KFC SuperCoach 2020: The Phantom’s ultimate mid-pricer guide
With a shortened AFL season ahead, the value of nailing your mid-price selections in KFC SuperCoach is about to skyrocket. To help, The Phantom ranks the top-5 mid-pricers – and those next in line – in every position.
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With a shortened AFL season ahead, the value of nailing your mid-price selections in KFC SuperCoach is about to skyrocket.
The task of building your starting team into one full of premium players is likely to get harder with five less rounds.
Strategies may change even more, depending on many trades SuperCoaches are allocated to navigate their way through 2020
But closing the gap between Round 1 team and full-premium can be achieved by adding a few more mid-pricers.
Of course, though, you still have to get them right. To help, The Phantom ranks the top-5 mid-pricers – and those next in line – in every position.
DEFENDERS
1. Sam Docherty (Carl)
$436,100
Marsh Series scores: 69, 105
In Mandurah on February 29, Docherty stepped onto the field for his first competitive match in 917 days. He was rusty, finishing with 19 disposals at just 57 per cent efficiency and 69 points.
But a week later, the Carlton co-captain was back to near his best, tallying 21 disposals, 10 marks and 105 points against the Lions.
The 26-year-old may have not played an AFL game since Round 23, 2017 after tearing the ACL in his left knee twice in the past two years, but he’s ticked every box over summer and the value is just too hard to ignore.
The $436k tag has the damaging right-footer, who declared his body is feeling great following a successful Marsh Series, priced at an average of 80.
In his last two full seasons, Docherty posted a SuperCoach ton in 33 of the Blues’ 44 matches.
In the 11 games he failed to pass the 100-point mark, he scored 80 or more seven times.
The hole you might find yourself in if you start without him is likely to be bigger than the one that might open up if he fails.
PHANTOM’S MARCH VERDICT: It’s hard to say for sure what the revised fixture will mean for players returning from long-term injuries but the potential season breaks and reduced games might ensure Docherty plays every game. I’d be picking him regardless.
2. Dylan Roberton (StK)
$260,400
Marsh Series scores: DNP, 60
The 28-year-old St Kilda defender is back and ready for Round 1
And that’s outstanding news on its own given the serious heart issues Roberton has dealt with over the past two years.
His return, at just a fraction more than rookie-price, is great news for SuperCoaches, too.
In his last full season in 2017, Roberton starred across halfback, finishing runner-up to Seb Ross in the Saints’ best-and-fairest after posting eight SuperCoach tons and scoring more than 80 in all-but five matches for the year.
PHANTOM’S MARCH VERDICT:At that price, he might be hard to leave out.
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3. Hunter Clark (StK)
$402,200
Marsh Series scores: 97, 56
The 20-year-old, who averaged 126 SuperCoach points in the TAC Cup in his draft year, played 15 games in his debut season but was in and out of the St Kilda side to start 2019.
Clark was used in different roles through the midfield but, after returning from a stint in the VFL in Round 13, he found his place at halfback — a spot where he spent most of the previous year.
The former Dandenong Stingray, who excels in traffic — a trait which saw many draw the comparison to Marcus Bontempelli ahead of the 2017 draft — sat inside the top-six at the Saints for a number of key areas in the final nine rounds of the year.
Clark ranked second for uncontested possessions, third for handball-receives, fifth for disposals and sixth for effective kicks and metres gained from Round 15.
His 85.6 SuperCoach points per game from halfback was the seventh-most of any Saint.
The 186cm Clark’s brilliant hands and composure will see him become a key man at the contest for the Saints very soon but, as an attacking defender, after another a pre-season, there’s likely to be a spike regardless of whether that happens on a permanent basis this year.
PHANTOM’S MARCH VERDICT: Clark featured in the first version of The Phantom’s KFC SuperCoach, before making way to accommodate the extra rookies in defence. But he’s a chance to find his way back in, especially after a dominant Marsh Series performance in week one.
4. Alex Witherden (Bris)
$392,800
Marsh Series scores: 49, 62
In the first 30 games of his career, the skilful right-footer won at least 20 disposals in 23 of them, tallying 27 or more on 11 occasions.
