The Phantom’s SuperCoach pre-season: The standout forwards 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 forwards who caught The Phantom’s eye in the final week of JLT Series action.

The Phantom SuperCoach: FWD Week 3

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

Kane Lambert (Rich) $472,500, midfielder

JLT2: 106, JLT1: 73

The 26-year-old, who finished third in Richmond’s best-and-fairest last season, was, again, one of his side’s best in the victory over North Melbourne, tallying 24 disposals, four goals and 106 SuperCoach points. Lambert averaged 86 points last year and, although that figure could push up into the early 90s, The Phantom doesn’t believe it will get much higher. A better SuperCoach draft selection.

Josh Caddy (Rich) $419,600, midfielder

JLT2: 114, JLT1: 136

Another big score from the former Cat - 20 disposals, two goals and 114 points - but can he maintain this form during the regular season? That remains the concern. If he does, we all might be jumping on.

Christian Petracca (Melb) $433,300, midfelder

JLT2: 104, JLT1: 82

The strong-bodied 22-year-old spent even more time in the midfield against the Saints, recording 15 contested possessions and more clearances than any other player on the ground. It’s happening; Petracca, who finished with 23 disposals and 104 points, will be all-but a full-time midfielder in 2018.

Bayley Fritsch (Melb) $117,300

JLT2: 67, JLT1: 70

After doing enough to show he is ready for a Round 1 debut in Melbourne’s first JLT Series fixture, the mature-age recruit impressed yet again in week three. Fritsch, who won the Fothergill-Round Medal as the VFL’s best young player last season, recorded 12 disposals at 91 per cent efficiency, one goal and 67 SuperCoach points. Lock him in.

Jack Billings (StK) $509,500

JLT2: 93, JLT1: DNP

A hamstring injury saw Billings miss the AFLX tournament and the Saints’ first JLT Series match but, in a big positive, played 76 per cent of the game against the Demons in the final week of pre-season action. And that would’ve been enough for The Phantom but the 22-year-old also had an influence, registering 24 disposals at 87 per cent efficiency and 93 points.

Harry Cunningham (Syd) $345,100

JLT2: 108, JLT1: 65

After being drafted as a rookie in 2012, the 24-year-old has struggled to cement a spot in the Swans side but the versatile Cunningham relished a greater midfield role against the Giants on Friday. Cunningham finished with 26 disposals, 10 marks and 108 SuperCoach points in a polished outside display.

Jeremy Cameron (GWS) $489,900

JLT2: 113, JLT1: 72

The key forward added 18 points to this SuperCoach average in 2017 and, if his performance in the JLT Series clash with the Swans is anything to go by, that figure could jump again in 2018.

Cameron booted 3.3 from 17 disposals and seven marks to finish with 113 points. One less tall in the Giants’ forward 50 might help his scoring, too.

Mason Cox (Coll) $304,800, ruck

JLT2: 145, JLT1: 68

If you have been listening to The Phantom’s Lair SuperCoach podcast, you will know The Eradicator has been talking about Cox as the ruck-forward saviour all summer and, you know, he might be onto something. While he won’t take eight marks - four of them contested - and boot four goals every week, Cox may just do enough to be a stepping stone to a premium in the forward-line, while also acting as valuable ruck cover.

Will Hoskin-Elliott (Coll) $447,100

JLT2: 91, JLT1: 116

After averaging 81 SuperCoach points in his first year at Collingwood, the former Giant was of 2017’s best cash cows. And the 24-year-old’s JLT Series form would suggest he might improve his scoring even further in 2018. The damaging playmaker tallied 19 disposals, nine marks, four inside 50s, one goal assist and 91 SuperCoach points after a 116-point performance in the first week. Price is the real deterrent here.

Robbie Gray (Port) $504,300

JLT2: 107, JLT1: 40

The Power star bounced back from his disappointing first-up performance against the Eagles, which resulted in just 40 SuperCoach points and Round 1 suspension, with 26 disposals, two goals and 107 points in the pre-season showdown. But given the expectation that Gray will play predominantly as a forward in the regular season, the inconsistent scores may continue.

Jack Watts (Port) $416,500

JLT2: 139, JLT1: 56

With 17 disposals, six goals and 139 SuperCoach points, Watts was the match-winner on Saturday but, although we may see the best of the former No. 1 draft pick at the Power, it’s still very hard to pick him in SuperCoach.

Darcy Fogarty (Adel) $153,300, midfielder

JLT2: 87, JLT1: 12

With 14 disposals, eight marks and three goals - all coming in the first half - against the Power, the strongly-built 18-year-old’s SuperCoach ownership went through the roof over the weekend. And, with Fogarty, who finished with 87 points, closing in on a Round 1 debut, especially if captain Taylor Walker isn’t ready, expect it to climb even higher in the next week.

Zac Fisher (Carl) $263,600

JLT2: 71, JLT1: 59

From what The Phantom saw of Fisher’s 16-disposal, 71-point display against the Hawks, the second-year Blue is going to be a more-than-handy player going forward. And, although he might not be a big ball-winner immediately, Fisher, as he did on Saturday with 12 contested possessions, two goals and one goal assist, is still going to influence a lot of games.

Lewis Taylor (Bris) $437,800

JLT2: 117, JLT1: 90

All signs point to the 23-year-old stepping up to play a bigger midfield role for the Lions in 2018. And, if his JLT Series campaign, which produced two scores of 90 or more, is anything to go by, Taylor will improve on his 80-point average of 2017.

Tom Bell (Bris) $287,000

JLT2: 104, JLT1: 79

The former Blue is making his way into a lot of SuperCoach teams at this late stage and rightly so. The strong midfielder, who is priced just above team-mate Allen Christensen, loved the tough conditions against the Suns, tallying 19 disposals, 13 contested possessions, nine clearances - the most on the ground - and nine tackles. While the return of Dayne Beams might affect Bell’s midfield time to some degree, he should still feature in there heavily in 2018.

Cam Rayner (Bris) $202,800, midfielder

JLT2: 71, JLT1: 31

The No. 1 draft pick looked much better, even in the horrible conditions, in his second appearance in the JLT Series. The 18-year-old recorded 13 disposals, 10 tackles, three clearances and 71 SuperCoach points on Sunday. Rayner, whose score would’ve looked a lot better if it wasn’t for two behinds, will see plenty of senior action in his first year.

Matt Taberner (Fre) $325,100

JLT2: 147, JLT1: 99

The Fremantle forward is an interesting SuperCoach proposition. In 2017, the 24-year-old scored SuperCoach tons in two of his nine games but also posted three scores of less than 30. Taberner is capable of big games, as he showed again with 23 disposals, 12 marks, two goals and 147 points against the Eagles, but will he ever do it consistently?