SuperCoach 2020: The Phantom names six premium smokies to add to your watchlist
Most know the big names. But who’s flying under the KFC SuperCoach radar? The Phantom names six smokies from the premium-price bracket to add to your watchlist.
Supercoach
Don't miss out on the headlines from Supercoach. Followed categories will be added to My News.
We’ve been through all of the big names in every positions but who are the top-price options flying under the KFC SuperCoach radar? The Phantom names six premium smokies to keep your eye on
Dion Prestia (Rich)
$550,200, MID
Ownership: 0.7%
For the first time since 2014, the 27-year-old ball-magnet played every game last season.
And the numbers reflected this with Prestia’s disposal-average of 27.44 the highest of his nine-year career.
The 101 points per game in SuperCoach is five less than his standout year at the Suns in 2014 but it’s his post-bye-round form which is really worth talking about.
Including the finals series, the tough, creative midfielder tallied 28 disposals or more in nine of his 11 matches from Round 15 onwards.
Prestia had 30 or more on six occasions and averaged 117 points per game after posting nine SuperCoach tons in this period.
It was little surprise to those at Tigerland to see Prestia, who tallied 28 disposals, two goals and 164 points in the preliminary final, claim the Jack Dyer Medal as Richmond’s best-and-fairest in October.
Jarryd Lyons (Bris)
$535,400, MID
Ownership: 0.6%
With all the attention going towards star Lachie Neale, the former Crow is flying under the SuperCoach radar.
But, after what Lyons produced in the back-half of 2019, he shouldn’t be.
From Round 13, the 27-year-old ranked fifth in the competition tackles, eighth for clearances, 10th for inside 50s and 11th for contested possessions.
And these numbers resulted in some powerful SuperCoach scoring.
Lyons posted seven SuperCoach tons – five in excess of 130 – in the final 10 home-and-away games of the year.
He then tallied 108 and 133 in Brisbane’s two finals defeats.
It would take a brave SuperCoach to start him, but the value is obvious given an inconsistent start to 2019 sees Lyons priced at an average of 99 in 2020.
Lachie Weller (GC)
$481,100, DEF
Ownership: 0.4%
It was a year interrupted by injury, but the 23-year-old was still able to increase his SuperCoach average from 74 to 89 in 2019 after scoring 87 or more in 11 of his 17 matches.
Weller, who posted six SuperCoach tons for the year, was used predominantly across half-back and averaged 22 disposals, five rebound 50s and three inside 50s per game.
But after pushing further up the ground at times during different games throughout the season, Weller started in the midfield in Round 23.
In the Suns’ final match of the year against the Giants, the impressive runner tallied 20 disposals, 11 tackles, nine contested possessions and a season-high 110 points.
Is it a sign of things to come?
Jack Steele (StK)
$515,900, MID
Ownership: 0.5%
“‘Ratts’ is pretty keen to cut me free, which I’m pretty happy with, “ Steele said in December.
“I played the last round without a role against Sydney and I went forward and kicked a goal. I haven’t kicked too many goals yet, so it should be nice to have a bit of freedom and play some footy.”
And with those words, Steele returns to the SuperCoach watchlist once again.
Playing a defensive-midfield role for most of 2019, the 24-year-old posted 13 scores of 95 or more – nine of them SuperCoach tons – last season.
But if we’re to believe his pre-season statement, expect those numbers to be blown out of the water in 2020 and re-align with his late-season form of 2018.
From Round 13 onwards that year, Steele averaged 26 disposals, 11 contested possessions, seven tackles and 110 points per game.
Darcy Parish (Ess)
$465,400, FWD, MID
Ownership: 1.1%
He averaged 72 points in his debut season of 2016 and increased this number to 80 in 2018, on the back of impressive late-season form which saw him post five scores of 84 or more, including three SuperCoach tons, in the final seven rounds.
This run had many predicting Parish was ready to make his mark on SuperCoach — and the competition as a topline midfielder last year.
Especially given he dominated the TAC Cup in his draft year, averaging 28 disposals, 15 contested possessions, seven clearances, six score involvements and 128 SuperCoach points per game.
He wasn’t picked in Round 1, however, and was dropped again – before earning a late recall - for the ANZAC Day clash.
But Parish finally turned a corner against the Tigers in Round 10. In the absence of Dylan Shiel, who left the ground early with a hamstring injury, the skilful right-footer tallied 31 disposals, 19 contested possessions and 137 SuperCoach points – all career-highs.
A week later, Parish finished with 31 disposals and 129 points against the Blues, before impressing, despite the return of Shiel, in Round 13.
Between Rounds 10 and 13, the young Bomber ranked fifth for clearances in the competition, sixth for inside 50s and eighth for effective long-kicks.
He averaged 125 points over this three-game stretch before scoring 86 points per game – if you ignore an injury-affected 26 in Round 20 – in the run home.
MORE SUPERCOACH ADVICE
The premium alterngives to Grundy and Gawn
Four must-have starters to build your team around
Rookie Bible: All the early cheapies
Top 50 SuperCoach Draft rankings
The midfield stars to consider
Luke Parker (Syd)
$570,700, MID
Ownership: 0.4%
Fantasy Freako, my good friend at Champion Data, tells me only Scott Pendlebury, Lachie Neale and Patrick Dangerfield have scored more SuperCoach points than Parker since 2014.
The main reason Parker sits amongst such great company is his 108-point average in 2014 and his 16 SuperCoach tons – three in excess of 150 – in 2016.
But it’s also thanks to an impressive season last year, which saw the 27-year-old pass the 100-point mark in 12 of the first 17 games.
There was only one SuperCoach ton in the final five matches, but it was a good one with Parker tallying 28 disposals, two goals and 141 points against the Saints.
Scores of 77, 83, 44 and 99 between Rounds 18 and 22 are concerning, as is the fact Parker produced three of his top-six scores last year without Josh Kennedy in the side.
But he’s still worth keeping in mind.