The Phantom’s Round 2 preview: Trades, captains and rookie selections

IT’S almost time for Round 2, SuperCoaches and The Phantom is here to help you with your trades, captain selection and rookie decisions.

IT’S almost time for Round 2, SuperCoaches and The Phantom is here to help you with your trades, captain selection and rookie decisions.

THE TEAMS

TONIGHT

With Tom Lynch still missing, top pick Darcy Fogarty has kept his place in Adelaide’s 22, despite the inclusion of captain Taylor Walker, for tonight’s clash with the Tigers. As has rookie-listed Lachie Murphy.

But Jordan Gallucci has been named as first emergency so Murphy needs to perform.

REST OF THE ROUND

Fremantle coach Ross Lyon has already confirmed pick No. 5 Adam Cerra will make his debut against the Bombers on Saturday night. Lyon also hinted at another debutant but let’s hope it’s not at the expense of mature-age recruit Bailey Banfield.

Patrick Dangerfield. Geelong Cats training ahead of first game in 2018. Picture: Peter Ristevski

We expect Patrick Dangerfield to be named in Geelong’s side for the Easter Monday clash with the Hawks but will the Bomber Zach Merrett play after last week’s head knock? Hold him, either way.

Power star Robbie Gray will return for the trip to Sydney after serving his one-game suspension. Gray’s inclusion could mean a bigger role in the midfield for recruit Tom Rockliff. So, if you’re a Rockliff owner, don’t dump him just yet after just 55 points against the Dockers.

OFF THE BENCH

DEFENCE

After last week, start Sam Murray (Coll), Jeremy Finlayson (GWS) and Tom Doedee (Adel) — in that order — with confidence in Round 2. While there is every chance Aaron Naughton (WB)improves on his 25-point performance against the Giants, he’s safer on the bench, as is Crow Lachie Murphy.

MIDFIELD

Geelong debutants Tim Kelly. Picture: Alan Barber

Cat Tim Kelly, fresh of 118 points on debut, should be the first rookie-price player on the field, followed closely by Gold Coast’s Nick Holman. Then The Phantom suggests backing Andrew Brayshaw, ahead of fellow top-draftees Paddy Dow, Hunter Clark and Luke Davies-Uniacke, for the next spot. Even though he only managed 44 points last week, Port’s Dom Barry still tallied 22 disposals and should be considered after Brayshaw and just before Geelong’s Lachie Fogarty.

FORWARD

Bayley Fritsch is worth keeping on the field. Picture: Michael Klein

Eagles Liam Ryan, Jake Waterman and Daniel Venables were all serviceable but The Phantom would still play Demon Bayley Fritsch, Jaidyn Stephenson, Jarrod Gartlett and Cam Rayner — in that order — ahead of them.

CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN

AVERAGE PAST THREE GAMES v OPPONENT

Gary Ablett (Geel) Mid 139

Zach Merrett (Ess) Mid 132

Dayne Zorko (Bris) Mid 127

Lachie Neale (Freo) Mid 125

Josh P. Kennedy (Syd) Mid 124

THE PHANTOM’S PICK

Dustin Martin at Richmond training. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

Dustin Martin is the obvious choice as VC against the Crows tonight. The Tiger star, who kicked off his 2018 campaign with 139 points against the Blues last week, posted a game-high 150 points in last year’s grand final.

If you are after something a little different early in the round, Todd Goldstein is up against Billy Longer and the Saints at Etihad Stadium on Friday night. St Kilda might get the four points but Goldstein should comfortably win the ruck battle, just as Lion Stefan Martin did last week.

Todd Goldstein at Kangaroos training. Picture: Michael Dodge/Getty Images

Depending on your loophole options, Nat Fyfe, who should bounce back after just 75 points against the Power and Max Gawn are other options to consider on Saturday night.

If your VC fails, look to rock-sold captain options Tom Mitchell and the returning Patrick Dangerfield, who clash at the MCG on Monday.

And there is Gary Ablett, who averages a huge 151 points in his past nine home-and-away matches against the Hawks.

For what it’s worth, The Phantom will be going Goldstein VC into Patrick Dangerfield C.

TRADE TALK RECAP

It’s only been one round, SuperCoaches, don’t trade.

Well, unless you have injuries. And, unfortunately, there were a few big ones to come out of the first round.

Paddy Ryder ($566,500) is a must-trade given he will miss 4-6 weeks with an Achilles problem.

Look at Nic Naitauni ($465,500), who was impressive against the Swans last week, positing 113 points in just 55 per cent game time. His score was great but the way he moved around the ground and attacked the contest was even better. The Phantom was concerned about a potential rest but it looks as if the Eagles may manage their star during the games instead. This trade makes you some cash, too.

Also consider Todd Goldstein ($521,400), who was North’s top-scorer in tough conditions for big men in Round 1. Goldstein should continue to score well if Braydon Preuss remains on the outer.

Given Jarrod Witts ($518,300) is only in one per cent of teams, he is the real point-of-difference option. But, after the 208cm Gold Coast ruckman posted a game-high 131 points against North, it’s definitely worth some thought.

Western Bulldogs beanpole Ben English at Whitten Oval. Picture: Mark Wilson

Carlton are still hopeful Matthew Kreuzer ($603,700) will play against the Suns on Saturday and, even if he doesn’t, it’s unlikely he misses more than one or two matches. So try to hold for now. Of course you don’t want to play with a zero in the ruck so look to trade in Bulldog Tim English ($134,700), who tallied 13 disposals, six marks — three of them contested — and 83 points in his third game of senior footy, as cover.

Tom Liberatore ($434,600) will miss the rest of the season after rupturing his ACL in Round 1, meaning, unfortunately, he has to go. It’s likely you selected Liberatore in the first place with the thought he could average 105 or more and potentially be a keeper. So you should be either trading to someone else you think will do the same or bringing in someone who will make you some quick money.

If you didn’t start with underpriced Giant Stephen Coniglio ($452,400), who scored 129 points against the Bulldogs, he’s your man.

Otherwise, this could be your opportunity to get Patrick Dangerfield ($749,800), if you started without him, or, if you don’t quite have the cash, Carlton’s Patrick Cripps ($537,300).