The Phantom’s 2018 SuperCoach pre-season: The tall order of Nic Nat and other mid-priced rucks

IT’S only the first week of February – and second of The Phantom’s SuperCoach pre-season – but most SuperCoach teams are already taking shape. Nic Nat as a mid-priced ruckman? Recap The Phantom’s first Rate My Team blog here.

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THE Phantom’s 2018 SuperCoach preseason continues with one of the biggest tall orders of all — Nic Nat and the other mid-priced rucks.

It’s only the first week of February – and second of The Phantom’s SuperCoach pre-season – but most SuperCoach teams are already taking shape.

At this stage of the year, of course, we’ve all got dilemmas.

It also doesn’t help that we haven’t seen many of the rookie-priced players take the field yet.

If you are having trouble with your structure, making a decision between two players or just don’t really know where to start, The Phantom is here to help.

As part of The Phantom’s pre-Season, Wednesday is the first Rate My Team session.

If it’s feedback you want, it’s feedback you are going to get.

As a group, it’s one of the ways we are going to get better.

It all starts at 12.30pm SA time and 1PM EDT. See you then, SuperCoaches

THE NIC-NAT DILEMMA

Nic Naitanui (WC) $465,900

“How often we see it and how soon we can see it, only time will tell.”

Those are the words of West Coast midfield coach Sam Mitchell talking about the Eagles’ star ruckman returning to his best, earlier in the week.

Cue panic.

While there have been mixed reports regarding his progress floating around all summer, The Phantom has stuck with Naitanui, who is on the comeback trail from a knee reconstruction, all pre-season, confident he’ll be there in Round 1.

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However, even though West Coast was always going to be cautious with their most influential player, Mitchell’s comments are concerning.

But do we even need Naitanui at 100 per cent to pick him?

Even if his game-time is low, Naitanui’s scoring power could still see him score well.

Just like he did in Round 10, 2016.

Against the Suns, Naitanui played 62 per cent of game-time and recorded just eight disposals, yet still scored 112 points, largely on the back of 15 hit-outs-to-advantage. And it’s not the only time he’s done it during his career.

Naitanui can influence a game like no other player.

The athletic big man averaged 106 points in that season, the same year he ruptured his knee in Round 22.

In 2015, Naitanui averaged 104 but it was in 2012 when he really imposed his dominance on the competition.

In 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.

Not that you would’ve needed any more convincing that he can score.

The Phantom’s Verdict: While most of Mitchell’s comments aren’t really what SuperCoaches want to hear, he did also state Naitanui is still on track for Round 1. That’s enough for The Phantom.

Scott Lycett and Nic Naitanui during West Coast Eagles training. Picture: Darren England.

THE OTHER COMEBACK

Scott Lycett (WC) $277,100

After pre-season surgery on his shoulder, the 25-year-old returned in Round 16 but only lasted one game as the issue flared up again, requiring another bout of surgery.

But, after not missing a session over summer, the 202cm big man is primed to kickstart his promising, yet injury-interrupted, career.

If Naitanui isn’t ready, and he can edge out last year’s main man Nathan Vardy — something he should do if he’s fit — Lycett could find himself as the Eagles’ No. 1 ruckman in Round 1.

But even if Naitanui is in, Lycett has shown he can score well alongside his star teammate.

In 2016, Lycett played 20 games — eight more than he has in any other season of his career — and posted eight SuperCoach tons, to finish with an average of 83.

In six of the games Lycett scored 100 points or more, Naitanui was there and the two worked well together, with Lycett starting forward.

The Phantom’s Verdict: A real ‘watch this space’ situation. At $277k, with the ability to average in the 80s, Lycett could prove a valuable stepping stone to a premium ruck if you are spending your money elsewhere to start with.

Fremantle Dockers young ruck gun Sean Darcy. Picture: Alison Wynd

NEXT IN LINE

Sean Darcy (Freo) $432,900

Aaron Sandilands is still the No. 1 man at the Dockers but, after an impressive first-year display in 2017, 19-year-old Darcy is getting ready to take over.

If you ignore the Round 15 clash, when Sandilands was injured early in the first quarter, the two have never shared ruck duties.

However, coach Ross Lyon recently told the AFL website it’s something “we’ll have to have a look at it and give it an opportunity for a period of time to see how it works”.

The solidly built Darcy averaged 79 SuperCoach points in his debut season, scoring 87 points or more in four of his eight games. These numbers are even more impressive when you take into consideration how long it usually takes young ruckmen to have an impact in the competition.

But can he replicate these numbers with Sandilands in the same side?

The Phantom’s Verdict: At $432k, you’re not picking Darcy as a back-up but how long will Sandilands’ 35-year-old body hold up?

With Shane Mumford out of the picture, will Dawson Simpson get more of an opportunity at GWS? Picture: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

Dawson Simpson (GWS) $290,300

In his first year at the Giants, Simpson didn’t play a game but the journeyman got his chance in the absence of Shane Mumford on two occasions in 2017.

And he scored well.

Simpson, who averaged 123 SuperCoach points in the NEAFL, tallied 91 and 85 points in his two senior appearances last season.

With Mumford retiring, does the door open for Simpson to make a play for No. 1 ruck spot? Unlikely.

At the moment, it’s Rory Lobb’s to lose, meaning Simpson may again see limited game time.

But, just like with Darcy, if Lobb struggles or the Giants need him forward, Simpson, who scored 131 and 148 in consecutive weeks while at Geelong in 2013, may become SuperCoach relevant quickly.

The Phantom’s Verdict: I’m clutching at straws here, can you tell!?