And it translated into SuperCoach scoring with the young Lion passing the 85-point mark 16 times.
Despite an inconsistent start, Witherden lead Brisbane for kicks, rebound 50s and marks in 2018 and, per game, ranked inside the top 16 in the competition for all three categories.
But, after four scores of 92 or more in the opening five rounds of 2019, the 21-year-old’s form fell away and he was unable to maintain the high-level consistency of his first year-and-a-half.
With Brisbane’s efficiency and string of major ball-winners all over the ground, Witherden struggled to have an impact, finishing with 18 disposals or less in 12 of his final 18 matches of 2019.
For a third-year player, Witherden’s season wasn’t a bad one, it was just below the high standards he set in his first 30 games.
But regression isn’t uncommon in young players.
A strong ball-winning ability as a defender, and damaging foot-skills, are not, however.
PHANTOM’S MARCH VERDICT: One day, I think we’ll look back at 2019 as an outlier in an impressive SuperCoach career.
5. Jack Lukosius (GC)
$274,600, Fwd
Marsh Series scores: 40, 58
After 70 points in 56 per cent game-time in the first week of the Marsh Series, the No. 2 pick from the 2018 draft had 12 disposals and 40 points to halftime against the Crows, confirming his SuperCoach credentials as an intercepting-defender this year. Lukosius was less-influential after halftime but finished with 17 disposals, 10 marks – three of them intercepts – and, at the price, is looming as a great selection when dual-position status and value might be vital.
PHANTOM’S MARCH VERDICT: Some might say top-five is a big call but if you were thinking Roberton and Tom Doedee, then why not Roberton and Lukosius?
NEXT IN LINE
Jayden Short (Rich, $349,300)
Marsh Series scores: 113, 73
In the first week of the Marsh Series, with Bachar Houli missing, the skilful defender was the go-to man out of defence for the Tigers, recording 25 disposals – at 88 per cent efficiency – 21 uncontested possessions, eight marks, five inside-50s and five rebound-50s.
Will Short return to his breakout season form of 2018 – a yeah when he posted 13 scores of 86 or more – or will the return of Houli, after he recovers from a calf injury, again stifle his output?
Wayne Milera (Adel, $402,500)
Marsh Series scores: 103, 57
Milera was one of the big SuperCoach disappointments of 2019.
After averaging 95 points per game from Round 17 onwards in 2018 playing across halfback – his third year in the game – the 22-year-old posted scores of 82, 105, 109 and 86 in the opening month of last season. But he dislocated his shoulder in Round 5 against the Suns and missed the next four weeks. It didn’t get much better after that, either. Milera made 12 more appearances for the year, scoring less than 67 or less in eight of them as he played roles in each third of the ground. His average, after it jumped from 59 to 80 in 2019, fell to 74 on the back of the inconsistency. And if the Marsh Series is anything to go by – and Brodie Smith’s permanent role change – this might not be the season Milera settles in the midfield, as some predicted.
But that might not matter for SuperCoaches as he proved in 2018 and in week one against the Demons.
Sydney Stack (Rich, $435,100)
Marsh Series scores: 79, 45
Reilly O’Brien, Sam Walsh, Bailey Smith and, now, Sydney Stack?
It’s not every year when more than one of the previous season’s top cash cows is spoken about as a legitimate starting selection. But, on scoring power alone, Stack cannot be left out.
The 19-year-old posted two SuperCoach tons in the first five matches of his career, on the back of disposal-tallies of 17 and 19 respectively. Against the Giants on debut, Stack recorded an equal-game-high four intercept marks, among 10 total intercepts, and no clanger. The 103-point score in Round 7 was on the back of six intercepts, two goal-assists and one major of his own from halfback. Stack passed the 100-point mark on three more occasions in 2019, as well as producing a four-goal, 98-point performance in Round 15.
