SuperCoach PODS: Josh Kelly headlines the list of Round 9 point-of-difference options

Giants star Josh Kelly posted a whopping 154 SuperCoach points in a loss last week, and faces an opponent he double tonned against last year. ALL THE ROUND 9 POD OPTIONS

Giant Josh Kelly is looming as a midfield must-have in SuperCoach.

Point-of-difference picks can have a polarising effect on our teams.

If you had traded in the smooth moving Josh Kelly last week, you would have been flying. In his return game, Kelly smashed his high break even out of the park, collecting 25 touches, nine tackles and 154 SuperCoach points.

On the flip side, spare a thought for those that took our advice last week in trading in Jeremy Cameron.

It was a day to forget for the Coleman Medal leader, held goalless by Hawks defender James Frawley. He finished with a dismal haul of 11 disposals, four behinds and 29 points.

While PODs can leave us in a world of pain, they are also the key to SuperCoach success.

A unique selection who thrives will give you the edge on your competitors, most of whom wion’t have thatSuperCoach star.

Check out the leading POD options ahead of Round 9:

DEFENCE

TOM STEWART ($504,500)

Average: 102.4

Current Ownership: 7 per cent

Tom Stewart has been able to maintain his consistent scoring even with Zach Tuohy in the side. The rugged defender has posted scores of 98 and 94 respectively with Tuohy in, collecting over 23 touches in both games. With just one score below 94, he is as dependable as they come.

DANIEL RICH ($498,500)

Average: 100.8

Current Ownership: 6.9 per cent

The experienced Lion has escaped the tag this season, scoring 95-plus in all but two matches in 2019. Rich has recorded more than 16 kicks in every game with a deadly kick to handball ratio of 4.3:1. Should maintain this kind of scoring with those kick-ins and is very affordable.

Daniel Rich is averaging over 100 SuperCoach points per game in 2019. Pic Darren England.

BACHAR HOULI ($476,000)

Average: 100.6

Current Ownership: 6.5 per cent

The Tigers running defender has been up and down this year — posting three tons and two scores in the 70s — but his upside is clear with Jayden Short out of the side. Houli is Richmond’s main distributor out of defence and has a high ceiling — showcased by his 142 point-effort in Round 6.

MIDFIELD

JOSH KELLY ($594,500)

Average: 115.2

Current Ownership: 3.6 per cent

If you are going to bring in one POD this week, make it Josh Kelly. The Giants star amassed a whopping 154 SuperCoach points in his side’s disappointing loss, carrying them throughout. Significantly, this was his first game back from injury. He raised the bat for a double ton last time he played the Blues, and there is every chance he could do it again this weekend. A must-have SuperCoach midfielder.

ZACH MERRETT ($576,900)

Average: 112.1

Current Ownership: 5.4 per cent

Zach Merrett has churned out four 120-plus scores this season and is on his way to a top eight midfield finish. He racked up 28 disposals, nine tackles and 129 SuperCoach points against the Swans, with stopper George Hewett going to Dylan Shiel instead. He hasn’t been tagged since Round 1 this season, and the trend looks likely to continue.

JOSH P. KENNEDY ($567,800)

Average: 112.1

Current Ownership: 1.6 per cent

After his first sub-100 average season since 2011, JPK has returned to his ball-winning best. The Swans bull is yet to fall below 94 SuperCoach points this year and has hit the 110-point mark in his last four matches. Still remains a massive POD who shouldn’t be overlooked anymore.

Josh Kennedy is back to his SuperCoach best. Picture. Phil Hillyard

MITCH DUNCAN ($556,200)

Average: 107

Current Ownership: 0.9 per cent

Here is what we call an ‘Uber-POD’ — a player with under one per cent ownership. Duncan has forever been a unique pick because of the midfielders around him but at this stage only Tim Kelly has scored more SuperCoach points than the underrated Cat. With half his scores falling between 116 and 124, he has shown tremendous consistency and scoring power this season. Sam Menegola’s injury until the bye makes him even more valuable, with a handy upcoming draw.

FORWARD

DAVID MUNDY ($569,900)

Average: 108.3

Current Ownership: 2.9 per cent

You are forking out the big bucks to bring him in, but he is sure to be worth the investment. David Mundy has been a revelation since his stinker opening fortnight, averaging a monster 118.2 points per game and falling below 100 points just once. We don’t usually trsut Ross Lyon, but his promise that Mundy would return to the midfield this season has been fulfilled.

TOM HAWKINS ($515,200)

Average: 97.1

Current Ownership: 2.3 per cent

This is one for those with just one Geelong player in their forward line. Tom Hawkins was one of the top averaging forwards last year and he has continued that form into 2019, averaging 97.1 points and posting five tons — including one in each of his last three. His run of Western Bulldogs, Gold Coast and Sydney — two at Kardinia Park — in his next three will have owners licking his lips, and he looms as a POD option who can set you apart from the pack.

JOSH DUNKLEY ($514,700)

Average: 108.3

Current Ownership: 2.9 per cent

A swing of the magnets from Luke Beveridge has seen Josh Dunkley return to the lucrative midfield role that he played at the back end of last year. Dunkley has hit back-to-back 130-plus totals, resembling his average of 127.2 SuperCoach points across those six games in 2018. There’s always the possibility that the Bulldogs coach will swing Dunkley and Liberatore back, but this will be the cheapest we see him for a while.