KFC SuperCoach 2021: The Phantom’s AAMI Series standouts and all the key stats revealed

Not sure about Essendon recruit Jye Caldwell in KFC SuperCoach? These numbers might sway you. All the AAMI Series standouts plus exclusive stats.

The AAMI Community Series has been and gone and I’ve been digging through the numbers ever since.

Here are my standouts and, with Champion Data’s help, all the key stats you need to be across, from centre bounce attendance to disposals per 100 minutes.

THE PHANTOM’S 10 STANDOUTS

The Swans Rookies

Chad Warner ($144,000 FWD) - 89 points

Braeden Campbell ($189,300 MID-FWD) - 85

Errol Gulden ($117,300 MID) - 77

Sydney’s latest draftees, Campbell and Gulden, justified the pre-season hype in the clash with the Giants. Campbell showed off his elite kicking skills from half-back – with the Swans already looking to get the ball in the 18-year-old’s hands – while something always happened when Gulden, who recorded seven score involvements, had the ball forward-of-centre. Warner was the surprise, though. Not his score, given he averaged 156 points at junior level, but more the way the second-year midfielder fit into the side. Fellow 2019 draftee Dylan Stephens was overlooked and Warner was one of his side’s best, finishing with 19 disposals and ranking second for metres gained - one spot ahead of Campbell. I’ve always loved, Horse. Lock them all in.

Is a breakout year looming for St Kilda’s Hunter Clark? Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos

Hunter Clark ($438,900 DEF) - 96

There’s been plenty of talk about Liam Duggan, Zac Williams, Alex Witherden and co in the mid-price bracket in defence. But are we sleeping on the young Saint? I was big on Clark last pre-season but, while he posted some big scores in 2020, the midfield move didn’t eventuate. It might be a different story this year, however, after the 21-year-old attended 16 centre bounces and tallied 15 contested possessions and eight clearances, both game highs, in just 68 per cent game-time.

Jayden Short ($519,300 DEF) - 165

If KFC SuperCoaches needed any evidence the new man on the mark rule, as well as the reduced interchange cap and return to full-length quarters, would benefit outside runners, they got it on Friday night. Short was everywhere, tallying 43 disposals, 12 marks and a huge 32 uncontested possessions against the Magpies, to post a game-high 165 points. Don’t forget Short was the top-ranked KFC SuperCoach player on the ground (169) in last year’s grand final.

Tom Powell ($153,300 MID) - 57

New year, new club, new level. Same old Tom Powell leading his side for disposals at half-time. The ball magnet, who averaged 35 disposals and 154 KFC SuperCoach points at junior level, was the leading ball-winner (16) for the Kangaroos in the first half against the Hawks. And he was playing predominantly as a forward. He was subbed off late in the game and finished with 16 disposals from 67 per cent game-time.

MORE INTEL: EVERY KFC SUPERCOACH OF THE AAMI SERIES

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Jye Caldwell was a big part of the Bombers midfield in the AAMI Series. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Daniel Pockett

Jye Caldwell ($348,600 FWD-MID) - 87

I’ve been on the fence regarding Caldwell’s prospects as a KFC SuperCoach breakout contender. A spike, on the back of more midfield minutes in an increased role, sure, but can he push the top eight? Initially, I wasn’t so sure but he was impressive against the Cats. The former Giant had 24 disposals, 11 contested possessions and 87 KFC SuperCoach points in 67 per cent of the AAM Series clash. Only Zach Merrett and Darcy Parish attended more centre bounces and Caldwell ranked 11th for disposals per minute across the weekend.

Josh Dunkley ($560,200 FWD-MID) - 170

It wasn’t all about the huge score, it was the role and what he did in it. Adam Treloar was missing but it was Dunkley, Jack Macrae, Marcus Bontempelli and Tom Liberatore who played as the Bulldogs’ four main midfielders against the Demons. Dunkley finished with game-highs in contested possessions (20) and tackles (11) and an equal-team-high eight clearances. Despite the uncertainty around the Bulldogs – and their master Luke Beveridge - and KFC SuperCoach, Dunkley is still a must-have.

Caleb Daniel ($545,500 DEF) - 141

Arguably the AFL’s best kick and decision-maker coming out of defence didn’t need any more time to execute. But, with the new rules, he will get just that in 2021. Daniel hit the target with 31 of his 34 disposals, to finish with 141 KFC SuperCoach points against the Demons.

Matt Rowell ($495,100 MID) - 91

Rowell was just cruising around against the Lions and barely worried about working into space to find the footy, finishing with just one mark and tallying four uncontested possessions. But the second-year gun tallied a game-high 17 contested possessions and a team-high seven clearances, on his way to 91 KFC SuperCoach points in just 70 per cent game-time.

