The Phantom’s Pre-Season: The SuperCoach defenders who must be on your JLT Series watchlist

The JLT Series is upon us and it’s finally time to see the players we’ve been talking about over summer in action. The Phantom looks at the SuperCoach defenders who must be on your watchlist.

• The Phantom’s pre-season guide to: Premium smokies | Premium forwards | Premium defenders | Premium midfielders | Mid-price defenders| Mid-price midfielders | Mid-price ruckmen | Mid-price forwards | Mid price smokies | Cash cows in defence | Midfield cash cows | Cash cow defenders | Cash cow ruckmen | Cash cow forwards | Cash Cow smokies

• Survival Guide and Phantom team

The JLT Series is upon us and it’s time for SuperCoaches to get serious. It’s time to see the players we’ve been talking about over summer in action. The Phantom looks at the SuperCoach defenders who must be on your watchlist.

Adelaide

Brodie Smith $332,500

Smith played just two games last season after recovering from an ACL injury but the 2014 All-Australian is fit-and-firing and ready to reclaim his title as one of the most damaging half-backs in the game. Monitor his kick-in duties.

Wayne Milera, right, with Eddie Betts during the Crows’ pre-season.

Wayne Milera $433,100

In the absence of Smith, the 21-year-old made his mark on the competition last season and has been a standout over summer. Milera is ready to take his game to another level but, with Smith returning, will he do so at half back? The JLT Series will hopefully tell us more about Don Pyke’s plans

Brisbane

Harris Andrews $480,100

He’s a star key defender — and premium SuperCoach scorer — in-the-making but coach Chris Fagan believes he can be even more effective as a forward. Monitor his role closely.

Alex Witherden $455,000

Watch for the young star to take his ball-winning to another level in 2019, starting in the pre-season competition.

Nic Newman in action at Carlton training. Picture: Ian Currie

Carlton

Nic Newman $394,100

The former Swan gets his chance to lockdown a spot across half-back in the absence of Sam Docherty and young defender Tom Williamson.

Collingwood

Isaac Quaynor $153,300

The draftee appears a ready-made player but it’s not an easy side to break into at Collingwood. Watch for the 18-year-old’s explosiveness off half-back.

Essendon

Andrew McGrath $384,300

It didn’t eventuate last year, despite glimpses over summer, but the former No. 1 draft pick might be ready to take up a spot in the Essendon midfield this season.

Fremantle

Luke Ryan $489,900

The 23-year-old took the most kick-ins at the Dockers last season but only played-on once. Will he do so more — and bump up his kick numbers in the process — in 2019?

Geelong

Jordan Clark, right, with former Geelong star Corey Enright on draft night.

Jordan Clark $144,300

The 18-year-old draftee, who is composed, quick and reads the play well, has impressed in his first pre-season at the Cats and is set to push his case for a Round 1 debut over the next fortnight

Gold Coast

Sam Collins $188,900

The mature-age recruit, who holds the Champion Data record for the most intercept marks in a season in any competition, is a Round 1 lock but what can we expect scoring wise?

Chris Burgess $123,900, Fwd

The 22-year-old booted two goals in an impressive performance in the practice game against the Lions last week and his flexibility will appeal to coach Stuart Dew.

GWS

Zac Williams $407,800

The Phantom’s best value-for-money option, in any position, for 2019. Williams was quiet in the Giants’ recent practice match but expect him to take it up a gear over the next two weeks. Will Williams and Lachie Whitfield fit in the same defensive 50?

THE PHANTOM’S INTEL: CROWS v POWER

Hawthorn

Jack Scrimshaw $149,800

It’s been an interrupted pre-season for the former Sun but the 20-year-old is ready to showcase his talent in the JLT Series. We might be asking ourselves “How did Hawthorn get this kid for nothing?” by the year’s end.

James Sicily $570,400

Sicily himself suggested his role might change slightly with the introduction of the new rules in 2019 so keep an eye on the 24-year-old when he appears in the JLT Series — especially when the Hawks kick-in.

Melbourne

Marty Hore $117,300

The mature-age defender from the VFL, who took a number of kick-ins in the recent practice match against the Magpies, is firming as a Round 1 starter after an impressive summer.

Michael Hibberd $398,700

Can the 29-year-old return to his SuperCoach best in 2019? To do that, his role needs to change. With Steven May arriving, along with fellow mid-size defender Hore, there is a chance Hibberd will be freed up again.

North Melbourne recruit Jasper Pittard. Picture: Michael Klein

North Melbourne

Jasper Pittard $365,700

The former Port Adelaide defender averaged 92 points per game in a career-best year in 2016 but he’s failed to average more than 79 in the past two years. What can he do at his new home in 2019?

Port Adelaide

Connor Rozee $189,300

Look for the Power’s top draft pick to seal his Round 1 debut in a half-forward role over the next fortnight.

Xavier Duursma $130,800

There’s others spots up for grabs at Port Adelaide, too and the 18-year-old, who can play in multiple positions, is right in the mix if he can continue his impressive summer in the JLT Series

Richmond

Brandon Ellis $387,500

After making a name for himself as one of the most-damaging wingmen in the league in the early part of his career, Ellis found himself in the reserves last year after struggling to have an impact at half-back. But Ellis, whose strengths will suit the new 6-6-6 centre-bounce setup, is a chance to re-join the midfield this season.

St Kilda

Dylan Roberton $297,500

Roberton delighted the St Kilda faithful with an impressive performance in the recent intra-club match and will continue his journey back from a heart scare in the JLT Series. The value might become too hard to ignore.

Hunter Clark takes possession of the football in the Saints’ intra-club match.

Hunter Clark $293,500

Clark was another Saint to impress in the intra-club hit-out, showing signs he’s ready to take his game to another level in his second season.

Sydney

Callum Mills $428,900

We’re likely to see the young Swan play predominantly in the midfield through the JLT Series but we’ve seen him do that before. Will he stay there for the season proper this time?

Justin McInerney $117,300

The 18-year-old has some serious dash and it’s no surprise there has been some excitement around the draftee over summer. Let’s hope he gets a chance to impress over the next two weeks.

Western Bulldogs

Bailey Williams tackles star team-mate Jackson Macrae.

Bailey Williams $441,600

Ball-winning defender has stated he’s spent most of his pre-season training with the midfield group so hopefully the JLT Series gives a better indication of his 2019 role. He’s a potential SuperCoach star.

West Coast

Oscar Allen $236,700

With Mark LeCras retiring and Josh Kennedy and Jamie Cripps injured, expect Allen to be one of a handful of young Eagles pushing their names forward over the next two weeks.