Top-end stars and mid-price bargains feature in The Phantom’s first draft SuperCoach team for 2019

The SuperCoach pre-season is officially here. With the team picker live, our guru The Phantom has spent the night locked away in The Lair and he’s come up with the first version of his team for 2019.

• The Phantom’s cheap ruck alternatives
• SuperCoach guns who will break the bank
• The biggest bargains in 2019

The SuperCoach pre-season is officially here. With the team picker live, it’s time for subscribers to start picking their 2019 teams. Our guru The Phantom has spent the night locked away in The Lair and he’s come up with the first version of his team for next season.

SUPERCOACH GOLD USERS — Start picking your team here

It’s only December so don’t expect it to look like this come Round 1.

In fact, given this is the time for experimentation, don’t even expect it to look like this next week.

But the team picker is open and The Phantom is excited. Here is the draft for 2019.

DEFENCE

From Round 8 onwards last season, Jake Lloyd averaged 122 points per game. If he can carry that form through into 2019, he’ll be one of the top scorers in any position, let alone in defence.

Lachie Whitfield, right, is a must-have as a defender in SuperCoach in 2019.

Star Giant Lachie Whitfield is a must-have as a defender and teammate Zac Williams, who didn’t play a home-and-away game in 2018, is too cheap to ignore.

Swan-turned-Blue Nic Newman is a potential SuperCoach star if he gets the freedom off half-back at his new club. The injury to star Sam Docherty might mean he sees even more football next season.

Crow Wayne Milera ($433,100) is in line for a spot here, too, but it could depend on how the dashing playmaker is used with the return of Brodie Smith. As well as the balance of the rest of the team, given the Giants, Crows, Suns and Blues all share the Round 14 bye.

Sam Collins, Chris Burgess and Marty Hore are all mature-age recruits, while Jack Scrimshaw has talent to burn and could become a good SuperCoach scorer if Alistair Clarkson gives him a chance.

MIDFIELD

There isn’t a more consistent scorer than Hawthorn ball magnet Tom Mitchell — the go-to captain option is worth the high-price tag.

Speaking of ball magnets, Jack Macrae could have even eclipsed Mitchell’s scoring if it wasn’t for a mid-season hamstring injury.

Lock them in and enjoy the big scores.

Even though he’s lost his dual-position status, don’t forget about Eagle Elliot Yeo in 2019.

Eagle Elliot Yeo is my unique premium in the midfield at this early stage.

Remember when Patrick Dangerfield was overlooked after losing his dual-position status? Or Dustin Martin? Even Dayne Zorko?

I think it might happen again with Yeo, who could comfortably sit amongst the top-8 midfielders in 2019.

Giant Tim Taranto is my tip to take the biggest step of any player next year. He’s an awkward price at $481 but, if he can average 104 — as I’ve predicted — that’s a bargain.

And if Crow Brad Crouch is up-and-running — as he is at the moment — in March, he’s a lock. The injury-plagued midfielder averages 117 points in his past four games.

No. 1 draft pick Sam Walsh is the most expensive rookie available but I think the junior ball magnet will be worth it. Expect him to have a much bigger impact in his first season than Paddy Dow did at the blues in 2018.

Big-bodied midfielder Charlie Constable, who impressed in last season’s JLT Series, is ready to break in to Geelong’s side in 2019, after consistent VFL form.

At the Dockers, mature-age wingman Brett Bewley has impressed early in the pre-season and should feature early next year, as could SA Under-18 captain — and draft slider — Luke Valente.

The Phantom's SuperCoach Team 2019 V1

RUCK

Sure, no ruckman has been the No. 1 scorer in consecutive seasons since Dean Cox but I think Brodie Grundy is every chance to break the streak. It’s the Magpie over Max Gawn, who could have Braydon Preuss as a sidekick, for The Phantom at this stage.

The selection of returning Giant big man Shane Mumford could go either way but, if a rookie-priced ruckman like Keegan Brooksby gets an earlier game to cover Mumford’s two-game suspension, it could be worth the punt.

FORWARD

Patrick Dangerfield needs no explanation. The star Cat averaged 122 SuperCoach points per game in a ‘quieter’ year. And he’s available as a forward.

Bomber best-and-fairest Devon Smith averaged 107 points in the final eight games of 2018 and there’s no reason he won’t produce similar numbers for the majority of 2019.

Bomber Devon Smith, right, won the best-and-fairest in his first season at the club.

Like Taranto, The Phantom is expecting big things from Saint Jade Gresham in his fourth year in the competition, if a more-permanent midfield role eventuates, while Toby Greene, if he can stay on the park, is a bargain at $354k.

South Australian draftee Izak Rankine is expensive but I think he could have a bigger impact than any other rookie — Walsh included — in 2019. The sublimely-skilled Rankine won’t need a high-possession count to score well.

And if Carlton recruit Will Setterfield can be ready to go at the start of the season, after recovering from a ruptured ACL, he should be in the Blues’ Round 1 side.

Like in defence, mature-age rookies fill the bench at this stage with Josh Corbett and Ben Cavarra getting the nod.