The Phantom’s SuperCoach Pre-Season: Max Gawn, Todd Goldstein or the value at R2?

In the fourth week of his SuperCoach Pre-season, The Phantom gives his verdict on your head-to-head dilemmas. Today, it’s the battle for R2 - Max Gawn, Todd Goldstein or the value?

• The Phantom’s Face-off: Miles v Hannebery v Liberatore
• The Phantom’s Face-off: Menegola v Dunkley

• The Phantom’s pre-season guide to: Premium smokier | Premium forwards | Premium defenders | Premium midfielders | Mid-price defenders| Mid-price midfielders | Mid-price ruckmen | Mid-price forwards | Mid price smokier | Cash cows in defence | Midfield cash cows | Cash cow defenders | Cash cow ruckmen | Cash cow forwards | Cash Cow smokier

In the fourth week of his SuperCoach Pre-season, The Phantom gives his verdict on your head-to-head dilemmas. Today, it’s the battle for R2 - Max Gawn, Todd Goldstein or the value?

The Phantom's SuperCoach Face-off: Gawn, Goldy or the value?

Max Gawn (Melb $692,100) v Todd Goldstein (NM $548,000) v the value

Firstly, if you haven’t already, pay the extra money and go with Brodie Grundy at R1.

No ruckman has finished as the top-ranked scorer in consecutive seasons since former West Coast star Dean Cox went back-to-back in 2012 but I’m tipping Grundy to break the trend in 2019.

Grundy averaged more contested possessions per game than star midfielders Dustin Martin, Luke Shuey, Adam Treloar, Stephen Coniglio, Dayne Beams and Scott Pendlebury in 2018.

Like Cox, he’s more than just a ruckman.

But just who partners Grundy at the R2 position has been a big talking point within the SuperCoach community over summer.

Gawn isn’t much cheaper than Grundy at $692k but rightly so.

The Melbourne star joined Grundy in the top-three overall scorers in 2018 after posting 18 SuperCoach tons in an outstanding season.

The 27-year-old’s 2017 was ruined by a serious hamstring injury but he was the No. 1 SuperCoach scorer, with an average of 118, in 2016.

Like Grundy, his influence is very difficult to quell.

But there’s a concern around the effect recruit Brayden Preuss may have on Gawn’s scoring, if coach Simon Goodwood elects to play two big men.

And with the new rules coming in to affect this season, the growing thought is that more clubs will opt to go with two traditional ruckmen more often.

Melbourne’s Max Gawn and North Melbourne Todd Goldstein compete for the ball during the JLT Community Series AFL match at Blundstone Arena in 2018 in Hobart. Picture: Michael Dodge/Getty

Goldstein appears the next-best option after he, last year, rediscovered the form that made him the top-ranked player in the game in 2015, posting 12 SuperCoach tons in the final 14 rounds.

Even more impressive was the news Goldstein has shed around 5kg over the pre-season and is in the best shape of his career.

And while the arrival of Preuss at Melbourne may hinder Gawn, his departure from the Kangaroos might help Goldstein.

However, if you’re not spending the big money on Gawn and either Darcy Fort or Zac Clarke are given Round 1 starts, I’d be going down that path.

The 25-year-old Fort averaged 105 SuperCoach points per game in the SANFL in 2017 before recording a 124-point average last season after finishing the year as the No. 1 ranked ruckman for disposals, contested possessions and clearances.

Clarke averaged 127 SuperCoach points per game — 22 more than any other ruckman in the competition — and booted 28 goals in his first season in the WAFL last year after being delisted by the Dockers.

Both are well-and-truly in the selection frame at their respective clubs.

While it will depend on the rookie-price players elsewhere, the selection of a value-price ruckmen will allow you to spend the money on a premium you can be sure about in another position.

The Phantom’s Verdict

If there’s still concern about Preuss in a month’s time, don’t hesitate on a mature-age rookie-price ruck if they are available.