Grant Birchall (Bris, $292,700)
Marsh Series scores: 46, 67
Despite a limited workload over pre-season – the 14th of his career – given recent injury concerns, the 31-year-old has impressed in his usual role across halfback in Brisbane’s match simulation and in the Marsh Series. Yes, it’s only early but it’s a good start.
The damaging left-footer averaged 84 points in his last full season in 2016 and 86 the year before that. He’ll start 2020 priced at an average of 54 points per game.
Connor Blakely (Freo $411,500)
Marsh Series scores: 75, DNP
Remember this guy? After spending the early part of his career as a tagger, Blakely relished the opportunity to play a ball-winning role across halfback and through the middle in 2017.
The No. 34 pick in the 2014 draft averaged 28 disposals, six marks, five tackles and 110 SuperCoach points between rounds six and 18, before a season-ending shoulder injury.
It was form the 23-year-old maintained to some degree, despite subtle positional changes by then coach Ross Lyon, in 2018. Then Lachie Neale departed and, in turn, left an inside-midfield role vacant. And Blakely’s name was at the top of the list to fill the void.
Injury got in the way again, however, with Blakely tearing his hamstring over summer and missing three months of football as a result. He didn’t return to the senior side until Round 9 last year and, while he did post two SuperCoach tons in his first six matches for the year, he failed to recapture that form – or play through the middle.
Blakely has all the tools and found plenty of the ball through the middle in limited game-time in week one of the Marsh Series but was left out of the final week clash with the Eagles.
Jeremy Howe (Coll $431,900)
Marsh Series scores: DNP, 134
Although we didn’t see it consistently last year, Howe was at his best against the Saints in the final week of pre-season action, dominating the air, and benefiting from Collingwood’s high-possession style, finishing with 25 disposals, 11 marks and 132 points. It’s a statline which Howe produced regularly between 2016 and 2018, when he averaged 91 points or more in each season. But, like it did last season, will the rise of Darcy Moore continue to affect his output?
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MIDFIELDERS
1. Jack Viney (Melb)
$439,300
Marsh Series scores: 120, 133
After a limited pre-season, Viney struggled for consistency last year, averaging 81 points per game – 15 less than in his career-best season of 2016.
But, in 2020, he’s had an uninterrupted summer and finished with 25 disposals, 15 contested possessions and nine tackles against the Crows to put his hand up in a shallow mid-price bracket in the midfield.
A week later, Viney, who averaged 96 points per game in a career best season in 2016, was even better, tallying 33 disposals and 23 contested possessions against the Hawks.
He won’t be Melbourne captain any more – Max Gawn has officially taken over – but he is a SuperCoach option once again.
PHANTOM’S MARCH VERDICT: If you’re looking to save money to bolster other lines, trading down from a midfielder premium to Viney might not cost you many points at all.
2. Will Brodie (GC)
$466,300
Marsh Series scores: 120, 133
Early in Brodie’s career there might have been a concern over what he did – or, more appropriately, didn’t do – off the ball but there’s never been a question mark over the ball-winning ability of the 189cm midfielder.
The 21-year-old finished with nine disposals in the first two matches of his career but tallied 20 or more in 11 of the following 16 non-injury affected games, between Round 3, 2017 and Round 19, 2018.
Brodie recorded 24 disposals, 12 contested possessions and six clearances in his sixth career match, 27, 11 and five in his eighth appearance and another 27 disposals, 12 contested possessions and six clearances the following week.
Despite these impressive numbers, Suns coach Stuart Dew dropped Brodie on two occasions in 2018 and made him wait to Round 5 last season, before sending him back to the NEAFL two weeks later.
But the strong-bodied midfielder wasted little time in finally making his mark upon recall to the senior side in Round 12.
In his final six games of the year – all consecutive – before injury prematurely ended his season, Brodie ranked first at the Suns for hardball-gets, second for tackles and handballs, third for disposals, fourth for clearances and fifth for contested possessions.
The most-productive stretch of his career produced four SuperCoach scores of 88 or more, including a second SuperCoach ton in the final round against the Blues.
PHANTOM’S MARCH VERDICT: Could be a SuperCoach premium by the end of 2020.
