KFC SuperCoach late mail: All the key info for your team for Round 2

Brodie Grundy bounced back in a big way, will Max Gawn do the same? See The Phantom’s top captain picks plus latest rookie and selection news.

Al Paton, Tim Michell and The Phantom

7 min read

March 26, 2021 - 11:48AM

News Corp Australia Sports Newsroom

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Almost 3000 KFC SuperCoach players received a harsh lesson about writing off a champion on Thursday night.

A total of 2956 players hit the trade button on Brodie Grundy before the first bounce of Carlton v Collingwood, losing patience after his disappointing Round 1 score.

The Magpies ruckman responded with 16 disposals, 51 hitouts and 135 KFC SuperCoach points against the Blues.

Our thoughts go out to those trigger-happy players who are now praying for another big score from Matt Flynn (952 Grundy trades), Tom Hickey (541) or an assortment of other players including Stefan Martin (141), Oscar McInerney (64) and Jaidyn Stephenson (53). For the rest of us, it’s a reminder to back in our premiums and not jump after one bad game.

SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THE PHANTOM’S TOP CAPTAIN PICKS

The other big news from the game was another disappointing score from Patrick Cripps (82) and the fact Collingwood dropped popular forward rookie Oliver Henry, a blow for more than 30,000 KFC SuperCoach teams. Given how well the Pies’ reinvigorated forward line performed, he might have to wait a while for his second senior game.

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Collingwood youngster Oliver Henry lasted only one week in the seniors.

MORE ROOKIE DEFENDERS ON THE WAY

With Adelaide defenders Jake Kelly (concussion), Luke Brown (achilles) and Mitch Hinge (shoulder) all ruled out of the Round 2 clash with the Swans, basement price Nick Murray ($102,400 DEF) will make his AFL debut on Saturday.

Murray has overcome the rolled ankle that kept him out of the selection frame last week and teammate Matt Crouch believes the SPP signing is ready to step straight in.

“With the pre-season he’s come in and had … he’s a mature-age player and he’s ready to go,” Crouch told 10 News.

Crouch’s comments reaffirmed the club’s belief in the 20-year-old, who averaged 66 points in the NEAFL in 2019 and was informed of his selection on Thursday, with coach Matthew Nicks stating last week it’s just “a matter of time” after Murray was ruled out of Round 1.

But, given Kelly is likely to return for the Suns clash in Round 3, after serving his mandatory 12-day period as part of the AFL’s new concussion protocols, Brown a chance after scans cleared him of significant damage, and Daniel Talia getting closer, Murray’s long-term job security isn’t guaranteed.

Mature-age rookie Nick Murray could help solve Adelaide’s injury crisis. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Fellow rookie-price defender Jordon Butts’ is, though, after the 21-year-old blanketed Geelong star Tom Hawkins, while scoring 56 points of his own, to earn a two-year contract extension on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Crouch admitted “it’s hard to say” when he’ll return to the side, with a groin issue restricting his ability to run. And with Jackson Hately still 1-2 weeks away, the job security of rookie midfielder Sam Berry is increasing by the day.

Not that the 18-year-old needed any help, after recording seven tackles and ranking second for pressure acts in the AFL in his first appearance as a Crow.

And Murray isn’t the only cheapie offering some defensive reinforcements, with Fremantle handing Heath Chapman ($148,800 DEF) an AFL debut against the Giants. We have two weeks to assess these players before their prices change.

The same goes for Geelong forward Francis Evans ($123,900 FWD) who will play his first game on Friday night against the Lions.

WHEN WILL WHITFIELD RETURN?

GWS star Lachie Whitifeld ($561,600 DEF) will be a popular trade target when he returns from a bizarre pre-season injury.

Whitfield hasn’t been sighted for weeks after suffering a bruised liver during a training session in the first week of February.

Giants CEO David Matthews gave an update on the key playmaker on SEN radio on Friday morning: “He’s feeling good. It’s one of those situations where the most important thing is the welfare of the person, returning to play is secondary.

“It’s an unusual injury. We expect him back Round 5 or 6 at this point.”

Lachie Whitfield is expected to return in about five weeks.

JORDON SET FOR MORE AIR TIME

Melbourne vice-captain Jack Viney is set to return this weekend but it won’t be at the expense of standout KFC SuperCoach rookie James Jordon, as some initially thought.

Coach Simon Goodwin was thrilled a number of young Demons took their opportunity against the Dockers in Round 1 and, while he was happy with the form of Jake Melkshem and Aaron vandenBerg in the VFL trial game, it might be only Viney who forces his way back in.

“They’re all available but it’s tight for spots, we have to really assess where our team is at, where we get maximum impact and, you know, some of the young guys have come in and played really well,” Goodwin said on Wednesday.

“We probably see Viney as a potential change this week, he’s our vice-captain, we think he’s fit, ready and raring to go but the others will probably have to wait a little while.

“The senior players are going to have to earn it and that’s a good position for our footy club to be in.”

