KFC SuperCoach 2023: The 11 players every team should start with

From superstar scorers to must-have rookies, these are the 11 players to build your KFC SuperCoach team around in 2023.

Time is running out to pick your KFC SuperCoach team for round 1.

But the beauty is, pre-season has confirmed the players every coach should be basing their team around.

Having a few point of different picks is great, but if you don’t get the building blocks right then your KFC SuperCoach campaign can fall apart quickly.

Will Ashcroft and Josh Dunkley are clearly the two most-popular picks of 2023 and their pre-season form at Brisbane Lions has strengthened their claims to the top-two spots on our must-have list.

There have been several big name omissions from the most recent update with Jack Steele dumped in favour of another premium midfielder and still no room for top dogs Clayton Oliver and Rory Laird.

As this list indicates, getting your rookies right is crucial.

Check out our famous rookie bible to find out more on the players listed below and other standout cheapies.

Scroll down to see our updated list of must-have players for KFC SuperCoach.

Will Ashcroft is the top pick in KFC SuperCoach — for good reason.

1. Will Ashcroft (previous rank: 1) $202,800 MID Ownership, as of March 7: 77% Practice match score: 96 Projected average: 80-90

The hype is very real. Ashcroft might be the best KFC SuperCoach first-year pick we’ve had since Sam Walsh. The father-son gun has dominated his first pre-season in Brisbane and had 26 disposals against reigning premier Geelong in the last practice match. He’s a safe on-field selection who’s set to spend plenty of time in the Brisbane engine room. Don’t overthink it, just pick him.

Josh Dunkley is the most popular premium in KFC SuperCoach.

2. Josh Dunkley (previous rank: 2) $596,400 MID-FWD Ownership, as of March 14: 68.8% Practice match score: 146 Projected average 115-120

Dunkley is up one spot from No. 3 after tallying 19 contested possessions and 146 KFC SuperCoach points in his first official outing as a Lion. Being able to start with the likely No. 1 forward of the year for less than $600k is a true KFC SuperCoach gift. Dunkley averaged seven points more than the next best FWD eligible player last year (Stephen Coniglio), and that was with notorious magnet mover Luke Beveridge as his coach. The sky’s the limit in 2023.

Rowan Marshall shapes as the safest ruck selection in KFC SuperCoach.

3. Rowan Marshall (previous rank: 4) $506,500 RUC Ownership, as of March 14: 53.7% Practice match score: 155 Projected average: 115-125

Marshall franked his claims as the safest premium ruck selection of the year with a dominant display against Essendon, where he went toe-to-toe with Sam Draper in the middle. Marshall had 24 disposals, seven marks and 18 hit-outs at Moorabbin. The only thing holding him back from becoming one of the best KFC SuperCoach ruckmen has been Paddy Ryder. But with Ryder now retired, Marshall is ready to emerge as one of the topscoring KFC SuperCoach big men. Who could forget when he rucked on his own against Hawthorn last year and amassed 173 points? His points ceiling is enormous and unless Tom Campbell works his way into the Saints team, Marshall shouldn’t get stuck forward as he has in previous years.

4. Jacob Hopper (previous rank: 3) $332,000 MID Ownership, as of March 14: 46.9% Practice match score: 93 Projected average: 90-100

There’s no shortage of mid-price contenders after the practice matches, but Hopper remains the standout option. The former Giant has averaged more than 90 points three times and Richmond’s management plan appears to have him primed to have a big impact from the opening round against Carlton. Hopper played 83 per cent time on ground against Melbourne in the practice match and had a game-high 14 contested possessions. That’s gold in KFC SuperCoach.

Marcus Bontempelli is a great of KFC SuperCoach.

5. Marcus Bontempelli (previous rank: 6) Ownership as of March 14: 33.4% Practice match score: 145 Projected average: 120+

First it was Clayton Oliver. Then Jack Steele. But all signs point towards Marcus Bontempelli being the must-have premium of 2023. The Bont had issues with his body for most of last season, yet still averaged 116 KFC SuperCoach points — his fourth consecutive season with an average of 114.7 points or more. Our Western Bulldogs man Sam Landsberger tells us the Dogs skipper has not missed a training session this pre-season and he was everywhere against North Melbourne in the practice match. No one should need a reminder of his scoring prowess — we don’t talk about the Bont bonus for no reason. He just does everything Champion Data is looking for in a player.

Charlie Constable has been reborn as a defender.