3. Dan Hannebery (StK)
$417,000
Marsh Series scores: DNP, 69
In 2016, Hannebery tallied more disposals than any other player in the competition, recording his second-consecutive SuperCoach season average of 113 or more.
Fast forward to 2018 and in his final season at the Swans, the three-time All-Australian limped through a season which saw him play just 14 games and fail to win more than 18 disposals in seven of them.
To begin with, 2019 wasn’t much better either.
Hannebery didn’t make his St Kilda debut until Round 14 and was sidelined again after two matches. The 28-year-old returned to play the final three home-and-away games but it was a frustrating first season at the Saints, to say the least.
But in those five appearances, the hard-running left-footer posted scores of 96, 65, 122, 94 and 103.
If you include the short 2019 season, despite averaging 95 points or more in six of the past seven years, Hannebery is priced at an average of 77 in 2020.
PHANTOM’S MARCH VERDICT: Some will say this is a calculated risk worth taking. And in a shortened season, they may be right.
4. Sam Walsh (Carl)
$471,900
Marsh Series scores: 100, 109
Carlton’s teenage sensation is a future SuperCoach star.
Actually, maybe there’s no need for the extra word.
Walsh played every game in his debut season and only Patrick Cripps won more of the ball at the Blues.
Walsh, who averaged 25 disposals and 10 contested possessions per game, scored 80 points or more in 14 of his 22 matches and posted six SuperCoach tons.
Against the Lions in Round 12, Carlton’s second win of the year, the classy, hard-running midfielder tallied 31 disposals, 14 contested possessions, 12 marks and 141 points as an 18-year-old playing his 12th career game.
PHANTOM’S MARCH VERDICT: He’s only getting better as he showed in the Marsh Series. And, really, he doesn’t need to get that much better to push three figures.
5. Andrew McGrath (Ess)
$399,400
Marsh Series scores: 94, 105
Will this finally be McGrath’s year?
The No. 1 draft pick spent 60 per cent of his time on a wing in 2019 – a nine per cent increase on the previous year – and recorded more disposals, contested possessions, clearances, inside 50s and goal-assists than the previous season.
But he added just two points to his SuperCoach average after only passing the 100-point mark once.
He’s got the tools – clean hands and breakaway speed, in particular – to move into an on-ball role and, like last year, the pre-season suggests it will happen in 2020.
But as a midfielder-only in SuperCoach, you’d want to be pretty sure it will.
PHANTOM’S MARCH VERDICT: I’m still not certain but the signs are good – McGrath attended more centre bounces than any other Bomber over the pre-season – and in the current SuperCoach landscape, taking a punt on the value might be the way to go.
NEXT IN LINE
Quinton Narkle (Geel $396,600)
Marsh Series scores: 113, 78
When given the opportunity, the 22-year-old can post some big numbers as scores of 123, 56 and 143 in his three home-and-away matches last year proves. And he’s sent multiple reminders in the past three weeks. In the first round of the Marsh Series, The skilful right-footer finished with 26 disposals, a game-high 10 clearances and a team-high 113 points, in a display which keeps him right in the mix to help fill the midfield void left by Tim Kelly.
Jackson Hately, (GWS, $301,600)
Marsh Series scores: 129, 92
The 19-year-old, who impressed, despite limited opportunity, in his debut season was the No. 1 ranked player on the ground in the Giants’ first Marsh Series hitout against the Swans.
Hately, who led the NEAFL side for disposals per game last year, then further highlighted his terrific inside-outside midfield balance with an impressive 92-point performance in the final week. With the long-term injury to Tim Taranto, Hately is likely to get an early opportunity to cement his spot in the side. And, even with a potential delay in the season – or multiple – which could see Taranto miss less games, Hately might have already done enough.