James Harmes’ broken wrist, which will see the midfielder sidelined for at least five matches, is another boost for Jordon’s job security, after an impressive Round 1 debut.

“I love J, just his toughness in tight and he makes good decisions on the outside,” Goodwin said of Jordon, who finished with 15 disposals and 78 KFC SuperCoach points, post-match on Saturday.

“That’s as impressive a first game I’ve seen from a player in a little while in terms of his impact.”

Josh Treacy (right) at Fremantle training.

AFL RULING GOOD NEWS FOR FREO, SUPERCOACH

More than 20,000 KFC SuperCoaches have been given an unexpected boost with Fremantle rookie Josh Treacy now available for AFL selection in Round 3.

The $102,400 RUC-FWD — who booted seven goals in a recent WAFL practice match — was rubbed out until Round 5 of the AFL season after being suspended for two games by the WAFL tribunal for striking.

His suspension was for four rounds of the AFL season due to the WAFL starting two weeks later. But the Dockers announced on Tuesday the AFL had determined Treacy would only have to serve the equivalent of his WAFL ban at AFL level, paving the way for a Round 3 debut due to Fremantle’s long injury list.

It was welcome news for 13 per cent of coaches, many who started Treacy as a captaincy loophole but can now bank on him becoming a cash cow without burning a trade. Meanwhile, Heath Chapman ($148,800 DEF) is in the frame to debut this round after Alex Pearce and Joel Hamling were injured in Fremantle’s opening-round defeat to Melbourne.

ROUND 2 CAPTAINS WITH THE PHANTOM

THE PHANTOM’S TOP 5

1. Max Gawn (Melb)

V St Kilda, Saturday

Up against second-gamer Paul Hunter, who conceded 140 points to fellow debutant Matt Flynn in Round 1, you have to give the big man another chance this weekend. Gawn’s hitout-to-advantage rate of 63.8 per cent was the highest in the competition – no surprise there – but his total HTAs were down, given the Melbourne-Fremantle clash featured the second-fewest stoppages of any opening-round match. He hit the target with just 58 per cent of his disposals and played catch-up all day after a slow start, yet still managed 93 points. If your side allows it, giving him the VC on Saturday night could be the way to go.

Lachie Neale should bounce back against the Cats in Round 2. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/AFL Photos

2. Lachie Neale (Bris)

V Geelong, Friday night

A standout early-round VC option on Friday night, if you’re playing the loophole. Even if you’re not, Neale is worth some thought as captain, despite the sub-par Round 1 score. He didn’t lay a tackle and struggled to stay consistently involved against the Swans – but he wasn’t the only Lions midfielder. The Brownlow Medallist scored 134 points in the Round 6 clash with the Cats in 2020 and 132 in his last trip down to the Cattery, back in 2018.

3. Jack Macrae (WB)

V West Coast, Sunday

Looking back, Macrae scored just 84 KFC SuperCoach points in his last meeting with the Eagles in Perth. But he failed to make a tackle – something he’s done just twice since 2014 - and recorded five clangers that day. In his two other matches against the Eagles since 2018, Macrae has posted scores of 117 and 142 and, with Adam Treloar spending most of his time on a wing, Macrae attended the most centre bounces of any Bulldogs midfielder and tallied 35 disposals in Round 1. A great Sunday captain option if you are going with Gawn as VC on Saturday night.

4. Tom Mitchell (Haw)

V Richmond, Sunday

Speaking of great starts, Mitchell was everywhere against the Bombers, despite being nowhere over the pre-season. The ball magnet was touch-and-go all the way up to the week of Round 1 after off-season shoulder surgery but he showed no sign of the limited preparation, finishing with a round-high 39 disposals. Given the Tigers don’t put a lot of attention into specific opposition players, Mitchell could have another field day at the MCG, a venue he averages 116 points at across his career.

Jack Steele has a terrific scoring history against Melbourne. Picture: Michael Klein

5. Jack Steele (St K)

V Melbourne, Saturday

In Round 1, Fremantle midfielders Andrew Brayshaw (125), Adam Cerra (122), Nat Fyfe (109) and Caleb Serong (101) all posted a KFC SuperCoach ton against the Demons. Steele was on his way against the Giants, too, before stalling in the second-half, thanks largely to seven clangers – the second-most on the ground. But he pushed through the attention of Jack Viney in the last year’s clash with Melbourne, scoring 151 points in Round 14. Even before his breakout season of 2020, Steele posted two KFC SuperCoach tons against the Demons in 2019.

SOMETHING DIFFERENT

Travis Boak (Port)

V Essendon, Saturday

Mitchell did as he pleased against the Bombers midfield in the second-half last week and Boak completely dominated against the Kangaroos. So, if you’re after something different, consider the Power star, who has posted a KFC SuperCoach ton in 13 of his past 16 matches at Adelaide Oval.

Brodie Grundy (Coll)

v Carlton, Thursday night

There’ll be no double team from the Bulldogs on Thursday night and the Collingwood big man has history of quiet opening rounds before exploding. Many will overlook him based on last week but we all know how good he is.