The Phantom’s take: Wingard, Neale and Hogan the headline acts. But Kolodjashnij will surprise
AS the countdown to the AFL Trade Period deadline continues, The Phantom gives his verdict on all of the final moves, including Neale, Wingard, Hogan and the Demons acquisition of a forgotten Sun.
AS the countdown to the AFL Trade Period deadline continues, The Phantom gives his verdict on all of the final moves.
Chad Wingard
Port Adelaide to Hawthorn
The deal: Three-way deal. Port receive Ryan Burton, Sam Mayes pick No. 5 (via Brisbane), pick No. 15, 2019 fourth-round pick. Hawthorn receive Wingard, 2019 third-round pick. Brisbane receive pick No. 6, pick No. 35 (via Hawthorn), 2019 third-round pick.
THE NUMBERS
2018 - Games: 21, SuperCoach average: 89
Average 2014-2017: 80, 98, 81, 93
While he’s been inconsistent in the past, Wingard is a star.
There is no doubt about it.
At his peak, he was, arguably, Port Adelaide’s second-best player, behind Robbie Gray.
So, even if it did cost them young gun Ryan Burton, Alastair Clarkson and the Hawks will be happy.
The 25-year-old left-footer is a mercurial forward, booting 232 goals and directly assisting 111 others in 147 games at Alberton.
But he’s also a creative and dangerous midfielder as he’s shown at different stages during his career at the Power.
No more so than in the second half of 2018.
After a quiet start to the year, Wingard moved into the midfield in Round 12 and averaged 24 disposals, 12 contested possessions, five clearances, five inside 50s, five tackles and 103 SuperCoach points per game, while also booting 11 goals.
He ranked No. 1 for inside 50s and No. 2 for goal assists at the Power this year.
Burton might become a star but he’s not single-handedly winning games off his own boot like Wingard has done - and will continue to do so - numerous times.
And if Clarkson persists with Wingard further up the ground, he might just develop into the SuperCoach premium he’s threatened to become for so long.
THE BIG QUESTION
Where does Wingard spend majority of his time at the Hawks?
ESTIMATED SUPERCOACH 2019 PRICE
$490,000
THE PHANTOM’S EARLY VERDICT
Could go to another level in 2019.
Ryan Burton
Hawthorn to Port Adelaide
The deal: Three-way deal. Port receive Ryan Burton, Sam Mayes pick No. 5 (via Brisbane), pick No. 15, 2019 fourth-round pick. Hawthorn receive Wingard, 2019 third-round pick. Brisbane receive pick No. 6, pick No. 35 (via Hawthorn), 2019 third-round pick.
THE NUMBERS
2018 - Games: 21, SuperCoach average: 66
Average 2016-2017: 52, 84
After recovering from a badly broken leg in his draft year, Burton made just three senior appearances in his first year as a Hawk in 2016.
But he exploded onto the scene in 2017, averaging 21 disposals, six marks, four rebound 50s and 84 SuperCoach points per game, to finish runner up in the Rising Star award.
The highly skilled right-footer, who played across half-back, despite starring as a forward in just junior days, found a target with 81 per cent of his disposals, ranking him eighth in the competition of players who won more than 400 disposals.
In comparison, Jack Hombsch was the only Port Adelaide player to record a efficiency of 81 or more in 2018 - but he only had 127 total disposals.
However, in 2018, the 21-year-old failed to build on his breakout season, recording 37 less disposals, despite playing three more games, than he did the previous year.
Burton’s SuperCoach averaged fell by 18 points per game and, after finishing fourth in 2017, the young gun could only managed an 18th place finish in Hawthorn’s best-and-fairest.
But we’ve seen young players, who have enjoyed an early breakout season, fall away the following year.
The good ones always bounce back.
And Burton will do that at Alberton, maybe even on Jared Polec’s vacant wing in 2019.
THE BIG QUESTION
Can he recapture 2017 form?
ESTIMATED SUPERCOACH 2019 PRICE
$360,000
THE PHANTOM’S EARLY VERDICT
Burton will add much-needed class to a Power midfield that is now without Wingard and Jared Polec and is very high on the SuperCoach mid-price watchlist.
