SuperCoach Plus: 11 things you need to know for round 14 of the AFL season
Every point matters in the final bye round. From Stephen Coniglio’s stunning turnaround to captaincy advice, here is intel you need to get the edge on your KFC SuperCoach rivals.
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Every point is vital in KFC SuperCoach, especially during the bye rounds.
Some coaches found that out the hard way in round 13, while others reaped the rewards of big score from players like Stephen Coniglio and Sam Docherty.
SuperCoach Plus gives you the numbers behind the scores as well as a treasure trove of stats and tools including Break Evens, score and price projections, the new Trade Assist button and lots more.
And now SuperCoach Plus subscribers can see live KFC SuperCoach scores for every AFL game in the 2022 season.
And you get exclusive weekly analysis articles just like this one!
Who are the biggest winners and losers from Mark McVeigh taking over as GWS coach?
Who have been the biggest money makers of 2022, who is the greatest KFC SuperCoach scorer of all time and who should you put the C and VC on this week?
Find out all that and more below.
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1. COG-NITION
Braydon Preuss owners are still cursing Mark McVeigh, who hasn’t selected the ruckman in his best 22 since he took over from Leon Cameron (Preuss had 14 disposals, 18 hitouts and kicked 2.1 in the VFL on Sunday). But Stephen Coniglio owners are queuing up for tickets in the Spike fan club. In the past three rounds under McVeigh, Coniglio is averaging 32 disposals, 14 contested possessions, seven clearances and 133 KFC SuperCoach points. Prior to that, he was averaging 21 disposals and 88 points. His change in fortune comes down to role, playing 74 per cent of game time as a midfielder compared to just 27 per cent under Cameron. He has attended 60 per cent of centre bounces under McVeigh, compared to just 25 per cent under Cameron. The only caveat with Coniglio’s scoring is that he has faced the Eagles and the Kangaroos in two of his past three matches. Coniglio’s price spiked by more than $67,000 this week and he is projected to make another $31k next week.
2. WILD ABOUT HARRY
Injecting Coniglio back into the midfield isn’t the only magnet that has moved on McVeigh’s whiteboard. Harry Himmelberg has been switched from the forward line to defence and the move has been a huge winner. Himmelberg has never averaged more than 76 points a game in the first six years of his career, and averaged 63.3 in his first nine game this year. Since the move to the backline under McVeigh he is averaging 25 disposals, 10 marks, four intercept marks, four spoils and 131 KFC SuperCoach points, including a massive 187 on Sunday on the back of 37 disposals at 95 per cent efficiency, 16 marks, 11 intercepts and a goal. That sent his price soaring by more than $85,000 and he has a Break Even next round of -61. If you’re looking for a bargain and/or a point of difference for the run home, he’s in fewer than 1 per cent of teams.
MORE: BEST TRADE TARGETS OFF ROUND 13 BYE
3. WHITFIELD WATCH
Lachie Whitfield was played all over the field by Leon Cameron this season, even being used in multiple roles within games. Has the proven KFC SuperCoach star found his groove under McVeigh? After scoring a season-low 43 points in Cameron’s last game as coach, Whitfield returned with a season-high 29 disposals, 14 marks and 117 KFC SuperCoach points in round 13 – his first ton of the season. He was used in his customary wing role, playing 85 per cent of game time in that position against the Kangaroos, compared to just 14 per cent under Cameron. The result was a stat sheet very familiar to fantasy players – 29 disposals at 79 per cent efficiency and 14 marks (all uncontested). Reading too much into one game is risky – 10 Giants scored 99 or more – but at just $428,300 (Break Even 86), he’s jumped onto the watch list.
4. THE BLUE WE ALL MISSED
Another player who almost everyone has overlooked this year but should be on the radar is Carlton defender Adam Saad. With the focus on teammate Sam Docherty (and fair enough given his incredible comeback), Saad is quietly putting together a career-best season. His ton against Essendon was his third in a row and seventh of the season and his average this year of 101.5 is up 19 points per game from last year (his three-round average is an even more impressive 109.6). Saad is averaging more than 20 disposals for the first time on record, while his 1.9 intercept marks and 6.6 intercept possessions also career-highs. Likewise, his kicking efficiency of 81 per cent is the best of his career. Still valued at just $507,000, he’s another great POD in only 4 per cent of teams.
5. JACK IN FREEFALL
Jack Ziebell was one of the best buys of the 2021 KFC SuperCoach season, averaging 107.6 points a game over 21 matches in a new role in defence. But his scoring has reflected the Kangaroos’ fortunes this season as his stats dropped off a cliff since putting up 115, 122 and 62 points in the first three rounds playing in the backline. A move to the forward line has killed his KFC SuperCoach numbers and in the past two weeks he has managed just 38 points against Gold Coast, and 21 points from six disposals against the Giants, his lowest score in any full match on record. His price fell another $26k after lockout to just $321,700, more than $264,000 lower than his round 1 value.
