KFC SuperCoach position quirks explained: Patrick Dangerfield loses forward status, why Stephen Hill is dual position
Patrick Dangerfield narrowly missed out on being one of the biggest steals in SuperCoach. Champion Data’s Fantasy Freako reveals how close he came to being a dual-position player and explains some surprise player positions.
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There are plenty of variables that go into deciding a player’s fantasy position.
First and foremost, for a player to earn DPP status he must spend at least 35 per cent in another role – that’s a non-negotiable.
Champion Data also looks at the premiership season as a whole, not just the home-and-away rounds. Finals do count.
We look at disposal location data as well as heat maps to provide a snapshot of the player’s role. Heat maps often don’t paint the truest picture, which is why we use match-up positional data as well. This shows what a player’s starting position is at centre bounces and how long they spend in a role across a game.
For players who don’t play at AFL level, we look at state level competition data to determine position(s).
Patrick Dangerfield nearly a forward … again
If we look at the home-and-away rounds only, Patrick Dangerfield was 0.1 per cent off earning forward status for a second season in a row. He spent 34.9 per cent of game time as a forward during the season proper, but what tipped him over the edge was his midfield role during the final’s series – playing 91.8 per cent of game time in that role in September. Overall, he spent 31.5 per cent of game time as a forward across the entire season, so he starts the 2020 season as a midfielder only.
If we break down his scoring by position, Dangerfield averaged 124 points per 100 minutes game time as a midfielder compared to 82 points as a forward.
Why Jordan Dawson is a DEF/FWD
Dawson was Sydney’s Mr Fix It last season – playing in three different positions across the season. He spent most of the season in defence (39.8 per cent), while also playing on the wing (21.5 per cent) and up forward (35.0 per cent). As a result of reaching the 35 per cent threshold in two positions, he earns DPP status for 2020.
If we break down his scoring by position, he averaged 86 points per 100 minutes game time as a defender, 94 points as a wing and 74 as a forward.
Dawson’s role in 2020 could potentially have an impact on blue-chip defender Jake Lloyd. Lloyd was flying in the opening 11 rounds last season, averaging 115 points, but once Dawson moved into defence, Lloyd averaged 101 points for the remainder of the year.
How Stephen Hill became a DEF/FWD
The sample size was rather small for Hill as a result of an injury-interrupted season.
In his limited games in the AFL, he played 37.6 per cent of game time in defence, 11.3 per cent as a wingman and 50.4 per cent as a forward. As a result, he starts the 2020 season as a DEF/FWD, which is a huge boost for SuperCoaches.
At his best, Hill was a high-flying wingman – averaging 23 disposals, 15 uncontested possessions and 92 points from 2013-16.
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Ed Curnow as a FWD/MID?
Under Brendon Bolton, Ed Curnow was played mainly as a forward and spent 61.1 per cent of game time in that role – averaging just 73 points. Under David Teague however, he was played in his more customary role as a midfielder and spent 95.6 per cent of game time in the guts and dominated – averaging 108 points.
Overall, he spent 33.4 per cent of game time as a forward which is slightly below what he needed to earn DPP status.
If we break down his scoring by position, it’s no surprise that Curnow struggled as a forward, averaging 59 points per 100 minutes game time in that role, compared to 104 as a midfielder.
The rare ruck/defender
Richmond draftee Bigoa Nyuon spent time in several positions as a junior and, as a result, he starts his debut season as a DEF/RUCK.
His primary position was ruck, but he also spent time in defence late in the season, where he averaged five intercept possessions and two intercept marks. He also hit the scoreboard and kicked eight goals in the NAB League.
It remains to be seen where the Tigers will play him in 2020.