Ed Langdon (Melb, $466,300)
Marsh Series scores: 76, 83
After showing glimpses in the early part of his career, the hard-running Langdon burst onto the scene in 2018, adding 17 points to his SuperCoach average and tallying 54 more disposals than he did combined in his first three years. As a 22-year-old, Langdon ranked first at the Dockers for uncontested possessions, second for kicks and inside 50s and third for total disposals, finishing fourth in the best-and-fairest. The upward trend continued in 2019 with Langdon winning more possession — in a contest and away from it — increasing his disposal average by three. It resulted in a SuperCoach average of 86 — a four-point increase on 2018.
If you narrow it down further to his final four games at Fremantle, Langdon could be in for another big spike 2020. The right-footer averaged 28 disposals, six score involvements and 108 points per game from Round 20 onwards.
Oliver Florent (Syd, $373,400)
Marsh Series scores: 66, 41
The Phantom was at Adelaide Oval in Round 21 last year when the Swans travelled to take on the Power. Port dominated but there was one shining light on an otherwise dark day for Sydney – Oliver Florent. The 21-year-old found the football at will through the midfield, finishing with 29 disposals, 12 contested possessions, nine clearances and 102 points.
It was his second SuperCoach ton but it wasn’t his last. Florent was, again, a key part of the Swans’ engine-room against the Demons, tallying 28 disposals, 12 contested possessions and 106 points. Both tallies could’ve been higher, too, given the speedster recorded 11 clangers over the two weeks. But with a below-average kick retention rate, it’s a part of his game that Florent needs to work on. He’s got most other things working for him, though.
Jarrod Berry (Bris, $461,300)
Despite knee surgery to remove a Baker’s cyst – and then six rounds on the sidelines – the 21-year-old increased his SuperCoach average from 80 to 85 in just his third year in the competition. After passing three figures in three of the final four games of 2018, the young Lion posted six SuperCoach tons last season. Berry won his fourth straight 3km time trial in January but is still likely to spend time at half-forward in 2020, given the strength of the Brisbane midfield. And, while he’s shown he can still score well in the role, the next scoring spike might not eventuate until he’s awarded even more midfield minutes.
RUCKMEN
1. Nic Naitanui (WC)
$457,800
Marsh Series scores: 58, 100
The star big man made his return from an ACL injury – the second since 2017 – in Round 15 last year, playing just 58 per cent of his comeback game against the Hawks.
But he walked off the field with 99 SuperCoach points to his name.
It was a similar story a week later with Natanui tallying 14 disposals, 11 contested possessions, seven clearances, 23 hit-outs and 88 points in 52 per cent game-time.
And, yes, you guessed it, despite hurting his ankle and spending 43 per cent of the match on the bench, the 29-year-old finished with a game-high 11 clearances and 94 points against the Magpies.
Naitanui missed the final six home-and-away matches but returned for the Eagles’ two finals posting scores, in limited game-time, of 68 and 90.
He’s done it all of his career, too.
In 2012, his fourth season in the game, Naitanui recorded 15 SuperCoach tons — four in excess of 150 — including a career-high 185 against the Blues to finish the year as the All-Australian ruckman.
He then averaged 96, 91, 103, 106 and 97 in his next five seasons.
But there’s no hiding from the fact one of the games’ most-influential has played just 33 home-and-away matches since 2015.
PHANTOM’S MARCH VERDICT: If there was one player the shortened season – and the potential for shortened matches – suits, it has to be Naitanui, whose 1.38 SuperCoach points per minute was the highest in the competition last season.
2. Tim English (WB)
$448,400
Marsh Series scores: DNP, 123
In his draft year of 2016, English was compared to a young Dean Cox in the way in which he gets around the ground – sometimes appearing like a fourth midfielder.
Given English played plenty of junior footy in the midfield before a 20cm growth spurt three years prior to the Bulldogs taking him at pick No. 19, it was little surprise to hear 205cm big man can win his own ball.
And last year, we saw it regularly.
The 21-year-old, whose work below his knees is, arguably, the best of any ruckman in the competition, tallied 10 or more disposals in all-but three matches last season, finishing with 15 or more on six occasions.
He broke through for the first SuperCoach ton of his career, on the back of 14 disposals, seven marks and 26 hit-outs against the Tigers before following it up with a 15-disposal, two-goal, 121-point performance three weeks later.