Lachie Neale
Fremantle to Brisbane
The deal: Neale and pick No. 30 for picks No. 6, No. 19 and No. 55
THE NUMBERS
2018 - Games: 22, SuperCoach average: 112
Average 2014-2017: 87, 104, 113, 109
This is huge from the Lions.
After assembling a group of talented youngsters over the past few seasons, they add one of the competition’s best ball-winners to a midfield that already includes stars Dayne Zorko and - maybe - Dayne Beams.
In home-and-away matches since 2016, the 25-year-old ranks No.1 in the competition for contested possessions and clearances and only Brownlow Medallist Tom Mitchell has won more disposals.
Although it’s still likely to be Zorko, if a tag does he come his way, Neale has shown the capacity to deal with it in the past, winning 25 disposals or more in 54 of his past 65 matches.
And the fact that Neale is a South Australian with no family ties in Brisbane is a win in itself.
THE BIG QUESTION
In the coming years, with the development of a number of young stars at the Lions, will the ball be shared around more evenly that it was at Fremantle?
ESTIMATED SUPERCOACH 2019 PRICE
$615,000
THE PHANTOM’S EARLY VERDICT
A super premium at Fremantle, a super premium at Brisbane.
Kade Kolodjashnij
Gold Coast to Melbourne
The deal: Kolodjashnij and Steven May for pick No. 6
2018 - Games: 8, SuperCoach average: 67
Average 2014-2017: 68, 89, 69, 72
As 2018 draws to a close, Kade Kolodjashnij is a bit of a forgotten man.
While twin brother Jake played every game in 2018, cementing his spot in Geelong’s back six, Kade has only managed 19 appearances in the past two seasons after battling concussion issues.
But, after receiving positive news - a weakness in his neck was the primary source of the ongoing issue, rather than the concussion itself - late in the season, Kolodjashnij returned to the senior side in Round 18 and has done enough to convince Melbourne he is right to go.
And, if that’s the case, the Demons have done very well, given ability has never been questioned.
In 2015, as a 19-year-old in just his second season in the competition, the classy left-footer averaged 22 disposals - 17 effective - and 89 SuperCoach points per game.
Kolodjashnij ranked No. 1 at the Suns for metres gained and No. 12 in the competition for intercept possessions.
The No. 5 selection at the 2013 National Draft struggled with an abdomen issue the following season and is yet to recapture the form of his sophomore year.
But, if he can get a clear run at it in 2019, expect Kolodjashnij to bounce back in a big way in a team that wins plenty of the football.
It might not take him long to remind everyone just how good he can be.
THE BIG QUESTION
Has he regained his confidence after the battle with concussion? Fingers crossed
ESTIMATED SUPERCOACH 2019 PRICE
$370,000
THE PHANTOM’S EARLY VERDICT
I’m a huge fan so if Kolodjashnij can have a good pre-season, I’ll be very interested.
Jesse Hogan
Melbourne to Fremantle.
The deal: Hogan and pick No. 65 for picks No. 6 and 23.
THE NUMBERS
2018 - Games: 22, SuperCoach average: 92
Average 2014-2017: DNP, 78, 77, 70
The Docker finally get their man.
If it happened last year, Hogan’s SuperCoach credentials might have been a short conversation.
But, after overcoming a tough year on and off the field, the talented Hogan posted eight SuperCoach tons to finish with a season average of 92 - a 15-point increase on his last full season in 2016.
The most impressive part of the 23-year-old’s year was his ability to win the ball further up the ground.
In the first 10 rounds of the season, Hogan tallied at least 20 disposals in seven of them and showed he can have a big impact, even if he’s not kicking goals.
While Hogan took fewer contested marks and marks inside 50 than in 2015 and 2016, the 195cm, 100km big man recorded more disposals, contested possessions, uncontested possessions, clearances, inside 50s and goal assists in 2018.
In saying that, the Dockers, who ranked 14th for contested marks and 15th for marks inside 50 in the competition this year, need Hogan as their main forward target, despite the addition of Giant Rory Lobb.
THE BIG QUESTION
Can he kick enough goals to make up for a more stay-at-home role?
ESTIMATED SUPERCOACH 2019 PRICE
$500,000
THE PHANTOM’S EARLY VERDICT
Not sure Hogan can do enough to surpass a number of other SuperCoach forwards.