KFC SuperCoach 2020: The Phantom names the top replacements for Bulldogs star Josh Dunkley

Jy Simpkin, Bailey Smith and Christian Petracca all present tremendous value in the KFC SuperCoach forward line ahead of Round 4. But, if you’re trading Josh Dunkley or cashing out on Lachie Whitfield, which one do you choose?

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With so much KFC SuperCoach value in the forward line ahead of Round 4, a dual-position move to replace injured Bulldog Josh Dunkley - who will miss at least six weeks with an ankle injury - should definitely be in your thinking.

The trio of Jy Simpkin, Bailey Smith and Christian Petracca should also be in your thinking if you’re a Lachie Whitfield owner.

But which up-and-coming SuperCoach star should you choose?

Bailey Smith is a KFC SuperCoach star-in-the-making. Picture: Michael Dodge/AAP

THE DPP SWITCH

Jy Simpkin ($483k, Ave: 125), Christian Petracca ($470k, Ave: 115) or Bailey Smith ($483k, Ave: 111)

This is the question on the lips of KFC SuperCoaches this week.

Not only as options to address the Dunkley injury but also for those considering cashing out on Whitfield.

Each selection has merit – and the reasons for it are growing by the day.

Simpkin attended 19 centre bounces for the Kangaroos in the absence of Ben Cunnington on Saturday – second-only to ruckman Todd Goldstein.

The result was a blistering 140-point performance, on the back of 26 disposals, a game-high 14 contested possessions and eight clearances.

But, while the 22-year-old, who is the seventh-ranked player in the competition, did benefit from the extra responsibility, Cunnington’s return isn’t likely to have a huge effect on his scoring, if Simpkin’s first two scores of the year - 131 and 105 - are anything to go by.

And they are, with the midfield role, which produced three SuperCoach tons in the final nine rounds of 2019, now officially a full-time thing.

Simpkin ranks equal-fourth in the AFL for score involvements and 10th for clearances.

After an impressive start to the year, the Christian Petracca midfield dream is also finally a reality.

The 24-year-old was the dominant midfielder on the ground in Round 2, so much so he copped the Curnow tag in the second-half before finishing with 126 points.

And young Bulldog Smith attended more centre bounces than Macrae on Friday night and posted his third consecutive SuperCoach ton.

Given the all-round nature of his game – and stats sheet – he doesn’t need the centre bounce bump which might come on the back of Dunkley’s injury.

But it’s another reason to consider the 19-year-old young gun this week.

Jack Viney, left, and Christian Petracca at Demons training. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

After serving a long apprenticeship, however, is Petracca, who has 87 senior games under his belt compared to Simpkin’s 59 and Smith’s 26, more ready to hold his form line through the entire year?

I think so. And two chances in the round when the postponed match takes place - as per the KFC SuperCoach scoring announcement – and the extra $13k only helps.

Add to that an ability to take a strong contested mark as a forward, I’ve got Petracca just ahead of Simpkin and Smith a little further back.

But, of course, there’s plenty of midfield replacements for Dunkley - and they’re not all worth more than $600k.

Lachie Neale has made a blistering start to KFC SuperCoach in 2020. Picture: Darren England/AAP

THE BIG GUNS

Lachie Neale (Bris)

$737,600

Average: 165

We’ll start with the obvious. It’s a lot to pay but with a breakeven of 84 and a meeting with the Crows on Sunday, it could be a lot more next week. If a Neale-less midfield is your only problem, find the cash. But don’t ruin your team for it, there’s a number of options to consider for now. Can the Brisbane star, who has scored 75 five more points than any other midfielder, really maintain his 165-point average? I’m not actually going to answer that just yet.

Nat Fyfe (Freo)

$674,600

Average: 140

The Docker skipper is one of them. Fyfe has posted scores of 143 and 166 since the restart and is yet to truly dominant a game like he has in the past. And with shorter quarters, Fyfe isn’t coming off the ground as much, instead the 190cm midfielder is spending time forward, booting four goals and taking four marks inside-50 – all contested – in the past two matches. The Dockers haven’t won yet, either.

