The Phantom’s: The good, the bad and the top-scoring forward-line PODs

BLOG RECAP — With most of the popular names starring, it was another big week in SuperCoach. But there are also a number unique players in red-hot form. The Phantom looks at the good, the bad and the four highest-scoring forwards in the past five rounds.

• AFL Power rankings for Round 18
• Player ratings for Port Adelaide and Crows
• Latest injury update: The Barometer

With most of the popular names starring, it was another big week in SuperCoach. But there are also a number unique players in red-hot form. The Phantom looks at the good, the bad and the four highest-scoring forwards in the past five rounds

It was another big week in SuperCoach with five of the top eight most-selected players scoring more than 120 points in Round 18.

And Rory Laird, the third-most popular player in the game, wasn’t far off with 111.

They are popular for a reason.

But there are also a number unique players in red-hot SuperCoach form.

In the forward line, excluding the injured James Sicily, the top four scorers in the past five weeks are all in less than four per cent of teams.

Three of them are in 1.2 per cent or less.

Hawk Luke Bruest is the highest-scoring SuperCoach forward in the past five weeks.

Hawk Luke Bruest (3.9%) has posted five SuperCoach tons in the past five games and boasts a five-round average of 113.

Geelong ruckman Rhys Stanley (1%) , who looks to have finally won the No. 1 ruck battle at the Cats, isn’t far behind with a five-round average of 111, after scores of 149, 109, 90, 104 and 103 in the past five matches,

Stanley’s team-mate – and the matchwinner against the Demons – Tom Hawkins (1.2%) is averaging 110 points per game in the past five games.

But, more impressively, the key forward is averaging 107 points per game since Round 6.

Rounding out the list of unpopular SuperCoach names, skilful Saint Jade Gresham (0.8%) has scored 110 points or more in three of his past five matches to boast a five-round average of 104, the fourth-highest of forwards currently playing.

One of these guys could be the difference in your team making the finals and missing out.

And, with Brisbane, Fremantle and Gold Coast travelling to the Cattery in the final five rounds, The Phantom would be going with Hawkins.

THE GOOD

A huge 192 SuperCoach points for Tom Mitchell in Round 18.

The heading should say unbelievably good because that’s what Hawk Tom Mitchell was against the Blues on Sunday. The No. 1 SuperCoach scorer tallied 46 disposals, 16 contested possessions, nine tackles, two goals and a season-high 192 points. That’s Mitchell’s third score of 159 or more in the past five matches. Looking ahead, the Brownlow Medal favourite is unlikely to find as much space in Round 19 as the Hawks travel to take on Bailey Banfield and the Dockers.

Second-year Brisbane defender Alex Witherden continued his run of form against the Crows, recording 131 SuperCoach points, on the back of 31 disposals – 26 of them kicks – 12 marks and a game-high 735 metres gained. The 19-year-old now sits as the fifth-highest scoring defender in the past three rounds. The Phantom picked Witherden up at the bargain price of $374k but the point-of-difference, who is only in 3.5 per cent of teams, is still a great buy at $455k.

Zach Merrett’s SuperCoach ton in Round 18 made it seven on-the-trot for the Bomber midfielder and, more impressively, it came despite the attention from Fremantle stopper Bailey Banfield. Merrett started slow but finished with a huge 13-disposal last quarter to get his team over the line.

Well done to the 1300 SuperCoaches who took the punt on Giant Dawson Simpson before the start of Round 18. The 29-year-old followed up his 122 points against the Tigers with 121 points in his side’s win over the Power, making him the highest-scoring ruckman of the round.

THE BAD

For a guy who is averaging more than 30 disposals per game in 2018, Jack Macrae’s first quarter against the Eagles was underwhelming to say the least. Macrae failed to touch the footy in the first 18 minutes and finished the term with just three stats to his name. As expected, he lifted but still only managed 74 points – his lowest full-game score for the year. But in good news, Macrae’s price fell by another $46k, meaning he is now available for almost $200k less than he was after Round 9.

Blue Kade Simpson posted his lowest SuperCoach score since Round 9.

Four of the top-seven scoring defenders in 2018 – Kade Simpson (80), Shannon Hurn (72), Jack Crisp (64) and Luke Ryan (74) – all struggled in Round 18. We can handle the odd low score but not all in the same week.

THE PHANTOM’S MENACE

Daniel McStay (Bris)

Hey Dan, just be more careful when you’re near the head of the SuperCoach cash cow of the year Tom Doedee next time.

THE PHANTOM ROUND 18

Score: 2523

Overall ranking: 13,135