KFC SuperCoach AFL: Which players are likely to gain DPP status before round 6?
Some of the biggest names in KFC SuperCoaches are set to contend for DPP status in 2023. See our updated watchlist and advice on how you should plan for DPP additions.
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In-season dual-position changes have brought a new element of strategy to KFC SuperCoach which can have huge ramifications for your team structure.
Just look at last season when Marcus Bontempelli (FWD), Darcy Cameron (RUC), Sam Berry (FWD) and Bailey Smith (FWD) gained a second position and quickly became relevant in KFC SuperCoach.
Planning ahead for position changes can give your team an edge.
For example, you don’t want to load your team with six forward premiums to start the season, only for a player of Bontempelli’s class to gain FWD status at round 12.
That point is particularly relevant this year as coaches clamour to add the big four of Josh Dunkley, Connor Rozee, Tim Taranto and either Stephen Coniglio/Errol Gulden.
What happens if you start four premiums, only leave two forward spots vacant and want Max Gawn, Brodie Grundy and another potential DPP player later in the year?
If any of the players on this list are in your long-term plans, you will need to consider how heavily you invest in your starting forward line.
DPP additions take place three times during the season (before rounds 6, 12 and 18) when our friends at Champion Data tweak player profiles based on time in position during that period.
A player needs to spend at least 35 per cent in a second position from rounds 1-5 to gain DPP before round 6, while round 12 is assessed on the round 6-11 period and round 18 on rounds 12-17.
Bailey Smith missed out on DPP status by 0.6%. It was the final vs Freo where he played 85% in the midfield (a season-high) that was the difference. #SuperCoach#AFLFantasy
— Fantasy Freako (@FantasyFreako) December 11, 2022
Players who already have two positions cannot have DPP added, and positions cannot be taken away during the season.
Say, for example, North Melbourne youngster Blake Drury continues to train in defence, where he has been spotted during the pre-season. Drury is already listed as a FWD-MID in KFC SuperCoach and cannot become a FWD-MID-DEF.
Similarly, Esava Ratugolea cannot become a RUC-FWD-DEF despite the likelihood he will play in Geelong’s backline.
Bontempelli does not have DPP at the start of 2023 because he spent 33 per cent of time as a forward last season across 23 home-and-away rounds and finals – just below the 35 per cent threshold.
Bailey Smith fans were even more unlucky – he missed out on being a FWD-MID by 0.6 per cent.
Pre-season has already given KFC SuperCoaches a few hints about position changes for the new campaign and who could feature in the first batch of DPP updates at round 6.
Here are the players on our radar.
Max Gawn $622,100 RUC | Possible DPP addition: FWD
As recently as this week, Gawn’s new partner-in-crime Brodie Grundy said the ruck split between the ‘tap brothers’ was likely to be close to 50-50. If that eventuates in the opening five rounds, KFC SuperCoaches will be able to choose the former ‘set-and-forget’ ruck duo as forwards from round 6 onwards. Against Richmond, Gawn attended 16 centre bounces and Grundy 15. Both kicked three goals in that match as well to show they can be a threat forward of the ball. Gawn’s 113 average last year was five points more than this season’s must-have forward Josh Dunkley. But, can he maintain that scoring playing more in attack?
ROUND 6 DPP LIKELIHOOD: High
TRADE ADVICE: Must-have if he gets FWD status.
Brodie Grundy $512,900 RUC | Possible DPP addition: FWD
See above. Grundy is not as renowned as Gawn for his scoreboard impact but managed a career-high three goals in the practice match against Richmond. If the 50-50 split does eventuate, it will mean both of Melbourne’s ruckmen become RUC-FWDs ahead of round 6. Then your choice would come down to several factors – price, break even, role and scoring. Grundy might still be $100k cheaper than Gawn which would make the choice even more interesting. Maybe there will be a silver lining to the trade KFC SuperCoaches thought would rule both Gawn and Grundy out as options.
ROUND 6 DPP LIKELIHOOD: High
TRADE ADVICE: Assess his role and scoring before jumping on at round 6 if he’s outscoring or getting close to Gawn. You might have to wait until after Melbourne’s bye in round 14 to be to pick both though.
Nick Daicos $502,500 DEF | Possible DPP addition: MID
Daicos’ new role appears to be a combination of midfield/defence, switching with former captain Scott Pendlebury. It’s clear he’s going to come in for extra attention this year, as was evidenced when Sam Mitchell sent Finn Maginess to Daicos in a practice match — extreme, we know! In his debut season, Daicos went from a MID only to a DEF-MID as he relished playing largely as the free man and mopping up in defence. This year, it looks certain he will go from DEF to DEF-MID instead as he spends more time at the coalface.
