The 11 biggest bargains of KFC SuperCoach 2021
To help you find the right value in KFC SuperCoach, our experts have each chosen their 11 biggest bargains for the year. Here is the updated consensus ranking.
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Everyone loves a bargain, especially in KFC SuperCoach.
The secret to picking a high-scoring squad within the $10 million salary cap is to find players who will outperform their starting price.
That means sifting through all the prices to find players who have been undervalued compared to their likely 2021 output, usually due to injury or lack of opportunity.
The team at KFC SuperCoach HQ have been doing this throughout the pre-season and after and after dissecting all the AAMI Series scores and action, the consensus has changed.
Here’s our updated verdict and rankings on KFC SuperCoach’s best buys for 2021.
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AL PATON’S TOP 11 BARGAINS
OUT (from February): Zac Williams, Ben Cunnington, Jarman Impey
IN:Tom Phillips, Hayden Young, Anthony Scott
1. Jack Ziebell (NM) $257,900 FWD
The North Melbourne skipper was No.9 on my list two months ago based on his low low price and whispers he was training in a new role at half-back. They have now been well and truly confirmed with Ziebell scoring over 100 KFC SuperCoach points in the backline against Hawthorn last week. The Kangaroos skipper battled through 2020, playing just eight matches, but he has been a consistent scorer in the past, averaging 91 points a game in 2019 and at least 80 every season since 2012.
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2. Matt Rowell (GC) $495,100 MID
Waching a few minutes of Rowell back in action for the Suns on Monday night convinced me to lock him in my team and throw away the key. Maybe I was seeing what I wanted to see but 17 contensted possessions and dusting himself off from some bone-crunching tackles suggests he’ll only get better as he warms into the season. In his debut year he scored 171, 141 and 114 in a three-game spree before getting hurt. If he can get anywhere near those numbers this year he’ll be one of the top midfielders in the game and an absolute steal at under $500k.
3. James Rowe (Adel) $117,300 FWD
Rookie-priced forwards who are guaranteed to play are worth their weight in gold in KFC SuperCoach. Rowe is a 21-year-old who bashed the house down to be given a chance in the draft by kicking bags of goals in the SANFL, and looked like one of the Crows’ best scoring avenues in their AAMI Series defeat (although he kicked 0.3). You could start him on the field but having Ziebell and Impey available so cheaply might push him to the bench.
4. Matthew Flynn (GWS) $123,900 RUCK
Flynn rocketed into KFC SuperCoach calculations with a bullet after the unfortunately injury to Braydon Preuss that will sideline him for much of the season. That put the cheap as chips Flynn in the box seat to the Giants’ No.1 ruckman ... until he rolled an ankle at the worst possible time. Flynn missed the AAMI Series but I’m confident he’ll be leading the GWS ruck division in Round 1.
5. Anthony Scott (WB) $102,400 FWD/MID
A Footscray VFL player jumping onto the senior list and becoming a KFC SuperCoach cash cow brings back fond memories of Brett Goodes’ one wonderful season. Scott is a 25-year-old utility who won Footscray’s best-and-fairest in 2019 and is set to grab his chance with both hands, booting two goals to go with 14 dispoals against the Demons in the AAMI Series. Dual-position status makes him the perfect addition to your midfield or forward bench. The emergence of forward rookies like Scott has bumped Jarman Impey from my bargain list - why spend $212k when you can get similar scores from a guy $110k cheaper?
6. Tom Phillips $402,600 MID/FWD
A newcomer to my top 11, the former Magpies wingman is set to play a key role in the Hawthorn engine room and showed off what he’s capable of with 30 disposals, a goal and 134 KFC SuperCoach points against the Kangaroos. The opposition will get tougher and the likes of Tom Mitchell and Jaeger O’Meara will return, but Flipper is well worth consideration in your forward line.
7. Jeremy Cameron (Geel) $388,100 FWD
The AAMI Series has moved Cameron up my list and not because of the impressive way he moved in his Geelong debut. I watched Adelaide concede 31 scoring shots to the Power - who had nine individual goalkickers - and wonder how on earth they will contain Cameron and Tom Hawkins in Round 1. If you want a quick price rise, Jezza might be a better bet than Joe Daniher - after the Crows he faces Brisbane, Hawthorn, Melbourne and North Melbourne.
