KFC SuperCoach AFL: 21 players you can profit from in 2021
When ability meets opportunity a KFC SuperCoach sweet spot is created. Here are 21 players who should be on your watch list.
SuperCoach
Don't miss out on the headlines from SuperCoach. Followed categories will be added to My News.
AFL lists for 2021 are (almost) locked in, so it’s time to start thinking about a brand new season of KFC SuperCoach.
There are a few vacant list spots to be filled over the next couple of months but teams are already back in training and players are already burning up the track and eyeing more midfield time.
Who could take a big leap forward next season? And more importantly, which draftees, trade recruits and stars returning from injury can sieze their opportunity and make a mockery of their likely KFC SuperCoach starting price?
Here are 21 reasons to get excited about picking your next KFC SuperCoach team.
JACKSON HATELY
KFC SuperCoach players who have picked Hately in his first two seasons know all about his scoring potential — and the frustrations caused by the GWS selection committee, who just couldn’t give the young ball-winner a consistent spot in the side despite his impressive output. Those worries are now a thing of the past after Hately moved to Adelaide, where he is set to assume a prominent midfield role after the departure of Brad Crouch. Mid-price madness, anyone?
RELATED: SUPERCOACH POSITION MOVES FOR 2021 REVEALED
Jackson Hately failed to attend a centre bounce this season. Expect him to be front and centre at the Crows. #SuperCoach #AFLFantasy
— Fantasy Freako (@FantasyFreako) November 23, 2020
ZAC WILLIAMS
Likely to be one of the most popular early selections, Williams was one of the top KFC SuperCoach defenders the past two seasons but is expected to spend a lot more time in the midfield at Carlton, which is music to the ears of fantasy players. Williams spent just 8 per cent of game time in the midfield in his last season at GWS and in that time he averaged an eye-catching 132 points per 100 minutes. Will still be classified as a defender in KFC SuperCoach and is likely to be available for about $460k. Get on!
JAMES ROWE
We love a mature-age draftee in KFC SuperCoach. Rowe, 21, won the SANFL goalkicking this year, including a five-goal return in a preliminary final, and can step straight into the Crows’ line-up after being snapped up with pick 38 on draft night. Matching his 96-point SANFL SuperCoach average at AFL level will be a challenge but he fills an obvious need at Adelaide and forward rookies are always hard to find.
JOSH DUNKLEY
Players like Christian Petracca, Bailey Smith and Hugh Greenwood are set to lose their dual-position status but we have a huge gift in the form of Josh Dunkley as a mid-forward. Dunkley’s KFC SuperCoach 2020 average was down 12 points on his fantastic 2019 but he still posted scores of 151, 131 and 128 in an injury-interrupted year. The only question mark is how many midfielders can score big at the Dogs next year after the arrival of another ball magnet in Adam Treloar.
NIC NEWMAN
The 2020 season was just about a total write-off for the skilful half-back, playing just two games for a total of 47 points before a knee injury ended his year. Will be extremely underpriced for a guy who averaged 97 in 2019, but how does he fit in with Zac Williams and Adam Saad next season? Kade Simpson’s retirement should ensure a lucrative role.
MATT ROWELL
The 2019 No.1 draft pick couldn’t have been more impressive in his early appearances, stringing together scores of 171, 141 and 114 before hurting his shoulder after scoring just six points against the Cats in Round 5. He’s on track to return to full training in January. Even with an injury discount he’s going to be a very awkward price for a second-year player, but that scoring power will be hard to ignore.
ALEX WITHERDEN
Underpriced high-scoring defender playing in a team that generates a lot of points in the backline — tick, tick, tick. Witherden’s KFC SuperCoach scores this year were the best of his career — averaging 94, including a 170 — but he couldn’t hold his spot in the Lions team. “At just 22, Alex has plenty of growth ahead of him, which is exciting,” West Coast list manager Darren Glass said after the Eagles secured Witherden in a trade. “He is in the age bracket where he can grow and develop alongside some of our emerging mid-sized defenders like Liam Duggan, Jackson Nelson, Tom Cole and Josh Rotham in years to come.”
NAKIA COCKATOO
Who’s ready to take a gamble? Cockatoo’s body has consistently let him down since he was taken with pick 10 in the 2014 draft and he has put his faith in the Queensland sun to end his injury curse (a medical team that turned Lincoln McCarthy and Grant Birchall into regulars may also help). Was priced at $148k at the start of this year but will be even cheaper after failing to play a game all season.
