KFC SuperCoach AFL 2021 Rookie Bible: Early guide to top cheapies
Huge junior numbers don’t always translate to KFC SuperCoach — but this young gun will be close to a must-have if he can replicate his under-18 stats. TOP ROOKIES
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Fears of a KFC SuperCoach rookie shortage appear to be unfounded.
A few months out from Round 1, there is a healthy crop of cheapies to fill our benches and some on-field spots in our 2021 teams.
The unique nature of the 2020 season presents some new challenges for this year’s rookie class.
Some draftees have gone 12 months without playing any footy, and some would-be cheapies are a bit pricier than we would like after clubs trialled more players than they usually would in 2020 to cope with shorter turnarounds between games.
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For example, Hawthorn father-son pick Finn Maginness would have been on the radar as a bottom-priced cheapie this season after a year in the AFL system, but a debut in the second-last round has pushed his starting price out to $195,600.
But there are still some gold nuggets to be found, and a host of fresh faces ready to enter the system. And in some cases we might have to fork out a bit more of our salary cap to get the best cash cows.
Here’s our early pick of who to pick in your starting squad.
JAMES ROWE (ADEL) $117,300 FWD
Rowe was passed over in three successive drafts but the 21-year-old small forward made it impossible for recruiters to ignore him with 82 goals in the past two seasons for SANFL side Woodville-West Torrens, including five in this year’s preliminary final. When the Crows read out his name at pick 38, “we just exploded”, said his father — former Crow and radio host Stephen Rowe. Rowe Jr fills an obvious need at Adelaide and is ready to play straight away.
An early 2021 #cashcow candidate in James Rowe. Averaged 2.8 goals, 96 #SuperCoach, and 70 #AFLFantasy points in the SANFL.
— Fantasy Freako (@FantasyFreako) December 9, 2020
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NAKIA COCKATOO (BRIS) $123,900 FWD/MID
The injury-cursed former Cat moves to Brisbane in the hope of rebooting his stalled AFL career. The exciting midfielder/forward hasn’t played since Round 3, 2018, but there is plenty of upside if Lions medicos an work their magic. The former No. 10 draft pick scored 92 points in a game against Essendon in his second season on his way to a respectable rookie average of 63 for the year. That was back in 2016, but at his 2021 price and with DPP status we would happily take that next year.
TOM POWELL (NM) $153,300 MID
The phrase “ball magnet” gets thrown around a lot at draft time, but if ever there was a player who has earned it, it’s Powell. Likened to a young Tom Mitchell, the big-bodied midfielder averaged 33.5 disposals over two seasons in the SANFL under-18 comp and topped 200 KFC SuperCoach points twice, including an epic 47-disposal return against West Adelaide. Should thrive on silver service from Todd Goldstein.
WILL GOULD (SYD) $123,900 DEF
At times KFC SuperCoach players must have started wondering what Gould had done to get in John Longmire’s bad books. He was one of the most hyped rookies of the 2020 pre-season but failed to play a game all season despite the Swans rolling out a host of new faces. Remarkably, more than 43,000 KFC SuperCoach players still had Gould in their side at the end of the year. The good news is his price is still low for 2021, hopefully he can spent the summer shmoozing the coach.
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LACHIE JONES (PA) $139,900 DEF
The Power’s top draft pick is 18 but looks 25 and could slot straight into the line-up of a top-four side after playing every game for Woodville-West Torrens at senior level last season, including picking up 18 disposals and five marks in the grand final. Likely to play across halfback, traditionally a good-scoring role in KFC SuperCoach.
WILL PHILLIPS (NM) $199,300 MID
The Roos thought enough of Phillips to bring Brent Harvey’s No. 29 out of retirement — and dispatch the man himself to present it after the draft. Phillips was the best all-round midfielder in the draft class and should get early opportunities at AFL level. Unfortunately, going at pick 3 attracts a high price tag.
JACOB WEHR (GWS) $117,300 DEF
Mature-age draftee played alongside Jones in the Eagles’ SANFL premiership team. The 22-year-old will have to give up his job as a painter after being earmarked for an early AFL debut at the Giants. A creative defender, he is known for his accurate kicking.
