONS
Keep an eye on whether Brisbane Lions opt for three tall forwards during pre-season. Sam Skinner ($111.4k, FWD) played alongside Daniel McStay and Eric Hipwood in a recent trial match in Tasmania, booting 3.2. Skinner featured in what was considered close to Brisbane’s best team and spent short stints in the ruck. He has endured three knee reconstructions since being drafted but is a genuine Round 1 contender as the Lions consider whether to play Stefan Martin and Oscar McInerney or opt for a third tall who can pinch hit in the middle.
The 22-year old kicked 3 goals in yesterday's practice match 🔥
— Brisbane Lions (@brisbanelions) January 24, 2020
▶︎ https://t.co/RzvDedj8kK pic.twitter.com/pO1COYupma
Josh Deluca and Lukas Webb will train with Carlton in the lead-up to the upcoming drafts. #BoundByBlue
— Carlton FC (@CarltonFC) November 12, 2019
FORMER DOG WEBB PUSHING FOR SECOND CHANCE
Former Western Bulldogs midfielder Lukas Webb is pushing to earn a career lifeline at Carlton after an injury-riddled stint at Whitten Oval. The tough on-baller has had a horror run with injuries and has until March 15 to convince Carlton to sign him. Webb has never been a huge SuperCoach scorer, averaging 44.1 points in the only year he played 10 or more games at the kennel — 2015. However, the 23-year-old averaged 97 ranking points in 13 VFL games last year and would be available for $174,440 with a 30 per cent discount on his 2019 price. It has been suggested the Blues will place first-round draftee Brodie Kemp on the long-term injury list to open up another spot on their senior list.
MARTIN’S INTENSITY HAS BLUES BULLISH
Track watchers at Carlton have been buoyed by the tenacious approach of pre-season draftee Jack Martin. The former Gold Coast Sun is yet to average more than 81.5 SuperCoach points in six seasons, but has impressed his new teammates since arriving at the Blues. Ruckman Matthew Kreuzer said he had been encouraged by the “intensity” Martin brought to training, while assistant coach Cameron Bruce hailed the 25-year-old’s influence on his teammates. “The standards that he shows out on the track are improving everyone,” Bruce said. Martin, a $420.8k SuperCoach FWD-MID, has featured in attack and midfield during pre-season.