Dual-position Dangerfield the No. 1 player in The Phantom’s SuperCoach Draft January rankings
This pre-season, along with all of the classic format content, The Phantom will be helping you get ready for your SuperCoach Draft. To begin, here is the January edition of my Top 50 player rankings.
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- The Phantom’s preseason: Premium midfielders
- The Phantom’s preseason: Premium defenders
- The Phantom’s team reveal version 2.0
- Everything you need to know about SuperCoach
- Jonathan Brown’s SuperCoach dilemma
If you haven’t played SuperCoach Draft before, you’re missing out.
Arguably, it’s a fun, more-exciting way to play our favourite fantasy game.
Take part in a league with your mates – or join any available public league – and select a unique SuperCoach team through a live draft where each player is only available once.
You can then trade players with other teams throughout the season and pick up any undrafted player from the free agency pool as you go.
League settings – number of teams, squad size, trading and free agency options, gameplay and draft type, just to name a few – are customisable, allowing you to set up your competition your own way.
This pre-season, along with all of the classic format content, The Phantom will be helping you get ready for your SuperCoach Draft.
To begin, here is the January edition of my Top 50 player rankings. For new players, it will give you an indication of how a draft might play out.
1. Patrick Dangerfield (Geel) Fwd/mid
2018 average: 122
With Dangerfield a chance to average 20 points more than the next best player in his position, it has to be the Geelong superstar at No.1.
2. Brodie Grundy (Coll) Ruck
2018 Average: 130
The top-ranked scorer from last season should go close again in 2019 and is a worthy No. 1 selection. But the gap between he and the second-ranked ruckman – likely to be Max Gawn – might not be as great.
3. Jack Macrae (WB) Mid
2018 average: 127
With the two best positional players gone, it’s time to take the No. 1 ranked midfielder. And, with Tom Mitchell injured, Macrae is the man.
4. Patrick Cripps (Carl) Mid
2018 Average: 119
Last season there was only three midfielders who averaged more than 120 points per game; Dangerfield, Macrae and Mitchell. Expect the contested-ball beast from the Blues to join the group in 2019.
5. Jake Lloyd (Syd) Def
2018 Average: 112
The skilful Swan was the only defender to average more than 110 points per game in 2018 and, with the new kick-in stat ruling, he’s a chance to better his 112-point average this season.
6. Max Gawn (Melb) Ruck
2018 Average: 127
There’s a concern about what the impact of recruit Brayden Preuss might be on Gawn’s scoring but we might be overplaying it. He has to be selected here – and it could be higher if we get more clarity on Preuss’ role during the pre-season.
7. Nat Fyfe (Freo) Mid
2018 Average: 114
While some SuperCoaches might opt for Josh Kelly or Clayton Oliver ahead of Fyfe, the Docker skipper still possesses one of the highest ceilings in the competition. If he stays fit, look out.
8. Josh Kelly (GWS) Mid
2018 Average: 114
After returning from injury, the classy midfielder averaged 120 points from Round 12 onwards last season. Uses the ball better than most and hits the scoreboard so, if he gets a clear run at it, expect that to be his average across the entire season in 2019.
9. Clayton Oliver (Melb) Mid
2018 Average: 115
Not many have achieved what Oliver has in the first three seasons of his career and, in a scary thought, his numbers a likely to get even better. Still sits slightly below Kelly – but only just.
10. Rory Laird (Adel) Def
2018 Average: 108
The Crow ball magnet is still the second best SuperCoach defender behind Lloyd and is as reliable as selections come. Laird should, at least, maintain his average this season.
11. Dustin Martin (Rich) Mid
12. Lachie Whitfield (GWS) Def
13. Devon Smith (Ess) Fwd/mid
14. Lachie Neale (Bris) Mid
15. Elliot Yeo (WC) Mid
16. Isaac Heeney (Syd) Fwd/mid
17. Matt Crouch (Adel) Mid
18. James Sicily (Haw) Def
19. Zach Merrett (Ess) Mid
20. Josh Dunkley (WB) Fwd/mid
21. Adam Treloar (Coll) Mid
22. Stefan Martin (Bris) Ruck
23. Alex Witherden (Bris) Def
24. Connor Blakely (Fre) Def
25. Chad Wingard (Haw) Fwd/mid
26. Kade Simpson (Carl) Def
27. Justin Westhoff (Port) Ruck/fwd
28. Andrew Gaff (WC) Mid
29. Dayne Beams (Coll) Mid
30. Stephen Coniglio (GWS) Mid
31. Sam Menegola (Geel) Fwd/mid
32. Marcus Bontempelli (WB) Mid
33. Gary Ablett (Geel) Mid
34. Lance Franklin (Syd) Fwd
35. Zac Williams (GWS) Def
36. Todd Goldstein (NM) Ruck
37. Mitch Duncan (Geel) Mid
38. Shaun Higgins (NM) Mid
39. Tom Hawkins (Geel) Fwd
40. Jeremy Howe (Coll) Def
41. Harris Andrews (Bris) Def
42. Angus Brayshaw (Melb) Mid
43. Seb Ross (StK) Mid
44. Robbie Gray (Port) Fwd/mid
45. Luke Ryan (Freo) Def
46. Tom McDonald (Melb) Fwd
47. Jack Crisp (Coll) Def
48. Tim Kelly (Geel) Fwd/mid
49. Joel Selwood (Geel) Mid
50. Tim Taranto (GWS) Mid
Final word: How to deal with SuperCoach rookie blow
There was more KFC SuperCoach carnage at team selection this week. But there was some good news, too. The Phantom looks at all the Round 4 teams, how to deal with new rookie blow and all the weekend’s best captain options
SuperCoach: Simpkin, Petracca or Smith – who do you take?
Jy Simpkin, Bailey Smith and Christian Petracca all present tremendous value in the KFC SuperCoach forward line ahead of Round 4. But, if you’re trading Josh Dunkley or cashing out on Lachie Whitfield, which one do you choose?