ATU BOSENAVULAGI (NM) $175,500 FWD
Bosenavulagi may have looked like the steak knives in the Jaidyn Stephenson trade, but in fact the Roos had their eyes on him for months. That points to a role in the best 22 for the tough-as-nails forward, who is also capable of playing off halfback or through the midfield. Put him on the pre-season watch list.
CONNOR MENADUE (NM) $201,500 DEF
Former Tiger (39 games from 2015-19) was signed by VFL outfit Werribee for 2020 but never took the field thanks to COVID. North Melbourne recruiters see plenty of upside in the 24-year-old, who could make a wing his own in a new-look Kangaroos side.
ARCHIE PERKINS (ESS) $171,300 FWD/MID
You won’t miss Perkins when he hits the field for the Bombers. Long hair, rock star looks, an impressive rig for an 18-year-old and a habit of exploding out of stoppages charging towards goal make him one of the biggest X-factors of the 2020 draft class. “We see him as a boy who could potentially step up next year and play some footy for us,” Bombers list boss Adrian Dodoro said in December. “I think he’ll excite Essendon fans for a long, long time.”
DENVER GRAINGER-BARRAS (HAW) $194,900 DEF
Out Sicily, in Grainger-Barras? The (very) skinny key defender could be exposed early as the Hawks manage life after James Frawley and without James Sicily (knee) for most of 2021. Needs to put on some muscle but he played a full season against senior opposition in the WAFL and averaged three intercept marks per game. A bit pricey but it’s not unreasonable to think he could replicate Aaron Naughton’s debut year — he started at almost $170k, averaged about 60 and made $150k.
BRAEDEN CAMPBELL (SYD) $199,900 MID
Sydney showed last year it was prepared to blood their youth (Will Gould excepted) and Campbell could push for an early debut after being snapped up with pick 5 on draft night. The latest product of the Swans Academy (previous alumni include Isaac Heeney and Callum Mills) is a beautifully balanced midfielder who can win his own footy, tackle hard and cause damage on the outside with his booming left boot.
ERROL GULDEN (SYD) $117,300 MID
The “other” Swans Academy star, Gulden will also push for games early after playing for Sydney’s senior NEAFL side last year. Sydney matched a bid from Geelong at pick 32 for the 172cm midfield/forward noted for his pace, huge tank and footy smarts.
LIAM STOCKER (CARL) $196,500 DEF
Stocker — of the famed Liam Stocker trade in the first round of the 2018 draft — didn’t play a game last season, leaving Carlton’s Queensland hub for personal reasons. Given the club’s investment expect to see a lot more of him this year, which he starts with an affordable price tag if he can showcase the talent that delivered the Morrish Medal for the best player in the under-18 comp in his draft year.
ALEX DAVIES (GC) $102,400 MID
The AFL’s generous draft concessions to Gold Coast could deliver an even bigger gift to KFC SuperCoach players. Davies was tipped as a top-20 draft talent but the Suns got him for free as a pre-draft selection, resulting in a bargain basement price. The clearance specialist from Cairns is ready to play right away, the issue might be breaking into a suddenly strong Gold Coast midfield.
RILEY COLLIER-DAWKINS (RICH) $123,900 MID
“RCD” has been biding his time at the next level for the Tigers since being selected with pick 20 in the 2018 draft. But their faith in him was shown by a new two-year contract in October and the fact Richmond all but opted out of the 2020 draft. If they want to get a look at the next generation of talent that will take over from the likes of Trent Cotchin and Shane Edwards in coming years, the tall midfielder will be at the front of the queue.
DEVEN ROBERTSON (BRIS) $176,900 FWD/MID
Another popular rookie at the start of last year, the draft slider was a late inclusion for the Lions’ Round 1 team but lost his spot the next week and wasn’t seen again at senior level. His score of 47 in that game wasn’t amazing but there is plenty of potential if he gets more of a look-in, which is likely considering Brisbane had one of the best injury runs in the AFL last year.
JAMARRA UGLE-HAGAN (WB) $207,300 FWD
Ugle-Hagan is so good the Crows read out his name at pick 1 even though they knew he would never play for them. Young forwards aren’t usually great KFC SuperCoach picks and his price is definitely an issue, but keep an eye on his pre-season progress with talk he could debut early on a wing or across halfback. One thing is for sure, he’s going to be fun to watch.