CATCH UP: 11 THINGS WE LEARNED OVER THE PRE-SEASON

Luke Davies-Uniacke scored 122 KFC SuperCoach points against the Hawks. Picture: Mike Owen/Getty Images

Luke Davies Uniacke ($432,800 MID) - 122

Is it finally time for LDU? He was a KFC SuperCoach star as a junior and he was a dominant in the midfield against the Hawks. The 21-year-old was the second-ranked Kangaroo for centre bounce attendance and he made the most of it, finishing 12 contested possessions and six clearances – both team-highs – to go with 21 disposals.

Steven May ($507,900 DEF) - 140

He’s in a race to be fit for Round 1 with concussion but May, again, reminded KFC SuperCoaches of his scoring power as the main distributor for the Demons in defence. May played on from seven kicks-ins – the equal-most for the AAMI Series – on his way 22 kicks, among 27 disposals, and nine marks.

Special mentions: Nat Fyfe (128), Jack Ziebell (107), Jordan Ridley (110), Jack Higgins (104)

THE KEY STATS

POINTS PER 100 MINUTES

Marcus Bontempelli 187

Josh Dunkley 186

Orazio Fantasia 177

Charlie Constable 169

Jayden Short 168

Jordan Clark 155

Luke Shuey 155

Jack Macrae 153

Toby Nankervis 150

Dan Houston 145

Liam Shiels 144

James Rowbottom 138

Tom Liberatore 136

Caleb Daniel 135

Tom Stewart 134

Ollie Wines 133

Tom Phillips 133

Steven May 133

Luke Davies-Uniacke 132

Nat Fyfe 132

Orazio Fantasia has enjoyed a terrific pre-season at Alberton. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images

Given there was only one official match this pre-season, most of the list is filled with the top overall scorers of the round. But there are a couple of very interesting names. Former Bomber Orazio Fantasia ($271,800 DEF-FWD) booted 3.3 from 11 disposals and seven marks, to finish record 79 KFC SuperCoach points in a blistering quarter a half against the Crows. But how many games will he play in 2021? We know only two of them will be against Adelaide, too. Swan James Rowbottom ($405,600 MID) could be set for a spike this year but his mid-only status makes it hard in the classic format.

DISPOSALS PER 100 MINUTES

Jayden Short 43.8

Charlie Constable 39.2

Jack Macrae 37.8

Jordan Clark 37.7

Zach Merrett 37.3

Dan Houston 36.8

Josh Dunkley 35.0

Darcy Parish 34.4

Liam Shiels 33.0

Caleb Daniel 32.6

Dylan Shiel 30.9

Jye Caldwell 30.9

Dustin Martin 30.6

Jordan De Goey 30.5

Andrew Gaff 30.4

Marcus Bontempelli 30.2

Tom Liberatore 30

Luke Shuey 30

Tom Phillips 29.8

Riley Bonner 29.4

The adjusted disposal numbers highlight the impressive ball-winning displays from Caldwell and Jordan Clark, while also proving KFC SuperCoaches shouldn’t be concerned about Dustin Martin’s performance.

KICK-INS

Total play-ons from kick-ins

Jack Ziebell 7

Steven May 7

Jordan Ridley 7

Caleb Daniel 6

Luke McDonald 6

Jordan Clark 6

Isaac Cumming 6

Hayden Young 5

Daniel Rich 5

Trent Rivers 5

Jayden Short 5

Dan Houston 5

Jack Ziebell patrolling the Kangaroos defence and playing on with most of his kick-ins is the stuff of KFC SuperCoach dreams, while Clark is a serious option if he continues to be handed the kick-in duties in 2021. Hayden Young confirmed his status as Fremantle’s best kick and second-year Demon Trent Rivers looms as a KFC SuperCoach Draft sleeper.

CENTRE BOUNCE ATTENDANCE

ADELAIDE

Matt Crouch 20

Rory Laird 20

Rory Sloane 14

Harry Schoenberg 6

Sam Berry 5

Ben Keays 5

Takeaway: Laird is a lock.

BRISBANE

Lachie Neale 28

Jarryd Lyons 16

Jarrod Berry 13

Zac Bailey 11

Lincoln McCarthy 11

Hugh McCluggage 11

Takeaway: Bailey could surprise a few in 2021.

Paddy Dow attended 18 centre bounces against the Saints. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

CARLTON

Patrick Cripps 25

Sam Walsh 24

Paddy Dow 18

Zac Williams 16

Ed Curnow 15

Takeaway: There was no big score but the role was there for Dow.

COLLINGWOOD

Jordan De Goey 19

Scott Pendlebury 19

Jamie Elliott 10

Brayden Sier 10

Josh Daicos 8

Takeaway: Sier is the man to help fill the Adam Treloar void.

ESSENDON

Zac Merrett 20

Darcy Parish 14

Jye Caldwell 12

Dylan Shiel 11

Andrew McGrath 6

Takeaway: Caldwell not only was given big midfield minutes, but he performed.