In his final three matches of the year, including the elimination final loss to the Giants, English averaged 17 disposals, nine contested possessions, 26 hit-outs and 98 points per game.
English’s body is still developing as is his ruck craft. And it showed at times last year with the young Bulldog failing to record more than 10 hitouts in three of his four clashes with the competition’s ruck heavyweights in Grundy, Gawn and Todd Goldstein.
PHANTOM’S MARCH VERDICT: English’s impressive Marsh Series performance against the Power was another sign that 2020 could be the year. And a number of SuperCoaches had already locked him in as a cheaper R2. But can you now pick him over Naitanui?
3. Sam Jacobs (GWS)
$348,400
Marsh Series scores: 66, 111
In his last outing as a Crow, the 31-year-old tallied 25 hit-outs-to-advantage and 125 SuperCoach points in the Round 23 clash with the Bulldogs.
It was just his fifth game in 2019 but it showed he’s still more than capable at the top level.
At GWS, a “refreshed” Jacobs will be the man to lead the Giants’ ruck brigade – which works with one of the game’s best midfields – with Shane Mumford set to play a modified role in 2020.
Jacobs’ output has fallen away gradually since the 2014 season when he averaged 115 points, finishing the year as the third-ranked player in the competition but his tap-work remains elite and, prior to this year, he’s proven as durable as any big man in the game.
Between his Adelaide debut in Round 5, 2011 and the injury in Round 2, 2019, Jacobs played 181 of a possible 185 games for the Crows.
At the peak of his career at the Crows, Jacobs’ ability to cover the ground and get involved in general play was almost better than any other big man in the competition. As he did in the final week of the Marsh Series, if he can find space at his new club, the GWS midfielders will find him more often than not.
PHANTOM’S MARCH VERDICT: Three figures again? I wouldn’t be surprised.
FORWARDS
1. Devon Smith (Ess)
$335,800, Mid
Marsh Series scores:
After showing glimpses, in between a number of frustrating injuries, at the Giants, Smith delivered on his potential at the Bombers in 2018.
The tenacious forward, whose midfield time increased as the season went on, averaged 98 points per game and won Essendon’s best-and-fairest in his first year at the club.
But it was in the final eight rounds of the season when his scoring power was really on show.
The 26-year-old averaged 25 disposals, nine tackles and 107 points per game from Round 16 onwards.
A persistent knee injury then restricted him in the first two months of 2019, before wiping out his season completely in May.
Smith, the competition’s No. 1 tackler in 2018, averaged 2.5 tackles less per game in the opening eight rounds of last year, and finished with 20 disposals or more in just two matches.
But enough with the disappointment that was 2019.
Smith has enjoyed an uninterrupted pre-season and, after a slow start in week one of the Marsh Series, underlined his enormous value with a 117-point performance, on the back of 21 disposals, 10 tackles, eight marks and six clearances, through the midfield against the Cats.
Smith will start the season as the 115th most-expensive but, all going well, is a likely top-six forward by the year’s end.
PHANTOM’S MARCH VERDICT: Was, is and will continue to be, a must-have
2. Andrew Brayshaw (Freo)
$382,800, Mid
Marsh Series scores: 94, 102
In his first two seasons in the competition, former coach Ross Lyon persisted with Brayshaw as a forward.
And for good reason, apart from not wanting to throw the prized early draft pick right into the heat of the battle.
In the TAC Cup, Brayshaw averaged seven score involvements and a competition-high 2.2 score assists per game.
But, despite his influence forward-of-centre, Brayshaw really made his name as a ball-winning midfielder at junior level, averaging 25 disposals and 131 SuperCoach points for Sandringham.
And he’s destined to do the same at the top-level.
Brayshaw added 10 points to his average in 2019, after winning 20 disposals or more on eight occasions – a feat he achieved just three times in his debut season.
And it was the extra midfield responsibility, in the absence of captain Nat Fyfe, which drove Brayshaw’s performance.