6. Charlie Constable (previous rank: 5) $123,900 DEF Ownership, as of March 14: 59% Practice match score: 73 Projected average: 65-75

How did we get here? Well, we’ve probably got to ask Stuart Dew. Gold Coast was forced to have a look at its backline options late last year after long-term injuries to Wil Powell and Connor Budarick which depleted its small defensive stocks. Enter Constable. The former Cat, who was a popular KFC SuperCoach selection in his debut season at Geelong, was redeployed as a halfback and enjoyed a strong finish to the VFL campaign, averaging 120 ranking points in the last four rounds. Constable continued that role in Gold Coast’s first match of the pre-season and produced an encouraging display, being used as one of the Suns’ outlets from defence. Most had ruled a line through Constable as a KFC SuperCoach option and decided he was a one-trick pony who relied on contested footy to score well. But it’s clear now that’s not the case and Constable could emerge as one of the best rookies picks of the year, especially when you can select him in defence or your midfield.

7. Reuben Ginbey (previous rank: 7) $171,300 DEF-MID Ownership as of March 14: 62.2% Practice match score: 99 Projected average: 65-75

All we needed was one look at West Coast’s top draftee from last year to confirm what we suspected — Ginbey is well worth the higher rookie price tag. Ginbey had 17 disposals (10 contested) against the Crows, spending time in the middle as part of West Coast’s new on-ball rotation. Try to fit him in your defence as midfield spots are already at a premium, especially if you’re trying to squeeze in players such as Cam Mackenzie and Finn Callaghan next to Ashcroft.

8. Connor Rozee (previous rank: 8) $513,800 MID-FWD Ownership, as of March 14: 46.4% Practice match score: 111 Projected average: 105-110

Rozee’s ranking was initially No. 5, but he has dropped a few spots during pre-season. Don’t let that deter you though, it’s more to do with the importance of the seven players ahead of him than any slight on Rozee. He averaged 110 KFC SuperCoach points per 100 minutes as a midfielder last year and that’s where Ken Hinkley is going to use him this season. Don’t stress about Rozee’s ability to play forward and be a matchwinner. Port Adelaide’s off-season recruitment of Junior Rioli and Francis Evans means its small forward role is well covered. Rozee is a midfielder now and a serious chance of pushing Josh Dunkley to be the No. 1 forward of 2023. I’m that bullish on him, I think he might win this year’s Brownlow Medal.

Oskar Baker is set to feature on a wing for the Bulldogs.

9. Oskar Baker (previous rank: 9) $123,900 MID Ownership as of March 14: 36.1% Practice match score: 111 Projected average: 70

The former Demon’s eye-catching first summer at Whitten Oval appears to have won him first crack at the wing vacated by Lachie Hunter. He’s one of the few midfield rookies KFC SuperCoach teams can rely on that isn’t priced close to $200k. Baker kicked two goals and had 22 disposals against North Melbourne, all but confirming a round 1 debut as a Bulldog. He looks a safer on-field option than Will Phillips, who has dropped out of the must-have 11.

Fergus Greene is set to fill Jack Gunston’s role in the Hawthorn attack.

10. Fergus Greene (previous rank: 10) $123,900 FWD Ownership as of March 14: 44.7% Practice match score: 84 Projected average: 50-65

Fergus Greene ahead of Conor McKenna and Darcy Wilmot? You bet. The wealth of defensive rookies this year and emergence of Liam Jones as a genuine option makes Greene more of a must-have than the two Lions cheapies. As expected, the former Bulldog has locked in the role vacated by Jack Gunston and managed 84 points against Collingwood. He might be a safer bet than any of the $150-$170k options many KFC SuperCoaches are considering thanks to his job security and a prominent role — at least until Mitch Lewis returns from injury.

Lachie Cowan takes a selfie with fans.

11. Lachie Cowan (previous rank: new addition) $117,300 DEF Ownership of as of March 14: 25.7% Practice match score: 57 Projected average: 60-75

Cash Cow-an is in! Carlton confirmed the news many coaches were hoping for on Monday when it announced the No.30 pick from last year’s draft would play his first AFL game against Richmond. Cowan is the type of intercepting halfback with great ball use that have become a crucial part of KFC SuperCoach teams in recent years. The Tasmania bumps Conor McKenna from this list as he’s $50k cheaper. Our rookie bible experts described him as a “future kick-in pig” and Cowan averaged 141 KFC SuperCoach points in the NAB League last year. Only top-five draft picks Will Ashcroft and Elijah Tsatas went better than that. The only downside might be if he’s a sub candidate with the new rule, but at $117k can you really say no? Cowan’s job security is helped by a season-ending injury to Zac Williams. There’s no issue with picking teammate Alex Cincotta as your M11 too as he has DEF-MID swing.

Originally published as KFC SuperCoach 2023: The 11 players every team should start with