The Phantom’s SuperCoach Pre-season: First team reveal

AFTER a disappointing 2017, resident SuperCoach expert The Phantom is back to make amends. Here is the first version of his 2018 team. RE-CAP ALL THE ANSWERS FROM HIS LIVE BLOG BELOW.

See below for the Phantom's first team of 2018.

• The Phantom’s Lair podcast: Enter if you dare
• SuperCoach 2018: The magnificent seven
• Ralphy v Gardiner: Whose SuperCoach team is better?

AND we’re off.

SuperCoach is officially open for 2018.

After a disappointing year in 2017, The Phantom is back to make amends.

While it was disappointing, it wasn’t a waste. The Phantom learned same valuable lessons - ones that have driven the thinking behind the first version of my 2018 side.

SIGN UP AND START PICKING YOUR SUPERCOACH TEAM HERE

DEFENCE

Melbourne’s Michael Hibberd is marked down for a starting spot in The Phantom team’s defence. Picture: David Caird

A shallow defence – with only one premium in Taylor Adams – cost The Phantom last season. Sure, player selection didn’t help but the starting structure had me scrambling from the outset.

This season, it’s the opposite. Given The Phantom believes we can be more confident on the top-ranked defenders in 2018, than elsewhere on the field, I’m loading up.

Michael Hurley, Rory Laird and Michael Hibberd – barring injury – should all safely finish in the top 6 and new dual-position prospect Brandon Ellis may not be too far behind.

At this stage of the year, all of the rookie-priced players are speculative but third-year Crow Tom Doedee is firming as a certain round 1 starter and should appear in most teams.

MIDFIELD

Phantom favourite Patrick Cripps is enjoying his full preseason at Carlton and is a certain SuperCoach starter. Picture: Michael Klein

With four players worth more than $500k in defence – and, as I’ll get to, four worth more than $430k in the forward line – something’s got to give.

And it’s the midfield.

The Phantom has started with a stacked midfield from round 1 in the past two seasons and, while it worked to some degree in 2015, it did stall the cash generation of the side last year.

It’s true; the midfield is where most of the rookie points come from and I’m not ignoring it in 2018.

Dion Prestia found his groove late in the season, helping Richmond to the premiership. Picture: Michael Klein

Will Brodie is a contested-ball beast and should push his way into the Suns midfield in his second year and top draft picks Paddy Dow and Luke Davies-Uniacke will see plenty of early action in their debut seasons – and be worth their high price tag. These three will be turned into premiums once the top-scoring players become clearer, because, at this stage, there is a group of 15 or so who could all push for a top-six ranking.

At the top, sit only three true premiums. Price is irrelevant with Patrick Dangerfield - he’s a must-have. Nat Fyfe is a bargain at sub-$600k and looks set to return to his best. While The Phantom’s long-time favourite Patrick Cripps is injury free and ready to explode.

Then there is the value.

Stephen Coniglio, who missed most of last year with injury and Dion Prestia, who took a while to find his groove at Tigerland, are well under-priced given their scoring potential.

RUCK

Star Eagles ruckman Nic Naitanui will be returning to plenty of SuperCoach teams. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

MaxNat. Maxanui. Nick Max Swell. Whatever you want to call them, everyone is going to have Max Gawn and Nic Naitanui. And for good reason.

FORWARD

Isaac Heeney is a Phantom lock in the forward line. Picture: Mark Evans/Getty Images

As The Phantom touched on, taking advantage of the rookie-priced players in the midfield and saving some money has allowed for four – potential – premiums in the forward line. Isaac Heeney needs no introduction and The Phantom believes this is the year Jack Billings finally elevates himself into elite status by finding greater consistency.

And surely Luke Dahlhaus responds after last year’s underwhelming output. Play him in the midfield, Bevo!

Bring it on.

FULL TEAM

DEFENCE: M. Hurley (Ess) $563,500; R. Laird (Ade) $550,800; M. Hibberd (Mel) $545,200; B.Ellis (Rich) $502,500; T. Doedee (Ade) 123,900, S. Murray (Coll) $123,900. Bench: L. Cumming (GWS) $123,900, A. Morgan (Nth) $123,900

MIDFIELDERS: P. Dangerfield (Gee) $749,800 (Captain); N. Fyfe (Freo) $597,900 (Vice-captain), P. Cripps (Car) $537,300; D. Prestia (Rich) $456,000; S. Coniglio (GWS) $452,400; P. Dow (Car) $193,800; L.Davies-Uniacke (Nth) $189,300; W. Brodie (GC) $187,700. Bench: J. Dawson (Syd) $123,900; T. Kelly (Gee) $117,300; N. Holman (GC) $102,400

RUCKS: M. Gawn (Melb) $503,700; N. Naitanui (WCE) $373,300. Bench: T. Olango $102,400

FORWARDS: I. Heeney (Syd) $536,300, J. Billings (StK) $509,500; L. Dahlhaus (WB) $498,500; D. Smith (Ess) $439,100; W. Setterfield (GWS) $195,700; J. Higgins (Rich) $130,800. Bench: P. Ahern (Nth) $123,900, L. Ryan (WCE) $117,300

The Phantom 2018 team reveal

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PHANTOM’S TEAM? CHAT LIVE WITH OUR EXPERT BELOW AT 12.30PM