KFC SuperCoach 2022: Consensus rankings on best starting picks and must have players in every position

Looking at your KFC SuperCoach team for the first time or just want to make sure you have all the right players? Our experts deliver the verdict on the best starting picks.

Steele or Oliver? Lloyd or Crisp? Butters or Heeney?

How do you split the biggest stars in KFC SuperCoach?

Then there is the rookie crisis to address.

We’ve surveyed our closest fantasy watchers and asked them to rank their best selections for 2022 in every position.

Al Paton, The Phantom, Tim Michell and Dan Batten name their top premiums, mid-pricers and rookies, and collated the results to give you the best hope of getting those big selection calls right for your team.

Jack Crisp is a great starting selection in KFC SuperCoach. Picture: Michael Klein.

DEFENCE

Phantom says: Crisp averaged 110 points from Round 8 onwards last season, so he’s the one that could pip Lloyd for the top spot, with plenty of running ball-winners emerging at the Swans. I’ve come to the realisation Lachie Whitfield is too cheap to leave out and don’t forget about Aaron Hall, if he’s named in Round 1. He did average 114 points per game last year if you take out the injury-affected scores. I’ve got James Sicily just ahead of George Hewett in the mid-price race, given his ceiling, but don’t discount another rise from St Kilda forward-turned-rebounding defender Jack Sinclair. Young Cat Sam De Koning appears the basement-price rookie saviour in defence, but, like it is in the midfield, there might be no alternative to spending a little bit extra on the likes of Mitch Hinge, Paddy McCartin and Josh Gibcus.

Al says: How many premium defenders can you start? I’ve had two top-priced premos plus Whitfield and Sicily all pre-season. George Hewett has a great role at the Blues but I can’t see him being a top-eight defender. The rookies are really dire. Hinge has a nice role on a wing but he and McCartin have a horrible injury history - hopefully they don’t fall over because the bench cover isn’t great. We might have to pay $171k for Gibcus on the bench - he should play but don’t expect big scores.

Tim says: Lloyd and Stewart are the big two in defence this year and Short is destined to benefit from Bachar Houli’s retirement. Jake Kelly’s arrival has freed up Jordan Ridley and Jack Crisp has to be considered on durability alone. James Sicily is a must-have and George Hewett is looming large as a serious POD after scoring well in both pre-season games. The less said the better about the state of the rookies. I’ve seen plenty of sides with Hinge, Gibcus and McCartin on field and that might be the way to go. De Koning won’t score 92 every week like in the community series but his job security looks sound enough. Bench pick.

Dan says: My D2 has been a revolving door but Whitfield at D3 is a bargain buy with his injury affected score – and pre-season season – last year. There has been some who have cooled on Lloyd, but the kick-in king saves his best work for the season proper rather than the pre-season, and with Dawson gone he could even go up a gear. Sicily is the clear standout in the mid-priced stakes, and Hewett has been in and out of my side this pre-season. It looks like we’re going to have to have at least four non-rookies on field, though, due to the dearth of cheap defenders. It says a bit when Sinn, currently about a 50/50 chance of playing in Round 1, is at No.2 of my rookie rankings...

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Brisbane coach Chris Fagan and Lachie Neale at training. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

MIDFIELD

Phantom says: Don’t start without Lachie Neale at the price. No, don’t drop him to make room for Matt Rowell. But, after his AAMI Series showed he’s ready to bounce back, look to get Rowell in somewhere. While he has the potential to be a keeper, at $342k, his potential cash generation probably justifies the selection alone. Speaking of cash cows, Jarrod Berry will make plenty of money this year in the lower mid-price bracket and Matt Crouch and Patrick Cripps are underpriced premiums at the other end. It’s the year of the expensive draftee in the midfield, too, but I think Dylan Stephens ticks a few more boxes than some in his third season.

Al says: I created a version of my team today that has all of Berry, Rowell and Cripps in the midfield. It looks impressively deep but the risk profile is probably too high, especially when it means leaving out one of the big four - not being able to squeeze in all five is already hard enough. Not sure if I can pick all of Daicos, JHF, Stephens and Ward above $167k - Ward might be the one that gets squeezed out even after his amazing effort against the Tigers.

Tim says: Largely based on his price discount, Neale is the top midfielder every KFC SuperCoach team needs this year. Beyond the Lions’ Brownlow medallist, you really can’t go wrong with the big four – Macrae, Steele, Oliver and Miller. Pre-season suggested Miller might even be No.1 by season’s end. Berry is impossible to go past for value and I would love to pick Serong but his price is too awkward. Like many I had doubts about Rowell but he allayed those in the pre-season games. Daicos and Horne-Francis should be in every side and will likely get DPP by Round 6. I was happy to overlook Ward until he dominated against the Tigers. Lock him in.

