The Phantom’s Round 14 Review: There was plenty to complain about but it’s time to look ahead to the bargain that is Rory Sloane
The byes and the dreaded blue dots are gone and Round 15 is upon us. Forget about Clarko and Sicily, there’s a star midfielder at a bargain price and a must-have downgrade target to focus on. Listen to the latest Phantom’s Lair podcast here.
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Finally, after another frustrating week of SuperCoach, the bye-rounds are over.
But I’m not here to complain about Alastair Clarkson playing All-Australian defender James Sicily forward — again!
On a side note, in a positive sign for SuperCoaches, Clarkson said post-match “the Sicily experiment hasn’t worked for us”.
No ‘insert expletive here’. Don’t rage trade him just yet.
I’m not even here to whinge about Power coach Ken Hinkley suggesting the injured Tom Rockliff — who has now missed four weeks with a hamstring injury which, at one stage, wasn’t even going to keep him out the following round — will have to return through the SANFL.
And I’m definitely not here to reminisce about Michael Walters’ headbutt, Lachie Neale’s season-low score, Buddy’s hamstring, Marty Hore’s 49 or Tim Kelly’s 17 disposals.
And finally, I won’t be bringing up James Sicily’s forward-line move.
I’m over that. Obviously.
I’m looking ahead.
Round 15 upon us, the dreaded blue dots are gone, our premiums should all — hopefully — return and projected scores are rising.
But what I’m most excited about this week is Adelaide co-captain Rory Sloane.
If you take out Sloane’s injury-affected 35 against the Demons in Darwin, he’s averaging 115 points per game — a figure which would rank him sixth of all midfielders.
The players averaging more — Josh Kelly, Lachie Neale, Patrick Cripps, Jack Macrae and Nat Fyfe — all have price tags in excess of $558,000.
Sloane, fresh off the bye, is available for $511k, making him the 30th-most expensive midfielder in the competition.
The 29-year-old has posted 10 SuperCoach tons this season — five in excess of 124 — and he’s shown he’s much more capable of breaking the tag now, scoring 103 points against GWS and Matt de Boer, thanks to a huge last quarter, in Round 12.
It’s a bargain of the highest order.
Speaking of bargains, who jumped on Demon Angus Brayshaw at $423k?
As he was in the previous two matches, Brayshaw was up around the ball again — despite a number of stints on the bench — and finished with 24 disposals and 101 points after an influential final quarter.
At $448k, you could do worse at M8 if you’re struggling for cash.
If you’re trying to free-up money, Docker Griffin Logue ($164,300) is your man.
The 15-game defender is on the bubble this week and, after another impressive performance at the weekend, has a breakeven of -99, the lowest in the competition.
His job security is rock solid, with the season-ending injury to Alex Pearce, and, going by the past two weeks, his scoring is worthy of an on-field spot.
The 21-year-old, drafted at pick No. 8 in 2016, tallied 17 disposals, an equal-game-high 12 intercepts and 103 SuperCoach points against the Demons.
In other big performances in Round 14, Power big man Scott Lycett, rucking solo without Paddy Ryder, did his best Reilly O’Brien impersonation, tallying a huge 180 SuperCoach points against the Cats, to, again, overshadow Brodie Grundy and Max Gawn.
They posted measly scores of 174 and 151 respectively.
But, seriously, their SuperCoach dominance is astounding.
Look away, non-owners.
After 13 matches, for overall points, Gawn (1704) and Grundy (1684) sit more than 100 points clear of the third-ranked Neale (1565).
And of all ruckmen, the pair sit more than 360 points ahead of Todd Goldstein, who averages 28 points less per game than Grundy (129).
You’re not winning without them.
Speaking of not winning, did I mention Clarko and Sicily?
THE PHANTOM ROUND 14
Score: 1969
Overall ranking: 1733
Studs: Brodie Grundy (174), Max Gawn as C (151), Jack Macrae (148), Travis Boak (118), Caleb Daniel (114), Luke Ryan (106), Angus Brayshaw (101).
Duds: James Sicily (40), Tim Kelly (76), Lachie Neale 79
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?