All the must-have rookies, premiums and value selections to get your SuperCoach team started
If you’ve left it until the final hours to get your SuperCoach team in order, you’re in the right place. The Phantom’s last-minute guide is here to help. Plus, re-cap the live blog.
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It’s been a long, gruelling pre-season for SuperCoaches around the country with The Phantom taking charge in January.
But, just like at amateur footy clubs throughout Australia, there are always a few who roll up on the last week expecting a game in Round 1.
If that sounds like you and you’ve left it until the last minute to get your SuperCoach team in order, you’re in the right place.
Or even if you are just reshuffling your side one last time after the first game and season lockout, The Phantom’s last-minute guide is here to help.
THE MUST-HAVE PREMIUMS
DEFENCE
Jake Lloyd (Syd) $608,000
The Phantom is tipping Lloyd, who added a huge 25 points to his average last season, to go back-to-back as the top-scorer in defence. Splash the cash, pick him first and go from there.
MIDFIELD
Patrick Cripps (Carl) $648,200
Cripps will pinch-hit forward this year but, given his size and marking ability, it should only help his scoring. Expect the 195cm midfielder to push his average past 120.
RUCK
Brodie Grundy (Coll) $708,200
The Collingwood big man added an enormous 33 points to his average last season and could be the first ruckman to go back-to-back as the top-ranked scorer since Dean Cox. Grundy tallied more contested possessions per game than Dustin Martin and Scott Pendlebury in 2018.
FORWARD
Patrick Dangerfield (Geel) $660,500
The Geelong superstar has averaged 122, 136 and 132 in the past three seasons. Just. Pick. Him. You just have to as a forward.
Keep in mind — At the start of last season, Dustin Martin and Matt Crouch were priced at more than $600k. Heading into 2019, they are the 18th and 28th-most expensive midfielders in the competition. Now there’s some serious value for you.
The Phantom’s Ultimate Premium Guide
THE MUST-HAVE ROOKIES
DEFENCE
Jordan Clark (Geel) $144,300
Coach Chris Scott has all-but confirmed the 18-year-old’s place in the Cats’ Round 1 side after Clark, whose speed off half-back has been a highlight over the pre-season, ranked fifth at the club for intercepts in the JLT Series.
Sam Collins (GC) $188,900
Collins took 110 intercept marks in the VFL last season, the most ever recorded in a single season, and appears to have the best job security of any rookie-price option under $200k.
Xavier Duursma (Port) $130,800
Duursma, who will make his debut against the Demons on Saturday, can play multiple positions and averaged 124 SuperCoach points at TAC Cup level last year. Fingers crossed his flexibility keeps him in the side when a number experienced players return.
Keep in mind: Gold Coast Mature-age recruit Chris Burgess (GC) also looks to have great job security and his dual-position status as a defender-forward may come in handy, especially if you are starting Magpie Darcy Moore forward.
MIDFIELD
Sam Walsh (Carl) $207,300
The No. 1 draft pick has lived up to the hype, ranking first at Calrton for inside 50s and second for contested possessions and disposals in the JLT Series. Despite the top-end price tag, Walsh’s scoring should still see him become the best cash cow of 2019.
Zak Butters (Port) $157,800
This kid has it all. Courage, skill and an elite footy-IQ. And he’ll be there in Round 1. Expect Butters to, not only play the majority of games in his debut season, but have a big impact.
Charlie Constable (Geel) $123,900
The second-year midfielder has been a standout in the JLT Series and, at 191cm, he’ll add another element to an already-strong engine room. With two pre-seasons under his belt, he’ll be ready to withstand the rigours of senior footy better than most first-year draftees.
Keep in mind: Pre-season bolter Bailey Scott (NM) and Blue Michael Gibbons are perfect bench options, while second-year Hawk James Cousins is worth some thought, despite an elevated price tag, as he looks to step up in the absence of Tom Mitchell in Hawthorn’s midfield.
RUCK
Zac Clarke (Ess) $142,600
Many SuperCoaches throw the bench position in the ruck in order to take advantage of the captain’s loophole but, if you’re not, Clarke, who averaged 127 points and booted 28 goals in the WAFL last season, is your man, providing he’s named at selection.
FORWARD
Will Setterfield (Carl) $144,900
The former Giant is the best option under $200k in the forward line this season. And by some margin after showing his scoring potential with a SuperCoach ton in the JLT Series opener.
Darcy Moore (Coll) $239, 400
The forward-turned-defender, who took the most kick-ins of any player in the pre-season, showed he has to be considered as a serious SuperCoach option after an impressive JLT Series.
Keep in mind:Third-year Power midfielder Willem Drew’s scoring potential is great but will he make way for Ollies Wines, once he returns, regardless of form? That’s the concern some SuperCoaches share. Eagle Jack Petruccele and Saint Matthew Parker might not score as consistently but they should be given plenty of early opportunity.
Given the options available, The Phantom prefers more rookie-priced players on the field in the midfield and defence, rather than the forward line.
The Phantom’s Ultimate Rookie Guide
THE VALUE
DEFENCE
Zac Williams (GWS) $407,800
The dashing defender, who averaged 94 points per game in 2017 before missing most of last season through injury, appears the best value-for-money option in any position this year.
Brodie Smith (Adel) $332,500
After a standout pre-season, which highlighted his importance to Adelaide’s defence, there’s too much upside in Smith — who tallied 29 disposals and 129 points in his second game back from a knee reconstruction in Round 21 last year — at the price.
