Ultimate KFC SuperCoach AFL practice match scouting report
Which KFC SuperCoach rookies impressed and who bombed? And why are the Lions loving bargain-priced forward Joe Daniher? Notes from every game.
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AFL teams have locked horns for the first time in 2021 — and there is plenty to take out of an action-packed weekend for KFC SuperCoach.
With the pre-season competition reduced to just one game per club, teams arranged their own unofficial scratch matches, and took them seriously with Round 1 just three weeks away.
SCROLL DOWN FOR SUPERCOACH NOTES FROM EVERY GAME
One player who earned rave reviews was Joe Daniher ($233,300 FWD), who booted 4.3 in his first outing for Brisbane.
“He’s sensational,” new teammate Harris Andrews, who marked the former Bomber for most of the summer, said on Tuesday.
“It was awesome to see him on the weekend.
“Him and Eric (Hipwood) work particularly well together in that forward line.
“He’s got a great contested mark on him.
“We’re really grateful he decided to come up here and we feel like he can offer a lot in our forward line.
Andrews said the partnership between the Lions’ three tall forwards — Daniher, Hipwood and Dan McStay — had sparked confidence in the playing group.
“It’s been smooth,” Andrews said.
“The fact that Joe and Hippy were able to hit the scoreboard on the weekend (shows the cohesion).
“They’ve built that chemistry there and it’s exciting going forward.”
Here are all the other players that caught our eye when planning for the 2021 KFC SuperCoach season.
HAWTHORN 15.7 (97) d WESTERN BULLDOGS 12.10 (82)
The Hawks produced the first upset of 2021 when they came home over the Dogs at Whitten Oval on Thursday.
Hawks draftee Connor Downie ($117,300 MID) further staked his claim as one of the top rookie picks in the midfield with an assured display on the wing, with his penetrating kicking a highlight.
With Tom Mitchell missing as he continues his recovery from a post-season shoulder operation, ex-Magpie Tom Phillips ($402,600 MID/FWD) spent most of the game in the engine room and got plenty of it.
With Adam Treloar (calf) and Jack Macrae (personal) missing it’s tough to draw too many conclusions about the make-up of the Bulldogs midfield, although Josh Dunkley ($560,200 FWD/MID) attended plenty of centre bounces.
Tim English ($551,200 RUCK) played mostly as a forward with former Lion Stefan Martin ($272,200 RUCK) in the ruck.
We've got your footy cravings covered! 🙌
— Hawthorn FC (@HawthornFC) February 24, 2021
Feast your eyes on today's highlights from the praccy match win over the Doggies. Let us know what you like below. ⬇ pic.twitter.com/m9vRygvKf4
On a disappointing day for the Dogs fans at least got a look at first-year forward-midfielder Lachie McNeil ($102,300 MID).
“I thought he was fantastic – that’s really exciting for us, for Lachie to come in,” Dogs assistant coach Rohan Smith said of McNeil.
“He played a lot of SANFL footy last year against men, which was great. He came in today and set it alight, I thought it was a real positive for him.
“He took some great steps forward and didn’t look out of place at all.”
Popular Hawks rookie Denver Grainger-Barras ($184,800) played in the reserves practice game.
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CARLTON 14.11 (95) d ESSENDON 11.8 (74)
It wasn’t just Carlton fans salivating at No. 3 draftee Paddy Dow ($202,400 FWD/MID) surging out of stoppages during the club’s trial match against Essendon.
The Blues have been raving about Dow’s improvement this summer and it was on show against the Bombers as he left KFC SuperCoaches with plenty to consider. Dow has never been a prolific KFC SuperCoach scorer. His best season was 2018, when he averaged 59.6. While his job security is an issue, that price is hard to ignore. He’s definitely on the watch list for the community series.
Plenty of eyes were on Essendon skipper Dyson Heppell ($319,100 MID) but it was reprogrammed youngster Ned Cahill ($161,200 FWD) who caught the eye. After playing three games as a small forward last year, Cahill has been training as a defender and his ability to read the play and his efficiency by foot were evident in the loss to the Blues. He should play a lot of footy this year.
