KFC SuperCoach Round 18 trade guide: Best Sam Docherty replacements and top grand final targets
How do we replace Sam Docherty in KFC SuperCoach grand final week? Check out the top trade options including a Collingwood defender who has hit red-hot form at the perfect time.
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This is just what the Doc didn’t order for grand final week in KFC SuperCoach.
One of the most popular players in the game is set to miss the final game of the year after Carlton co-captain Sam Docherty suffered a calf injury in the first quarter of the Blues’ loss to Adelaide.
That’s a forced trade unless you have a back-up like Trent Rivers or Tobe Watson on the bench who you are confident will repeat their high scores of Round 17 in the most important game of the year.
Docherty is in 99,000 KFC SuperCoach teams — more than half of overall players — and 90 per cent of teams ranked in the top 5000.
We’re awaiting a full diagnosis, but Blues coach David Teague didn’t sound optimistic after the game: “I don’t know exactly what it is. He’s hurt it. It wasn’t a corkie, it’s a muscle injury.”
Compounding the problem for SuperCoach players, we can expect a price drop of about $45,000 for Docherty when lockout ends after the Collingwood v Gold Coast game on Monday night.
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That means we have about $451k to find a replacement — plus any cash you might have in the bank.
Here are the best replacements to help you lift a KFC SuperCoach premiership cup.
IF YOU HAVE SOME SPARE CASH
Jake Lloyd $647,800
You’ll need an extra $200k to get from Docherty to the standout defender in KFC SuperCoach, but if you have that money on hand or can get it by cashing in a bench player (Sam Draper?) to a bargain-basement rookie - do it. Lloyd can score like no other backman, and few players in any position; here are his scores since Round 8: 157, 126, 133, 137, 127, 141, 143, 114, 119. He plays the Cats in the final round but his opposition doesn’t seem to matter.
Jack Crisp $534,400
Collingwood running defender is finishing the season like a steam train, scoring 125, 134 and 138 in his last three games, giving him the highest three-round average of all defenders. Elite SuperCoach player Lachlan Hunter — currently ranked fifth overall — is a big fan. Recent form puts him ahead of teammate Brayden Maynard ($485,000) but he’s still a solid pick if you have less money to spend.
Rory Laird $567,800
Want Lloyd-type scores for nearly $100k cheaper? Laird has reinvented himself as a midfielder in the second half of the year and taken to the role like a duck to water, averaging 123 in his past seven games including a monster 185. Has a Round 18 match-up with Richmond which doesn’t sound great, but the Crows are on a roll and the Tigers have given up some big scores to opposition midfielders and defenders this year.
Luke McDonald $538,100
Get off to a flyer in your league grand final with a big score in the first game of the round from one of the surprise packets of the season. After averaging 63 over the first seven rounds, McDonald has transformed into a Jake Lloyd clone, rattling off six scores of 119 or better.
Luke Ryan $548,300
One of the hottest players of the second half of the season has cooled slightly but is still about as reliable as it gets if you’re looking for a score like Docherty at his best. Averaging 107 for the season and has missed three figures once since Round 4.
Caleb Daniel $501,800
Cutting off a Tim O’Brien pass and kicking his first goal of the season capped off “another masterful performance from the little master” against the Hawks on Sunday, to quote Bruce McAvaney. His lowest score of the year is 71 — that came a month ago, resulting in a very attractive price for a player who has scored 110 or more in his past three games.
Mark Blicavs $515,400
Need a player to give your team a point of difference in a league grand final? Blicavs is in just 2 per cent of teams despite averaging 108 over his past five games, including a team-high 134 against Richmond. Playing in the ruck and roaming all over the field, he faces one of the competition’s weakest big-man divisions at Sydney in the final round.
Tom Stewart $534,200
If you’re not brave enough to take the plunge on Blicavs, Stewart is a safe as houses pick down back at the Cats. He has scored six KFC SuperCoach tons in a row and should finish the season on a high.
Jordan Ridley $506,000
A bright spot in a disappointing year for the Bombers, Ridley has barely played a poor game, scoring 10 KFC SuperCoach plus a few more in the 90s. His 119 in a big loss to Port Adelaide was his sixth score of 115 or more. Well played to anyone who got him for $322k before Round 1 (or Round 2).
Liam Duggan $471,600
It doesn’t take too much extra cash to get from Docherty to one of the form players of Footy Frenzy 2. Duggan’s 84 against St Kilda was his first score under 100 in a month and only his second since Round 8. Getting kick-outs and time in the midfield and if you need a player to set you apart he’s in only 1 per cent of teams.
IF YOU’VE GOT NOTHING IN THE BANK
Tom Barrass $470,900
How many star interceptors can the Eagles have? His season-high 144 against the Saints on Thursday night pushed him just above Docherty’s price, but if you have some spare change he’s the in-form choice coming off three successive 100-plus scores (in fact, he has the third-highest three-round average among defenders behind Crisp and Lloyd). Faces North Melbourne in the final round and he won’t have Jeremy McGovern (hamstring) jumping in his way.
Christian Salem $428,400
Will actually be cheaper than his $439k price tag last week due to a very high break-even, but was one of the Dees’ best against the Giants, scoring 109 from 19 disposals and a goal. That was his third ton in his past six games and he faces the depleted Bombers in the final round.
Dan Houston $454,700
Can we go back there? A popular pre-season pick, Houston let down his SuperCoach owners early in the year, failing to hit three figures until Round 5. But he has experienced something of a late-season revival, averaging 100 over his past four games including 115 against the Bombers on Saturday. Will give you a stake in the final game of the season.
Brodie Smith $414,800
A real boom or bust pick who has five 100-plus scores from the year and can go big if he’s allowed to run free. Backing him against the Tigers is a gamble but they like to back their own game style and have allowed running defenders to rack up huge scores - Callum Mills’ 173 is exhibit A.
Daniel Rich $424,300
Rich returned from a multi-week absence due to suspension and injury in Round 15 and has assumed a key role in the Lions defence, scoring 99, 107 and 101. Unlikely to deliver a huge score but great value if you have another trade to use the change from a Docherty move.
Jason Johannisen $440,700
The dashing Dog looked back to his best against the Hawks, posting 102 points after running hard forward to kick two goals. He has managed at least 90 points in three of his past four games and in two of his past three against Round 18 opponent Fremantle.
Jacob Weitering $415,600
His 92 against the Crows makes it four in a row of 85 or better and you would expect him to see plenty of action in the Blues’ backline against Brisbane. Scored 111 against the Lions last year.
Kade Simpson $392,000
One for old time’s sake? A one-time KFC SuperCoach premium, Simpson hasn’t really been in consideration all year but he played his best footy late in the season, scoring 80, 82, 103 and 93 in his past four. A sentimental pick.
MORE SUPERCOACH NEWS:
Potential KFC SuperCoach positions switches for 2021 revealed
KFC SuperCoach brains trust answers key Round 17 questions and helps identify a finals bargain
ROUND 18 FIXTURE
THURSDAY
North Melbourne v West Coast
FRIDAY
St Kilda v GWS Giants
SATURDAY
Essendon v Melbourne
Adelaide v Richmond
Brisbane Lions v Carlton
SUNDAY
Hawthorn v Gold Coast
Sydney v Geelong
Fremantle v Western Bulldogs
MONDAY
Collingwood v Port Adelaide
Originally published as KFC SuperCoach Round 18 trade guide: Best Sam Docherty replacements and top grand final targets
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