KFC SuperCoach AFL: The Phantom’s first draft for 2021 revealed

The new year is here, the KFC SuperCoach AFL pre-season is underway and the first draft of The Phantom’s team has landed. See it now.

Christmas is over, Boxing Day has been and gone and I traded Glenn Maxwell.

It’s time to start thinking about the KFC SuperCoach AFL season.

Who am I kidding?

I never stopped thinking about it.

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Who makes The Phantom's first draft KFC SuperCoach team?

I still keep myself up at night over Tom Green’s 21 contested possessions in 67 per cent game time of a shortened match in just the fifth appearance of his career.

I haven’t stopped thinking about Jackson Hately’s KFC SuperCoach value at the Crows ever since the South Australian requested a trade home, either.

Yes, they are both in the first draft of my 2021 team.

The side that I will be thinking about – and tinkering with – every day until March 18.

Let’s go.

DEFENCE

Jake Lloyd (Syd) $656,400

Rory Laird (Adel) $564,800, Mid

Zac Williams (Carl) $458,600

Alex Witherden (WC) $456,100

Lachie Jones (Port) $139,800

Will Gould (Syd) $123,900

BENCH: Jacob Wehr (GWS) $117,300

Tom Highmore (StK) $117,300

It’s too early to be set in any position but it’s in defence where I am most sure at this stage.

I’m not going without Jake Lloyd again and Rory Laird the midfielder, who posted scores of 120, 102, 122, 136 and 108 in the final five games of last season, playing his new role, is a lock.

At the price, new Blue Zac Williams, who is also set for a more-prominent midfield role at his new club, isn’t far behind.

And long-time favourite Alex Witherden’s move to the Eagles, the team which loves to control the ball by-foot out of the back-half, will suit his strengths perfectly.

It could all change completely but there also looks to be enough rookie-price options to start two on-field here, with mature-age draftees Wehr and Highmore likely to join Jones and Gould as Round 1 chances.

Lachie Neale, Clayton Oliver and which Blue, Phanto?

MIDFIELD

Lachie Neale (Bris) $721,800

Clayton Oliver (Melb) $656,700

Sam Walsh (Carl) $543,300

Matt Rowell (GC) $495,100

Tom Green (GWS) $351,400

Jackson Hately (Adel) $310,300

Will Phillips (NM) $198,300

Cooper Stephens (Geel) $123,900

BENCH: Luke Valente (Freo) $123,900

Riley Collier-Dawkins (Rich) $123,900

Corey Durdin (Carl) $117,300, FWD

This is where I’m not so sure. Unlike in previous years, there are a number of question marks on the top-price guns.

Can Christian Petracca build on his long-awaited breakout season? How will the Bulldogs midfield be affected by Adam Treloar’s arrival?

They are just two of the big ones we will try to answer over the next three months.

I do have an answer for one, though. Which $600k+ stars are most likely to maintain their expensive price-tags and average as scores even out a little with extended quarters? For me, it’s Neale and Oliver.

Below those two, the current structure is keeping me up at night. But I love the names and they are tying me to it – for now.

Walsh added 11 points to his KFC SuperCoach average in his second season (98) and the 114-point average in the final 11 games suggests he’s a chance of doing it again in 2021.

Before the injury against the Cats in Round 5, Rowell averaged an extraordinary 124 points in the opening four games of his career. That sort of figure would usually price him around the $670k mark. But after missing the rest of the season – and with the six-point score included in his 2020 average – Rowell is available for a discounted price. And it’s too hard to overlook.

Hately is likely to be a part of the Crows starting midfield rotation against the Cats in Round 1 and has shown he can score well when given the opportunity. And I just can’t get Green’s huge game against the Demons and his record-breaking contested-ball numbers as a junior out of my head. Can these two get to three figures? I think so.

New GWS ruck Braydon Preuss gets the gig over his former teammate Max Gawn as Brodie Grundy’s back up. Picture: Getty Images

RUCK

Brodie Grundy (Coll) $648,200

Braydon Preuss (GWS) $303,000

BENCH: Josh Treacy (Freo) $102,400, FWD

I don’t love the Max Gawn-less ruck set up but I can’t overlook Grundy for $100k less. I’m tipping he’ll back to his best in a – fingers crossed – hub-free season.

And I’m overlooking the top-price combination at this point given Preuss’ new No. 1 ruck role at the Giants. In the three games he played without Gawn at the Demons, Preuss posted scores of 84, 85 and 140. In his two at North Melbourne without Todd Goldstein, the 25-year-old scored 111 and an injury-affected 39.

REVEALED: MOST EXPENSIVE 2021 KFC SUPERCOACH PLAYERS

The Phantom's first KFC SuperCoach team for 2021

FORWARD

Patrick Dangerfield (Geel) $611,900, Mid

Josh Dunkley (WB) $560,200, Mid

Rowan Marshall (StK) $557,200, Ruck

Jack Ziebell (NM) $257,900

Sam Flanders (GC) $192,300

James Rowe (Adel) $117,300

BENCH: Nakia Cockatoo $123,900, Mid

Bailey Laurie (Melb) $117,300

In the forward line, there’s been an influx of premium options but we can’t afford to pick them all. Dangerfield, Dunkley – even if he spends some time forward with Treloar’s arrival – and Marshall and the three dual-position stars I can pick with most confidence at this point. But it doesn’t mean I haven’t been thinking about Steele Sidebottom, Dustin Martin and Dayne Zorko.

When the team-picker first opened, I scrolled quickly past Jack Ziebell – I even mocked Tim Michell for mentioning him – but I’ve gone back over the numbers and if his body is in good shape, he’ll be a serious KFC SuperCoach cash cow, while providing a great on-field option.

Mature-age Crow James Rowe is a KFC SuperCoach lock and Sam Flanders is one who might surprise in his second season.

Originally published as KFC SuperCoach AFL: The Phantom’s first draft for 2021 revealed