If there were still any KFC SuperCoaches in doubt about Patrick Cripps’ ($523,700 MID) immense value, they should be convinced after the Blues co-captain’s prolific display. Cripps is primed to get back to the type of numbers we saw in 2018 and 2019, when he averaged 117 and 119 KFC SuperCoach points.
Come for the highlights, stay for the Marc Pittonet STRENGTH. 😎 pic.twitter.com/fH5SBfQi8R
— Carlton FC (@CarltonFC) February 25, 2021
He started in the middle alongside Sam Walsh ($543,300 MID) and Zac Williams ($458,600 DEF). Bombers mid-pricer Jye Caldwell ($348,600) is an awkward price but will be hard to leave out if he continues to be the club’s No. 1 centre bounce player. Caldwell spent more time in the engine room than any other Bomber, with Darcy Parish’s ($465,800 MID) attendances also up.
Put former West Coast forward Alec Waterman on your watch list, too. He bagged four goals in the perfect audition for a spot on Essendon’s list and could be set for an early Bombers debut if he’s listed — as seems likely.
There was a lot to like or KFC SuperCoaches out of this game. Now we just need the form to be franked in the second pre-season game from a number of speculative but enticing options.
ST KILDA 22.8 (140) d NORTH MELBOURNE 6.13 (49)
The players who didn’t take the field were arguably the greatest talking points for KFC SuperCoaches in this game.
Popular rookie Will Phillips ($198,300 MID) did not make the Kangaroos’ squad of 25 while fellow draftees Tom Powell ($153,300 MID), Charlie Lazzaro ($117,300 MID) and Eddie Ford ($117,300 FWD) got a run, with Powell and Lazzaro firming for Round 1 starts.
In another worrying sign, mature-age Saints cash cow Tom Highmore ($123,90, DEF) was unsighted until late in the match, indicating that he is outside St Kilda’s best-22 – even with defenders Ben Paton and Jarryn Geary sidelined.
Ex-Tiger Jack Higgins ($419,400 FWD/MID) had a significant impact for his new club, booting two goals in a forward-midfield rotation. He only attended three centre-bounces, so it appears he will still be spending a fair amount of time up forward for the Saints, but he is worth keeping in mind considering his enormous KFC SuperCoach numbers as a junior.
Roos recruit Jaidyn Stephenson ($354,100 FWD) slotted a major and showed positive signs on a wing and up forward. However, he did not feature as an inside midfielder, where he turned heads during a recent intra-club.
Value forward option Jack Ziebell ($257,900 FWD) played in his new role across half-back but Ben Cunnington ($439,900 MID) missed with concussion. He should be right for the AAMI Community Series next weekend.
MELBOURNE 19.9 (93) d RICHMOND 12.10 (82)
Max Gawn ($751,400 RUCK) continued where he left off in 2020, clunking contested marks around the ground in typical Gawn fashion and booting two majors – one of those from outside 50 - after spending more time forward with Luke Jackson in the ruck.
His partner in crime Clayton Oliver ($656,700 MID) showed no signs of his interrupted pre-season, lifting as the game went on with his long-rang goal, bursting from the middle, the highlight.
Dustin Martin ($541,600 MID/FWD) generally saves his best work for September but he gave Tiger fans and SuperCoaches a taste with several moments of brilliance.
Those with a penchant for a point-of-difference pick would be tempted by James Harmes ($344,700 DEF), who had the ball on a string early and attended the fourth-most centre-bounces in his return to the Demons midfield.
Tom McDonald ($323,000 FWD) showed shades of his 2019 form with some hulking contested marks. It would take a brave coach to pick him, but he is dirt cheap.
Meanwhile, several relatively unknown rookies entered KFC SuperCoach conversations.
Demons Kade Chandler ($161,400 FWD) put his hand up for a Round 1 spot with three goals as a pressure forward. Chandler played one game in 2019 (scoring 60 SuperCoach points) but was kept out of the side last year by several hand injuries.
Another young Demon to impress was James Jordon ($123,900 MID), who added some spark in the midfield and up forward, booting a goal and attending eight centre-bounces.
For the Tigers, 2019 draftees Hugo Ralphsmith ($123,900 MID/FWD) and Will Martyn ($123,900 MID) caught the eye coming off strong pre-seasons.
