The Phantom’s SuperCoach pre-season: Midfield standouts from week 3 of the JLT Series

THE countdown is on. The JLT Series is over and it’s time to start finalising your team. Here are the midfielders who caught The Phantom’s eye in the final week of JLT Series action.

The Phantom SuperCoach: JLT Week 3

• JLT Week 2 standouts: Midfielders
• JLT Week 2 standouts: Forwards
• Ultimate cash cow guide
• JLT Week 3 standouts: Defenders

THE countdown is on. The JLT Series is over and it’s time to start finalising your team. Here are the midfielders who caught The Phantom’s eye in the final week of JLT Series action.

Shaun Higgins (NM) $505,000

JLT2: 119, JLT1: 44

After 31 disposals, 1.2 and 119 SuperCoach points against the Tigers, Higgins reaffirmed his status as North Melbourne’s most damaging player. But, after losing his dual-position status in 2018, his selection is tough, given he’s unlikely to finish in the top-15 scoring midfielders.

Nic Newman (Syd) $454,500

JLT2: 128, JLT1: 84

If Newman was classified as a defender in 2018, he’d almost be a lock. The 25-year-old, who averaged 83 in his debut season last year, was prolific at half-back against the Giants, tallying 27 disposals – 22 of them kicks – 12 marks, eight rebound 50s and 128 points. Could be a late-round steal in your SuperCoach draft league.

Luke Parker (Syd) $546,000

JLT2:119, JLT1: 108

Sure, it’s only the JLT Series but it’s safe to say, after his average fell by 12 points in 2017, Parker is back. After 108 points in the Sydney’s first JLT Series fixture, Parker led the Swans to victory over GWS, posting 119 points, on the back of 26 disposals, 11 marks, and two goals. Parker is only in three per cent of teams so he’s looming as a great midfield point-of-difference.

Robbie Fox (Syd) $232,200

JLT2: 75, JLT1: 96

The 25-year-old capped off an impressive pre-season with an 18-dipsoal, 75-point performance against the Giants. Fox, who was used mainly in defence, is right in the mix for Round 1 selection.

Lachie Whitfield looks to be the new go-to man for the Giants at half-back.

Lachie Whitfield (GWS) $536,600

JLT2: 141, JLT1: 91

The Phantom did suggest earlier in the pre-season that one of the many Giant midfielders could fill the void as the go-to man out of defence and, after a standout JLT Series, it’s likely to be the former No. 1 draft pick. The sublimely-skilled Whitfield tallied 29 disposals, eight marks, four tackles and a goal, to finish with a game-high 141 points. This could be the year, the 23-year-old pushes his average to three figures.

Adam Treloar (Coll) $557,600

JLT2: 116, JLT1: DNP

Huge numbers for the star Magpie against the Bulldogs; 32 disposals, 20 contested possessions, 13 clearances and 14 tackles. But a disposal efficiency of 59 per cent and eight clangers saw him finish with just 116 SuperCoach points. If Treloar can just tidy up a few parts of his game, he’s a top-10 scoring midfielder.

Bulldog Tom Liberatore was back to his best as an inside-midfielder against the Magpies.

Tom Liberatore (WB) $434,600

JLT2: 123, JLT1: DNP

The talk all summer was about how good Liberatore’s pre-season has been and his first appearance in the JLT Series, which resulted in 123 points, proved that it wasn’t just talk. The inside-midfielder attended the most centre bounces for the Bulldogs – just as he did in his career-best year of 2014 – and won 16 contested possessions and seven clearances.

Matt Crouch (Adel) $608,300

JLT2: 98, JLT1: 107

Just a lazy 27 disposals and 98 SuperCoach points for the Crow ball magnet in 70 per cent game-time.

Tom Mitchell (Haw) $653,500

JLT2: 115, JLT1: 123

Mitchell was everywhere, as usual, against the Blues, finishing with 31 disposals, 11 tackles, 12 contested possessions and 115 points. The only thing holding back his score was 10 clangers – four of them free-kicks against.

Shaun Burgoyne (Haw) $481,300

JLT: 120, JLT1: 67

No longer SuperCoach relevant as a midfielder-only but the 35-year-old showed us he’s still got it, recording 25 disposals, 18 contested possessions and 120 points. And Burygoyne’s score would’ve been a lot higher if it wasn’t for five behinds.

Mitch Duncan (Geel) $603,700

JLT2: 145, JLT1: 60

The midfield point-of-difference did it all against the Bombers, tallying 38 disposals, 13 contested possessions, six marks, five tackles, one goal and a game-high 145 points. There was no Gary Ablett and no Patrick Dangerfield for three quarters but it’s safe to say Duncan, who also gave away four free kicks, is still in for a big year.

Joel Selwood (Geel) $562,000

JLT2: 145, JLT1: DNP

The proven scorer, who is only in three per cent of teams, sent a reminder to the SuperCoach community with a 35-disposal, 107-point performance against the Bombers. The Geelong skipper won more contested possessions and clearances than any other player on the ground.

Patrick Dangerfield (Geel) $749,800

JLT2: 44, JLT1: DNP

The big story of the week was the hamstring injury to the SuperCoach star. But what wasn’t spoken about was Dangerfield’s 12 disposals, eight contested possessions and 44 points in just 18 per cent game-time.

Charlie Constable (Geel) $117,300

JLT2: 67, JLT1: 74

In Geelong’s first JLT Series game, Constable had the equal-most contested possessions and, in the second match against Essendon, recorded the most marks, showing he can win it on the inside and the outside. The 18-year-old, who attended the third-most centre bounces behind Selwood and Duncan, finished with 18 disposals, eight marks and 67 points against. Can he squeeze in?

Zach Merrett lead the Bomber midfield to victory over the Cats in their JLT Series clash.

Zach Merrett (Ess) $600,600

JLT2: 140, JLT1: 29

Merrett made amends for the injury-affected 29 in the first week of the JLT Series, tallying 30 disposals, 16 contested possessions, nine tackles and 140 points on Sunday.

Dayne Zorko (Bris) $608,900

JLT2: 127, JLT1: DNP

Like Merrett, Zorko is in the top-end price bracket for a reason. The 29-year-old’s 33-disposal, 127-point effort against the Suns is an indication of what’s to come in 2018.

Lachie Neale (Freo) $599,300

JLT2: 159, JLT1: 99

The Docker ball magnet was huge against cross-town rival West Coast on Sunday, recording 36 disposals, three goals and a round-high 159 SuperCoach points. Can he push his average back over 110 in 2018?

Andrew Brayshaw (Freo) $198,300

JLT2: 97, JLT1: 87

Lock him in. The 18-year-old, who finished with 19 disposals, 10 contested possessions and nine tackles against the Eagles, couldn’t have done anything more to book himself a Round 1 debut against the Power.

Bailey Banfield is a Round 1 bolter after an impressive JLT Series.

Bailey Banfield (Freo) $123,400

JLT2: 75, JLT1: 96

As Ross Lyon hinted post-match, the mature-age recruit is another young Docker who has all-but confirmed his place in Fremantle’s Round 1 side after an impressive JLT Series campaign, which ended with 18 disposals, one goal and 75 points on Sunday.