Dan says: Macrae went from strength to strength during the pre-season – go without him at your peril. Same with Neale, who has put his 2021 season woes to bed. However, healthy rookie stocks in the midfield means you can’t get too many of the big boys which is why mid-pricers like Rowell and Berry will come into the mix. Speaking of the rookies, I think we could see Daicos, JHF and Ward all push an 80 average in their first season. Unfortunately there’s not too many cheaper options, which makes MacDonald a lock for your bench — that’s if he is named.

Rowan Marshall is underpriced in KFC SuperCoach. Picture: Michael Klein

RUCK

Phantom says: I know Max Gawn reminded us how good he can be as a forward but I still think the odd low (er) score could be enough for Brodie Grundy to reclaim the ruck crown. But he might have Sean Darcy to fight, if the Dockers big man can avoid injury in 2022.

Al says: If St Kilda announced Paddy Ryder would be rested for the first half of the season I would be picking Rowan Marshall - he’s a huge talent and better value than Gawn, but if he’s splitting ruck time I don’t think I can pass up Max’s guaranteed numbers (even if the Luke Jackson factor knocks a point or two off his average). Sean Darcy has had more injury niggles over the pre-season but scored 95 at the weekend from two kicks and six handballs (and a stack of hitouts to advantage). If you’re brave enough he could be a season-defining selection. I don’t think I am.

Tim says: I’m red hot on Marshall this year and will be starting him and Grundy if all goes to plan. Gawn has the Luke Jackson factor to contend with and reports from the west suggest Darcy has carried injuries in pre-season (not that that stopped him last year). In fact, he barely touched the footy in the second pre-season game and almost scored 100. Nic Nat is a consistent scorer of 100-120 but is a rung below the big four rucks for mine.

Dan says: It’s a toss of the coin between Gawn and Grundy, but I am backing the premiership skipper in to be the No.1 scoring ruck of 2022. Grundy should improve markedly on his 2021 campaign after a strong pre-season. Marshall may be the one to consider if you don’t want to pay up for the big three, with Paddy Ryder’s delayed pre-season giving him the chance to thrive. Darcy is the wildcard here – if he avoids injury he can finish 2022 as the top KFC SuperCoach ruckman.

Bulldogs Adam Treloar and Josh Dunkley are the pick of a shallow KFC SuperCoach premium forward pool. Picture: Michael Klein

FORWARDS

Phantom says: The premium price bracket in the forward is grim. It really is Josh Dunkley then the rest – although I’ve come around to Adam Treloar being the next safest pick to average three figures. Lucky there is plenty of value, led by the unbelievably underpriced Stephen Coniglio and soon-to-be premium Zak Butters. Crow Josh Rachele is an on-field lock, and maybe the only one at less than $200k. But, thankfully, we have Will Brodie. I said all along if new coach Justin Longmuir backs him in, I will. SSP signings Jack Hayes and Nick Martin are bench locks if picked for Round 1.

Al says: Forwards are weird. I struggled to find five players to list in the premiums category (Dunkley is the clear No.1 although Dusty’s pre-season is tempting me again), then there are a dozen players you could consider between $250-$450k, with Butters at the top of the pile, while I’m all in on Mitch McGovern as an intercept defender. The rookie situation has improved dramatically during the supplementary selection period with the addition of several viable $102k bench options - put one of Dixon or Hayes on your ruck bench.

Tim says: Dunkley is easily the top forward this year, although I’m sure some in SA would make a case for Butters (especially after his 150+ score in pre-season). Just pick both. Mitch Duncan would have been No.2 if not for injury concerns which pushed him out of my top five. Treloar is flying and Tim English’s DPP could be so handy if one of your main ruckmen is sidelined. Coniglio is the only must-have of the mid-pricers although Gresham and McGovern (yes, McGovern) are in my thoughts. The likely DEF-FWD swing for McGovern could be huge. Rachele has confirmed himself as a must-have despite the big price tag and every team should pick Hayes as well. Xerri has a bigger upside than Brodie or Ralphsmith if he holds onto North’s No.1 ruck spot.

Dan says: This is perhaps the most interesting line for this exercise. Will De Goey and Heeney be pure midfielders? If so, they could be top five scorers in the forward line. Butters is the safest bet of the sub-$500k bunch, with his high-impact game giving him scope for monster scores in his move to the midfield. Dunkley is streets ahead of the rest, but Duncan could challenge him – the only question mark is his durability. Coniglio is a must-have at his price, while Brodie has proved the doubters wrong (for now) with two tons in the pre-season. Martin has good scoring potential as a bottom-priced rookie, while Rachele looks an on-field lock with great job security.

Originally published as KFC SuperCoach 2022: Consensus rankings on best starting picks and must have players in every position