The Phantom’s Round 19 Review: Docker Luke Ryan injured his hamstring but a number of replacement options put their hand up including a 35-year-old veteran
Wearing the familiar navy long-sleeve jumper, Carlton veteran Kade Simpson found his best SuperCoach form agaisnt the Crows. Was it enough to take the plunge at a bargain price?
Another round, another injury hit for SuperCoaches.
I told you there would be more carnage before the season’s end.
And, again, it’s in defence.
Docker Luke Ryan injured his right hamstring during the third-quarter of the loss to the Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium on Sunday.
The intercepting defender failed to return, sitting the rest of the afternoon on the bench with ice on his injured leg.
And the worst part was Ryan finished with just 48 points to his name.
On second thought, the worst part was Griffin Logue’s 42 points, if you had the third-year Docker covering for injured Eagle Shannon Hurn, in the same game.
Yes, you guessed it, The Phantom was hit with the double.
The Dockers are yet to confirm the seriousness of the injury - or a timeframe - but coach Ross Lyon’s comments post match weren’t positive.
“I don’t know how bad, he had a cork then it was a hamstring,” Lyon said.
“So if it is, hopefully it’s a standard three-week.”
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If, as expected, he is ruled out during the week, as far as replacement options go, there were a number of standout performances – most from the upper-end of the mid-price range - in Round 19.
Giant Lachie Whitfield finished with 27 disposals and 90 points against the Power in a performance which saw his price take another hit – albeit a very small one.
While his display in the one-point win at Adelaide Oval didn’t scream ‘pick me’, the 25-year-old is still the best option if you don’t already have him.
If you’re looking for value, dashing Crow Brodie Smith was a positive – on an otherwise dark day for Adelaide – in his new role further up the ground.
The long-kicking right-footer, who posted scores of 97, 98 and 127 in the previous three matches, tallied 24 disposals, seven tackles, five score involvements, four inside 50s and 91 points.
In the same price bracket, Lion Daniel Rich posted his first SuperCoach ton for more than a month.
While Rich has scored 88 points or more in three of his past four matches, the 26-disposal, 111-point performance was his first three figure score since Round 14.
And Swan Callum Mills also continued his late-season surge, recording his sixth score of or 90 or more in the past seven matches, on the back of 26 disposals and seven marks.
Tiger Bachar Houli recorded his third consecutive SuperCoach ton against the Magpies on Friday night and, like Smith and Rich, there’s plenty of value in his sub-$500k price tag.
Speaking of veterans, in the familiar navy blue long-sleeves, Carlton defender Kade Simpson was back to his best on Saturday.
The 35-year-old tallied 31 disposals – 25 of them effective – 12 marks, 591 metres gained and 125 SuperCoach points – all season-highs.
Simpson played with freedom off half-back - albeit against an Adelaide side which allowed him to do so – in a ball-winning role SuperCoaches are familiar with.
Simpson’s best performance of the year against the Crows followed his 24-disposal, 93-point performance against the Suns in Round 18 and 87 points, on the back of 16 effective disposals and eight rebounds 50s, in the win over the Swans a week earlier.
All in his favourite long-sleeve jumper.
Before the late-season resurgence, however, the playmaking left-footer failed to score 79 points in the previous five matches after returning from a hamstring injury.
And his form prior to the injury doesn’t make for great reader, either.
Simpson, who has averaged 93 SuperCoach points or more in each season since 2008, posted scores 83, 72, 62, 107 and 92 in the opening five rounds before the injury-affected 35-point performance in Round 6.
But, now, it’s all about what he can do in the final four rounds.
And, after starting the year at $570 – based on 2018’s 108-point average – Simpson’s price fell to $364k after Round 15.
The only time Simpson’s price was less than that mark was in the inaugural year of SuperCoach in 2006.
While his price has risen on the back of an impressive three weeks, Simpson is still great buying ahead of Round 20.
With the Blues firing, Simpson provides a solution to the SuperCoaches looking to make money off a potential Ryan trade.
THE PHANTOM ROUND 19
Score: 2358
Studs: Jack Macrae (153), Patrick Cripps (152), Max Gawn (133) Tim Taranto (112), Tom Rockliff (111)
Duds: Josh Dunkley as captain (88), Griffin Logue (42), Luke Ryan (48)