KFC SuperCoach 2021: Late mail, selection tips for Round 1
There is still time to make changes to your KFC SuperCoach starting squad. See all the latest Round 1 intel.
SuperCoach
Don't miss out on the headlines from SuperCoach. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Errol Gulden and James Rowe are leading the charge for KFC SuperCoach rookies in Round 1, but there is still another day to play out.
And you can still make changes to your starting team — under the rolling lockout players are only locked when their team plays. So players from the six teams that play on Sunday can still be traded or moved on and off the field.
And there is some big rookie news from those sides that can help — or hurt — your team.
Here is everything you need to know.
Watch the 2021 Toyota AFL Premiership Season. Every match of every round Live on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try 14-Days Free Now >
THE LACHIE JONES DREAM IS OVER
We got Tom Highmore on Friday morning but, unfortunately, KFC SuperCoaches won’t get Port Adelaide’s top draft pick - and readymade defender - Lachie Jones ($139,900 DEF) in Round 1.
And his debut could be delayed even further after he only managed a half playing for Port’s SANFL side on the weekend.
“He pulled up a little sore so he will be assessed. There would be some risk on him not being available for next week.,” coach Ken Hinkley said.
But there is some good news from Alberton — Miles Bergman ($123,900 FWD) will make his AFL debut against North Melbourne on Sunday.
Given his pre-season form, Bergman could be one of the top forward rookie picks.
SAINTS LOCK IN DEBUTS FOR POPULAR PAIR
As expected, bottom-priced ruckman Paul Hunter — currently owned by 24 per cent of coaches — will make his debut at 28 in St Kilda’s clash with Greater Western Sydney.
Coach Brett Ratten had pointed to a Hunter debut last week with his ruck stocks depleted after Paddy Ryder was granted personal leave, while Rowan Marshall (injury) is not expected back until Round 5.
But it’s nice for KFC SuperCoaches opting to start the $102,400 ruckman to have some piece of mind before their clash on Sunday.
His inclusion makes fielding a rookie ruckman a genuine possibility with Hunter’s Round 1 opponent Matthew Flynn $123,900) and Docker Lloyd Meek ($123,900) also clinching debuts.
Hunter, who earned a late rookie reprieve this year, averaged a whopping 136 SuperCoach 16.6 disposals, 11.6 contested possessions, 30.3 hit-outs and 4.7 clearances in the SANFL last year as a ruckman.
He looks like a pick with plenty of promise, but our Rookie Bible warns that he might not be the answer.
Popular cheapie defender Tom Highmore ($123,900, DEF), another SANFL export, has also earned a call-up for his first AFL game and looms as a lock with slim pickings in defence.
MIXED NEWS AT KANGAROOS, HAWKS
There is good news at North Melbourne with the Kangaroos confirming ball-magnet Tom Powell ($153,300 MID), who averaged more than 150 KFC SuperCoach points at SANFL under-18 level last year, will play against the Power on Sunday.
Former Bulldog Lachie Young ($202,000 DEF-MID) will also play his first game for the club.
Powell is almost a rookie-price lock, but the same can’t be said any longer for fellow draftee Connor Downie ($117,300 MID), who, after his debut was announced in the morning, was confirmed as the Hawks’ medical sub when the team sheet was submitted on Friday night.
Young Crow Sam Berry ($117,300 MID), who will debut against the Cats, appears a great replacement.
CHRIS FAGAN COMES TO THE RESCUE
In a big surprise, Brisbane has named running machine Harry Sharp ($117,300, DEF-MID) for Saturday’s clash with the Swans, saving KFC SuperCoaches in defence.
Sharp will help fill the void left by former No. 1 pick Cam Rayner, who ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament during the AAMI Community Series, after impressing coach Chris Fagain with his own performance in that game, finishing with 10 touches, a goal and 52 points from a half of footy.
Ruck-forward Tom Fullarton ($128,000, RUCK-FWD) will also play but Ely Smith ($123,900, FWD-MID), who has been transformed from an inside midfielder to a wingman ahead of his third season, has been named as the first emergency and could be a chance as the medical sub.
TIGERS V BLUES SCORES: DOMINANT DUSTY HITS 150
In case you were wondering, Dustin Martin is still really, really good at football.
Which means he is also really, really good at SuperCoach.
The superstar Tiger enjoyed a night out on the MCG against Carlton, posting a whopping 158 points to get the season off to the perfect start.
He was clearly the highest scoring player on the ground and one of four Tigers to reach triple figures, including Jayden Short.
Meanwhile for the Blues, everyone hoping for a big year from Sam Walsh will be thrilled after he scored 122.
Popular cheapie Paddy Dow posted 60.
See every score from opening night below.
RICHMOND
Dustin Martin 158
Jack Graham 120
Shane Edwards 111
Jayden Short 100
Jack Riewoldt 93
Shai Bolton 85
Dion Prestia 82
Toby Nankervis 76
Josh Caddy 76
Noah Balta 75
Jake Aarts 67
Kane Lambert 67
Marlion Pickett 57
Daniel Rioli 57
Kamdyn McIntosh 56
Jason Castagna 54
David Astbury 49
Jack Ross 48
Liam Baker 48
Nathan Broad 45
Tom J. Lynch 43
Dylan Grimes 40
Nick Vlastuin 39
CARLTON
Sam Walsh 122
Adam Saad 114
Jack Newnes 109
Ed Curnow 94
Sam Docherty 94
Patrick Cripps 88
Marc Pittonet 85
Will Setterfield 82
Lachie Fogarty 78
Michael Gibbons 77
Zac Fisher 73
Harry McKay 69
Jacob Weitering 67
Lachie Plowman 61
Paddy Dow 60
Marc Murphy 54
Oscar McDonald 53
Sam Petrevski-Seton 52
Tom Williamson 52
Liam Jones 52
Lochie O’Brien 50
Levi Casboult 35
Jack Silvagni 33
WHAT WILL MEDICAL SUB MEAN FOR KFC SUPERCOACH?
