KFC SuperCoach 2023: Top 30 most popular selections
Some players are appearing in a lot more KFC SuperCoach teams than they should be. See full pre-season ownership numbers plus the expert verdict on every player.
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Popularity isn’t everything, but it can tell you a lot.
If you’re new to KFC SuperCoach or logging in to pick your team for the first time this year, you might want to take a look at this Marcus Ashcroft kid.
He hasn’t played an AFL game but a month out from round 1 he’s in more KFC SuperCoach teams than any other player – just ahead of another Lion, Josh Dunkley.
This list can give you a great early indication of who to consider for your 2023 squad.
The importance of rookie-priced players is underlined by the fact five of the 10 most selected players are Ashcroft’s price or cheaper, while mid-priced bargains also feature prominently.
You can see ownership stats for every player using SuperCoach Plus, and this year you will have the opportunity to break those numbers down to find out how many SuperCoaches in the top 1 per cent, 5 per cent or 10 per cent on the overall rankings own every player – or don’t.
At the extreme other end of this scale Oleg Markov ($369,900 DEF) has the lowest ownership in the competition – he’s in just 10 teams at time of publishing.
Here are the 30 most popular picks so far in KFC SuperCoach.
1. Will Ashcroft (Bris) $202,800 MID | Ownership: 68.3 per cent
Currently in more than 51,000 teams, the son of triple premiership Lion Marcus Ashcroft put up huge numbers at junior level and has been part of the centre bounce group in Lions pre-season match simulation. Expensive for a rookie but worth the price tag.
2. Josh Dunkley (Bris) $596,400 MID/FWD | Ownership: 63.1 per cent
Consistently averaged in triple figures at the Bulldogs, and that was with Luke Beverdige throwing him all over the field. Should settle as a full-time centre bounce midfielder in Brisbane and be the top-scoring forward in KFC SuperCoach.
3. Toby McLean (WB) $178,900 MID/FWD| Ownership: 53.5 per cent
On the fringe of the best 23 – come on, Bevo – but the value is undeniable. Scored 100 points in the elimination final last year, hopefully he can beat the injury curse after playing four games in the past two seasons.
4. Nicholas Madden (GWS) $102,400 RUC-FWD | Ownership: 51.9 per cent
Giants rookie is a huge lump of a kid – 204cm and 112kg – but for KFC SuperCoaches the most relevant stat is his price, and the fact he offers dual-position flexibility on the ruck bench.
5. Will Phillips (NM) $158,300 MID | Ownership: 50.2 per cent
Former No.3 draft pick has had no luck since being drafted – last year was ruined by Covid and glandular fever – but has been a standout on the track this summer.
6. Tim Taranto (Rich) $503,100 MID/FWD | Ownership: 48.9 per cent
If Taranto can repeat his GWS numbers at Richmond he’ll be a good pick in the forward line, but the hope is he can outperform them significantly with a more prominent midfield role. Kicking can be an issue at times.
7. Jacob Hopper (Rich) $332,000 MID | Ownership: 46.4 per cent
Joins the Tigers with Taranto (both on seven-year deals) coming off the worst season of his career – just seven games after battling knee issues. But forget that, he has been a regular 90-plus scorer and, with Taranto, will carry a big load in the Richmond engine room.
8. Clayton Oliver (Melb) $699,800 MID | Ownership: 45.1 per cent
Sometimes you have to pay up to get the best. The beauty of Oliver is not only his high scores but how consistently he pumps them out, averaging at least 109 for the past six seasons and 120-plus the past three. Make him captain or vice-captain every week.
9. Reuben Ginbey (WC) $171,300 DEF/MID | Ownership: 43.2 per cent
The Eagles will play the kids and the No.9 pick in last year’s draft is at the front of the queue. Has experience playing against men in the WAFL and has been a star on the training track. Could line up in the centre square in round 1.
10. Nick Daicos (Coll) $502,500 DEF | Ownership: 44.2 per cent
Incredibly high ownership numbers for a second-year player – he’s in more teams than any other defender apart from rookie Ginbey. Reaching premium status in year two is extremely rare but Daicos is a rare talent who is likely to split time between the backline and midfield this season.
11. Darcy Wilmot (Bris) $123,900 DEF | Ownership: 42.6 per cent
Made his AFL debut in last year’s finals series and held his spot, posting KFC SuperCoach scores of 73, 61 and 52. Fortunately finals aren’t factored in to player prices, so he’s still dirt cheap.
12. Elliot Yeo (WC) $337,000 DEF | Ownership: 42.3 per cent
What injury risk? Yeo has battled to stay on the park in recent seasons but if he can stay out there we know he can score as well as any other defender, and all the reports coming out of the west are positive.
13. Rowan Marshall (StK) $506,500 RUC | Ownership: 41.7 per cent
The most popular ruckman a month out from round 1, Marshall will hopefully be given the ruck keys by Ross Lyon and allowed to perform like he did in round 20 last season, when he had 30 disposals, nine marks, 35 hitouts and 173 KFC SuperCoach points.
14. Conor McKenna (Bris) $167,500 DEF | Ownership: 40.8 per cent
Back from Ireland after two years out of the game and ready to slot into the Brisbane line-up as a line-breaking defender. Averaged 80 and 74 in his last two full years at Essendon.
