The Phantom’s Final Word: Rookie-price bench cover — or lack of — the teams, captains and my Round 14 trades

While SuperCoaches have been scrambling during the bye-rounds, the playing rookie-price bench cover has been drying up. And the effects will soon be felt. The Phantom’s warning plus the teams, captains and more.

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With SuperCoaches caught up in the bye-round panic, trying to field 18 players and stay competitive, the popular rookie-price players who occupy bench spots across the country are starting to drop like flies.

Ryan Gardner, Chris Burgess and Robbie Young — all of whom are in more than 20 per cent of teams — have been dropped in the past two weeks.

Burgess’ Gold Coast teammate Josh Corbett, while only in 5 per cent of sides, was also sent back to the NEAFL recently.

Bailey Scott with teamamte Trent Dumont ahead of his Round 1 debut against the Dockers.

Then there’s Bailey Scott (31 per cent of teams), Willem Drew (21 per cent), Charlie Constable (14 per cent), Josh Rotham (12 per cent) and Will Hayes (10 per cent) — who all appear unlikely to return soon — sitting on the bench of thousands of SuperCoach teams, serving no purpose other than for a loophole.

And what makes the situation worse is trades are being used at a rapid rate.

While SuperCoaches are yet to feel the full force of this cover shortage, the consequences will soon be felt.

Sure, a complete team, full of premiums as quickly as possible, is the aim, but if you don’t have enough scoring players on your bench and you run out of trades late in the year, your ranking will drop a lot faster than it may have risen over the past month.

The Phantom is all for having a crack and trading aggressively but we need to continue to think long-term.

THE TEAMS

Darcy Fort in action for Geelong in the VFL.

At Geelong, Darcy Fort ($117,300 ruck) gets another chance in the absence of the injured Esava Ratugeolea.

The mature-age recruit followed-up his SuperCoach ton on debut with 51 points in Round 10, before he was omitted when Ratugeolea returned from a previous injury.

While he’s set for a big price rise after his third game this week against the Power, with the earlier warning in mind, don’t go trading in Fort for the sake of a small cash injection.

Coach Chris Scott originally said Ratugeolea would be right to play this week after suffering a hamstring injury in Round 12.

So there’s a good chance, he’s back in — at the expense of Fort — next week.

In the same game on Saturday night, second-year Power defender Joel Garner ($123k def) also gets another opportunity in Ken Hinkley’s side.

Garner was dropped after an impressive 65-point debut in Round 9 against the Suns.

But with Port’s 22 undergoing a major shake-up, Garner might get a proper crack this time.

THE PHANTOM’S TRADES

Are you taking the punt on Demon Angus Brayshaw?

At $578k, Lachie Neale is coming in this week, there was never any doubt about that move.

But I’ve changed my mind all week on bargain-price Melbourne midfielder Angus Brayshaw.

At $423k, with scores 116 and 91 in his return to the midfield in the past two matches, the value is obvious.

Will coach Simon Goodwin keep him there?

I’m going to take the plunge and find out.

Michael Gibbons to Dylan Clarke

Tom Liberatore to Angus Brayshaw

Sam Walsh to Lachie Neale

CAPTAINS

Finally, after two long weeks, normality has returned to SuperCoach captaincy.

The top-three players, by average, are back in action and, more importantly, in different games.

With the bye rounds and team selection delivering so much uncertainty — and sub-par performances — it’s time to play it safe with your Round 13 captain.

And that means the tried-and-tested Max Gawn-Brodie Grundy combination sits atop the list this week.

Max Gawn

v Fremantle, Saturday

Gawn’s average of 129 is the highest in the competition and in his past two matches against the Dockers, the Melbourne big man has posted scores of 151 and 141. Do I need to go on? No, I don’t. Make him your VC on Saturday afternoon.

Brodie Grundy at Collingwood training ahead of the Round 14 clash with the Bulldogs

Brodie Grundy

v Western Bulldogs, Sunday

If Gawn doesn’t perform, back in Grundy, after a week off, as captain. The 25-year-old tallied 23 disposals, 18 contested possessions, 17 hitouts-to-advantage and 160 SuperCoach points against young Bulldogs ruckman Tim English in Round 4. While English has improved since then — and will continue to do so rapidly — Grundy should dominate once again, despite the game being played at Marvel Stadiuum.

But there is a wildcard.

Patrick Dangerfield

v Port Adelaide, Saturday night

Providing Dangerfield makes the trip — wife Mardi is due to give birth to their second child within the next two weeks — he must be considered, given his outstanding record at Adelaide Oval. The former Crow has posted scores of 128, 158, 135, 142, 132, 137 and 119 in his seven matches at the venue since leaving Adelaide. And then there’s his three-game average of 144 against the Power. Hmm.

THE OTHER OPTIONS

Jake Lloyd has an impressive recent record against Hawks.

Jake Lloyd (Syd)

v Hawthorn, Friday night

Despite the other rock-solid options, if you’re after a less-popular VC, the playmaking Sydney defender is worth some thought. Lloyd has recorded SuperCoach tons in 11 of his 12 matches this season — six of them in excess of 120 — and he’s posted scores of 149 and 130 in his past two against the Hawks.

Nat Fyfe (Freo)

v Melbourne, Saturday

It was business as usual for the Fremantle skipper last week, with Fyfe 129 points against the Power to making it eight SuperCoach tons on-the-trot. And in his last trip to the MCG, the win against Collingwood in Round 11, Fyfe recorded a game-high 145.

Lachie Neale (Bris)

v St Kilda, Saturday

At $578k, if you don’t already have him, it’s likely you’re trading him in this week, immediately giving you another go-to captain option. Neale’s back at Marvel Stadium against the Saints in Round 13, the scene of his 106-point score in his last start. But there’s no Ed Curnow this time — or Jack Steele for the Saints — so expect Neale to get off the leash on Saturday.

Jack Macrae (WB)

v Collingwood, Sunday

After an inconsistent few weeks, Macrae bounced back after the bye, recording a season-high 150 points against the Blues last week. While his recent numbers against the Magpies don’t scream ‘captain me’, expect it to be a high-possession midfield battle on Sunday, one which Macrae will be in the thick of.

Can Bulldog Josh Dunkley repeat his 173-point performance from last week?

Josh Dunkley (WB)

v Collingwood, Sunday

With scores of 130, 119 and 173 in his past three matches, only Max Gawn boasts a better three-round average than Dunkley, who — finally! — is back in the midfield on a permanent basis. I’d pick him over Macrae, if you’re in need of a left-field captain option on Sunday.