Travis Boak is in less than one per cent of KFC SuperCoach teams. Picture: David Mariuz/AAP

POINT-OF-DIFFERNECE

Travis Boak (Port)

$616,200

Average: 132

Ownership: 0.9% of teams

Could Boak, who is averaging 25 disposals, 10 contested possessions, seven inside 50s, seven score involvements and 456 metres gained, be leading the Brownlow Medal after three rounds? He’s been close to Port’s best in each of their three victories to start the year. But, after losing dual-position status in SuperCoach, the former skipper, who averaged 107 points per game last year, is in less than one per cent of teams. It’s fair to say, 1566 SuperCoaches have enjoyed his scores of 125, 112 and 159.

Andrew Gaff (WC)

$612,800

Average: 124

Ownership: 3.5% of teams

Sure, you’ve got extra trades but, as discussed over the past few months, durability is going to be even more important this year. Preparation has been – and is going to continue to be – less than ideal for the players and the chance of double-up games is still high for all teams, if the week’s events are anything to go by. And the West Coast star has missed just one game through injury since his debut in 2011. Gaff’s SuperCoach scoring is just as consistent as his body, too. The endurance machine has posted 31 SuperCoach tons in his past 42 home-and-away matches and has only failed to score 80 or more on two occasions.

Bomber Zach Merrett is still available for less than $600k. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

Zach Merrett (Ess)

$597,300

Average: 135

Ownership: 3.5%

After a huge 159-point performance, on the back of 29 disposals and 11 contested possessions, against the Swans, Merrett’s price was set to soar past $600k last week. But with the Bombers’ Round 3 clash postponed, Merrett is available at $597k this week – the 11th-most expensive midfielder. His average – albeit a small sample – has him ranked fourth. There’s been no decision on how the double-up game will work in KFC SuperCoach, yet, but there’s unlikely to be any scenario where you will be disadvantaged by having a Bomber.

Mitch Duncan (Geel)

$584,300

Average: 119

Ownership: 0.5%

And what about this guy? After a very limited pre-season, there was little interest in the Geelong midfielder ahead of Round 1. And, despite posting scores of 120, 114 and 123 to start the year, there’s still little interest. Duncan, who ranks No. 1 at the Cats for effective disposals, is in less than 1000 teams ahead of Round 4. And Duncan is averaging 114 points in his past three matches at the MCG, the venue for this weekend’s clash with Melbourne.

FOR THE MONEY

Jack Viney (Melb)

$486,800

Average: 136

Breakeven: 6

Like Merrett, there was no price rise for the Melbourne midfielder this week, meaning his breakeven of six still stands. After scores of 186 and 86 to start the year, Viney’s price will shoot past $500k following Round 4. His 18 disposals, five clearances and 86 SuperCoach points in Round 2, despite copping some early attention from Blue Ed Curnow, shows, while he’s unlikely to maintain his 136-point average, he will do enough to get you close to $600k. Or, at worst, become a handy M8.

Andrew McGrath (Ess)

$426,200

Average: 105

Breakeven: 32

Only ruckman Tom Bellchambers and Dylan Shiel attended more centre bounces for the Bombers in Round 2, confirming McGrath’s long-awaited midfield move. Against the Swans, the former No. 1 draft pick tallied 23 disposals, six clearances and 98 points in an impressive display, which followed a 113-point performance in the opening round. The $173k could be put to good use.

Jack Macrae was back to his best in Round 3. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos

WAIT

Jack Macrae (WB)

$625,800

Average: 110

Breakeven: 131

His centre bounce numbers were still down, attending only nine against the Giants, but Macrae was back to his SuperCoach best, finishing with 25 disposals, 11 contested possessions, seven tackles and 133 points. With the injury to Dunkley, Macrae’s centre bounce numbers might go up again but, with a Round 4 breakeven of 131, non-owners can wait another week to be sure.

Tom Mitchell (Haw)

$599,900

Average: 103

Breakeven: 152

I’d be waiting more than a week on the Hawthorn star, though. And not just because of the 152-point breakeven, either. Prior to this year, Mitchell averaged six tackles per game since 2014. But after aggravating an old shoulder injury ahead of the restart, Mitchell has made just four tackles in the past two matches. And he’s not winning as much of the ball in the contest, either, with the Brownlow Medallist tallying a combined 13 contested possessions since Round 1. He averaged 16 per game in 2018.

Originally published as KFC SuperCoach 2020: The Phantom names the top replacements for Bulldogs star Josh Dunkley