KFC SuperCoach 2021: Dan Begala reveals three key strategies that can help you succeed in finals
With bragging rights on the line, performing in KFC SuperCoach finals is crucial. Dan Begala reveals how you can get the edge over your mates.
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The calendar might suggest we’re entrenched in another Melbourne winter, but spring has well and truly sprung with KFC SuperCoaches bracing for the penultimate and most important stanza of the season.
The finals, folks – they’re here.
SCROLL DOWN FOR THE PHANTOM’S BURNING QUESTIONS
Forget the Olympics, there’s no hotter ticket in town than a seat among the cream of the crop of KFC SuperCoach finals.
It’s time to (Dan) Batten down the hatches and devote all of your attention to the tactics, strategy and guile required to triumph at the business end of proceedings.
The KFC SuperCoach Investor, Daniel Begala, shares his tried-and-tested approach to propelling your side to the top of the dais over the next month.
THE BENCHWARMERS
With trades scarce and injuries an uncontrollable force of our game, there’s no better protection than the quality and flexibility of your bench.
The Begala Brigade boasts coverage on every line* including Tom Highmore (DEF), Trent Bianco (MID/DEF), Tyler Brockman (MID/FWD), Ned ‘Keanu’ Reeves (RUC) and Kieran Briggs (DEF/FWD).
*Subject to formal selection on Thursday night.
The most pivotal of that eclectic bunch, however, is Tom Highmore who boasts the best scoring potential and plays in the first game of the round on Friday.
If Highmore scores in the vicinity of 100 points, the KFC SuperCoach Investor will have no hesitation in benching an underwhelming and sporadic Tim Taranto (L3: 70 & L5: 83) with Rory Laird instead jettisoned – via DPP – to M8 for the week.
OUT: Tim Taranto. IN: Tom Highmore.
This reiterates the importance of well laid plans, but most importantly, flexibility of your bench counterparts.
If Hawthorn were instead scheduled earlier in the round, I would – too – test the wares of Reeves (at R3) to avoid situations like last week where my latest acquisition, Shai Bolton, scored a paltry 42 KFC SuperCoach points on debut for The Begala Brigade.
Unfortunately for this coach, though, Rowan Marshall (RUC/FWD) tees off in the first game of the round and thwarts any opportunity of the Bolton-Reeves loophole via Jacob Edwards’ DPP.
Grab the dictionary, scroll to “loophole” and there you will find the Colonel’s Secret Recipe for KFC SuperCoach finals success.
It’s time to ‘flex’ your flexibility, and look to exploit each-and-every attribute of your portfolio as we embark on our quest to finals immortality.
O CAPTAIN! MY CAPTAIN!
Captaincy is the upmost privilege for any athlete.
But captaincy of a KFC SuperCoach side is the pinnacle of world and fantasy sport.
The decision you make this weekend (and beyond) will be etched in captaincy folklore and can pivot a lineball match-up square in your favour.
It’s not easy, but you’re effectively trying to pick your ‘Norm Smith’ of the finals series with their score – if extraordinary – magnified by the benefit of an astute captaincy decision.
Complete your due diligence, examine historic match-ups and review the form guide on your top candidates for captaincy duty in week one of the KFC SuperCoach finals.
This is the biggest decision you’ll make, no doubt, and particularly daunting if you go against the captaincy “grain” (and majority).
The Begala Brigade have a myriad of options this week with Marcus Bontempelli (against Adelaide), Jack Macrae (Adelaide at Mars Stadium), Jack Steele (Carlton) and Max Gawn (Gold Coast with no ruck) dominating early discussions at the Board Room.
All are capable of top echelon scoring and offer match-ups that warrant their consideration this week, particularly Macrae and Gawn, who could post scores in excess of 150 if trend is their friend.
Do your own research, folks, and keep an eye on your opposition’s move throughout the entirety of the round – but particularly – when they deploy the captaincy ‘armband’.
THE FANTASTIC ‘FOX’
You’ll need to bring your A-Game this weekend, players, if you hope to fast track yourself to a preliminary final, or, avoid elimination heartache.
You’ll need to exhaust every strategic option in your side, but most importantly, leverage the subtle art of foxing your opposition throughout the round.
Keep them on their toes and don’t forget to continually move your VC/C options throughout the round to ensure the upmost element of surprise is maintained.
Just imagine – for one second – that both you and your opposition post 125 KFC SuperCoach points with Jack Macrae anointed as your VC.
It’s a decent score, right?
Meh.
Depending on your match-up and how it’s playing out, you now have three options available that could define your match-up:
1 – Bank the VC (125) via a non-playing loophole;
2 – Roll the captaincy dice on an alternative player, i.e. Gawn; or
3 – “Tag” your opposition’s captaincy decision by mimicking their move, i.e. taking Macrae’s score, or, appointing an alternative (but same) captain.
Your individual circumstances – above all else – will define how your approach the captaincy dilemma as an early deficit may prompt a “Hail Mary” captaincy decision to rescue a knockout final.
It’s these small, but meticulous acts, that will disturb your opposition and may pivot a closely fought tie in your favour.
Foxing isn’t new to our game, but if exercised well, could be the catalyst for a win that etches your name in finals folklore.
Fox well, readers, fox well.
All the KFC SuperCoach burning questions answered
— The Phantom
Well, that was a pretty normal week.
No oat lattes, no rugby union, no serious kidney injuries, no late changes, no Shai Bolton.
KFC SuperCoaches across the country were celebrating like Dean Boxall over the weekend – especially those who traded in Tarryn Thomas for Dustin Martin.
Maybe not those who opted for Bolton, or the unlucky ones who had Magpies skipper Scott Pendlebury, but the KFC SuperCoach waters remained pretty calm in Round 19.