ROUND 6 DPP LIKELIHOOD: High
TRADE ADVICE: By round 6, you will know whether Daicos is likely to be a top-six defender. Being tagged in pre-season was a red flag for many KFC SuperCoaches, but if you’re willing to wait you can see how he copes with extra attention while transitioning into the Magpies midfield before jumping on.
Harry Sheezel $198,300 FWD | Possible DPP addition: DEF
Is Clarko teasing us, or is Sheezel roaming in defence going to be a reality? I had the Roos’ No. 3 draft pick in the no-go zone earlier in pre-season as like many I assumed he was going to be playing in attack for a team likely to struggle again. But Alastair Clarkson clearly has other ideas. Clarkson threw Sheezel behind the ball in the last quarter against the Western Bulldogs and he tallied 10 disposals, four marks and two rebound-50s. That sort of role could be very profitable in KFC SuperCoach, but it was more likely a cameo than something which will be a regular event during the season.
ROUND 6 DPP LIKELIHOOD: Low
TRADE ADVICE: Will Sheezel spend 35 per cent of time in defence? North Melbourne’s forward line needs a spark and the prodigiously talented youngster can provide it. So no, the 35 per cent threshold seems unlikely, even if he will be thrown back every now and again. If he did gain DEF status, you could consider offloading an underperforming defender and swinging Sheezel back to free up a FWD line spot with Gawn/Grundy.
Jayden Short $543,800 MID | Possible DPP addition: DEF
Tigers star Short — and KFC SuperCoaches — look set to be the beneficiary of the arrival of Tim Taranto and Jacob Hopper to Punt Road. Short transitioned into the middle and then half-forward last season as Daniel Rioli took the reigns as the main outlet for Richmond from defence. Rioli, Liam Baker and Nick Vlastuin shared the bulk of the Tigers’ kick-ins against Melbourne, but it was notable Short did not attend one centre bounce. That suggests a return to defence is on the cards for Richmond’s Mr Fix-It.
ROUND 6 DPP LIKELIHOOD: High
TRADE ADVICE: Don’t pick him as a MID only to start. Take the chance to assess Short’s role and if he’s playing as an interceptor in defence, consider him then. He won’t go close to the top-eight scorers in midfield.
Jack Ziebell $356,400 FWD | Possible DPP addition: DEF
Alastair Clarkson looks to have identified a need for experience in the North Melbourne defence and luring Griffin Logue from Fremantle will help. But one of his key magnet moves have been to shuffle the former skipper back into defence, where he averaged a career-high 107.6 only a few years ago. The Roos have trialled a host of players in the defensive distributor role in pre-season though, including popular rookie option Josh Goater.
ROUND 6 DPP LIKELIHOOD: Medium
TRADE ADVICE: Awkward price to try and fit into your starting team. But we all know how he can score playing in defence. The main issue is with Alastair Clarkson rolling so many players through the backline, he’s unlikely to get the same share of ball as a few years ago.
Josh Bruce $161,200 FWD | Possible DPP addition: DEF
Seemingly the only reason Bruce would not gain DEF status at round 5 would be not playing enough games. To be eligible for a second position after five rounds, a player needs to feature in at least four games. Bruce’s job security isn’t exactly rock solid and if Ryan Gardner was fit, he would likely be out of the team for round 1. Gardner underwent minor surgery for a crack in his elbow in late February and although his timeline is still unclear, he was expected to miss the start of the campaign. Maybe that opens the door for Bruce to play enough games as the third tall defender to become a DEF-FWD.
ROUND 6 DPP LIKELIHOOD: Medium
TRADE ADVICE: Not sold on his scoring or job security. Bruce played in defence and managed 61 in the practice match against North Melbourne. If Gardner is confirmed to miss the first month of the season, it will significantly increase his DPP hopes. Otherwise, Bruce is likely to find himself as the fourth tall in the pecking order behind Alex Keath, Liam Jones and Gardner.
Sam Docherty $603,600 DEF | Possible DPP addition: MID
Docherty played a mix of midfield and defence against Sydney in the practice match, which seems likely to be his role until Sam Walsh returns. George Hewett (18), Adam Cerra (16) and Matt Kennedy (18) were the main men in the middle as Patrick Cripps missed the Blues’ last match before round 1. If we assume that means Docherty is fifth in line, maybe the MID status many thought was a certainty might not eventuate. He’s still a great selection as a DEF only though.
