KFC SuperCoach Plus: Round 1 team whispers
Round 1 is looming large for KFC SuperCoaches and the team whispers are dropping fast. Check out the 11 biggest talking points of the week.
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The last week before Round 1 always throws up a KFC SuperCoach curve ball or two.
This year has been no different, with a top rookie pick copping a long state league suspension and another popular cheapie’s stocks falling.
But it hasn’t been all bad news.
A defensive rookie saviour might be set to debut in Round 1, while a young Tiger is pushing hard to play his first senior game in the season opener against Carlton.
Check out the latest whispers before Round 1 in this week’s KFC SuperCoach Plus article.
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1. Josh Treacy isn’t the lock we all thought
Remember when Fremantle rookie Josh Treacy ($102k RUC-FWD) was going to be the most-popular player in KFC SuperCoach? Treacy loomed as the perfect R3 loophole at the start of the season, only to be relegated to an F8 prospect when Matthew Flynn (and later Lloyd Meek and Paul Hunter) emerged. The rookie key forward was suspended for two games by the WAFL tribunal on Wednesday, which rules him out until at least Round 5 of the AFL season due to state league fixtures. That suspension all but rules Treacy out as a KFC SuperCoach option – unless you plan to use him as a loophole from F8. His job security might not be there when he eventually returns and he will have to earn a debut through the WAFL as well.
Peter Bell makes a statement on Josh Treacy’s two-game suspension #foreverfreopic.twitter.com/NlZTqdcq5M
— Fremantle Dockers (@freodockers) March 17, 2021
2. Connor Downie might not debut in Round 1
Alastair Clarkson this week flagged two or three Hawks might debut in Round 1 against Essendon, with key forward Jacob Koschitzke at the front of the queue after his six-goal performance against North Melbourne in pre-season. If Clarkson was factoring recruit Kyle Hartigan into those debutants, which he flagged on SEN radio, that would leave Connor Downie and Tyler Brockman vying for the last spot in the Hawks’ 22. Brockman ($117k FWD-MID) would almost certainly be ahead after catching the eye against the Roos. Downie should still figure early in the season even if he doesn’t make the final team to face the Bombers. “I expect there to be two or three (debuts). Young Koschitzke and Brockman had 15 scoring shots between them … they’re going to be right in the mix to play,” Clarkson told SEN.
3. Matthew Flynn is ahead of Kieren Briggs in the pecking order
One piece of the rookie puzzle has been decided with Matthew Flynn to make a long-awaited debut for GWS Giants on Sunday (Thank you to whoever decided to announce this news six days early). Reading between the lines, it appears Flynn will ruck solo against Paul Hunter as first-round pick Tanner Bruhn was the only other debutant mentioned on Monday. That would mean Kieren Briggs ($123k DEF-FWD), who deputised for an injured Flynn in pre-season, has to bide his time. “Equally, we might even discuss two rucks. Briggs was fantastic in his debut last week against the Swans and he came to us as a forward-ruck as well,” Leon Cameron told reporters this week.
WARNING: this video may involve tears from the following people:
— GWS GIANTS (@GWSGIANTS) March 15, 2021
- Matt Flynn ðŸ˜
- His Mum ðŸ˜
- His Dad ðŸ˜
- The interviewer ðŸ˜#InLikeFlynn#BigBigSoundpic.twitter.com/YqF7YAYa61
4. Jordan Clark is back in favour – for now
It hasn’t quite solved the defensive rookie crisis, but Jordan Clark ($241k DEF-MID) is going to play in Round 1 against Adelaide. Clark was one of Geelong’s best players in its pre-season win over Essendon, recording 119 KFC SuperCoach points. The only question mark left was his job security in a Geelong team stacked with talent. But coach Chris Scott gave him a huge tick of approval on Tuesday, telling the Geelong Advertiser: “Jordan will play this week and we are excited to have him in. He is in terrific shape and has really developed, as we assumed that he would over a couple of pre-seasons … he had a couple of arm injuries that really stunted his physical development and it was a challenging year for everyone, last year, but particularly for him.”
5. Hugo Ralphsmith might be ahead of Riley Collier-Dawkins
The Richmond senior team has been as tough to crack as Fort Knox in recent years. But with Bachar Houli out for at least Round 1, there’s one spot – and likely a few others – up for grabs from last year’s premiership team. While KFC SuperCoaches have been focused on midfielder Riley Collier-Dawkins ($123k MID), the player who could squeeze his way in is Hugo Ralphsmith ($123k FWD-MID). Taken at pick No. 46 in the 2019 draft, Ralphsmith was flagged by coach Damien Hardwick as a possible replacement for Houli on Tuesday. “We have got a number of players. A young player by the name of Hugo Ralphsmith has been really impressive over the course of the summer. Marlion Pickett has been doing some work down back … and Derek Eggmolesse-Smith is another player we have got high hopes for also.” The only knock on his KFC SuperCoach selection is Houli could be back in Round 2.
