The Phantom’s take: After career-best season, Lycett, again, set to be the No. 2 man at Alberton
AMID the hysteria of the AFL’s Trade Period, The Phantom crunches the numbers and analyses every trade and free agency move as they happen. To kick off day 2, Scott Lycett is officially heading home to Port Adelaide.
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AMID the hysteria of the AFL’s Trade Period, The Phantom crunches the numbers and analyses every trade and free agency move as they happen.
Scott Lycett
West Coast to Port Adelaide (Free agency)
THE NUMBERS
2018 - Games: 22, SuperCoach average: 81
Average 2014-2017: 78, 72, 83, 63
It’s been an unbelievable 2018 for the athletic big man.
Not only did Lycett play every game - after overcoming a horrible run with injury - for the first time in his seven-year career, the 26-year-old won a flag and earned himself a pay rise to come home to South Australia.
In the previous six seasons, Lycett played a total of 50 games, as he battled injury - including reconstructions of his PCL and shoulder - while also playing second fiddle to star ruckmen Dean Cox and Nic Naitanui.
But, given his ability to play forward, Lycett has always shown scoring potential.
In 71 home-and-away matches, Lycett has scored 80 points or more in 35 of them, while also posting 17 SuperCoach tons.
After Naitanui went down in Round 17 this season, Lycett, again, showed us what he can do as a No. 1 man.
In the following four games, he averaged 15 disposals, 11 contested possessions, eight hitouts-to-advantage and 106 SuperCoach points.
But, at this new home, if Paddy Ryder is fit, Lycett, who booted 10 goals and took 14 contested marks in 2018, will again be the second ruckman.
A good one? Sure.
A more-than-handy forward? Yes.
But, although he will form dynamic ruck tandem with Ryder at the Power, his scores are likely to be too inconsistent - or reach a high enough ceiling - for Lycett to be SuperCoach relevant in 2019.
Let’s re-assess in a few years time - or if Ryder, again, struggles with injury over summer.
THE BIG QUESTION
How is Ryder’s achilles?
ESTIMATED 2019 SUPERCOACH STARTING PRICE
$445,000
THE PHANTOM’S EARLY VERDICT
As a recruit it get’s a tick but not as ruck-only in SuperCoach. A dual-position status would change everything.