The Phantom’s Round 12 Captain Analysis: Why I’ll be overlooking the top-two scorers in the game Brodie Grundy and Max Gawn

They’re the top-two SuperCoach scorers but with the big men set to go head-to-head at the MCG on Monday, will they cancel each other out? The Phantom looks at all the Round 12 captain options.

• What to do with Whitfield and Hurn?
• Is Tiger the perfect Whitfield replacement?
• Could Grundy miss with injury?

While the bye rounds allow every SuperCoach the option to play the captain’s loophole, given every player with the week off will not be locked out until the start of the final game of the round, the options are limited.

Especially with Brodie Grundy and Max Gawn, the top-two scorers in the competition, going head-to-head in the final fixture of the weekend.

Demon Max Gawn is ready for the heavyweight ruck battle with Magpie Brodie Grundy

GRUNDY v GAWN

If Grundy plays, as coach Nathan Buckley has suggested, despite an ankle issue, will the two big men cancel each other in the Queen’s Birthday clash?

Because that’s been the case in the previous two meetings.

In the corresponding fixture last year, Grundy (98 points) got the better of Gawn (76) but only just.

And in the final round of 2017 both, again, failed to reach three figures with Grundy finishing with 93 SuperCoach points and Gawn 67.

On recent history, Grundy appears the better captain option but will he be 100 per cent fit?

Two big questions remain unanswered and, despite both players averaging more than 144 points in the past three rounds, that’s enough to put The Phantom off.

If Grundy doesn’t come up, put the C on Gawn without hesitation, otherwise it might be time to consider …

THE OTHER TOP PICKS

Patrick Dangerfield (Geel)

V Richmond, Friday night

After missing a week through injury, the star Cat bounced back into form with 130 points — his highest score since Round 2 — against the Swans. And Dangerfield has posted scores of 141, 102 and 132 in his past three home-and-away matches against the Tigers. In a tough week, it’s his chance to reclaim the mantle of go-to SuperCoach captain — or in this case VC — option.

Lachie Neale takes a selfie with Fremantle fans prior to the Round 10 clash with the Dockers. Picture: Will Russell/Getty Images.

Lachie Neale (Bris)

V Carlton, Saturday

Last week, Essendon skipper Dyson Heppell posted a season-high 153 points against the Blues and young midfield teammate Darcy Parish wasn’t far behind with 129. St Kilda midfielders Luke Dunstan and Jade Gresham posted SuperCoach tons against Carlton the previous week and in Round 9, Giants Lachie Whitfield, Tim Taranto and Josh Kelly all passed the 130-point mark.

Oh, and Neale averages 142 points in his past three matches against the Blues and has recorded five scores in excess of 140 this season. VC him if you’ve got him.

Patrick Cripps (Carl)

V Brisbane, Saturday

On the surface, a three-round average of 90 and a score of 93 in his last match against the Lions, won’t fill SuperCoaches with much confidence this week. But if any player is going to lift in the first match for caretaker coach David Teague, it will be his skipper. And, while Brisbane’s midfield has been functioning well, it has conceded big scores to the opposition in the past month with Bulldog Josh Dunkley (136), Docker Nat Fyfe (126) and Crow Rory Sloane (124) and the major culprits.

Josh Kelly (GWS)

V Adelaide, Saturday night

The classy Giant boasts a five-round average of 137 — the equal-highest in the competition with Demon Max Gawn. Kelly has posted scores of 154, 131, 148 and 138 in his past four matches and there doesn’t seem to be a Crow capable of curtailing his influence, especially with the omission of Bryce Gibbs, who shut Clayton Oliver out of the game in the second-half last week.

THE SMOKIES

If you’re trading in Bachar Houli this week, consider him as a Friday night VC option.

Bachar Houli (Rich)

V Geelong, Friday

After recording disposal tallies of 35, 37 and 38, no player in the competition has won more of the ball than the Richmond defender in the past three weeks. And it’s translated into big SuperCoach scores with the playmaking right-footer’s five-round average of 128 behind only Gawn, Grundy, Kelly and Luke Parker. A worthy VC option if your one of the many SuperCoaches trading Houli in for the injured Lachie Whitfield this week.

Elliot Yeo (WC)

V Sydney, Sunday

He’s in form, posting five SuperCoach tons in the past six weeks, and he’s passed the 140-point mark in two of his past three meetings with the Swans. In just four per cent of teams, Yeo is midfield point-of-difference this season but if you’re an owner — and one who is backing in Grundy or Gawn as captain — he’s worth some thought as VC.

THE PHANTOM’S CALL

There’s too many questions marks over the Grundy-Gawn battle for me so I’ll be going with Dangerfield as VC into Cripps as C.

BY THE NUMBERS

SuperCoach Captains By The Numbers Round 12