Fyfe only missed the one match and will still, clearly, be the main man in 2020, but it showed the numbers Brayshaw might generate as his role in the Dockers’ side increases, under new coach Justin Longmuir. After an impressive start to the summer, what also might increase is his game-time. In his 37 senior appearances, Brayshaw is yet to spend 80 per cent of the game on ground. Brayshaw was on the bench for at least 28 per cent of 14 of his 22 appearances in 2019.
PHANTOM’S MARCH VERDICT: Third year. More midfield minutes. Dual-position status. Sub $400k price-tag. There’s so much to like. And we might be able to trust the Fremantle coach now. It’s hard to see 2020 playing out without a scoring spike for Brayshaw, making the 20-year-old a standout option at the price.
3. Darcy MacPherson (GC)
$443,800, Mid
Scores: 132, 127
Last season, the 22-year-old scored 80 points or more in 12 of his 22 matches, passing the three-figure mark on four occasions.
And that was in predominantly a forward role, which saw MacPherson average the most pressure acts and tackles of any player classified as a midfielder-forward in the competition.
And, now, after playing through the midfield in the Marsh Series, MacPherson has emerged as a genuine SuperCoach option this season.
The former rookie-listed Sun showed off his ball-winning ability, tallying a combined 62 disposals and 30 contested possessions across his side’s two pre-season fixtures.
PHANTOM’S MARCH VERDICT: You just have to consider him, especially now.
4. Christian Petracca
$441,300
Marsh Series scores: 188, 72
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.
He wasn’t as influential in the Demons’ final Marsh Series match but he did attend the most centre bounces for his side,
PHANTOM’S MARCH VERDICT: Big junior numbers as a midfielder. Strong inside game. And can kick goals. It’s no wonder we’ve been sucked in before. But it will happen at some point.
5. Tom Lynch (Rich)
$388,800
Marsh Series scores: Dnp, 111
After a slow start to his career at Punt Road, coming off a very limited pre-season, Lynch proved to be a vital part of the Tigers’ premiership side. And he reminded SuperCoaches of his scoring power, too. From Round 17 onwards, including Richmond’s three finals, Lynch averaged 99 points per game, after posting five SuperCoach tons. The 27-year-old will be priced at an average of 72 in 2020.
PHANTOM’S MARCH VERDICT: That last line just about sums it up. With Acres and Steven falling out of the top-five, if you’re looking for value and a player who can have a big impact in a short space of time, Lynch could be your man.
NEXT IN LINE
Blake Acres (Freo, $384,000, Mid)
Marsh Series scores: 111, DNP
During his six years and 75 games at the Saints, Acres struggled for consistency due to the lack of a defined role – along with injury – but he’s set to lock down a spot in the Dockers’ midfield in 2020. The West Australian played as lead-up target and running half-forward for most of 2019, but there was a number of glimpses of what he can do in the midfield at the Saints, too. In the first five rounds of 2018, the 191cm Acres, who has impressed during his first pre-season at the Dockers, averaged 24 disposals, 10 contested possessions, eight score involvements and 106 SuperCoach points per game, playing as a pure wingman. And there was a similar four-game stretch, which saw him average 24 disposals and 105 points in 2016.
Acres exploded out of the blocks in the Marsh Series but hurt his hamstring at the same time. But with the potential for early-season delays, Acres, who would be at No. 2 if injury-free, is right back in the frame.
Jack Steven (Geel $361,700, Mid)
Marsh Series scores: DNP, 97
Steven has played all 22 games in four of the past seven seasons and he’s averaged 100 SuperCoach points or more in three of them. In 2013, thanks to three scores of 150 or more, the now 29-year-old finished the year as the seventh-ranked player in the competition. At his best, there’s no arguing a fit-and-firing Steven is a SuperCoach star. But he played just seven games in 2019 after taking time away from the Saints to deal with mental health issues. And, despite making an impressive start at Geelong pre-Christmas, Steven joined the rehab group in the new year after hurting his calf. And with discussion around a potential half-forward role taking place about the same time, SuperCoaches cooled. But after a standout midfield performance, on the back of 26 disposals and 14 contested possessions in just 65 per cent game-time, in Geelong’s final Marsh Series clash with the Bombers, he was back in the mix, before coach Chris Scott all-but ruled Steven out of Round 1.