MIDFIELD
Brad Crouch (Adel) $418,00
The 25-year-old, who posted scores of 99, 110, 120 and 138 in is past four matches back in 2017 ticked all the boxes in his comeback from injury and, if he can stay on the park, could outscore brother Matt this season.
Dom Sheed (WC) $394,100
After averaging 116 points in the finals last year and tallying 79 disposals in the JLT Series, the numbers are compelling.
Tom Liberatore (WB) $300,400
While Sheed’s numbers are compelling, he doesn’t have the scoring history of Liberatore, who averaged 110 points per game in 2014. Sure, he doesn’t have the injury history, either, but at the price, Liberatore is the perfect stepping stone to a premium if he doesn’t become a season-long keeper.
Keep in mind: In a stark contrast to his first year at Alberton, Power midfield Tom Rockliff is fit, firing and coming off a 170-point performance in the second week of the JLT Series. It would take a brave coach, though.
RUCK
Shane Mumford (GWS) $320,200
While you would need a rookie-price ruckmen — or a dual-position forward in, say, Scott Lycett — to cover Mumford for the first two rounds of the year as he serves a club-imposed suspension, the returning 32-year-old is a great SuperCoach scorer. On history alone, Mumford, who has averaged 114, 106, 99 and 98 in his past four seasons, is a lock but by the time he’s available for selection in Round 3, it would’ve been 576 days since his last game.
Scott Lycett (Port) $490,300
With Paddy Ryder spending most of his time forward in the absence of Charlie Dixon — the former Eagle has to be seriously considered. The 26-year-old, who had the best hitout-to-advantage percentage of any ruckman to play both JLT Series matches has valuable dual-position status and shown he’s a more-than-handy SuperCoach scorer when given the No. 1 ruck role.
Keep in mind: Brodie Grundy and Max Gawn are an expensive combination but they are the two players in the entire pool most-likely to finish as the top-two ranked players in their position. I’d suggest spending the cash.
FORWARD
Jack Billings (StK) $437,600
To those who followed my lead last summer, I’m sorry. But, after averaging 93 points per game from Round 13 onwards last year, 2019 could be a different story for the newest member of St Kilda’s leadership group, who won 58 per cent of his possessions in the JLT Series in the defensive half.
James Worpel (Haw) $395,700
The second-year Hawk, who averaged 88 SuperCoach points per game and won the third-most disposals at Hawthorn from Round 18 last season, looks set to step up in the absence of Tom Mitchell after tallying 18 clearances in two pre-season games — ranking No. 1 at the club.
Keep in mind: Match-winning Giant Toby Greene is price at just $354k this year but he only managed one quarter of footy in the pre-season. If he’s not slow out of the blocks, as The Phantom expects, Greene is a player to consider jumping on before the first price rise after Round 3, if he fires.
The Phantom’s Ultimate Mid-Pricer Guide
POINT-OF-DIFFERENCE
DEFENCE
Harris Andrews (Bris) $480,100 — 2% of teams
In 2018, before the nasty collision with Jeremy Cameron in Round 14, the strong-marking Andrews had posted six SuperCoach tons to average 97 points after 12 rounds. Despite being trialled as a forward over the summer, the 22-year-old, who ranked second for one percenters per game in the AFL and averaged 16 disposals at an elite 85 per cent efficiency last year, remains rock of the Brisbane defence and a key defender we can bank on in SuperCoach.
MIDFIELD
Elliot Yeo (WC) $585,500 — 4% of teams
It happens every year. SuperCoaches forget about the players who lose their dual-position status. This season it’s Yeo, who finds himself in just four per cent of teams, despite finishing as the 10th-ranked player in the competition in 2018. The 25-year-old averaged 25 disposals and 12 contested possessions, while also ranking in the top-five in the AFL for tackles and inside 50s per match, highlighting the all-round nature of his game.
RUCK
Callum Sinclair (Syd) $528,000 — 1% of teams
With returning ruckman Sam Naismith not ready for the start of the season, Sinclair — as he did in 2018 — will have to lead the ruck for the Swans in the early part of the year. But it’s a SuperCoach-friendly role for the 29-year-old, who added 18 points to his average last season.
FORWARD
David Mundy (Freo) $520,200 — 2% of teams
The 33-year-old, who averaged a huge 113 points per game in 2015, moved forward permanently last season but that didn’t stop his scoring. Mundy posted 11 SuperCoach tons to finish with his highest average since the career-best effort in 2015. But, if the JLT Series is anything to go by, with departure of Lachie Neale and injury to Connor Blakely, the ever-reliable Mundy looks set to return to the midfield in 2019.
ROUND 1 LOCKOUT
Remember, in SuperCoach there is a rolling lockout in place meaning each player is only locked out at the start of their respective game. This means only Carlton and Richmond players are locked out at the first bounce tomorrow night — think Sam Walsh, Patrick Cripps, Will Setterfield, Dustin Martin, Jayden Short and Noah Balta
You will still have Friday to finalise the rest of your side.
And you will need it, given the rest of the Round 1 teams will only be announced an hour before the first game and Sunday squads trimmed on Friday afternoon.
Good luck, SuperCoaches.
The Phantom will be here to answer any of your last-minute questions at lunchtime on Thursday.
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