AAMI SERIES INTEL: THE PHANTOM’S STANDOUTS AND THE KEY STATS
8. Dyson Heppell (Ess) $319,100 MID
The Bombers skipper is back from injury and in a new role as the young team’s quarterback. Heppell, who is discounted by about $200,000, averaged 99.7 KFC SuperCoach points a game from 2014-19 and we should get something similar this year although his AAMI numbers were a slight concern - 21 disposals for just 53 points.
9. Hayden Young $279,400
Geelong’s Jordan Clark ($241,800 MID/DEF) is now in 32 per cent of teams, making him the most popular of the $200-$300k defensive brigade. And he could be the best option, if he plays the role we saw against Collingwood in the AAMI Series every week. Unfortunately I’m just not certain about that given what Chris Scott has done with the likes of Charlie Constable - and Clark himself - in the past. I’m much more confident in Young, a top-10 draft pick that the Dockers will fast-track into a key role down back making the most of his beautiful left boot.
10. Joe Daniher (Bris) $233,300 FWD
I threw Daniher into my team when KFC SuperCoach opened to stir the pot as much as anything, but with only a few weeks until the first lockout he’s still there. It’s obviously a huge gamble given his injury history but word out of Brisbane is Daniher is flying, booting four goals in match simulation and another three in the AAMI Community Series. Hopefully he can produce similar form - and higher KFC SuperCoach scores - for half a dozen games before we can cash him in.
11. Patrick Cripps (Carl) $523,700 MID
What do I do with Crippa? He was a KFC SuperCoach favourite for years then burnt me last year with a season average of 97.5. I was back on after seeing his starting price and hearing him talk about how he tried to play lighter last year but realised the error of his ways and bulked up to become the contested clearance beast we know and love. That points to a return to his 119 and 117 averages from 2018-19, which would be a fantastic return at that price. Then he went and spent half of the Blues’ AAMI Series game playing out of the goalsquare. Surely that doesn’t happen in Round 1 ... does it?
TIM MICHELL’S TOP 11 BARGAINS
OUT: Stephenson, Gould, Heppell, Impey, Flynn
IN: Phillips, Scott, Hunter, Hind Dow
1. Jack Ziebell (North Melbourne) $257,900 FWD
Playing in defence? Tick. Taking kick-outs? Tick. Grossly underpriced based on previous seasons? Tick. No wonder Jack Ziebell is in almost 40 per cent of KFC SuperCoach teams. The North Melbourne captain averaged at least 81 from 2012-2019 before his average dipped to 48 last season during an injury-interrupted campaign where he only featured in eight games. Even then, he posted 89 and 99 in two of those matches. Out of Joe Daniher, Jarman Impey, Paddy Dow and Ziebell, who are all available for $260,000 less as forwards, Ziebell is clearly the standout option.
UPDATED: TIM MICHELL’S SUPERCOACH MID-PRICE BIBLE
2. Tim Taranto (GWS Giants) $453,700 MID
If you’ve read any of my KFC SuperCoach analysis for 2021, you’ll know I am red-hot on Tim Taranto this season. The GWS midfield gun is priced at an average of about 84 points and I’m confident he will average at least 20 points a game more than that this year. His ownership is on the rise after scoring 106 in pre-season against Sydney - of which about 70 points came in the opening half, an indication of Taranto’s scoring power. Shoulder surgery held him back last year but look beyond his 2020 season. He averaged 102 and was GWS’ best and fairest during a Grand Final campaign in 2019. The best mid-pricer of the year.
3. Hayden Young (Fremantle) $279,400 DEF
The perfect player to complete your defence if you’re worried about the job security of this year’s backline rookies. Young’s five games whet the appetite for KFC SuperCoaches before his 2020 campaign was ended by an ankle injury. Young posted scores of 41, 41, 109 and 68 (average 65) before he was injured when one point against St Kilda. That has Young priced at an average of 52 points a game and he’s destined to produce much better than that this year. He’s got an ideal role at halfback for Fremantle and the early indications are he’ll share kick-out duties with Luke Ryan. Lock him in and watch him rise to more thna $400,000.
4. Patrick Cripps (Carlton) $523,700 MID
I can understand coaches being hesitant with the Carlton co-captain after he spent a large chunk of time playing in attack against St Kilda and only scored 69 points. But let’s not forget he was dominant in Carlton’s trial against Essendon and the reason he spent so much time forward against the Saints was Harry McKay going down early. Cripps is priced at an average of 97 and I’ll be stunned if he averages less than 100 this year. The more likely result is a return to his 2018 and 2019 averages of 110 points a game or more.
