AFL SuperCoach 2021: Round 5 late mail, selection news and trade advice
Simon Goodwin has had his say on James Jordon after his performance last week. Plus the latest on Matt Flynn and all the KFC SuperCoach rookie whispers.
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KFC SuperCoaches weighing up whether to dump Melbourne cash cow James Jordon may have to reconsider following coach Simon Goodwin’s glowing endorsement.
After posting scores of 78, 82 and 49 to start his career – and adding $60k to his price tag - Jordon struggled to have an impact against the Cats, finishing with just four disposals and 24 points.
The score resulted in a Round 5 breakeven of 47 and many of the 70,000 owners in KFC SuperCoach were concerned it may also cost him his spot in the Demons side.
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But it may just be a one-off after Goodwin defended the 20-year-old’s performance and confirmed Jordon will play against the Hawks on Sunday.
“We don’t evaluate a player’s game on possession,” Goodwin told reporters on Thursday.
“JJ has been brilliant in terms of the role he’s played, he’s given us great depth.
“He was a little bit quiet last week in terms of his overall touches, but he also adjusted in his role.
“When (Steven) May went down, we moved Angus Brayshaw down back and he (Jordon) played a slightly different position himself.
“There’s little things that take place within games that can sometimes impact players’ roles but James will be playing this week.”
More than 2000 KFC SuperCoaches have already traded him out, and a few more would be thinking about it, especially with basement price Bomber Alec Waterman on the bubble.
But, with the backline reinforcement coming, in the shape of Michael Hibberd or Harrison Petty, allowing Brayshaw and Jordon to resume their early-season roles, there’s a chance he bounces back this week, kickstarting his cash generation again.
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THE OTHER GOOD ROOKIE NEWS
To the delight of KFC SuperCoaches everywhere, Collingwood will finally unleash highly-rated draftee Finlay Macrae ($126,300 MID-FWD) against the Eagles on Friday night.
Just like his half-brother Jackson, the 19-year-old is clean and clever in traffic, makes great decisions with ball in-hand and can play a number of roles.
But, in further good news, Magpies coach Nathan Buckley has confirmed Macrae will feature through the middle on debut in the absence of Taylor Adams.
“He’s a natural-ball winner and he can play through the midfield and forward for us so it’s a great reward for good form,” Buckley said of the club’s latest debutant on Tuesday.
Macrae averaged 83 KFC SuperCoach points per game in an impressive bottom-age NAB League season in a stacked Oakleigh Chargers midfield which included Matt Rowell, Noah Anderson and Will Phillips.
And he’s a dual-position midfielder-forward in KFC SuperCoach this year, making him a must-watch over the next two rounds.
There is some bad rookie news, however, with St Kilda defender Tom Highmore, again, overlooked for Thursday night’s clash with the Tigers.
And, like last week, the mature-age recruit, who scored 60 and 77 in the opening two rounds before being dumped, isn’t even in the four emergencies.
The fact there was no VFL practice match last weekend didn’t help so fingers crossed he can push his case for a recall as the new-look competition gets underway.
IN LIKE FLYNN?
Popular rookie-price ruckman Matt Flynn was rested for last week’s clash with the Magpies and in stepped veteran Shane Mumford.
And his surprise dominance over Collingwood star Brodie Grundy, especially in the first half, isn’t what KFC SuperCoaches wanted to see.
Firstly, it affected Grundy’s score, but it has also forced coach Leon Cameron to consider the 34-year-old again in Round 5.
“If everything went to plan, which it never does, he (Mumford) should only be playing six or seven games, because we really want to develop Flynn and (Kieren) Briggs,” Cameron said ahead of the Sydney Derby.
“But we were rapt with his performance.
“It will be a really good discussion.
“It’s not as if we’re just giving young Matty Flynn a game, he’ll deserve to play this weekend if he gets picked. And so will Shane, but Shane just can’t go back-to-back-to-back three or four weeks in a row.”
Even if Flynn returns for Saturday’s clash, Mumford is still likely to pop up every so often.
So, if you are one of the KFC SuperCoaches who started with Flynn at R2, start planning your future upgrade.
KFC SuperCoaches will also have their eyes on Hawthorn’s team sheet and whether or not rookie-price Jacob Koschitzke is on it.
And the chances are high after the forward who replaced him last week, Mitch Lewis, was handed a one-match ban for striking.
The forward-turned-defender only added $17k to his price tag after scores of 53, 38, 22, and was then ‘managed’ for the trip to Perth.
But given Caleb Daniel’s suspension, many KFC SuperCoaches will need the cover.
COULD BIG RETURNS CAUSE TROUBLE?
Fremantle could be boosted by the return of talls Rory Lobb and Griffin Logue for Sunday’s clash with the Crows - two potential inclusions which will leave KFC SuperCoaches nervous.
The pair were put through the paces on Thursday’s main train session and it will all come down to how they recover before Friday morning’s flight to Adelaide.
“I don’t think there will be a lot of risk to (Lobb’s) knee if he gets through and pulls up fine. It will just be more whether he’s conditioned enough,” Dockers coach Justin Longmuir said.
“When you go into a game, if you’re not conditioned enough, you put other areas of your body at risk.
“(Logue is) probably a little bit like ‘Lobby’. We just need to make he’s resilient enough in his body to get through a full game.
“He played well (for WAFL side Peel Thunder) last week … he hit some markers.”
The first thoughts of KFC SuperCoaches will be the job security of draftees Josh Treacy and Heath Chapman.
With Longmuir declaring he “likes” playing two dedicated rucks, could Treacy, who tallied 10 disposals and 35 points on debut, be the unlucky one to make way for Lobb?
It’s a chance, but there is hope after Longmuir also said he happy with his three-pronged tall forward line against the Hawks.
Longmuir is also happy with Chapman, the Dockers’ top pick from last year’s draft, and his smooth transition to the top level, alleviating some concerns.
“With injuries comes opportunity and he has grabbed it with both hands,” Longmuir said on Perth radio.
“It looks like we have got a player there.”
At the Bulldogs, the return of playmaking defender Hayden Crozier could also have big KFC SuperCoach ramifications.
After recovering from shoulder surgery, there’s some talk he could make a surprise return this weekend after taking part in full training and being listed as a test on the club’s website.
Mature-age rookie Anthony Scott would have to be one of the candidates to make way.
EAGLES NAME HURN REPLACEMENT
Alex Witherden is the man to fill skipper Shannon Hurn’s spot in the Eagles defence, with coach Adam Simpson confirming the off-season recruit will play his first game for the club.
And, after Simpson’s comments on Friday, he may re-enter the KFC SuperCoach fold this year with Hurn expected to miss at least two or three weeks.
“Essentially he’s a good footballer, and he’s got a good footy brain,” Simpson told reporters.
“He uses the ball pretty well, and we see him over time fitting in really well with what we do.
“He will take some kick-ins, so you can put that in your dream team or whatever.”
We know you meant, KFC SuperCoach, Adam.
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