The Phantom’s Round 3 Review: Heeney bounces back, Dusty fails and Neale dominates as SuperCoaches learn a number of important lessons

It was another big week for SuperCoaches and The Phantom looks at the highs, lows and some of the lessons we can learn from Round 3 before attacking next weekend.

• The vice-captain loophole can be a double-edge sword
• Barometer: Port, SuperCoaches sweat on Rockliff
• SuperCoaches are better by the beach in SA

We all make mistakes in life. But if you learn from them, you can become a better person.

SuperCoach is no different.

We all learned a number of different lessons in Round 3.

If you don’t have Isaac Heeney, it would’ve been hard watching his best-on-ground performance against the Blues.

Lesson 1

Trading premiums after two weeks is never the best option.

Like I said last week, Isaac Heeney is a top-six forward and a player you will want in your final side. The young Swan made the 22,000 coaches who traded him out prior to Round 3 pay, recording 26 disposals, 14 contested possessions, four goals and 137 points against the Blues. Heeney spent 60 per cent of his time in the midfield, attending seven centre bounces. Let this be your reminder.

You could argue Dustin Martin is the exception but…

Lesson 2

Maybe Dustin Martin isn’t a premium.

In Round 2, Martin scored just 66 points after receiving heavy attention from Magpie Levi Greenwood. On Saturday against the Giants, with Matt De Boer by his side, Martin, again, failed to have any impact, tallying just 15 disposals – his lowest count since Round 1, 2015. While he applied six tackles – after failing to make any in the first two weeks – it’s hard to see Martin, who finished with 60 points, do enough to sit anywhere near the top eight from here.

Scott Lycett’s SuperCoach score came crashing back to earth in Round 3.

Lesson 3

Don’t always go after last week’s points.

More than 12,000 SuperCoaches traded Power big man Scott Lycett in after his huge 167-point performance last week. While he’s still likely to average 85 or more, we can’t expect big scores from him on a consistent basis. The former Eagle has now scored 69, 167 and 49 as a Port Adelaide player, with the two low scores coming against Max Gawn (Melbourne) and Stefan Martin (Brisbane).

So don’t go and trade in Giant Jeremy Cameron, despite his round-high 163 points, on the back of 30 disposals, nine marks and 7.5. But, gee, they are huge numbers.

Deviating slightly from the main point, while 18-year-old Tiger Sydney Stack was outstanding on debut, tallying 17 disposals, eight marks, one goal and 108 points, give it another week before trading him in.

Despite another a score of 17, Blue Michael Gibbons’ breakeven is still low so he’s still a chance for another price rise. A Gibbons to Stack trade ahead of Round 5 could be the one.

Lesson 4

Never underestimate Lachie Neale.

The Brisbane recruit has now scored 127, 140 and 177 in the first three rounds to sit 46 points clear of the second-ranked scorer in the game, Jack Macrae.

And in his last four games at the Dockers, the star midfielder posted scores of 120, 134, 132 and 140.

That’s a seven-round average of 138.

But only 35,000 out of a more than 190,000 SuperCoach teams started with him.

His price will continue to skyrocket so you either go this week if you’ve still got an underperforming Dustin Martin and the cash to do so, otherwise wait – and hope – for a quieter week because buying at top-price isn’t always the smart move. But start planning ahead, he’s one you will definitely want in your final team.

That’s back-to-back scores of 130 or more for Brodie Grundy.

Lesson 5

When there’s two players in a position clearly better than the next-best option, spend the money

While some may argue it was a success not to go with both given the prices of Brodie Grundy and Max Gawn will fall. But, despite the slow start, they sit atop the ruckmen rankings.

Grundy, who has scored 137 and 132 in his past two matches, sits 21 points ahead of Gawn, who has responded with scores of 116 and 126 after a disappointing Round 1.

Hawk Ben McEvoy (328) and Tiger Toby Nankervis (292) are the next-best.

And in defence, there’s two players emerging as the likely leading scorers in 2019. Swan Jake Lloyd has posted three consecutive scores of 124 or more to sit five points ahead of Giant Lachie Whitfield, who posted a career-high 152 against the Tigers. Yes, we’re only three rounds in but the pair sit more than 50 points clear of Daniel Rich and Tom Stewart.

Lesson 6

At his best, Tom Liberatore is a SuperCoach powerhouse.

He’s averaged 110 points per game in his career-best season in 2014 and, following on from a 128-point performance in Round 2, Liberatore reminded us all of his scoring power with 150 points against the Suns. The 26-year-old talled 30 disposals, 22 contested possessions, 10 clearances and nine tackles.

His price has already sky-rocketed but there’s still time - he’s still great buying.

Espcially if you’re looking to offload Dusty.

Lesson 7

Don’t celebrate your trade too early.

While I didn’t do it publicly, I was quietly celebrating my Dustin Martin to Tom Rockliff trade after the completion of the Tigers-Giants clash.

Unfortunately, later that night, Rockliff copped a knock to the head, sat most of the second-half on the bench with concussion and finished with just 36 points to his name.

Lesson 8

And, to finish, don’t panic when Jack Macrae is only on nine points at quarter-time!

Jack Macrae
QUARTER-TIME: 2 handballs, 9 points
FULL-TIME: 33 disposals, 139 points#SuperCoach #AFLDogsSuns

— The Phantom (@ThePhantomSC) April 7, 2019

The Phantom Round 3

Score: 2,300

Studs: Patrick Cripps (157), Tom Liberatore (150), Jack Macrae (139) Isaac Heeney (137), Jake Lloyd (130), Brad Crouch (114), Tim Taranto (112), Sam Walsh (112)

Duds: Tom Rockliff (36), Willem Drew (36), Will Setterfield (37), Brodie Smith (68)