The Phantom’s SuperCoach formguide for Melbourne: Who will join Maxy as must-pick Demons?
Whether you are punting on a mid-price selection or backing the favourite, it’s not always easy picking a winner in SuperCoach. To help, The Phantom predicts Melbourne’s best 22 and delivers a racing-style summer formguide covering every player in it.
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- The Phantom’s Formguide: Adelaide
- The Phantom’s Formguide: Brisbane
- The Phantom’s Formguide: Carlton
- The Phantom’s Formguide: Collingwood
- The Phantom’s Formguide: Essendon
- The Phantom’s Formguide: Fremantle
- The Phantom’s Formguide: Geelong
- The Phantom’s Formguide: Gold Coast
- The Phantom’s Formguide: GWS
- The Phantom’s Formguide: Hawthorn
Whether you are punting on a mid-price selection or backing the favourite, it’s not always easy picking a winner in SuperCoach. To help, The Phantom predicts Melbourne’s best 22 and delivers a racing-style summer formguide covering every player in it.
The Phantom’s Best 22
B: Neville Jetta, Oscar McDonald, Jake Lever
HB: Michael Hibberd, Steven May, Christian Salem
C: Kade Kolodjashnij, Nathan Jones, Angus Brayshaw
HF: Alex Neal-Bullen, Tom McDonald, Christian Petracca
F: Charlie Spargo, Sam Weideman, Jake Melksham
1R: Max Gawn, Clayton Oliver, Jack Viney
Inter: James Harmes, Aaron vandenBerg, Jordan Lewis, Bayley Fritsch
The Phantom’s Formguide
(Ranked in order of SuperCoach significance in 2019)
Max Gawn (Ruck $692,100)
The star big man is – and has been for a while – a major SuperCoach player. Will, once again, take some catching as Melbourne’s highest scorer providing he doesn’t share ruck duties with recruit Brayden Preuss.
Clayton Oliver (Mid $622,600)
Averaged an enormous 115 points in just his third season in the game and looks capable of even better this campaign. Get on.
Angus Brayshaw (Mid $526,900)
Will be among the major players in 2019 after impressive 2018 season. The 23-year-old averaged 108 points per game in the final nine minor round games and will have plenty of admirers despite losing dual-position status.
Jack Viney (Mid $449,500)
Fitness a concern last campaign but scoring wasn’t. The tough midfielder posted SuperCoach tons in seven of his 10 starts in 2018. Plenty of value at the price this season. Keep in mind.
Kade Kolodjashnij (Def $363,700)
An 89-point average in his second season in the game back in 2015 suggests the dashing left-footer can feature prominently. Fitter and will be an improver at his new club. Plenty of value here.
Tom McDonald (Fwd $529,800)
Faded after averaging 113 points in his first seven games of 2018. With no Jesse Hogan, McDonald will be the focal point in attack and should be prominent again.
Michael Hibberd (Def $398,700)
Average fell by 27 points in a disappointing SuperCoach campaign last season. The return of Jake Lever should help free him up and he’s capable of much better. Might come into calculations at the price.
Christian Petracca (Fwd/mid $442,600)
The 23-year-old has been a threat for some time but has failed to do enough to be considered a major player in SuperCoach. Can’t be taken lightly, given potential is still there.
Christian Salem (Def $445,400)
Hint of midfield time last season and there could be more for the 23-year-old, who won 25 disposals or more on seven occasions, in 2019. Keep in mind.
Aaron vandenBerg (Fwd/mid $283,400)
Has made just seven starts in the past two seasons after battling injury. Showed enough in last year’s finals series to suggest there’s some value at the price, if he’s fit. Do not dismiss.
James Harmes (Mid $453,800)
Big finish to 2018, averaging 25 disposals and 108 SuperCoach points in the final seven games of the year, including finals. Should feature again but hard to recommend as a midfielder-only at the price. Could be a nice late-round selection in the draft format.
Jake Lever (Def $374,600)
Will resume from ACL injury early in 2019 and is capable of better than what his first year at the club suggests. Arrival of Steven May will allow Lever to play as third tall. Can’t be taken lightly.
Charlie Spargo (Fwd $311,200)
Impressive first-up effort last season and adds another element to a dangerous Melbourne forward-line. Should improve again but there’s better value around.
Steven May (Def $443,500)
Former Sun has averaged 82 points or more in each of the past three seasons, proving he can feature prominently in SuperCoach. Must be respected but there might not be enough value at the price.
Jordan Lewis (Def $454,200)
The 307-game stayer is still an important member of the Melbourne side but others look to have much stronger claims in SuperCoach.
Bayley Fritsch (Mid $408,400)
Super-impressive first-up effort last season but the value just isn’t there this time around. A chance to improve but others have stronger claims.
Nathan Jones (Mid $459,200)
Leads from the front but will again be passed by young midfield stars. Average fell by 15 points in 2018 and he’s hard to recommend this campaign.
Alex Neal-Bullen (Fwd $402,500)
Can feature as nine scores of 90 more in 2018 suggests but too inconsistent to be a major SuperCoach player. Look elsewhere.
Jake Melksham (Fwd $400,400)
A season-high 160-point performance against the Blues last year shows he can feature on his day but the 27-year-old shouldn’t be considered at the price.
Sam Weideman (Fwd $242,900)
Showed enough last year to suggest he can start to fill the void left by Hogan. It’s a big year for the 21-year-old but not in SuperCoach.
Neville Jetta (Def $320,000)
Makes life hard for opposition small forwards but doesn’t feature prominently in SuperCoach. Look elsewhere.
Oscar McDonald (Def $296,100)
Important part of the defence but, like many key defenders, SuperCoach isn’t his thing.
MAKING THEIR CASE
While it’s a tough side to break into, forward Mitch Hannan (Fwd $325,700) would be unlucky to miss out while Jayden Hunt (Def $242,700) is far too good for VFL football. Billy Stretch (Mid $285,000) and Sam Frost (Def $331,700) have shown their worth but there’s just too many good players in their respective positions. Also keep an eye on draftee Tom Sparrow (Mid $117,300), who has impressed in his first pre-season to date. And how will coach Simon Goodwin use recruit Brayden Preuss (Ruck $239,900)?
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?