The Phantom’s Round 19 Review: Young Saint set to become goalkicking version of Neale
THE SuperCoach finals are here. But, if your team didn’t make the major round, it might be time to turn your attention to next season. In the Round 19 Review, The Phantom looks at the young Saint set to become goalkicking version of Lachie Neale.
THE minor round is over, SuperCoaches.
The road to the big dance is on.
If you didn’t make the finals in your league, it might be time to start looking ahead to 2019.
No, it’s never too early.
One player who is high on The Phantom’s 2019 watchlist is Saint Jade Gresham.
The skilful small-forward, who has started the transition into full-time AFL midfielder, featured in The Phantom’s forward-line points-of-difference story last week and he continued his good form with 113 SuperCoach points in Round 19.
It was Gresham’s fourth SuperCoach ton in the past six weeks.
Gresham ranks equal-14th in the Coleman Medal race with 32 goals and is the 10th-ranked player in the competition for scoreboard impact.
Impressive for a 20-year-old in his third season.
But it’s the numbers the first-round draft pick from 2015 has produced in the past two matches that indicates his days as a small-forward are over.
On Saturday against the Giants, for the second consecutive week, Gresham played predominantly as a midfielder, attending a season-high 11 centre bounces.
The 20-year-old tallied an equal career-high 25 disposals, eight contested possessions, seven score involvements and two goals.
A week earlier against the Tigers, the creative right-footer, posted 110 SuperCoach points, on the back of 24 disposals, 10 contested possessions, seven clearances, five tackles, seven score involvements, and two goals.
For those who followed Gresham’s career as a junior, these numbers should come as no surprise.
The former Northern Knights captain averaged 29 disposals, 12 contested possession and 146 SuperCoach points per game in the TAC Cup during his draft year.
Gresham replicated these numbers at the 2015 Under-18 Championships when he averaged 23 disposals, eight contested possessions and 134 SuperCoach points per game.
At 177cm, Gresham is the same height as Fremantle star Lachie Neale.
While Gresham is yet to show a similar ball-winning ability to Neale at the top level, he’s yet to have the same midfield opportunity.
It took Neale four years to average three figures in SuperCoach and 2019 will be Gresham’s fourth year in the competition.
I’m tipping a similar breakout year for Gresham next season.
Only he will kick more goals.
THE GOOD
Paul Ahern, ladies and gentleman. In just his eight senior game, the 21-year-old, who has had two knee reconstructions after being selected at pick No. 7 by the Giants in 2014, recorded 37 disposals, 22 contested possessions, 12 clearances and 124 SuperCoach points. Well done to those who were able to take his score. Make sure you give yourself the option to do so in the next four weeks, especially with a number of underperforming — so called — premium forwards.
After — hopefully — reading The Phantom’s review last week, almost 1000 SuperCoaches traded in Tom Hawkins ahead of Round 19. And, boy, would they be happy!? The Geelong forward booted another seven goals on his way to a season-high 151 SuperCoach points. Hawkins’ five-round average of 125 is now the fifth-highest in the competition and 16 points better than the next best forward.
One I didn’t mention in the forward line points-of-difference last week was third-year Bulldog Josh Dunkley. My good friend at Champion Data, Fantasy Freako, tells me Dunkley ranks fourth in the AFL for tackles since Round 15. A greater midfield role has seen the 21-year-old post scores of 105, 86, 88, 105 and 147 in the past five matches.
THE BAD
Lance Franklin’s 52 points against the Bombers in Round 19 was his fourth score of 73 or less in the past five matches. While not many can bounce back like Buddy can, with a tough month ahead for the Swans, if you have the trades, it’s time to move him on.
Same goes with Docker Michael Walters, who had no influence in the first half against the Hawks, playing as a permanent forward.
THE PHANTOM’S MENACE
Ross Lyon
Don’t do a Richo on us, Ross. We want Michael Walters in the midfield.
THE PHANTOM ROUND 19
Score: 2384
Overall Ranking: 12,744