Unlike the previous seven days, which resembled the Canoe Slalom K-1 course in Tokyo.
Yes, I’m currently watching the men’s semi-final – it’s strangely relatable.
And, would you believe it, the bloke in the lead is named Thomas.
Is that an omen, Phant?
By crafting the intro around the Kangaroos young gun, I’ve cursed him.
News has just filtered through that Thomas, fresh off a 23-disposal, four-goal, 135-point performance against the Hawks, will miss the Round 20 clash against the Cats after suffering delayed concussion.
A cruel blow to the savvy KFC SuperCoaches who jumped on last week.
After back-to-back KFC SuperCoach tons, and seven scores of 94 or more in the past 10 matches, on the back of an increased midfield role, Thomas is one to add to your early 2022 watchlist.
Who is Dean Boxall?
Australia’s new icon, that’s who.
Not to upstage our newest golden girl of the pool, but the Australian swimming coach’s reaction to Ariarne Titmus’ gold medal swim on Monday will go down in history.
My reaction to trading in Caleb Daniel on Saturday afternoon was similar.
Let me know what your Boxall moment of the KFC SuperCoach season has been in the comments below.
Me after trading in Caleb Daniel on Saturday. #SuperCoach#Olympics#Swimmingpic.twitter.com/Od92gcFweX
— The Phantom (@ThePhantomSC) July 26, 2021
Is Daniel still worth jumping on?
If you have the trades, and there is a spot in you defence, absolutely.
There’s been a few lows for Daniel this season – three scores in the 60s and a non-injury-affected 19 – but the skilful Bulldog was at his very best against the Demons.
He tallied 34 disposals – 26 of them effective – 16 contested possessions, nine intercepts, six score involvements and a season-high 145 points.
Daniel is now averaging 100 points per game since Round 6 and has scored 92 or more in seven of his past eight matches.
And, the best thing, he’s still $65k down on his starting price.
TRADE GUIDE: ALL THE BEST OPTIONS FOR SUPERCOACH FINALS RUN
Given our luck has turned, should we make that final upgrade?
One relatively smooth week doesn’t mean the next few will be the same. Look what’s happened since I started writing this – Thomas has been ruled out and Lance Franklin has been suspended for one match. More on that later.
Sure, if you are in a elimination final, or want to have one last crack at a late rankings climb, now could be the time to strike.
But, unless you have solid cover across all lines, I still don’t like going down to zero trades with three rounds to come after this one. There is still enough time for you to lose the points you make up with an upgrade this week, when you can’t cover a donut in the final two – or three – matches.
I am in a sudden-death final, who should I be targeting?
If money is no issue, Jarryd Lyons ($556k) is the seventh-ranked midfielder in KFC SuperCoach but, of all mid-only players, he’s the 16th-most expensive.
Cat Cam Guthrie at $506k is probably better value, though, following his 120-point performance – his third KFC SuperCoach ton since the Round 16 disaster – against the Tigers.
And, as much as I like Bailey Smith ($497k), who is back to his best with increased midfield responsibility at the Bulldogs, Guthrie is the safer pick.
For Pendlebury owners who are strapped for cash -or those looking for a huge point-of-difference play – consider Gold Coast’s Brayden Fiorini.
What? Stuart Dew has finally picked him?
If Dew also played fantasy football, he’d pick Fiorini every week – but, sadly, he doesn’t.
After posting scores of 149, 103, 149, 132, 94 and 168 in the VFL this year, the 23-year-old was recalled to the senior side in Round 14 – as the sub. He came on for David Swallow and had 16 disposals but was back as the 23rd man the following round.
But in the past four matches, when selected in the 22, Fiorini has averaged 31 disposals, 12 contested possessions, six tackles and 106 KFC SuperCoach points.
On Saturday against the Lions, Fiorini finished with 41 disposals, 14 contested possessions and 139 KFC SuperCoach points – all team-highs – in just 71 per cent game-time.
And he’s available for $415k.
*Eyes emoji*.
We all knew Brayden Fiorini could rack them up. Just needed a CB role. 41 disposals from 71% game time today. 😳 #SuperCoach#AFLFantasy#AFLLionsSuns
— Fantasy Freako (@FantasyFreako) July 24, 2021
St Kilda big man Rowan Marshall ($464k FWD) is back this week, so he is your man in the forward line – for either a final upgrade or as a replacement for Buddy, if Sydney’s tribunal challenge fails.
Not Isaac Heeney ($417k).
But, Phant?
Yes, I know he’s scored 95, 86 and 128 in his past three matches. But do you remember the of games after he posted scores of 110, 86 and 128 between Rounds 9 and 11? I’ll refresh your memory – 55, 42 and 57.
If you’re desperate at that price in the forward line, I prefer Crow Harry Schoenberg ($396k), who is really starting to hit his straps at the top level, tallying scores of 95, 97 and 96 in the past three matches with an increased midfield role.
I was ‘full premo’ until Tim Taranto’s past three weeks happened, should I bench him for Lachie Bramble?
A wise man asked me this yesterday – it’s a good question.
After a slow start, the mid-season draftee made it four consecutive scores of 80 or more, tallying 25 disposals and 83 points – 60 of them in the second half – against the Crows.
Blake Hardwick and Jack Scrimshaw were back in defence for the Hawks, but Bramble, after halftime in particular, again, played a very attacking – and KFC SuperCoach friendly – outside role.
Taranto on the other hand, attended just two centre bounces – down from 13 in each of the previous two matches – against the Bombers. And he’s now scored 64 or less in two of his past three games.
I’d love to say play a loop, but the Giants and Hawks play within an hour of each other on Sunday.
So, I’d play Bramble, especially if Stephen Coniglio returns for GWS.
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