The Phantom’s forward-line standouts: Billings the tease, the Tigers’ Round 1 bolter, Boak’s return and the mid-price value

Missed any of the JLT Series? Don’t worry, The Phantom has you covered. Here are the standout forwards and their SuperCoach scores from the first weekend of JLT action.

The Phantom's JLT Series standouts: Forwards

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

• JLT Series Standouts: Midfielders | Defenders | Ruckmen

Missed any of the JLT Series? Don’t worry, The Phantom has you covered. Here are the standout forwards and their SuperCoach scores from the first weekend of JLT action.

Will Setterfield (Carl) $144,900

113 points

The former Giant showed no sign of the knee injury which ruined his 2018 season in an impressive first-up performance for the Blues. The 192cm Setterfield rotated through the midfield, finishing with 19 disposals — 17 of them kicks — nine contested possessions, eight tackles and six inside 50s. He’s lived up to the pre-season hype so far.

Patrick Dangerfield (Geel) $660,500

129 points

He was only in second gear but the star Cat finished with 29 disposals, 16 contested possessions and 129 SuperCoach points against the Eagles. Don’t think twice.

Sam Menegola (Geel) $543,100

76 points

On first look, Menegola’s numbers aren’t anywhere near as impressive as Dangerfield’s. The ball magnet tallied 18 disposals, eight marks and 76 points. But, if you take into account the 27-year-old’s game-time of 50 per cent, they are, in fact, very good.

Jack Darling booted five goals in the Eagles’ first JLT Series match against the Cats.

Jack Darling (WC) $471,700

101 points

With Josh Kennedy missing, Darling was the main man in attack for the Eagles in their first JLT Series match and he put up numbers reminiscent of his blistering start to last season. The hardworking, strong-marking forward finished with 15 disposals, 10 marks and five goals and should benefit from the extra space created by the new centre-bounce rules.

Jack Billings (StK) $437,600

100 points

Ah, yes, Jack Billings. The man The Phantom believed would become the next elite SuperCoach premium forward last season with more midfield time. I’m still having nightmares. But maybe I was a year too early. Playing through the midfield against the Kangaroos, Billings worked hard both ways, tallying 20 disposals, eight contested possessions, four tackles, two rebound 50s, two inside 50s and two goals.

Matthew Parker (StK) $117,300

61 points

The mature-age recruit played his forward-line role perfectly, finishing with seven tackles and two goals against the Kangaroos. The 23-year-old has all-but locked himself into a Round 1 debut.

Travis Boak (Port) $478,000

81 points

Travis Boak was back in the midfield against the Crows.

Is the former skipper returning to the Power’s midfield this season? Boak spent time across half-forward — as he did last season — but also played a big role at the centre bounce against the Crows, finishing with 27 disposals and 10 contested possessions. And new midfield coach Jarrad Schofield wants him in there. Monitor his role against the Kangaroos.

Isaac Heeney (Syd) $529,200

104 points

The young star recorded 24 disposals, 13 contested possessions and five clearances in predominantly a midfield role against the Giants. But, given his aerial ability and goal sense, Heeney, as he has done many times before, pushed forward to be the Swans’ No. 1 target in attack in the absence of Lance Franklin. Heeney took two contested marks and booted two goals to finish with 104 points in 72 per cent game-time. He’s going to explode soon.

Cam Rayner (Bris) $327,700

105 points

It might be a year too early to pick him but the No. 1 selection from the 2017 National Draft is going to be a SuperCoach star very soon. While the 19-year-old is likely to spend majority of 2019 as a forward, his 105-point performance, on the back of 16 disposals, eight contested possessions and three goals, suggests he’ll still score well this season. And his performance featured a strong Dustin Martin-like fend-off before a long-range goal.

Tim O’Brien (Haw) $275,500

101 points

Coach Alastair Clarkson swapped the magnets around against the Lions, sending James Sicily forward and swinging Tim O’Brien into an intercepting role in defence. And, although he doesn’t possess Sicily’s foot-skills, O’Brien was very good, recording 18 disposals, eight marks — three of them contested — and four rebound 50s.

James Worpel (Haw) $395,700

85 points

The second-year Hawk is hoping to step up in the absence of injured star Tom Mitchell in 2019 and it was an impressive start in the opening JLT Series match. Leading a second-string Hawthorn engine room, Worpel had five more tackles and four more clearances than any team-mate and his 13 contested possessions was second only to ruckman Jonathon Ceglar.

Noah Balta tackles Demon James Harmes.

Noah Balta (Rich) $123,900

104 points

The strong, athletic big man did it all against the Demons in a performance that reaffirmed his credentials as a Round 1 starter. The 194cm 19-year-old tallied 18 disposals, nine inside 50s, six marks, two goals and seven hitouts to finish as the third-ranked Tiger on the ground. And if you haven’t seen it, watch Balta’s individual effort to get the ball forward on the outer wing. He’ll scare some defenders in 2019.

Ben Ainsworth (GC) $333,200

98 points

Ainsworth wants more midfield time in 2019 and, if his performance in the first week of the JLT Series is anything to go by, he should get it. The 21-year-old recorded 22 disposals, 10 contested possessions and two goal assists to further tempt SuperCoaches looking for the mid-price value.

Mitch Wallis (WB) $498,800

124 points

The Bulldogs aren’t short of ball-winning midfielders who can go forward and their heavy rotation has been an issue for SuperCoaches over the past two seasons. But Wallis’ performance against the Suns must be noted with the 26-year-old finishing with 24 disposals, seven tackles, six marks, 10 contested possessions and three goals.

Caleb Daniel (WB) $418,500

105 points

In the final four rounds of last season, Daniel posted three SuperCoach tons playing a ball-winning role across half-back. And it looks like he’ll stay in the role after an impressive performance against the Suns. The creative, skilful 22-year-old tallied 32 disposals — at 84 per cent efficiency — five rebound 50s, four tackles and 105 points.