CATCH UP: 11 KFC SUPERCOACH NUGGETS YOU MAY HAVE MISSED
5. Paul Hunter (St Kilda) $102,400 RUC
Now we’re talking. Matthew Flynn was my No.1 bargain in our last iteration of the top-11 bargains but Hunter (who is $21k cheaper) has taken his spot. St Kilda coach Brett Ratten has confirmed the former Crow - who dominated the SANFL last season - will debut for the Saints in Round 1 with Paddy Ryder (personal reasons) and Rowan Marshall (injury) ruled out. Hunter has the perfect opportunity to jump in price, taking on either Flynn or Kieren Briggs in Round 1. Greater tests await, including Max Gawn in Round 2, but Hunter’s popularity is understandably growing - fast.
6. Anthony Scott (Western Bulldogs) $102,400 FWD-MID
KFC SuperCoaches lack trust in Luke Beveridge, but the Bulldogs coach might have done us a huge favour here by blooding former Footscray VFL best-and-fairest Anthony Scott in defence. Scott’s DPP status puts him ahead of fellow bargain-basement Bulldog Lachlan McNeil and that pair could both debut in Round 1. If they do, there’s nothing wrong with picking both (Scott as a midfielder and McNeil as a forward). Scott scored 79 points in pre-season against Melbourne.
7. Tom Phillips (Hawthorn) $402,600 FWD-MID
Former Magpie Phillips has come from the clouds to be one of the best mid-price options of the year. He’s priced at an average of about 75 points but like Taranto and Young, has the potential to score at least 15-20 points above that. He’s spent more time on the inside at the Hawks due to Tom Mitchell and Jaeger O’Meara being out. Phillips’ best season as a Magpie was when he averaged 90 in 2018. If he can reproduce that, coaches will be happy. He’s renowned for his fitness, which could be beneficial due to rotations being slashed from 90 to 75.
8. Paddy Dow (Carlton) $202,400 FWD-MID
I’ve included Paddy Dow ahead of Jarman Impey, which I know is going to raise eyebrows. Impey is clearly the safer pick of the two. He has much better job security than Dow and seems likely to score somewhere in the 55-75 range most weeks. But if you want a cash cow with the potential to jump quickly, Dow is the better pick of that pair. His pre-season has shown he’s playing with greater confidence than ever before and the Blues have been using him at centre bounces with semi-regularity. Just have a bail-out plan if Carlton’s midfield depth means he’s squeezed out at some point. You’d be happy if he got anywhere near $400,000.
9. Nick Hind (Essendon) $331,000 FWD
Here’s one from left field to consider. The former Saint (and Essendon VFL flyer) only played 60 per cent game time against Geelong after he suffered a shoulder injury. But the diagnosis is positive and it looks like Hind will make his official Bombers senior debut against Hawthorn in Round 1. Hind racked up 20 disposals at 70 per cent against the Cats and the other eight pre-season games emphasised how much the man on the mark rule changes are going to help halfback flankers. He’s a line-breaker who Essendon will want to have the ball, yet is priced at an average of 62 due to playing as a small forward at St Kilda. He won’t be a premium scorer but 80-85 points a game is a possibility.
10. Connor Rozee (Port Adelaide) $377,200 FWD
Foot surgery will delay his start to the season, but when he does play he’ll be a bargain. You’ll have two games to assess his role, which is actually a bonus over taking a risk by starting him based off one pre-season game. If he’s stuck up forward, look elsewhere. But any indication of extra time in the middle and it’s worth jumping on. He could end up being a bargain F6.
11. Ben Brown (Melbourne) $260,300 FWD
Another player who will miss the start of the season, but Brown is worth monitoring when he returns for the Demons. He’s priced at about 47 points a game but has averaged 80+ before. He would have been a lock in my side if he’d been fit for Round 1.
THE PHANTOM’S TOP 11 BARGAINS
IN:Hunter, Scott, Dow, Daniher
OUT:Heppell, Rozee, Impey, Gould
1. Jack Ziebell (North Melb) $257,900 FWD
You have to scroll past 169 players before you get to the North Melbourne skipper in the forward line. Last year was a write-off but in the previous seven seasons, he averaged 91, 84, 89, 94, 87, 84 and 95. In 2021, he’s priced at an average of 48 points per game. And the new role in defence could help his scoring, as he proved in the AAMI Series.