LUKE VALENTE (FREM) $123,900 MID
There must have been some KFC SuperCoach players in the audience at a Dockers members forum in early December, where coach Justin Longmuir was grilled about the lack of senior opportunities for the 20-year-old midfielder. Longmuir said Valente had been a victim of circumstances in 2020 and fans could expect to see a senior debut in 2021. “We felt like he deserved an opportunity at AFL level this year but there was probably too many midfielders going well,” he said. “We’ve got strong confidence that Luke can become not only a very good AFL footballer, but we have high hopes for him to be someone who can influence others at the football club. He’s a person of high work ethic, high character and someone that’s going to really add to our group.”
TOM HIGHMORE (STK) $117,300 DEF
The Saints’ No. 45 draft pick is a 22-year-old who caught the eye of recruiters with his intercept marking for South Adelaide last year. The Canberran models his game on Nick Haynes and Tom Stewart — two big ticks there for KFC SuperCoach players — and his story sounds a lot like new teammate Callum Wilkie, who was drafted out of the SANFL to fill a role and hasn’t missed a game since his debut in Round 1, 2019.
COREY DURDIN (CARL) $117,300 FWD/MID
The Blues identified a need for a small forward and Durdin puts a big tick in that box. The 18-year-old played senior football in the SANFL last year after winning the Kevin Sheehan Medal as the best player in the national under-16 championships in 2018. He’ll be learning from one of the greats in Eddie Betts.
SAM BERRY (ADEL) $117,300 MID
A look at Berry’s stats from a game against the Geelong Falcons in 2019 are enough to get our attention: 20 disposals, 17 contested possessions, nine clearances, three goals, 18 tackles and 200-plus KFC SuperCoach points. Might not be there in Round 1 but mark him down for when the Crows give him a chance.
CONNOR DOWNIE (HAW) $117,300 MID
Downie slipped to pick 35 on draft night but could make an immediate impact if he breaks into the Hawks’ best 22, which he has the talent and frame to do. Mature beyond his years, Downie played mostly off the wing and halfback for the Eastern Ranges but also showed an impressive ability to hit the scoreboard, drifting forward to kick nine goals in 14 games in 2019.
JEREMY SHARP (GC) $141,900 MID
Matt Rowell and Noah Anderson made an instant impact, but teammate Sharp had a quieter start to his AFL career. The No. 27 draft pick played two games in his debut season, scoring 32 and 34 KFC SuperCoach points. Another pre-season at the top level should give him the jump on first-year draftees next season, for not much extra cash.
MARK HUTCHINGS (WC) $157,600 MID
Hutchings is a tagger — normally the sort of player that KFC SuperCoach players hate. But when you see a price like that ($50k cheaper than Jamarra Ugle-Hagan!), you have to change your thinking about the Eagles veteran. Hutchings battled injury through 2020, playing just three games, but has signed a one-year rookie contract for next season. Don’t expect big scores but if he’s shaping as a senior regular he could be a surprise bench option.
JOSH TREACY (FREM) $102,400 RUC/FWD
Treacy is a key forward prospect from Cohuna in Northern Victoria, but his KFC SuperCoach value is as a cheap as chips bench ruckman with bonus dual-position eligibility. That gives you maximum flexibility with trades and a high number of games late in the round make him ideal for the vice-captain loophole — just watch out if he breaks into the senior team!
DYLAN ROBERTON (StK) $139,700 DEF
Roberton was a bargain last season when he started at $260,400. That didn’t work out – playing just one game for 26 points. But look at that 2021 price! We are paying only a few bucks more than most first-year draftees for a guy who has been in the system for a decade and averaged over 90 in a season twice. We didn’t need another reason to barrack for Robbo to get his health and career back on track, but we really got one.
JARMAN IMPEY (HAW) $212,800 FWD
Impey has never really been a KFC SuperCoach option but he’s available for close to rookie price after playing just games last year after returning from a knee injury. He averaged just 39 points a game, but next year we can expect a return a lot more like his 74 average in 2019. That might not seem a lot but with fewer bottom-priced rookies available in 2021 we might have to get used to paying a little bit more for a 25-year-old “rookie” you know is in his team’s best 22.
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Originally published as KFC SuperCoach AFL 2021 Rookie Bible: Early guide to top cheapies
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