FREMANTLE

Andrew Brayshaw 16

David Mundy 16

Nat Fyfe 11

Connor Blakely 10

Darcy Tucker 8

Takeaway: That many CBAs will be enough for Fyfe in KFC SuperCoach.

GEELONG

Patrick Dangerfield 17

Brandan Parfitt 16

Joel Selwood 16

Cameron Guthrie 11

Charlie Constable 6

Takeaway: We can’t start without Dangerfield now.

GOLD COAST

Matthew Rowell 23

Noah Anderson 17

Hugh Greenwood 16

Will Brodie 15

Touk Miller 13

Takeaway: Is the Will Brodie breakout finally happening?

Who is joining The Phantom on the Tom Green train this year? Picture: Phil Hillyard

GWS

Jacob Hopper 24

Stephen Coniglio 21

Tim Taranto 18

Tom Green 16

Josh Kelly 16

Takeaway: Leon Cameron knows he needs Green in the action.

HAWTHORN

James Worpel 27

Liam Shiels 22

Tom Phillips 15

Daniel Howe 13

Harry Morrison 6

Takeaway: Phillips the all-round midfielder is serious value.

MELBOURNE

James Harmes 20

Christian Petracca 20

Tom Sparrow 10

Aaron vandenBerg 10

James Jordon 8

Nathan Jones 8

Takeaway: There looks to be a midfield role for James Jordon.

NORTH MELBOURNE

Jy Simpkin 25

Luke Davies-Uniacke 23

Dom Tyson 18

Kyron Hayden 10

Tarryn Thomas 7

Takeaway: It’s LDU time.

PORT ADELAIDE

Karl Amon 15

Tom Rockliff 14

Ollie Wines 14

Willem Drew 11

Travis Boak 8

Takeaway: Drew is a big KFC SuperCoach Draft sleeper - Port loves him.

RICHMOND

Shai Bolton 24

Dustin Martin 15

Shane Edwards 13

Riley Collier-Dawkins 8

Jack Graham 8

Takeaway: The role was there but Bolton struggled to have a big impact.

ST KILDA

Jack Steele 23

Seb Ross 21

Brad Crouch 19

Hunter Clark 16

Jade Gresham 16

Takeaway: As above, Clark attended 16 in limited game-time.

SYDNEY

Callum Mills 23

Luke Parker 23

Josh P. Kennedy 18

James Rowbottom 16

Oliver Florent 11

Takeaway: He didn’t dominate but is the Mills move actually happening?

WEST COAST

Dom Sheed 17

Luke Shuey 10

Xavier O’Neill 9

Liam Duggan 8

Jack Redden 7

Takeaway: Who’s Xavier O’Neill?

WESTERN BULLDOGS

Jack Macrae 26

Marcus Bontempelli 22

Tom Liberatore 22

Josh Dunkley 18

Lachie Hunter 1

Takeaway: Settled. Who was coaching?

Paul Hunter, left, will lead the Saints in the ruck in Round 1. Picture: Martin Keep/Getty Images

WHAT THE RUCK?

It’s a year like no other in the ruck, with a number of rookie-price big men putting their hand up for Round 1. But, with only one ruck bench spot, who is the best option? Don’t worry, I’ve been thinking about the cheap R2 as well. Here the numbers you need to be across.

HITOUTS TO ADVANTAGE

J.Witts 15

B.Grundy 13

M.Gawn 11

J.Ceglar 10

O.McInerney 10

M.Pittonet 10

K.Briggs 9

S.Draper 9

P.Hunter 9

S.McKernan 8

RUCK CONTESTS ATTENDED

M.Pittonet 77

O.McInerney 66

J.Witts 64

P.Hunter 62

L.Meek 55

M.Gawn 53

T.Hickey 52

J.Ceglar 51

K.Briggs 50

B.Grundy 50

Others of note: Luke Jackson (26), Stefan Martin (44), Tim English (33), Ben McEvoy (35), Shaun McKernan (27)

The big takeout here is the nine hitouts-to-advantage from Kieren Briggs and Paul Hunter. Matt Flynn is still likely to lead the Giants in the ruck in Round 1 but Hunter, who averaged 136 KFC SuperCoach points in the SANFL last year, could be the best early money maker, given the confirmation he will be the Saints’ No. 1 man until Rowan Marshall returns. Hunter’s 62 ruck contests is important, too, highlighting his readiness to compete across the ground – and for the full game – against the experienced ruckmen. At the Hawks, Ben McEvoy may have started in the ruck but Jon Ceglar did more work across the day against North, while Marc Pittonett could be a great late pick in KFC SuperCoach Draft.

Originally published as KFC SuperCoach 2021: The Phantom’s AAMI Series standouts and all the key stats revealed