The Phantom’s SuperCoach pre-season 2018: Premium smokies no one is talking about

WE all know the big guns. But who are the top-priced players no one is talking about? The Phantom shares his left-field premium options.

WE all know the big guns. But who are the top-priced players no on is talking about? The Phantom shares his left-field premium options.

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TEAM PREVIEW: CROWS PRESENT SUPERCOACH DILEMMA

THE PHANTOM: SECRETS BEHIND FIRST TEAM REVEAL

WEDNESDAY: THE PHANTOM SCOPES PREMIUM RUCKMEN

THURSDAY: YOUNG STARS SET TO RULE THE FORWARD LINE

Jack Macrae (WB)

Midfielder, $587,800

Here is another case of the SuperCoach community forgetting about a great scorer just because they have lost their dual-position status.

Macrae, who posted 15 SuperCoach tons – six of them in excess of 120 – in 2017, is currently in only one per cent of teams, even though he was the 11th-ranked player in the competition last season.

The hard-running left-footer is only available as a midfielder in 2018 and that’s why many SuperCoaches will overlook him.

But there is one main reason why you need to at least consider thinking otherwise; Macrae is a ball magnet.

The 23-year-old has been in the competition for five seasons; in four of them, he’s averaged 27 disposals or more and finished the year with an average of 100 or more three times.

The Phantom’s Verdict: He’s durable – missing only four games in the past four seasons – and his ball-winning ability will ensure his consistent SuperCoach scoring remains.

Jack Macrae and Bailey Dale. Picture: Michael Klein

Connor Blakely (Fre)

Midfielder, $490,300

If you’ve been listening to The Phantom’s Lair podcast – I hope you have – you would know The SuperCoach Hipster, the man who loves a point-of-difference, is a big fan of this young Docker.

Hipster, if you’re reading, I apologise; I know you wanted The Phantom to stop mentioning him.

But, given the 21-year-old, who averaged 89 points in 2017, is also high on The Phantom’s watchlist, it was too hard to hold it in.

Sure, 89 doesn’t scream ‘pick me’ but a closer look at Blakely’s red-hot run of form through the middle part of the year suggests he could soon announce himself as a SuperCoach star.

Blakely, who spent the early stages of his 33-game career as a tagger, relished the opportunity to play a ball-winning role across half-back and through the middle last year. The No. 34 pick in the 2014 draft averaged 28 disposals, 6 marks, 5 tackles and 110 SuperCoach points between rounds six and 18, before dislocated shoulder ended his season in round 19.

Phantom’s Verdict: A major breakout year is looming.

Luke Dunstan (St K)

Midfielder, $485,200

Speaking of breakout years, if Dunstan’s from at the back-end of 2017 is anything to go by, we could have another.

Like Blakely, Dunstan just squeezes into the premium price bracket after increasing his average from 72 to 88 in his fourth year in the competition.

He has on occasions but it wasn’t until late last year the South Australian started to have an impact on games consistently.

The 23-year-old, who averaged 75 points in his debut year of 2014, was prolific in the St Kilda engine room in the final six rounds of the season. The inside midfielder, averaged 28 disposals, five marks, five tackles and 106 SuperCoach points from round 18.

Dunstan can win the footy but is also very reliable with it in hand, possessing the second-best kick rating out of the top-60 midfielders for total kicks - behind only Scott Pendlebury in 2017.

The Phantom’s Verdict: Another one of the next generation of scorers coming through but, at that price, you’d want to him finish in the top-15 midfielders and I’m not sure he can just yet.

Shane Savage at St Kilda training. Picture: Hamish Blair

Shane Savage (St K)

Defender, $479,700

The 27-year-old’s stint at St Kilda, after crossing from Hawthorn at the end of 2013, has been an interesting one.

After seemingly establishing his place in the side towards the end of his first year in 2014, Savage, who only missed three games in 2015 and 2016, was dropped early in 2017.

But he bounced back in a big way in round 16, posting five SuperCoach tons in a row to regain his spot across half-back.

While his time as a Saint has been up-and-down, the pure numbers show an upward trend. The long-kicking right-footer has increased his SuperCoach average in each season – 70, 73, 82 and 87 – as well as his average disposals – 18, 18, 20 and 21.

As his team improves, can he increase those numbers again in 2018?

The Phantom’s Verdict: The Phantom likes an upward trend as much as anyone but, at $479k, we need to be certain.

Brad Crouch (Adel)

Midfielder, $529,100

In 2018, it’s all about All-Australian brother Matt.

But three years ago, if we were talking about the Crouch brothers, it would’ve been all about Brad.

Long touted as midfield star, Brad’s progress has been stalled by a number of injury-riddled years, allowing his younger brother to go past him.

However, if he can improve on his 17-game tally from 2017 – the highest of his career – The Phantom believes the gap will close significantly.

Crouch, who has never averaged less than 87, finished the year with a bang, averaging 116 from round 15, including the finals.

The 24-year-old is on a modified program at the moment but the club has assured that it is only precautionary given his injury history. We’ll take them on their word for now.

Phantom’s Verdict: It would take a brave SuperCoach to start Brad over Matt but it will save you almost $80k and he’s in 10 per cent less teams. It’s worth some thought.

Toby McLean during Bulldogs training. Picture: Michael Klein

Toby McLean (WB)

Forward/midfielder, $470,200

At the awkward price of $470, the fourth-year Bulldog fits just above the premium line.

But, if he can carry the form he showed at the back-end of 2017, McLean may sit closer to the top by the season’s end.

The 22-year-old only passed the 100-point mark once in his first 27 games of senior footy but achieved the feat four times in the final eight games of last year.

In that period, after being dropped earlier in the year, the agile, emerging midfielder averaged 26 disposals and 98 SuperCoach points to put his name forward to start in the middle of the ground in 2018.

Phantom’s Verdict: A scorer of the future but how Luke Beveridge uses his pack of midfielder-forwards will be the key.