KFC SuperCoach 2020: Christian Petracca, Hugh Greenwood and Aiden Bonar headline Marsh Series week one forward standouts
Missed any of the Marsh Series? Don’t worry, The Phantom has you covered. Here are the standout forwards and their SuperCoach scores from the first weekend of pre-season action.
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Marsh Series Standouts: Defenders | Midfielders
- What the Tom Doedee means for SuperCoach
The Marsh Community Series is in full swing, meaning it’s time to get serious, SuperCoaches. The Phantom looks at the standout KFC SuperCoach forwards from week one of the pre-season competition.
Tim Membrey (StK)
$436,400
164 points
Membrey dominated against the Hawks, finishing with 24 disposals, 12 marks and four goals, roaming further up the ground, but we’re not picking him, SuperCoaches.
Jade Gresham (StK)
$456,400, Mid
59 points
Gresham added five points to his SuperCoach average last year after spending 61 per cent of game-time in the midfield.
And both numbers look likely to increase again in 2020.
The skilful and creative 22-year-old tallied a game-high nine clearances, to go with 22 disposals and a goal, in just 59 per cent of last Thursday’s Marsh Series opener.
Chad Wingard (Haw)
$412,300, Mid
56 points
Like Gresham, Wingard attended the second-most centre bounces for his side, despite only playing half of the game against the Saints.
And although he failed to have a big influence on the match, the 25-year-old, who averaged 91 points in the final month of 2019, had 15 disposals through the midfield.
Jon Patton (Haw)
$337,000, Ruck
74 points
The former Giant impressed in his first official outing as a Hawk with a commanding performance against the Saints.
Patton, a strong-marking key-forward who hasn’t played since Round 15, 2018 after undergoing a third knee reconstruction, took four marks inside-50 and booted 3.2.
Patton’s dual-position status could prove vital, but will his scoring justify the starting price?
MORE SUPERCOACH NEWS
Verdict on lineball calls in the forward line
Who’s worth the top price in the midfield?
The Phantom’s pre-Marsh Series team
Jy Simpkin (NM)
$383,000, Mid
95 points
Simpkin had 24 disposals or more on five occasions – with 36 the highest – last season and finished with a SuperCoach ton in all of them, as his midfield stints increased.
The 22-year-old attended 10 centre bounces against the Bulldogs and finished with 95 SuperCoach points, on the back of 19 disposals, 10 contested possessions and six tackles, in 79 per cent game-time.
Those midfield stints should be more consistent this year.
Aiden Bonar (NM)
$202,800, Mid
76 points
Bonar was one of the main reasons SuperCoaches tuned in on Friday night and he didn’t disappoint.
The strong-bodied midfielder, drafted at pick No. 11 in 2017, attended the fourth-most centre bounces – in 61 per cent game-time – for the Kangaroos and finished with eight contested possessions and eight tackles in an encouraging display.
Christian Petracca (Melb)
$441,300
188 points
Not this again.
The talented No. 2 pick from the 2014 draft has teased SuperCoaches many times in the past but the fact is he’s never averaged more than 81 points in a season.
But is it finally time?
Petracca is fitter, with coach Simon Goodwin declaring the 24-year-old’s fitness is at “a point where he can do what he’s doing now” and he looks set to make the permanent midfield role a reality in 2020.
Against the Crows, Petracca was dominant, finishing with 38 disposals, 27 contested possessions – the most in a pre-season game on record – and 188 points.
It all sounds convincing, but I’m not yet convinced.
Tom McDonald (Melb)
$387,000
139 points
In his last game before a knee injury ended his season in July last year, McDonald finished with 20 disposals, nine marks, six goals and 139 points.
And two weeks earlier, the 27-year-old tallied 28 disposals, seven marks, three goals and 135 points against the Dockers.
On Saturday against the Crows, McDonald booted three goals from 17 disposals and seven marks, to finish with 139 points.
And he’s priced at an average of 72 in 2020.
Aaron vandenBerg (Melb)
$248,000, Mid
100 points
The tough 27-year-old has only played seven games in the past two years due to a number of injury issues, but the Demons love him and there’s a spot for him if he’s ready.
And, after his 100-point performance, on the back of 19 disposals, eight contested possessions and five tackles, it looks like he is.
Tom Sparrow (Melb)
$182,500
77 points
The strong-bodied midfielder, who played two senior games in his debut season before suffering a season-ending knee injury in the VFL, might surprise in 2020 after an impressive midfield display against the Crows.
Sparrow, at the top-end of the rookie-price bracket, was strong and composed, tallying 17 disposals, eight contested possessions, seven tackles, six clearances and 77 points in 60 per cent game-time.
Chayce Jones (Adel)
$271,500
74 points
He didn’t dominant against the Demons, but Adelaide’s second-year midfielder proved there is reason for the pre-season hype.
Jones was present at 10 centre bounces and, like he did in the club’s recent internal trial, showed off his breakaway speed and an ability to impact forward-of-centre, bursting through the middle and booting a long running goal in the third term.
The 20-year-old finished with 16 disposals, seven contested possessions, five score involvements and 74 points in less than 70 per cent game-time.
Hugh Greenwood (GC)
$463,100, Mid
109 points
First centre bounce – opposed to Dangerfield --first clearance.
That’s all The Phantom needed to see.
The next 24 disposals, 13 contested possessions, nine tackles and five clearances were just the icing on the cake.
Greenwood played 78 per cent of game-time or less in 30 of his final 36 games as Crow.
In his first appearance in Gold Coast colours, the contested-ball star played 82 per cent of the game and attended 14 centre bounces.
Lock him in.
Darcy MacPherson (GC)
$443,800, Mid
132 points
MacPherson averaged 87 SuperCoach points per game from Round 8 onwards last season, excelling as a pressure-forward, who pushed up the ground at times.
Against the Cats on Saturday night, however, the 22-year-old tallied 31 disposals, 14 contested possessions and a game-high 132 points as a midfielder.
But given the influx of young talent at Gold Coast, he’s likely to spend most of his time forward when the regular season begins.
Connor Budarick (GC)
$106,900, Mid
74 points
The Gold Coast Academy gun played 8 NEAFL games for the Suns reserves last year, averaging 19 disposals, while also dominating a 5-game stint in the NAB League.
Gold Coast would’ve been forced to take him early in the draft if it wasn’t for the concession package.
He finished with 14 disposals and 74 points in a composed display in week one of the Marsh Series.
Connor Rozee (Port)
$422,100
108 points
After an impressive midfield stint in the Power’s internal trial, the second-year gun was a slow starter against the Lions.
But it didn’t take him long to warm up.
Rozee bounced between half-forward and the midfield, tallying 19 disposals, 12 contested possessions, eight tackles, two goals and 108 points in just 57 per cent game-time.
Can he be a top-six forward in his second year?
OTHER NOTABLES
Ben Keays ($266,100) had 16 disposals and 44 points in the second-half against the Demons, while Power rookie Mitch Georgiades ($130,800) showed enough to suggest he’s still in front of Todd Marshall for a Round 1 spot.
Rookie-listed Cat Tom Atkins ($327,200) enjoyed the midfield time against the Suns, finishing with 22 disposals, a team-high 14 contested possessions and eight clearances.