Connor Rozee (Port, $422,100)
Marsh Series scores: 108, 70
After an impressive midfield stint in the Power’s internal trial, the second-year gun was a slow starter against the Lions in the first week of Marsh Series action. But it didn’t take him long to warm up. In a performance which highlights his enormous SuperCoach scoring power, 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?
Pat Lipinksi (WB, $441,500, Mid)
Marsh Series scores: 71, 97
Despite impressing in an outside role in his 17 games in 2018 – his second year in the competition – Luke Beveridge sent Lipinski back to the VFL as an inside midfielder after a disappointing pre-season campaign. And, while he was at state-league level for more than two months, the 21-year-old returned a much more SuperCoach-relevant prospect. In Round 13 – his third game back in the senior side – the 187cm Lipinski tallied 29 disposals, nine contested possessions, two goals and 129 points. He had 32 touches the following week against the Magpies before a quiet patch mid-year. But Lipinski finished strongly, attending the fourth-most centre bounces at the Bulldogs and averaging 100 points in the final three home-and-away matches.
Tom McDonald (Melb, $387,000)
Marsh Series scores: 139, 50
It’s a similar story for McDonald. In his last game before a knee injury ended his season in July, 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. In 2018, McDonald averaged 98 points playing every one of his 17 games as a forward. He, too, will priced at an average of 72 this season.
Bailey Smith (WB, $415,900, Mid)
Marsh Series scores: 43, 47
After an Achilles injury ruined the end of his draft year, SuperCoaches were cautious on Smith’s cash cows prospects in 2019. But we should’ve never doubted the teenager, who was touted as the most-professional and most-dedicated of the draft pool. Smith played every game in his debut season and scored 86 points or more in 11 of them, finishing fourth in the Rising Star award. The tough, hard-running 19-year-old, who averaged 25 disposals and 125 points at the national under-18 championships in 2018, spent time at half-forward, halfback and on a wing last year. In the final five home-and-away matches, Smith averaged 21 disposals, eight contested possessions, five inside 50s and 88 points, while also booting four majors.
Jonathon Ceglar (Haw, $417,000, Ruck)
Marsh Series scores: 80, 101
The 29-year-old posted scores of 110, 83 and 94 in the final three rounds of last year and is the Hawks’ No. 1 ruckman with Ben McEvoy remaining in defence. He’s the one to go with if you’re still looking for ruck back-up.
Chad Wingard (Haw, $412,300, Mid)
Wingard is a mercurial forward, there’s no doubt about it. The left-footer booted 232 goals and directly assisted 111 others in 147 games at the Power. But he’s also a creative and dangerous midfielder as he’s shown at different stages over his career. In the final 12 games of 2018, the 25-year-old averaged 24 disposals, 12 contested possessions, five clearances, five inside 50s, five tackles and 103 SuperCoach points per game, while also booting 11 goals. And then, after battling injury for most of his first season at Hawthorn, Wingard played through the midfield in the final month of the year and averaged 26 disposals and 91 points from Round 20 onwards.
Jack Martin (Carl $420,800, Mid)
Marsh Series scores: 75, 78
Martin’s undeniable talent has been on show in his six seasons at the top level but, after playing a number of different roles at the Suns – and playing them very well – he’s yet to take his game to an elite level. Stationed predominantly as a forward, Martin posted five SuperCoach tons in 2017 after averaging 19 disposals and booting 24 goals. Martin broke the 120-point mark on three occasions, but also posted seven scores of 70 or less – a formline which sums up his SuperCoach career to date. Martin, again, struggled for consistency in 2019 with his performance mirroring that of the Suns’. In fact, in the six Gold Coast wins Martin played in over the past two years, he averaged 21 more points than in losses. It might be forward but the 24-year-old’s position at the Blues will be more consistent. And the same can be said for an improving Carlton outfit. Is this the year it all comes together?
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