The Phantom’s SuperCoach pre-season: Mid-price smokies no one is talking about

We all know the popular mid-pricers. But who are the players no one is talking about? The Phantom shares his left-field mid-price options as the second week of his SuperCoach pre-season concludes.

• 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

• SuperCoach Draft: Top 50 rankings

We all know the popular mid-pricers. But who are the players no one is talking about? The Phantom shares his left-field mid-price options as the second week of his SuperCoach pre-season concludes.

Ben Ainsworth, Fwd

(Gold Coast $333,200)

Is a breakout year on the cards for Gold Coast’s Ben Ainsworth?

“I want to progress into an almost full-time midfielder. I look up to the likes of Devon Smith who plays a variety of roles in terms of on the wing, midfield and forward and also Toby Greene with his forward craft.”

That’s what Ainsworth told the Gold Coast Bulletin earlier this week.

Fingers crossed he gets what he wants because, as he showed in a five-game stretch in the middle of last season, the 20-year-old has great scoring potential.

Although he’s spent majority of his first two seasons in the competition as a forward, the strong-bodied Ainsworth, who averaged 119 SuperCoach points per game in the TAC Cup, pushed further up the ground in Round 7.

In the following five games, Ainsworth averaged 20 disposals, nine contested possessions, five clearances, four tackles and 90 points per game, in a sign of what we might be able to expect in 2019.

The Phantom’s Verdict: The potential is there. And so is the price. Ainsworth is at the top of the JLT Series watchlist

James Harmes, Mid

(Melbourne $453,800)

In his first 44 games for the Demons, the 23-year-old struggled to have a major influence in a variety of positions.

But, after Simon Goodwin assigned him to a number of run-with roles throughout 2018, Harmes quickly became one of the Demons’ most-improved players.

Harmes, who added 11 points to his SuperCoach average, ranked second at Melbourne for tackles, third for handballs and contested possessions and fifth for total disposals and clearances last season.

While trying to quell the influence of the most-damaging opposition midfielders, Harmes — who restricted Cat Joel Selwood to eight disposals in the 51 minutes he was matched up on him in Round 18 — was prolific himself.

In the final seven matches of the year, including finals, the hard-working midfielder averaged 25 disposals, 10 tackles and 108 SuperCoach points per game, while also booting seven goals.

The Phantom’s Verdict: The numbers are impressive but can you pick him over a number of other cheaper mid-price options?

Jordan Dawson, left, boxes with Tom Papley during the pre-season.

Jordan Dawson, Mid

(Sydney $260,600)

The 21-year-old has dominated in the NEAFL over the past two seasons, averaging a huge 133 SuperCoach points per game.

After playing one senior game in 2017, Dawson was recalled in Round 19 last season after a huge, 29-disposal, 23-tackle, three-goal performance in the reserves.

While he couldn’t replicate these numbers immediately — it would’ve been unfair to have expected him to — the long-kicking left-footer’s 85 SuperCoach points against the Demons, on the back of 15 disposals, nine marks, nine contested possessions and three tackles, suggests he might just need to consistent opportunity to do so.

The Phantom’s Verdict: I’m a big fan and, if he can get an opportunity during the JLT Series, he presents an interesting proposition at the price.

Can Brayden Sier build on his impressive 2018 season?

Brayden Sier, Mid

(Collingwood $435,000)

In the first eight games of his career — in his third year on the list — Sier averaged 19 disposals, an elite 11 contested possessions, four clearances, five tackles, four inside 50s and 80 SuperCoach points per game.

The strong-bodied 21-year-old then followed up with 26 disposals, a team-high 17 contested possessions and 87 points in the qualifying final against the Eagles.

The 191cm midfielder became the fourth player on record to tally more than 100 contested and uncontested possessions in his first 10 games.

The Phantom’s Verdict: Huge numbers at such an early stage of his career. Let’s hope the return of Dayne Beams doesn’t affect his midfield minutes.

Bailey Williams, Def

(Western Bulldogs $441,600)

In an injury-interrupted season, the 21-year-old, who tallied 56 disposals in a SANFL Under-18 game back in 2015, scored 79 points or more in 10 of his 14 games in 2018.

Williams, who ranked elite for metres gained and averaged two intercept marks per game, posted a career-high 139 points, on the back of 26 disposals — at 92 per cent efficiency — and 12 marks, against the Bombers in Round 3.

The 21-year-old, who recorded 20 disposals or more on nine occasions, added 23 points to his SuperCoach average in his third year in the game.

The Phantom’s Verdict: While he might hard to start at the price, expect the young defender to win even more football this season, resulting in another scoring spike.

Aaron vandenBerg, Fwd/mid

(Melbourne $283,400)

In his first season in the game in 2015, vandenBerg — taken in the rookie draft as a mature-age recruit by the Demons — played 15 matches and, if you exclude the two sub-affected scores, averaged 82 SuperCoach points per game.

The tough 26-year-old has battled injury ever since but returned to the Melbourne side in Round 20 — 708 days after his previous senior appearance.

In seven games, including the Demons’ three finals, vandenBerg scored 72 points or more in four of them.

The Phantom’s Verdict: He’s fit and this type of scoring would see him become a great cash cow at the price.