The Phantom’s Round 12 Review: The good, the bad and the sleeping Giant Josh Kelly

ROUND 12 was supposed to be the easiest of the three bye rounds but it turned into a nightmare for SuperCoaches. But, thankfully, it’s over. The Phantom looks at the good, the bad and the sleeping Giant. LISTEN to latest episode of The Phantom’s Lair Podcast.

The Phantom's Round 12 SuperCoach review

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FINALLY, it’s over.

Round 12 was supposed to be the easiest of the three bye rounds to navigate but it turned into a nightmare for SuperCoaches.

As a result of injury, suspension and the bye, nine of the top-20 most-selected players were missing from the team sheets when they were revealed on Thursday — The Phantom had all of them.

And it only got worse as a number of other popular selections, despite being named on the team sheet, went missing during the game.

However, it’s a new week and, despite another dreaded bye round, this time with six teams taking a week off, the reinforcements are coming.

Carlton, Hawthorn, Western Bulldogs and West Coast are back in action this week and there are a number of big names ripe for the picking.

Bulldog Marcus Bontempelli is the cheaper alternative to in-form team-mate Jack Macrae.

Bulldog Marcus Bontempelli, who is more than $150k cheaper than team-mate Jack Macrae, has scored 120 points or more in four of his past five games. Toby McLean, who boats the fourth-highest average of all forwards, is another star from the Bulldogs you need to look at getting into your side this week.

Over in the West, SuperCoach defenders Elliot Yeo and Shannon Hurn, who average more than 100 points per game in 2018 are well priced.

The same can be said for Blue Kade Simpson, who has posted three scores in excess of 140 this season.

And if you don’t already have him, Hawk ball magnet Tom Mitchell is great buying at $603k.

Speaking of welcome returns, GWS star Josh Kelly was back in a big way in Round 12.

After posting scores of 99 and 97 in his first two games back from a six-week lay-off with a groin issue, Kelly exploded against the Suns, tallying 40 disposals, eight marks, seven tackles, two goals and 146 SuperCoach points.

Despite the injury-interrupted season, the classy midfield is averaging 109 point per game and is available for $76 less than his 2018 starting price.

But as he continues to build in the back half of the season, with a breakeven of 92, he won’t be that cheap for much longer.

The Giants have the bye this week but Kelly, who is in just eight per cent of teams, looms as a great point-of-difference option for your final midfield upgrade.

THE GOOD

Power midfielder Ollie Wines, right, scored 142 SuperCoach points against the Tigers in Round 12.

Port Adelaide’s midfield bull Ollie Wines led his team to victory with a dominant performance against the Tigers. Wines, who only managed 66 points in the clash with the Hawks in Round 11, registered 29 disposals, 16 contested possessions, 12 tackles and 142 points. That’s his second score of more than 140 this season but the 23-year-old has also posted four scores of 79 or less from his 11 games in 2018.

At his best, he’s a great SuperCoach option but his inconsistent scoring has always been a problem. Still, Wines is still worth some thought at $472k.

Power team-mate Chad Wingard, who has averaged 65 points since his SuperCoach ton in Round 1, also looms as a late-season value selection at $375k, after 31 disposals and 116 points on Friday night. In a great sign, Wingard, who spent majority of his first nine games in the forward line, attended a game-high 18 centre bounces against the Tigers.

Popular bubble boy Logan Austin delivered again in our time of need, scoring 73 SuperCoach points, from 21 disposals and nine marks, to push his price to $237k. In an interesting note, the St Kilda recruit scored 51 of those points when fellow defender Nathan Brown was off the ground with concussion against the Swans. And, thankfully, barring any team selection drama — it is Allan Richardson — Austin will be there again to help this week.

Brisbane defender Harris Andrews is the fourth-ranked defender after 11 rounds. Yes, you read that right. In the past nine rounds, the 21-year-old has posted six SuperCoach tons, with a low score of 80. Against the Bombers on Sunday, Andrews posted a game-high 152 points, on the back of 24 disposals, 12 marks — six of them contested — 13 intercept possessions and 20 one percenters. And he’s only in one per cent of teams — some would say the perfect amount.

THE BAD

Michael Walters. Not only did he score -2 points in the final quarter against the Crows, the Fremantle star has been handed a one-match suspension for his gut-punch on Jake Kelly. And then he has the bye. Don’t worry, The Phantom traded him in, too.

He’s still the highest-scoring player in the game but Max Gawn’s season-low 76 points against the Magpies hurt many SuperCoach teams, which had him captain. Gawn could only manage five hitouts-to-advantage — also a season-low — in his head-to-head clash with Collingwood’s Brodie Grundy.

Jack Billings responded to his demotion with a huge performance in the VFL.

The fact Jack Billings’ 54 disposals and 192 SuperCoach points in the VFL didn’t count towards my Round 12 score. After all of the patience The Phantom showed.

THE PHANTOM ROUND 12

Score: 1420

Overall ranking: 27,004