Doctor’s Orders: Four left-field trade options with a Round 14 bye

Another batch of byes threatens to throw KFC SuperCoach teams into chaos, but a left-field trade strategy could deliver amazing results. The experts at Doctor SuperCoach name four players to target.

The rest of the 2020 fixture has been announced and the worst fears of KFC SuperCoach players were realised when six teams have been given a bye in Round 15.

This means just two teams have the bye in Round 14, the Adelaide Crows and the Brisbane Lions. Round 14 will still trigger a “best 18” scoring round and, with just two teams having a bye in that week, can you afford to choose a premium option from that round?

If you are one of the coaches who will have 18 playing premiums in Round 14, then a big opportunity presents itself – you are able to select a Round 14 bye player without compromising your total points given your “replacement” options will still be premium players in your best 18 scoring.

This creates an opportunity to trade in unique and exciting Round 14 premium options while other coaches may be forced to settle for premiums who have had their byes in Rounds 10 and 11. The expert team at Doctor SuperCoach analyse the Round 14 bye picks you may have in mind.

Matt Crouch $525,300 MID — 102.5 average

Outside of a poor first match, Crouch has just three scores below the KFC SuperCoach ton, with a season-low of 82 points. He has scored seven tons in his past nine matches but remains in under 1 per cent of KFC SuperCoach sides. There is nothing spectacular about Matt’s style of play; he consistently accumulates the ball and points, averaging over 25 touches and three marks per game in 2020.

Matt has somewhat disappointed KFC SuperCoach coaches since the end of 2017, when he averaged over 125 points per match in the final 10 rounds of the season – however, he has failed to reach those lofty heights since.

With Adelaide unlikely to win many more matches for the rest of the season and the impending return of his brother Brad, Matt’s SuperCoach point scoring ceiling may be limited.

Alex Witherden is in a hot run of form.

Alex Witherden $474,400 DEF — 99.4 average

When Witherden came onto the KFC SuperCoach scene in 2017, he was instantly a fantasy stud, averaging 87 points over his first nine matches. Many selected him in 2018 with hope that his form would continue, however he proved to suffer from the “second-year blues” as he regressed back to an 81 point average across 21 games. A poor 2019 saw Witherden’s possession tally drop from 22 a match to just 18, and his role across half-back suddenly didn’t look so safe.

Fast-forward to 2020 and it took Witherden until Round 9 to break back into the side after being dropped in Round 1 and he came back with a monster 170 KFC SuperCoach points. His form since then has been good without being great, recording an 85, 100 and 101.

Now priced at $474,400 after rising over $80k, Witherden falls into the premium defender category and should be treated as such. With a high ceiling and high floor since returning to the side, if he is able to maintain his average of 22 disposals and seven marks a game, Witherden could be a nice POD to finish off your KFC SuperCoach backlines.

Brodie Smith at Adelaide training. Picture: Sarah Reed

Brodie Smith $416,800 DEF — 80.9 average

Smith is the type of KFC SuperCoach player that is possibly worth the risk to help you propel your ranks during the “best 18” scoring. Smith is inconsistent in his KFC SuperCoach scoring, as seen by his non-injury affected game in Round 7 of just 13 points – wedged between two scores of over 120.

In “Best 18” scoring situations, low scores drop out and the players with the high ceilings make the world of difference when chasing overall ranks. Of course, Smith will miss Round 14, but that still leaves Rounds 15 and 16 where he can showcase his very high ceiling for a SuperCoach-listed defender. He has returned two scores above 124 this season and four above 100 from his 11 matches.

MORE KFC SUPERCOACH ADVICE:

KFC SuperCoach’s ultimate Round 13 trade guide: Top targets, rookies and players to punt

KFC SuperCoach experts Al Paton, Tim Michell and Dan Batten rate the most popular trades of Round 13

KFC SuperCoach Round 13 late mail: Max Gawn will miss third-straight game with PCL injury

SuperCoach Investor Dan Begala reveals his plan to crack the top 500 after surging into rankings contention

How KFC SuperCoach will run during the second footy frenzy of 2020

Smith has been used more along the wing in the last couple of weeks, recording scores of 129, 52, 105 and 84.

There is a distinct dearth of viable options at the $420k price range, however coaches could do a lot worse than gambling on Smith to shine, particularly as he ended 2019 with a 94-point average after his bye.

Oscar McInerney could be a smart pick as a RUCK/FWD.

Oscar McInerney $466,600 FWD/RUC — 83.5 average

McInerney is not your typical KFC SuperCoach forward upgrade target. An inexperienced key tall doesn’t usually scream “pick me” but when both starting and back-up ruckman in Stefan Martin and Archie Smith are both out with longer-term injuries, these aren’t your typical circumstances.

McInerney has averaged 25 hitouts and 13 possessions during his stint leading the ruck line for Brisbane Lions, while also increasing his points per minute by around 30 per cent.

On the five occasions that Oscar has been the sole ruck this season, he has put out scores of 87, 91, 128, 113 and 99. Ruckmen have scored well in KFC SuperCoach in 2020 and McInerney is no exception to the rule. Now boasting a three-round average of 113.3, he offers a cut-price way into gaining some decent ruck cover and as a solid F6 contributor.

Listen to the latest Doctor SuperCoach podcast below:

Originally published as Doctor’s Orders: Four left-field trade options with a Round 14 bye