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South Australian Izak Rankine is a lock for your 2020 SuperCoach side

Whether you are punting on a mid-price selection or backing the favourite, it’s not always easy picking a winner in SuperCoach. To help, The Phantom predicts Gold Coast’s best 22 and delivers a racing-style summer formguide covering every player in it.

The Phantom's Summer Form Guide: Gold Coast
The Phantom's Summer Form Guide: Gold Coast

Whether you are punting on a mid-price selection or backing the favourite, it’s not always easy picking a winner in SuperCoach.

To help, The Phantom predicts Gold Coast’s best 22 and delivers a racing-style summer formguide covering every player in it.

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The Phantom's Summer Form Guide: Gold Coast
The Phantom's Summer Form Guide: Gold Coast

THE PHANTOM’S BEST 22

B: Jarrod Harbrow, Rory Thompson, Jack Lukosius

HB: Pearce Hanley, Sam Collins, Lachie Weller

C: Brandon Ellis, Hugh Greenwood, Brayden Fiorini

HF: Ben Ainsworth, Ben King, Izak Rankine

F: Sam Day, Peter Wright, Alex Sexton

1R: Jarrod Witts, David Swallow, Will Brodie

INTER: Jack Bowes, Matt Rowell, Touk Miller, Wil Powell

THE PHANTOM’S FORM GUIDE

(Ranked in order of SuperCoach significance in 2020)

Izak Rankine (FWD $123,900)

After an interrupted campaign, a first start looms for the highly-talented South Australian, who played senior football at 16. Get on.

Matt Rowell (MID $207,300)

Stepping up a grade is unlikely to be an issue for the star junior who averaged 171 SuperCoach points at TAC Cup level. Must be included.

Hugh Greenwood at Gold Coast training. Picture: Glenn Hampson
Hugh Greenwood at Gold Coast training. Picture: Glenn Hampson

Hugh Greenwood (FWD, MID $463,100)

Contested-ball gun comes right into calculations with dual-positions status and more responsibility in the Gold Coast midfield. Consider.

Will Brodie (MID $435,800)

Slow start for the strong ball-winner but he showed he’s likely to feature prominently this year after posting four scores of 88 or more – including two SuperCoach tons – in his final six games of 2019. Do not dismiss, despite the price.

Ben King (FWD $225,000)

There’s plenty of value here. The 19-year-old booted 17 goals and earnt a Rising Star nomination after four goals against Essendon. He might not hit the lead but keep in mind at the price.

Lachie Weller (DEF $481,100)

Impressive last start – 20 disposals, 11 tackles and his sixth SuperCoach ton for the year – and looks capable of even better in 2020.

Brandon Ellis handballs during a Gold Coast training session in December. Picture: Chris Hyde/AFL Photos
Brandon Ellis handballs during a Gold Coast training session in December. Picture: Chris Hyde/AFL Photos

Brandon Ellis (MID $470,800)

As his form early – and then late – at Richmond suggests, Ellis, who has averaged 85 points or more in five of the past six seasons, can figure prominently in his preferred role through the middle. Do not dismiss.

Can Jack Bowes take the next step in 2020?
Can Jack Bowes take the next step in 2020?

Jack Bowes (MID $411,300)

Fast start to 2019 – scores of 98, 111, 117 and 98 in the opening month – but struggled with fitness and consistent role late. Others look to have stronger claims but he might surprise.

Ben Ainsworth (FWD, MID $329,000)

Coming off an impressive final-round effort, which produced 27 disposals and 15 contested possessions, last year. A definite threat if the long-awaited midfield move eventuates.

Brayden Fiorini (MID $477,100)

Ball-magnet, who averaged 101 points per game through 10 rounds last year, can feature prominently but he’s hard to trust after an inconsistent finish to the season. Consider in SuperCoach Draft.

Jack Lukosius (DEF, FWD $274,600)

Will switch ends in time but, at the price, still must be respected as an intercepting defender. Others might have stronger claims but do not dismiss.

David Swallow and Sean Lemmens at pre-season training. Picture: Jerad Williams
David Swallow and Sean Lemmens at pre-season training. Picture: Jerad Williams

David Swallow (MID $478,900)

Fitness concerns might be behind the 27-year-old after he played every game for the first time since 2014 last year. But, despite eight SuperCoach tons in 2019, he no longer figures prominently in SuperCoach Classic.

Touk Miller (MID $460,700)

Can figure on his day, as consecutive scores of 120 or more late last season proves, but he’s unlikely to feature at the price.

Suns midfielder Touk Miller. Picture: Jerad Williams
Suns midfielder Touk Miller. Picture: Jerad Williams

Jarrod Witts (RUCK $541,300)

Reliable big man produced a career-best performance in his last start – 152 SuperCoach points against the Giants – but he lacks the class of the top chances in his field.

Wil Powell (MID $298,700)

Better than past two starts – an injury-affected four points against the Tigers and 25 against the Swans – suggests but he’s hard to recommend despite the price.

Pearce Hanley (DEF $419,800)

The 161-game stayer, who averaged 104 points per game in 2014, can figure on his day but he’s hard to trust after playing just 32 of a possible 66 matches in the past three years.

Sam Collins (DEF $328,200)

Resuming from a hip injury which saw him fail to make a start after playing the first nine games of the year. The impressive, intercept defender is likely to bolster the Suns’ defence but look elsewhere in SuperCoach.

The return of defender Sam Collins will be a boost for Gold Coast in 2020. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty
The return of defender Sam Collins will be a boost for Gold Coast in 2020. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty

Jarrod Harbrow (DEF $419,400)

Reliable defender takes some catching on his day, as the 142-point performance in Round 12 last year proves, but inconsistent scoring means he’s unlikely to feature in SuperCoach again.

Peter Wright (FWD $369,300)

Talented tall-forward has all the right tools to make it but is yet to put it together consistently. Might improve as the midfield wins more ball but hard to make a case in SuperCoach on recent form.

Alex Sexton (FWD $297,200)

Important goal-kicker threatens at times but SuperCoach isn’t his thing.

Sam Day (FWD $369,800)

Another limited preparation for the versatile tall, who has battled fitness issues since 2017. Ignore.

Rory Thompson (DEF $212,300)

Resuming from an ACL injury, the key defender’s return is a huge boost for the Suns. But just not for SuperCoaches.

MAKING THEIR CASE

There’s plenty of depth building at Gold Coast with Charlie Ballard (DEF $325,800), Anthony Miles (MID $455,200), Zac Smith (RUCK $254,700), Jack Hombsch (DEF $290,800) and Darcy MacPherson (FWD, MID $443,800) waiting in the wings.

Top draft picks Noah Anderson (MID $202,800) and Sam Flanders (MID, FWD $162,300), Academy gun Connor Budarick (FWD, MID $106,400) and second-year defender Jez McLennan (DEF $123,900), might go past all of them, however.

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Original URL: https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl/supercoach-news/south-australian-izak-rankine-is-a-lock-for-your-2020-supercoach-side/news-story/e40ea0c02a92a689b07808513756c5cd