After months of guessing, we have some actual AFL teams for the 2021 season.
There weren’t many shocks in the Tigers and Blues’ line-ups for the season-opener at the MCG, but alarm bells will be ringing for players who have some cheapies in their squad.
And everyone is getting up to speed fast with the new medical sub.
On the eve of the season the AFL has effectively added a 23rd man to each team every weekend, although that player can only come on if one of the starting 22 is ruled out by a serious injury.
HOW DOES THE SUB RULE IMPACT KFC SUPERCOACH?
Long-time SuperCoach players may be suffering flashbacks to the days of the red and green sub vest, which was a nightmare for selecting bench players.
This won’t be as bad.
Clubs will nominate one of their four designated emergencies as their sub 60 minutes before the game. If that player is required and takes part in the match, they will be regarded as playing in SuperCoach — their score will count and their price will be adjusted accordingly.
But if there is no serious injury and the sub doesn’t take the field, he will be regarded as not playing from a SuperCoach point of view. That means the players’ price won’t be impacted and if they are on your field you will get a relevant emergency score — so they are still available for a vice-captain or emergency loophole, although that could be a very risky play!
Tonight’s emergencies are:
Richmond: Marlion Pickett, Will Martyn, Jack Ross, Mabior Chol.
Carlton: Matt Cottrell, Oscar McDonald, Liam Stocker, Matt Kennedy.
None of those eight are wildly popular in KFC SuperCoach, but we will be hoping youngster Will Martyn doesn’t make a surprise appearance late in the game and only pick up a few possessions, which would impact his money-making potential as a rookie.
Paying attention to late team sheets will be more important than ever.
TRACK WATCH: PORT ADELAIDE ROOKIE WHISPERS
KFC SuperCoach players are waiting with interest on Port Adelaide’s team to face North Melbourne on Sunday.
Another new AFL directive allowing teams to release their teams the day before the game has not eased the stress, with calls on potential rookie picks Lachie Jones ($139,800 DEF) and Miles Bergman ($123,900 FWD) impacting other parts of our teams.
Advertiser reporter Simeon Thomas-Wilson is at Alberton to watch Power training on Thursday and reports that players are split into two groups wearing black and white jumpers, with the stronger line-up in black.
How much do we read into the fact Berman has a black guernsey while Jones is in white?
Other members of the “black” team include Willem Drew and Riley Bonner, while Xavier Duursma and long-time fantasy favourite Tom Rockliff are in white.
ROOKIE BIBLE: EXPERT CHEAPIE SCORE, PRICE PROJECTIONS
GET THESE TIGERS, BLUES OUT OF YOUR TEAM
When selecting a KFC SuperCoach team in January or February, it’s fine to take a stab at which cheapies to put on the bench with a plan to make your “real” selections once we know who is actually playing.
What you don’t want to do is get caught out with “placeholders” getting locked into your side at 7.25pm (AEDT) tonight.
We’re talking to the 9 per cent of teams with young Blue Corey Durdin in their squad, or the 5 per cent with Richmond’s Riley Collier-Dawkins. Neither made their team’s best 26 last night.
Remarkably, 7 per cent of coaches have Tigers teenager Maurice Rioli Jr in their team, who was always at long odds to play early in the season. Hopefully we’ll see him at some stage in 2021, but we can trade him in then. You need those bench spots for playing rookies now.
Some of the almost 10 per cent of coaches who still have Zac Williams might be making a strategic decision to sit him on the bench for Round 1 then bring him in next week after he has served his one-match suspension.
This could be a valid move in leagues, with head-to-head matches starting in Round 2 for 10-team leagues and Round 3 for 18-team leagues. But it could put you a fair way behind the pack in overall rankings if you’re fielding a rookie like Jacob Koschitzke this weekend instead — or worse, copping a zero.
MORE: THE 11 PLAYERS YOU MUST PICK IN SUPERCOACH
PODS: 11 HIDDEN GEMS TO SET YOUR TEAM APART
WHICH ROOKIES WILL PLAY IN ROUND 1?
Some clubs have done the right thing and announced a number AFL debuts ahead of time for Round 1. Others are making us sweat on their official team sheets.
Get the latest rookie news here plus how to manage a tricky weekend for SuperCoach.
More Coverage
Originally published as KFC SuperCoach 2021: Late mail, selection tips for Round 1
The AFL trades set to deliver big SuperCoach bargains
Bailey Smith and Clayton Oliver could be huge SuperCoach steals at a new club in 2025. Which other names should be on the watch list? Here are the moves to watch.
AFL obsession to NBL addiction: How SuperCoach hooked me on hoops
I hadn’t watch the NBL since the Andrew Gaze and Shane Heal days. Now I’m taking my son to United games and watching Phoenix on Kayo because of one reason.