ROUND 6 DPP LIKELIHOOD: Medium to low
TRADE ADVICE: The possible addition of MID status for Docherty isn’t as relevant as most of the other players on this list. It’s unlikely many KFC SuperCoaches would use him in the middle anyway and most will be starting DEF-MID cover such as Reuben Ginbey or Charlie Constable anyway. Consider it a bonus really — maybe it will help when trades are running low later in the year?
Sam Docherty moved into the midfield in Rnd 22 last season. He had 17 tackles in those games (ranked =1st with Cripps) and led them for inside 50s (14) and uncontested possessions (36). #SuperCoach#AFLFantasy
— Fantasy Freako (@FantasyFreako) January 23, 2023
Perko in the midfield? 📈
— Essendon FC (@essendonfc) February 4, 2023
Travis Boak $580,200 MID | Possible DPP addition: FWD
The Port Adelaide champion spent 30 per cent of game time forward last year as the Power entrusts Connor Rozee, Zak Butters and Ollie Wines to lead its new-look midfield. The addition of Jason Horne-Francis only adds to the squeeze at Alberton and Boak has spent time training at half-forward during the summer. He’ll no doubt still spend time in the middle, but it could be closer to a 50-50 split which means DPP is incoming.
ROUND 6 DPP LIKELIHOOD: Medium
TRADE ADVICE: The last time Boak was a FWD-MID (2019) he was a must-have but with so many great forward options this year, he might be borderline top-six. Wait and see how much midfield time he commands.
Ben Keays $548,600 MID | Possible DPP addition: FWD
Keays has averaged 5.5 clearances in the past two seasons and revived his career as a contested-ball magnet in Adelaide. But with Sam Berry set for more midfield time and Izak Rankine and Josh Rachele to provide cameos, Keays appears to be the player whose time in the engine room will suffer. He was only in at six centre bounces in the pre-season game against West Coast and kicked four goals as he transitions toward playing as a FWD/MID.
ROUND 6 DPP LIKELIHOOD: Medium
TRADE ADVICE: Not sure the role will be right for him to be a top-six threat.
Ben Keays has been playing a lot more up forward over the preseason... DPP incoming? #SuperCoach
— Empr (@Empr_X) March 5, 2022
Lachie Whitfield $473,800 MID | Possible DPP addition: DEF
Adam Kingsley has answered the prayers of KFC SuperCoaches and looks destined to throw Whitfield back into defence. That’s where the running machine has done the most damage in KFC SuperCoach and being stuck on a wing for more than 50 per cent of game time last year badly affected his scoring. Whitfield has twice averaged more than 100 which would make him a contender to be a top-six defender.
ROUND 6 DPP LIKELIHOOD: High
TRADE ADVICE: Ideal for KFC SuperCoaches that we have five rounds to assess his scoring before jumping on. DEF-MID is likely, but it’s a very competitive field this year for the top-six spots in defence.
Wayne Milera $321,200 FWD | Possible DPP addition: DEF
The injury-plagued Crow spent 75 per cent of his game time in attack last year, considerably more than his career average of 40 per cent. All reports from Adelaide are Milera has enjoyed a problem-free pre-season and will be used as an attacking weapon off halfback this year. That’s the role where he has played his best football and averaged 74 points or more three times. He would need to better his best career average of 83 – from two games in 2020 – to be worth the awkward price though. DEF-FWD can be valuable when making trades for flexibility though, so should be factored in to your decision-making.
ROUND 6 DPP LIKELIHOOD: High
TRADE ADVICE: The returning to defence is the main reason some coaches are willing to roll the dice on Milera’s fitness. As long as he plays enough games, DPP is all but guaranteed at round 6, unless Matthew Nicks has a change of heart after using Milera at halfback all pre-season.
Elliot Yeo $337,000 DEF | Possible DPP addition: MID
The returning West Coast star’s hopes of DPP will come down to where Adam Simpson needs him most. Yeo has played a mix of defence and midfield during pre-season and attended 12 centre bounces in the hitout against Adelaide. He didn’t have a kick out against the Crows, which suggests his role might end up being further afield. Remember, Yeo only needs to spend 35 per cent of game time in the middle to be a DEF-MID heading into round 6.
ROUND 6 DPP LIKELIHOOD: Medium
TRADE ADVICE: Price is a much more important factor with Yeo than possible DPP. If you’re thinking of picking him, don’t leave it until round 6 as he won’t still be $338k. If he’s scoring well enough, you could swing him to your MIDs, offload a rookie who has peaked and bring in a defender on the up though. That’s the sort of flexibility in-season DPP changes can offer.
Originally published as KFC SuperCoach AFL: Which players are likely to gain DPP status before round 6?
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