The Phantom’s Round 21 Review: The good, the bad and the what to do with Walters

WE’RE at the business end of the SuperCoach season and Michael Walters has thrown another spanner in the works. If you are one of the 22,000 owners, The Phantom has the trade options on every budget covered. Plus listen to the latest podcast.

The Phantom's Round 21 SuperCoach review

• Docker delivers SuperCoach dagger
• Where does Jack’s monster game rank?

IT’S been a frustrating year to be a Michael Walters owner in SuperCoach.

The talented Docker has posted two scores of 130 or more but also four less than 65.

After the latest hamstring injury, Walters will have missed five games in three separate stints– including a one-week suspension — out of the Fremantle side.

But, with coach Ross Lyon preferring to play Walters inside 50, the most frustrating part is we didn’t get to see the 27-year-old unleashed in the midfield for a long period of time, as we did between rounds seven and 16 last season.

During that stretch, Walters led the Dockers for metres gained and averaged 25 disposals and 111 SuperCoach points.

Until we see this sort of consistency again, both in form and body, The Phantom will be putting Walters on the no-go list for the time being.

To my #SuperCoach team. For a long time. https://t.co/qxeZczMMQZ

— The Phantom (@ThePhantomSC) August 12, 2018

I won’t say never again because we’ve all seen just how good he can be.

Anyway, enough of the what-ifs.

If you’ve got Walters and still have a trade or two, consider these options.

MONEY NO ISSUE/MULTIPLE TRADES

Geelong forward Tom Hawkins could cash in against the Dockers and Suns in the next two weeks.

Banked some cash or still have trades to spare? Tom Hawkins ($544,100) is your man.

While the Geelong forward has only booted two goals and averaged 72 SuperCoach points in the past two matches, he still boasts the fourth-highest five-round average of all forwards after posting scores of 151, 140 and 112 in the previous three weeks.

But it’s all about the next two rounds.

The Cats host the 13th-ranked Dockers in Round 22 before welcoming the 17th-ranked Gold Coast Suns, who conceded 10 goals and 219 SuperCoach points to Richmond forward Jack Riewoldt at the weekend, to the Cattery for the final round of the year.

Both fixtures are early on Saturday afternoon so Hawkins also looms as a match-winning VC option at the business end of SuperCoach finals.

A LITTLE BIT OF SPARE CHANGE

The Power need to beat the Magpies and Robbie Gray could be the match-winner.

For $16k, you can turn Walters into Robbie Gray ($429,400).

While the Port Adelaide star has posted scores of 99 and 100 in the past two weeks playing predominantly as a forward, the Power’s finals’ hopes rest on this week’s clash with the Magpies at the MCG.

Coach Ken Hinkley may have no choice but to start his best player in the middle on Saturday.

If you don’t have Swan star Isaac Heeney ($435,600), he’s a bargain at $435k — a staggering $100k less than his 2018 starting price.

The 22-year-old posted his first SuperCoach ton since Round 17 with a best-on-ground performance against the Demons on Sunday.

Two big games for the Swans in the next fortnight but he’s already shown he loves the big stage.

For something a little different, consider young Crow Wayne Milera ($433,500), who has been the shining light in a disappointing season at West Lakes.

The 20-year-old, who has transformed himself into a dashing defender, is averaging 22 disposals — at 83 per cent efficiency — five marks, four rebound 50s and 92 points per game in the past five matches.

And the Crows, who host the Kangaroos at home in Round 21, face the Blues in SuperCoach grand final week at Etihad Stadium.

If you’ve got Tom McDonald in defence, you could also consider swinging him forward and trading in Milera’s team-mate — and The Phantom’s long-time favourite — Brodie Smith ($452,100). The rebounding defender was the Crows’ best player in just his second game back from a knee reconstruction, recording 29 disposals and a team-high 129 points.

NO CASH HERE

Is Giant Rory Lobb the best value option to replace Michael Walters?

If you can only afford to trade Walters to a player at the same price, or less, The Phantom has two options for you.

The first is Rory Lobb ($350,600), who, with the season-ending injury to Dawson Simpson, will take back the No. 1 ruck role at the Giants for the remainder of the year.

And in the first game without Simpson, Lobb was huge, tallying 15 disposals, 10 contested possessions, eight tackles, 14 hitouts-to-advantage, 11 score involvements and 150 SuperCoach points against Sam Jacobs and the Crows.

The second is Brisbane enforcer Mitch Robinson ($402,300) who, after an inconsistent month, has posted scores of 91 and 120 in the past two weeks.

It’s easy to forget the 29-year-old averaged 102 points per game across the first 11 rounds of 2018 before a three-week injury layoff.

IF YOU DON’T HAVE ANY TRADES OR MONEY

Join the club.

THE GOOD

Jack Riewoldt, who was on song for Richmond against the Gold Coast, on stage with The Killers lead singer Brandon Flowers last year. Picture: Alex Coppel.

Jack Riewoldt take a bow. The Tiger forward’s 219-point performance, on the back of 26 disposals, 14 marks and 10 goals, is the highest SuperCoach score since Patrick Dangerfield’s 229 in 2016.

St Kilda midfielder Seb Ross continued his great form at Etihad Stadium this season, with his second score of 150 or more in as many weeks. Ross, who tallied 43 disposals and 152 points against the Bombers, is averaging 118 points at the venue this season and 92 points elsewhere.

THE BAD

Giant injuries. While there has been no official confirmation, defender Heath Shaw is likely to six weeks with a knee injury suffered late in the game against the Crows.

And SuperCoaches will be sweating on the availability of star midfielder Josh Kelly, after he was concussed in a tackle by Adelaide skipper Taylor Walker.

Bayley Fritsch’s second half against the Swans. The first-year Demon, who has enjoyed a terrific debut season, tallied 10 disposals and 51 SuperCoach points in the first half before registering just 4 disposals — all which came in the final quarter — after half time. The mature-age recruit finished on 56 points.

THE PHANTOM’S MENACE

Taylor Walker

You know why, Tex.

THE PHANTOM ROUND 21

Score: 2256

Overall score: 12,331