15. Nat Fyfe (Frem) $313,600 MID/FWD | Ownership: 38.6 per cent
Ridiculously cheap price for a dual Brownlow medallist who has averaged over 120 more than once in KFC SuperCoach. But his injury history is a big red flag along with a new role playing as a deep forward. Would be a big gamble to start him and Yeo.
16. Tom Stewart (Geel) $604,000 DEF | Ownership: 37.8 per cent
The most popular of the five $600k-plus defenders, Stewart is good for a 100-plus score almost every week and can end a head-to-head match-up if he goes big, as he did three times last year, posting 187, 174 and 161.
17. Touk Miller (GC) $662,400 | Ownership: 35.9 per cent
His five scores over 150 last year was the most of any player and he looks insanely fit this pre-season. Gold Coast is one of just two teams on the bye in round 13, which means Miller (and any other Suns or Cats) will be available for the other three more challenging bye rounds.
That is a 125+ rig #SuperCoachpic.twitter.com/fWziXopHrj
— Dan Batten (@danbatten_) February 2, 2023
18. Connor Rozee (Port) $513,800 MID/FWD | Ownership: 35.5 per cent
Former top-five draft pick averaged 110 in the back half of last season after making the move to the midfield, something that should be more permanent this year – which means he is significantly underpriced. Has a high scoring ceiling, too – he had 34 disposals and 162 KFC SuperCoach points in round 23 last year.
19. Campbell Chesser (WC) $123,900 DEF/MID | Ownership: 34.4 per cent
Highly-touted draftee was ready to go in round 1 last year before copping an ankle injury that wiped out his year. Now he’s even cheaper, just keep an eye on round 1 teams as he works his way back to full fitness.
20. Mattaes Phillipou (StK) $166,800 MID/FWD | Ownership: 33 per cent
Classy left-footer has been likened to Marcus Bontempelli and could be the X-factor the Saints desperately need. Scored 181 KFC SuperCoach points in one under-18 champs game and isn’t short of confidence, but might need to put on some muscle to be a senior regular. One to watch in pre-season matches.
21. Josh Sinn (Port) $123,900 MID/FWD | Ownership: 32.5 per cent
Another top draftee from 2021 whose first year didn’t quite go to plan, making him an appealing option after a second AFL pre-season. Gunning for the wing spot vacated by Karl Amon’s departure but has been battling some pre-season injury niggles. No certainty to play in round 1.
22. Blake Drury (North) $102,400 MID/FWD | Ownership: 32.2 per cent
The No.1 pick in the rookie draft has been a surprise packet at Arden St, showing plenty of dash of half-back. Shapes as an ideal candidate to be the sub but at that price you can put him on your bench in the midfield or forward line.
23. Ben King (GC) $176,300 FWD | Ownership: 29.3 per cent
Missed all of last year with a knee injury – hence the criminally low price – but is set to play the Suns’ second practice match as a warm-up for round 1. Key forwards can be very volatile with their scoring but he only needs one or two bags to shoot up in value.
24. Corey Wagner (Frem) $117,300 DEF/MID | Ownership: 29.2 per cent
Mature-age recruit has been on the Melbourne and Kangaroos lists in the past but revived his career after being moved to defence while playing for Port Melbourne in the VFL last year. Only word of caution is a pre-season hamstring issue.
25. Tom Mitchell (Coll) $528,600 MID | Ownership: 27 per cent
A proven elite level scorer dropped out of the premium bracket last year after being moved out of the centre square by Sam Mitchell. Now at Collingwood, expect him to be back at the coal face racking up big clearance numbers.
26. James Sicily (Haw) $624,700 DEF | Ownership: 25.7 per cent
Returned from knee surgery and had a career-best season in 2023, averaging 113.5 points a game. That could go even higher this year considering he averaged 118 in Hawthorn losses and the Hawks are in full-on rebuild mode.
27. Josh Weddle (Haw) $130,800 DEF | Ownership: 25.6 per cent
Was drafted at the end of last year as a lockdown defender but has been spotted on the wing at times during match simulation. A likely round 1 debutant but probably a safer pick on the bench than on the field.
28. Darcy Cameron (Coll) $465,900 RUC/FWD | Ownership: 25.4 per cent
With so much uncertainty around the rucks this year many coaches are taking the wait and see approach, picking an underpriced Cameron (who averaged 103 points per game last year after moving into the ruck following Brodie Grundy’s injury) with a view to moving him to the forward line at some stage and trading in the best scoring ruckman – whoever that is.
29. Tim English (WB) $581,000 RUC | Ownership: 24.8 per cent
It could be English, who started last year in a blaze of glory – posting scores of 123, 152 and 138 in the first five rounds before his progress was derailed by hamstring and concussion issues. The positive in 2023 is Stef Martin’s retirement, and the arrival of Rory Lobb, means English will own the ruck role at the kennel. The negative is separate adductor and hamstring scares already in the pre-season.
30. Jacob van Rooyen (Melb) $123,900 FWD | Ownership: 24 per cent
Melbourne needs a target in front of goal and the 194cm, 19-year-old key forward could be the man after booting 36 goals in the VFL last year. Huge chance to debut in round 1.
Originally published as KFC SuperCoach 2023: Top 30 most popular selections
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