6. PENDLES THE GOAT
Known as Dependlebury over a long time, Collingwood captain Scott Pendlebury will join the likes of Chris Judd and Gary Ablett in KFC SuperCoach royalty once he retires. Pendlebury’s average this season of 93.5 is a slight uptick from last year after 13 straight years of 100-plus scoring. But it’s time to acknowledge one of the all-time KFC SuperCoach greats – possibly the greatest. Since 2005, he sits atop of the SuperCoach scoring list based on total points alone, while his average of 109 ranks fifth overall behind Dane Swan, Nick Dal Santo, Judd and Ablett.
7. WILL BRODIE WATCH
Will Brodie owners watched nervously as dual Brownlow Medal winner Nat Fyfe played his first game for the season on Sunday, anxious to see his impact on the role that has made Brodie such an incredible KFC SuperCoach asset this year. The good news – his role didn’t change, attending a team-high 23 centre bounces. The bad news was he managed just one clearance and 22 disposals overall, to finish with 82 KFC SuperCoach points, his lowest return since round 7. After lockout Brodie’s price fell for the first time this season, an $8700 drop following 10 consecutive price rises.
Will Brodie's afternoon:
— Fantasy Freako (@FantasyFreako) June 11, 2022
100% game-time in the midfield
23 centre bounce attendances (team-high)
67% game time (team-low)
22 disposals
0 marks
1 clearance
8 tackles
1 score asisst
81 #SuperCoach
86 #AFLFantasy#AFLFreoHawks
8. MONEY MAKERS
Brodie is still a clear No.1 on the list of 2022 KFC SuperCoach moneymakers, adding $340,700 to his price tag since round 1 – well clear of No.2 Bomber Nic Martin (+$263,600) and No.3 Charie Curnow (+$256,700). Ruck duo Braydon Preuss (+$252,400) and Jarrod Witts (+$237,600) round on the top five, with star rookies Sam De Koning (+$236,600), Paddy McCartin (+$218,500) and Nick Daicos (+$210,300) all in the top 10. KFC SuperCoaches are familiar with the work of No.14 James Sicily (+$181,900) and No.15 George Hewett (+$177,700), but some more surprising names on the list include Billy Frampton (+$150,600), Jake Soligo (+$141,800), Keidean Coleman (+$133,400) and Lloyd Meek (+$118,500).
9. EFFICIENCY MATTERS
Hitting targets is a key factor in KFC SuperCoach scores, and it was clearly demonstrated in round 13. Sam Docherty hit the target with 88 per cent of his 33 disposals on Friday night on his way to 139 KFC SuperCoach points, while Sam Walsh’s disposal efficiency of 66 per cent was a big reason for his season-low 75 points from 29 disposals in the same game. Will Brodie was an even bigger offender, hitting the target with only 54 per cent of his 22 disposals against the Hawks. Jordan Ridley scored 103 KFC SuperCoach points from just 14 disposals on the back of 100 per cent disposal efficiency on Friday night, and Keidean Coleman hit the target with 18 of his 99 disposals to score 99 against the Saints.
10. CAPTAINS CORNER
No Lachie Neale, Clayton Oliver or Max Gawn makes picking a captain in round 14 even trickier than usual. The Blues big guns could fire on Thursday night – Sam Docherty scored 144 against the Tigers in round 1, while Patrick Cripps put up 132 in that game. Sam Walsh didn’t play in round 1, but he scored 122 against the Tigers last year. The other game to watch for captains this round is GWS Giants vs Western Bulldogs. Josh Dunkley averages 143 in his past three against GWS and Jack Macrae 126 in the same period. Josh Kelly owners might want to look elsewhere – he scored only 69 against Dogs last year. Other players with a red flag are Isaac Heeney (57 vs Port Adelaide last year) and Jack Sinclair (47 and 59 in his past two against Essendon).
11. DON’T NAP ON CATS
West Coast has been conceding some huge scores this season, so expect some Cats to go big in Perth on Saturday. If Tom Stewart returns from concussion he is at the top of the list with two 170-plus scores in his past six and an average of 117 in his past three against the Eagles (non-owners will be watching his Break Even of 144 closely). Stewart also averages 105 in five games at Optus Stadium. Patrick Dangerfield averages 104.5 at the venue, Tom Hawkins 94 and Jeremy Cameron just 61. The value watch is Mitch Duncan. His price has dropped $99,200 since round 1 based on a season average of 84.1, his lowest since 2013. But his recent form has been more encouraging, scoring 117 in his last game, against the Bulldogs. And he loves playing West Coast, averaging 133 in his past three against the Eagles and 119.7 in three games at Optus Stadium. Bargain hunters take note – Geelong faces the Eagles twice in the run home, including round 23 – KFC SuperCoach grand final day – at the Cattery.
Originally published as SuperCoach Plus: 11 things you need to know for round 14 of the AFL season
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