JOE DANIHER
We’re talking about picking Cockatoo, so let’s go nuts — it is only December, after all. Another player hoping a move to Brisbane will change his injury fortunes, Daniher is a guaranteed rollercoaster but he showed in his return game this year what he is capable of — 10 marks, three goals and 103 KFC SuperCoach points. If he’s priced around $250k and running on top of the ground in the pre-season, look out.
BRAYDEN PREUSS
Former North Melbourne and Melbourne back-up will finally be a No.1 ruckman after a trade to GWS (although, incredibly, Shane Mumford has signed on for another season). Expected to be priced between $240k-$270k which makes combining a top-priced ruckman like Max Gawn or Brodie Grundy with a bargain R2 a serious option in 2021. Scored 84, 85 and 19 in his three games in 2020.
JEREMY HOWE
One of the buys of 2020, Howe reclaimed his former premium status and then some with an average of 120 over the first four rounds before suffering a season-ending knee injury. Should be back for Round 1, and it will be interesting to see what the KFC SuperCoach bankers do after he started this year at just $431,900 and jumped to $526,800 in a month. Anything around that mark is great value considering his scoring potential.
SAM DRAPER
The young Bombers ruckman made a big splash after a mid-season debut in 2020 and not just for his outrageous mullet. After learning the ropes under Tom Bellchambers he will enter 2021 as the clear No.1 ruck at Essendon. Scored 122 in a game v Richmond but didn’t top 74 in his other eight appearances. Another name in what shapes as a fascinating ruck debate next year.
TOM POWELL
Expect the No.12 draft pick to be one of the first players picked in The Phantom’s 2021 squad. The ball magnet has been likened to Tom Mitchell for his ball-winning ability, averaging 35 disposals and nine clearances in the SA under-18 comp this year and topping 200 KFC SuperCoach points in a game twice, including an epic 47-disposal return against West Adelaide.
BRAD CROUCH
Crouch’s price will be very tempting after he averaged just 83 at the Crows in 2020, 15 points down on his 2019 output. Next year he’ll partner Jack Steele at the feet of Paddy Ryder and Rowan Marshall after joining the Saints as a free agent. The question is whether he can graduate to a KFC SuperCoach premium who regularly scores 110 or better after previously being capped around the 100 mark.
LIAM DUGGAN
A strong finish to a season is a traditional indicator of KFC breakout and Duggan fits the bill after averaging 98 over the final eight games, up from 69 in his first eight — and remember his price will be based on his season average of 83.5. The unsung Eagles defender is Shannon Hurn’s SuperCoach heir apparent.
BEN CUNNINGTON
Something of a forgotten man after playing just three games in 2020 - but Round 1 produced a very memorable 185 KFC SuperCoach points. The perennial premo - who averaged 115 over the first 12 rounds in 2019 - should get a big price discount from the SuperCoach bankers.
WAYNE MILERA
The 2020 breakout contender played just two games before missing the rest of the year with a foot injury. Should get a sizeable price discount — expect to get him for less than $400k — and will have plenty of responsibility in a young Adelaide outfit in 2021. Skilful ball-user who will have a lucrative KFC SuperCoach role at half-back.
CONNOR MENADUE
Former Tiger returns after a year out of the game via the rookie draft and is aiming for a Round 1 debut for North Melbourne. Wasn’t a noted KFC SuperCoach scorer at Richmond but he never got much of a chance there, playing 39 games over five seasons. The Kangaroos are completely turning over their list and a cut-price Menadue could be a sneaky pick-up.
JACK LUKOSIUS
The former No.2 draft pick will be entering his third season, which is early for a breakout, but a guy who can score 130-plus two weeks in a row in his second year is worth a closer look. Keep a close eye on his role – if it includes taking kick-ins and using his elite kicking out of the back half in a team likely to win a lot more games in 2021, I will be very tempted.
ISAAC HEENEY
Playing just six games would normally qualify Heeney for a 10 per cent price discount for the following season but those rules might be a bit fuzzy this year after a shortened season. If Heeney is priced at under $500k even noted sceptic Gilbert Gardiner will have to take notice - remember this guy scored 152 points in Round 1.
JAMARRA UGLE-HAGAN
The No.1 draft pick never comes cheap but, as we saw with Matt Rowell this year, paying a bit extra can be worth it. Bulldogs fans aren’t the only ones who can’t wait to see the Buddy Franklin-like talent in action at AFL level. Key forwards aren’t usually good options in KFC SuperCoach but Ugle-Hagan is more than that, and could even start his career at half-back.
More Coverage
Originally published as KFC SuperCoach AFL: 21 players you can profit from in 2021
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.