Tim Michell reveals his five Round 2 trades for KFC SuperCoach

If there’s ever a year to tear up the KFC SuperCoach rule book, this is it. Forget guns and rookies, Tim Michell says it’s time to try something very different. These are his five Round 2 trades.

I’m tearing up the rule book.

Maybe months in isolation have taken their toll, but I’ve completely altered my KFC SuperCoach trade plans for Round 2.

The guns-and-rookies approach that has worked in every other year won’t cut it in 2020.

With only 16 rounds left, KFC SuperCoaches should be targeting players with low or negative break evens who can score well while providing a swift cash injection.

The other major factors coaches should be mindful of are durability and job security.

Burning your trades to replace fringe rookies worth less than $200,000 after 2-3 games isn’t going to be enough to finish with a team close to full-premium status.

If you want to load your team with big guns for the last month of the 2020 season, target players who already hold some value and are destined to skyrocket in price.

That’s why I’ve gone with Round 1 stars Ben Long, Brett Bewley and Sam Naismith.

The defence is a disaster this year and unless John Longmire surprises us all by naming Will Gould, I’ll have to make two changes to ensure a full line-up.

As I’ve got no trust in any of the defensive rookies, I’m bringing in Tom Doedee and Jeremy Howe to push fellow Magpie John Noble to D6.

Here’s the five trades I have planned for Round 2, pending what shapes as one of the most-influential team selections in recent KFC SuperCoach memory.

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INITIAL TRADE PLANS

1. Billy Frampton to Sam Sturt

2. Tom Green to Curtis Taylor

3. Ben Cavarra to Izak Rankine

4. Brandon Zerk-Thatcher to Tom Doedee

5. Hugh McCluggage to Andrew McGrath or Max King to Justin McInerney

Sam Naismith is the perfect R2 beside either Max Gawn or Brodie Grundy.

Nic Naitanui (West Coast) $457,800 RUC to Sam Naismith (Sydney) $251,500 RUC

Don’t like having to move on Naitanui, who was the No. 1 ranked points-per-minute player last season. I’ve fluctuated between trading the West Coast ruckman and Marcus Bontempelli but have gone with Naitanui due to his scoring being capped by a lack of game time. He only played 58 minutes in Round 1 and although a PPM of 1.7 was immense, it all but means his ceiling will be about 120 points. Sam Naismith rewarded 10.6 per cent of coaches who picked him as the bargain big man of 2020 by scoring 121 in Round 1. His career SuperCoach record is underwhelming but all signs suggest ruckmen will dominate 2020. He’ll be above $300,000 if he hits triple figures again in Round 2, so it’s now or never. Games against Tom Bellchambers and Tim English appeal before a Round 5 battle with Max Gawn.

The season delay could cause Tom Green to be squeezed out of GWS Giants’ team.

Tom Green (GWS Giants) $166,800 MID to Tom Doedee (Adelaide) $273,700 DEF via DPP swing

I’ve swung Lachie Whitfield and Dustin Martin to midfield to accommodate my mid-price forward gambles. However, what enabled this trade was swinging West Coast’s Jarrod Brander forward. Doedee is set to return from more than a year off with a knee injury and has impressed teammates since Adelaide returned to training. Several intercept defenders flourished in Round 1 and the developing Crow is exactly that. He averaged 82.2 in his debut campaign and flew to 56 points in Round 1 last year before being injured. Doedee would have featured in my starting side had he been fit for Round 1 and I’m comfortable sacrificing Green for a player with much better job security. The GWS first-round draftee could be dropped after one game to accommodate Callan Ward’s return.

MORE SUPERCOACH:

Tim Michell, Dan Batten and Al Paton relive their greatest KFC SuperCoach trade blunders

KFC SuperCoach trade grades: Expert verdict on most popular Round 2 moves

KFC SuperCoach rookie bible: Every cheapie rated ahead of Round 2 price changes

The 10 must-have players in KFC SuperCoach for Round 2

Jeremy Howe was the topscoring KFC SuperCoach defender in Round 1.

Brandon Zerk Thatcher (Essendon) $189,000 DEF to Jeremy Howe (Collingwood) $431,900

Impossible to resist Howe at this price after his Round 1 blitz. The high-flying Magpie was the No. 1 ranked defender of the opening round with 156 points against Western Bulldogs. A score of 98 or better against Richmond will result in a price rise of more than $40,000 and his recent record against the Tigers has been 99, 100 and 149. Most KFC SuperCoaches are expecting Brandon Zerk-Thatcher to be squeezed out by the return of fellow defenders Ambrose and Cale Hooker for Essendon. There’s logic in assessing those around his price such as John Noble, Stephen Hill and Dylan Roberton, but if you’re planning on downgrading a premium, then invest in Howe with the extra bank. He has a break even of eight and averaged 91.6-94.1 between 2016 and 2018.

Fremantle’s Brett Bewley posted a score of 95 in Round 1.

Hugh McCluggage (Brisbane Lions) $510,700 MID to Brett Bewley (Fremantle) $252,700 FWD via DPP swing

My forward line is asking for trouble, I know. But if there’s a season where these tactics might work, this is it. Bewley impressed in his first match as a wingman under Justin Longmuir, collecting 20 disposals for 95 SuperCoach points. His possession numbers could be threatened by the return of Stephen Hill and likely debut of Blake Acres, but Bewley doesn’t need huge numbers to have an influence as a gifted ball user. He only managed more than 60 KFC SuperCoach points once from seven matches last year but I’m willing to forgive that. McCluggage might average 100-105 but is he going to be a top-eight midfielder? That’s unlikely. I’m reluctant to trade him but someone has to make way if I’m going to avoid rookies and target those with negative break evens for a fast cash injection.

Ben Long scored 118 in Round 1 after a switch to halfback for St Kilda.

Billy Frampton (Adelaide) $165,400 FWD to Ben Long (St Kilda) $283,100 FWD

Long’s first outing as a half-back flanker was impressive as he posted a SuperCoach score of 118. The dashing Saint has a break even of -10 ahead of Round 2 and is set to launch above $300,000. Fast cash generation is more important than ever this year with only 16 rounds left. By avoiding bottom-price rookies and upgrading to mid-pricers with appealing break evens, I’ll hopefully be well-placed to achieve a full premium team weeks before other coaches who are relying on rookies. Frampton only posted 45 in his first game as a Crow and with a break even of 18 he’ll be a very slow burn. I’d rather spend the extra $120,000 now and hope Long can get close to $400,000. His best season average might be 53.9 but he’s been playing as a small forward — the worst role for KFC SuperCoach.

STARTING TEAM

Tim Michell’s initial KFC SuperCoach team.

ROUND 2 TEAM

Team after Round 2 trades.

Originally published as Tim Michell reveals his five Round 2 trades for KFC SuperCoach