Ralphsmith, who looms as a short-term fix for injured defender Bachar Houli, was prominent early across half-back and the wing, and drifted forward late in the match for a goalscoring opportunity, while Martyn racked up plenty of footy rotating through the middle.
Riley Collier-Dawkins ($123,900 MID) missed with concussion.
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GEELONG 11.8 (74) d COLLINGWOOD 11.6 (72)
The big guns sent a subtle reminder to KFC SuperCoaches down at the Cattery on Friday, with Patrick Dangerfield ($611,900 FWD-MID) showing little sign of the limited pre-season, winning plenty of ball to be the dominant midfielder on the ground in the first-half. He then joined recruit Jeremy Cameron ($388,100 FWD), who booted the first goal of the match, in running laps for the second-half.
A refreshed Brodie Grundy ($648,200 RUCK) was Collingwood’s best player, winning the ball at will around in the ground in the opening three quarters.
In the ruck, Grundy worked to a slightly different-looking Magpies midfield, with Brayden Sier ($313,800 MID) the No. 1 man against the Cats, attending the most centre bounces and impressing with his attack on the ball, in a performance which suggests he’s ready to help fill the Adam Treloar-void in Round 1. Uncapped 20-year-old Trent Bianco ($123,900 DEF-MID) was also used in an on-ball role, attending the majority of centre bounces in the second-half with skipper Scott Pendlebury rested.
Ollie Henry's first touch of the game 😠pic.twitter.com/db76TkD6mT
— Collingwood FC (@CollingwoodFC) February 26, 2021
They were pitting against young Cat Charlie Constable ($266,500 MID) for most of the day - but will coach Chris Scott give him a chance when the real stuff starts?
It does look very likely, however, that No. 17 pick Oliver Henry ($135,300 FWD) will get a very early opportunity in the Magpies’ senior side with another eye-catching display forward-of-centre.
“He’ll be right in contention for that Round 1 spot, for sure,” Pies assistant coach Hayden Skipworth said post-match.
But fellow draftee - and the sixth-most-popular player in KFC SuperCoach - Finlay Macrae ($126,300 MID-FWD)may have to bide his time with Skipworth saying, while Macrae will get his chance this year, Collingwood “couldn’t squeeze every one in”.
Young Cat Francis Evans ($123,900 FWD), who was plucked from the amateurs in 2019, is in line to make his AFL debut after a lively two-goal performance, while third-year Magpie Isaac Quaynor($405,300 DEF) confirmed his breakout contender status.
SYDNEY 7.12 (54) d GWS GIANTS 8.5 (53)
It might actually be happening. After years of promise, Callum Mills ($544,900 DEF) seems destined to become a midfielder in 2021. Mills was one of Sydney’s standouts in Saturday’s draw against local rival GWS, winning plenty of footy in the middle.
Mills averaged a career-high 101.4 last season including a monster 173 against Richmond.
Much of the focus has been on Braeden Campbell ($189,300 FWD/MID) this off-season but fellow draftee Errol Gulden ($117,300 MID) was the pick of the young guns.
Gulden rotated through the middle and showed plenty of poise to thrust his name forward for a Round 1 debut.
Giants star Josh Kelly was raving about Tom Green ($351,400 MID) post-match and tipped top draftee Tanner Bruhn ($157,800 MID) would debut early.
Giants defensive rookie Jacob Wehr ($117,300 DEF) played in the reserves game in a worrying sign for his Round 1 prospects.
Matthew Flynn ($123,900 RUC) competed solidly against Tom Hickey and Callum Sinclair to all but confirm himself as the Giants No. 1 ruckman with Braydon Preuss out. The surprise was Callan Ward ($409,900) filling in as Flynn’s back-up.
PORT ADELAIDE 18.17 (125) d ADELAIDE 11.7 (73)
After flying to Sydney to see a specialist about his foot on Thursday, Connor Rozee ($377,200 FWD) looked sharp for the Power, playing predominantly as a forward. To see the young star out there in a practice match was a positive in itself but Zak Butters ($471,400 FWD) attended more centre bounces.
There were plenty of other positives to come from Alberton Oval for KFC SuperCoaches, too.