6. Nik Cox has to play on a wing
No. 8 draft pick Nik Cox will eventually fill a key-position post for Essendon — just don’t expect to see him there during 2021. Listed at 200cm and 87kg, the Bombers have already noted Cox will need plenty of physical conditioning before he transitions into a role as a forward or defender. But that won’t stop him featuring this year and coach Ben Rutten has plans to deploy the noted runner on a wing. “He’s 202cm or something so he’s a unique, rare talent. At the moment physically his body is probably not up to holding down a key-position post … with his running ability, with his size, with his talent, I think we’re going to see him on the wing throughout this season,” Rutten told the Your Coach podcast. Cox is listed as a DEF-FWD in KFC SuperCoach, although might not be a reliable scorer after posting 32 against Geelong in pre-season.
7. Tom Highmore is ahead of Jake Carlisle in the race for Round 1
Tom Highmore to the rescue! The mature-age draftee, a $117k KFC SuperCoach defender, appears to be ahead of Jake Carlisle in the race to replace injured Saint James Frawley for Round 1. And with Frawley ruled out for up to 10 weeks with a hamstring injury, SANFL product Highmore will have a chance to stake his claim for a long senior run should he debut against GWS Giants on Sunday. The AFL website reported Highmore played in St Kilda’s ‘A’ team during their last intraclub of pre-season while Carlisle was in the ‘B’ team, a positive sign for Highmore’s selection prospects and KFC SuperCoaches desperate for a defensive cheapie to emerge.
8. The sub rule could be a KFC SuperCoach game changer
We don’t know yet exactly how it will work, but the injury or concussion sub the AFL is considering introducing could have a big impact in KFC SuperCoach. But don’t fret. Similarly to KFC SuperCoach BBL, if a cheapie is an unused substitute, they will be classed as DNP (did not play) rather than recording a zero. That means their price, breakeven etc. won’t be impacted. Perhaps the greatest impact it might have in KFC SuperCoach is providing coaches with a few extra cheapies — and boy do we need them in defence in particular. Hopefully coaches are inclined to throw a player in with running power (think Harry Sharp, 117k DEF-MID at Brisbane) in the hope they can be deployed against a weary opponent in the second half.
For everyone asking - and for SC and DT:
— Pete J VirtualSports (@petejank) March 17, 2021
If the medical sub doesn’t come on, it’s a DNP, the 0 doesn’t count. Not marked as a game played and no impact on price.
A player has to get time on ground for a 0 to ever count.
9. Connor Rozee might be a bailout option
There are good noises coming out of Alberton about Connor Rozee being available as soon as Round 2 after undergoing foot surgery. The young gun is certain to miss the Power’s Round 1 clash with North Melbourne, but hasn’t been ruled out of the club’s Round 2 game against Essendon. His earlier-than-expected return could come at the perfect time for KFC SuperCoaches who find themselves stuck with an underperforming premium. Say Josh Dunkley averages 80 in the first two rounds and is set to plummet, you could cash in to Rozee, bank almost $200k and bolster your team elsewhere. If he’s over his foot concerns, he’s great value at $377k (priced at an average of 69).
10. Jake Lloyd is good to go
Breathe a sigh of relief KFC SuperCoaches. The premier halfback clean-up king in KFC SuperCoach is good to go for Round 1. There was mass panic when Jake Lloyd missed Sydney’s last pre-season game with a knee sprain, but the Swans have declared this week they’re confident Lloyd will be fit to face Brisbane Lions. If the pre-season dominance of half-back flankers translates to the regular season, the most-expensive defender in KFC SuperCoach will be a must-have from the start.
11. Too many KFC SuperCoaches haven’t checked their teams for weeks
Time is running out get your KFC SuperCoach team sorted before the first lockout of the season. For thousands of coaches, that means it’s now or never to get rid of players who made their initial team but should have been punted weeks ago. Finlay Macrae is still in 19 per cent of teams but looks very unlikely to debut in Round 1, while Will Phillips (15 per cent) is a long shot and costs $198k. Nakia Cockatoo is also in 15 per cent of teams but is still returning from injury, while Jacob Wehr (13 per cent) looks to be a long way back in the queue at GWS. One rookie mistake won’t derail a season but missing out on a cash cow can certainly set you back.
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