2. Hayden Young (Freo) $279,400 DEF
He was a KFC SuperCoach star as a junior and scored 109 points in just his third career game last year. Young is flying after an injury-interrupted debut season and he’s not only set to feature across half-back in 2021 but at the kick-ins, too, like he did against the Eagles, playing on from the square six times. He’ll make plenty of cash despite the $250k+ price tag.
MORE: THE PHANTOM’S ULTIMATE ROOKIE RANKINGS
3. Tom Green (GWS) $351,400 MID
Given my prediction Green will push his average from 73 to 108 in a second season similar to that of Clayton Oliver in 2017, he has to be at No.3 here. The 191cm inside midfielder broke junior records and finished with 30 disposals, 20 contested possessions and 19 groundball gets – the most in any match last year - in his fifth career game.
4. Matthew Flynn (GWS) $123,900 RUCK
With Braydon Preuss sidelined for up to five months, the Giants are set to hand the 23-year-old the No. 1 ruck role this year. And the word from inside – and outside – the club is Flynn, who averaged 98 KFC SuperCoach points in the past two NEAFL seasons, is ready. He is still in line to lead the ruck in Round 1, despite the rolled ankle, and could be one of the cash cows of the year at R3.
5. Joe Daniher (Bris) $233,300 FWD
There’s been no setback over summer and he booted four goals in the Lions’ intra-club hitout, four against the Suns in the practice match and another three in the AAMI Series. So I had to include him. Even with Daniher’s injury history, can we really leave out a $233k player who averaged 86 points in his last full season?
6. Matthew Rowell (GC) $495,100 MID
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. It’s a small top-level sample but there’s no doubting the value considering the 19-year-old posted scores of 120, 167, 189, 111, 147, 128, 146, 129, 177, 152, 266, 80, 172, 142, 114 in his past 15 non-injury affected games covered by Champion Data.
7. Paul Hunter (StK) $102,400 RUCK
Mature-age recruit. No. 1 ruckman. $102k. That’s really all I need to write here. Hunter’s SANFL averages of 17 disposals, 12 contested possessions, five clearances, 30 hitouts and 136 KFC SuperCoach points are just the icing on the cake. The 28-year-old has to be on this list and is only so far down because of the uncertainty of what happens when Rowan Marshall returns.
8. James Rowe (Adel) $117,300 FWD
Speaking of ready, the mature-age draftee is exactly that. After kicking 35 goals in 2019, Rowe booted 38 majors in the minor round last year to win the Ken Farmer Medal as the SANFL’s leading goalkicker. The 21-year-old, who averaged 96 points in 2020, finished with three in Saturday’s intra-club and is a near Round 1 certainty.
9. Anthony Scott (WB) $102400 FWD-MID
The 25-year-old won Footscray’s best-and-fairest in the VFL last year and is midfield bench lock if he debuts in Round 1, as expected. Like I said above on Hunter, any mature-age recruit with a $102k price tag is worth keeping an eye on, especially a DPP who booted two goals and finished with 80 KFC SuperCoach points in the AAMI Series.
10. Patrick Cripps (Carl) $523,700 MID
Between 2018 and 2019, Cripps posted a KFC SuperCoach ton in 29 of his 42 games – 11 of them in excess of 140. And after trimming down last year, Cripps has added a few kilos over summer in a bid to return to the body shape which saw him star in the previous two seasons. His stints at full-forward - and the limited impact he had while down there - was a concern against the Saints but we don’t judge premiums on their pre-season performance.
11. Paddy Dow (Carl) $202,400 MID-FWD
Hawk Jarman Impey is the safer bet, but given Dow’s scoring potential in the midfield, the young Blue takes his place on my list. He won 60 per cent of his possession at the under-18 championships in a contest in 2017 and tallied 35 disposals, 21 contested possessions and six clearances in his final junior game. Dow’s AFL form since has been underwhelming but, after a standout warm-up game and plenty of centre bounce action in the AAMI Series, could this be the year the former No. 3 pick finally delivers on his potential?
OVERALL RANKINGS
Jack Ziebell 33
Hayden Young 22
Matt Rowell 16
Anthony Scott 16
Matthew Flynn 16
James Rowe 13
Paul Hunter 12
Patrick Cripps 11
Tom Phillips 11
Tim Taranto 10
Joe Daniher 9
Tom Green 9
Paddy Dow 5
Jeremy Cameron 5
Dyson Heppell 4
Nick Hind 3
Connor Rozee 2
Ben Brown 1
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Originally published as The 11 biggest bargains of KFC SuperCoach 2021
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