Port had eight on the bench but ready-made draftee Lachie Jones ($139,800 DEF) was prominent in defence, playing a number of different roles while Miles Bergman ($123,900 MID) also pushed his case for an early-season debut.
“Miles looks really sharp. He’s ready to go,” Power assistant coach Brett Montgomery said of the converted half-back following the win.
For the Crows, Rory Laird ($564,800 DEF) was the No. 1 centre-bounce midfielder, confirming his status a KFC SuperCoach must-have in defence, while Jackson Hately ($310,300 MID) won plenty of the footy in the absence of Matt Crouch.
With Daniel Talia and Tom Doedee injured, and Fischer McAsey struggling, the job security of Jordan Butts ($176,800 DEF), who was competed well against Charlie Dixon, is increasing.
In a big blow, mid-price option Wayne Milera ($312,200 DEF) will miss an extended period with a ruptured patella tendon but Billy Frampton ($257,200 FWD) booted three goals and looks a likely Round 1 starter after an impressive pre-season.
Prized No. 2 pick Riley Thilthorpe ($202,800 FWD-RUCK)dominated the SANFL trial, pushing his case for an AAMI Series start.
FREMANTLE 16.11 (107) d WEST COAST 9.6 (60)
So much for more forward time stopping Nat Fyfe ($608,300 MID) being an uber premium scorer. The Dockers skipper and dual Brownlow winner was everywhere in the first half against the Eagles before doing running work while his loads were managed after the main break.
There were concerns for Luke Ryan ($576,300 DEF) — who features in 9.3 per cent of teams — after he left the field with a back issue. But the Dockers are confident he’s avoided serious injury after scans.
Liam Duggan ($448,600 DEF) was a regular at centre bounces as he continues his transition to midfield, although Tim Kelly and Elliot Yeo didn’t feature and Luke Shuey was on reduced minutes.
In all the talk of possible breakout contenders, KFC SuperCoaches might have missed Caleb Serong ($435,600 MID). The second-Docker was immense and looks to be part of Freo’s first-choice midfield.
HIGHLIGHTS 🎥 | Enjoy all the best moments from today's scratch match against West Coast 🤩 #foreverfreo
— Fremantle Dockers (@freodockers) February 27, 2021
Hayden Young ($279,400 DEF) was another who impressed playing at half-back and on a wing. His ownership is set to rise after Wayne Milera’s injury and with uncertainty over the Round 1 hopes of several defensive rookies.
Michael Walters ($531,100 FWD) kicked four goals, but that’s a lot to pay for someone who played almost exclusively in attack.
At $544k, Andrew Brayshaw looms as a potential midfield POD too. He was typically strong around the ball.
Lloyd Meek ($123,900) will debut in Round 1 if Sean Darcy isn’t right — yep, another rookie ruckman.
And scrap any plans you might have had to use Josh Treacy ($102,400 RUC/FWD) as a loophole, if you hadn’t already.
He kicked two goals and had a hand in another with a classy piece of ruck work in attack. Matt Taberner is due to play Fremantle’s next game but all signs point to a Round 1 Treacy debut.
BRISBANE LIONS 15.12 (102) d GOLD COAST 8.7 (55)
Boom youngster Matt Rowell ($494,100 MID)— one of the most popular players in KFC SuperCoach — only featured in a half as Gold Coast eases him back from a long shoulder lay-off. Watch his game time in the Suns’ second pre-season match before making any rash decisions.
The biggest talking point was undoubtedlyJoe Daniher($233,300), who dominated against a Suns defence missing Sam Collins. His ownership is set to soar after bagging four goals in a performance which suggested he’ll hit Round 1 at full fitness.
There were encouraging signs from Lions rookie Ely Smith ($123,900 FWD/MID), who featured on a wing and is right in the mix for Round 1, was second-year Sun Sam Flanders ($192,300 FWD) impressed with his intensity and pressure across half-forward.
Cam Rayner ($392,900 FWD) and Oleg Markov ($314,300 DEF) might be the pre-season bolters from this game. Rayner started in the middle as he continues his transition to an on-ball role, while ex-Tiger Markov was a standout in defence for the Suns.
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