The Phantom’s SuperCoach pre-season: Cash cow ruckmen

The Phantom’s SuperCoach moves into the all-important cash cow week. Today, it’s time for the best rookie-price ruckmen. And there are three mature-age big men who are in line for senior action — and a starting spot in SuperCoach teams — in 2019.

• The Phantom’s pre-season guide to: Premium smokies | Premium forwards | Premium defenders | Premium midfielders | Mid-price defenders| Mid-price midfielders | Mid-price ruckmen | Mid-price forwards | Mid price smokies | Cash cows in defence | Midfield cash cows

The Phantom’s SuperCoach moves into the all-important cash cow week. Today, it’s time for the best rookie-price ruckmen. And there are three mature-age big men who are in line for senior action — and a starting spot in SuperCoach teams — in 2019.

Darcy Fort

(Geelong $117,300)

Darcy Fort, left, tries to evade Harry Taylor at Geelong training.

The mature-age ruckman, drafted from Central District in the SANFL, has impressed in his first pre-season at Geelong.

“He is a competitor, he is a good athlete, and he just really wants to take his chance,” Skipper Joel Selwood told the Geelong Advertiser last month.

Selwood believes Fort is well-and-truly in the race for the No. 1 ruck spot at the Cats, especially with Zac Smith and Ryan Abbott currently on modified training programs because of injury.

And that’s music to the ears of SuperCoaches.

The 25-year-old averaged 105 SuperCoach points per game in the SANFL in 2017 before recording a 124-point average last season after finishing the year as the No. 1 ranked ruckman for disposals, contested possessions and clearances.

Remember Jon Giles a few year’s back?

The Phantom’s Verdict: If he’s named in Round 1 — and you’re brave enough — all of your R2 problems could be solved.

Keegan Brooksby

(West Coast $202,700)

New Eagle Keegan Brooksby was dominant for South Adelaide in the SANFL last season.

The 28-year-old played 14 games in his three years at the Suns between 2015 and 2017, spending majority of his time in defence.

But he’s a ruckman.

And Brooksby reinforced the point in 2018, returning to South Adelaide and dominating in the SANFL.

The 198cm Brooksby, who finished the season as the top-ranked SuperCoach ruckman, averaged 15 disposals, five marks and booted 15 goals in 18 matches.

His career-best game at the top level also came when he lead the Suns’ ruck brigade.

In 2016, Brooksby tallied 17 disposals, 10 contested possessions, seven hit-outs-to-advantage, six tackles and 94 SuperCoach points against Port Adelaide in Round 23.

With Nic Naitanui missing, can Brooksby push past Nathan Vardy or fellow recruit Tom Hickey?

The Phantom’s Verdict: The JLT Series should tell us more but the Eagles do prefer to play two ruckmen.

Zac Clarke

(Essendon $142,600)

Zac Clarke in action during Essendon’s match simulation.

A year after being delisted by the Dockers, Clarke is back on an AFL list after a dominant season in the WAFL.

In 2018, the 28-year-old averaged 127 SuperCoach points per game — 22 more than any other ruckman in the competition — and booted 28 goals.

Equally as impressive were his numbers from a career-best year in 2013.

With Aaron Sandilands only playing seven matches, Clarke averaged 96 points per game after scoring 87 points or more 10 of his 14 games.

While Tom Bellchambers is still clearly the No. 1 man, the introduction of a number of new rules could see teams opt for two traditional ruckmen more often in 2019.

The Phantom’s Verdict: Clarke and Bellchambers having been going head-to-head over summer and, by all reports, Clarke has done is Round 1 chances no harm. Looms as another R2 option for all of the risk-taking SuperCoaches out there.