AFL SuperCoach 2020: All the mid-price standouts in the midfield
The mid-price bracket in the midfield is often a goldmine for SuperCoaches. But is there the same value in 2020? The Phantom looks at all the standout options
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Mid-price midfielders. Who doesn’t love them? Here’s a look at all the top value options in the important price-bracket for 2020.
NEW START
Ed Langdon (Melb)
$466,300
After showing glimpses in the early part of his career, the hard-running Langdon burst onto the scene in 2018, adding 17 points to his SuperCoach average and tallying 54 more disposals than he did combined in his first three years.
As a 22-year-old, Langdon ranked first at the Dockers for uncontested possessions, second for kicks and inside 50s and third for total disposals, finishing fourth in the best-and-fairest.
The upward trend continued in 2019 with Langdon winning more possession — in a contest and away from it — increasing his disposal average by three.
It resulted in a SuperCoach average of 86 — a four-point increase on 2018.
If you narrow it down further to his final four games at Fremantle, Langdon could be in for another big spike 2020.
The right-footer averaged 28 disposals, six score involvements and 108 points per game from Round 20 onwards and late-season form has proven vital in identifying the following year’s breakout candidates.
THE PHANTOM’S VERDICT: I’m tipping a spike but will it be big enough to justify the starting price?
Dom Tyson (NM)
$287,600
At the other end of the mid-price bracket is Tyson, who is finally set for a new start after his first year at North Melbourne was ruined by injury.
The 26-year-old hurt his calf on four separate occasions and failed to play a senior game after Round 3.
He posted scores of 68, 83 and 76 in his three matches as a Kangaroo, however, and his scoring history, with the $287k price tag in mind, is worth noting.
In his career-best season of 2014 - and first as a Demon after being traded by the Giants - the former No. 2 draft pick averaged 24 disposals, five marks and five clearance and posted nine SuperCoach tons - four of them in excess of 120.
The 186cm left-footer battled injury the following year but in 2016 was, again, a key contributor on the inside for Melbourne, averaging 25 disposals, 11 contested possessions and four clearances per game.
But as a number of young midfielders developed around him, Tyson was moved to more of an outside-midfield role and by the end of 2018 was averaging just eight contested possessions per game.
He changed clubs for a third time in hope of a return to a role at the contest but it never eventuated last year.
THE PHANTOM’S VERDICT: Don’t forget about this guy. It might happen in 2020.
THE BREAKOUT
Will Brodie (GC)
$466,300
Early in Brodie’s career there might have been a concern over what he did - or, more appropriately, didn’t do - off the ball but there’s never been a question mark over the ball-winning ability of the 189cm midfielder.
The 21-year-old finished with nine disposals in the first two matches of his career but tallied 20 or more in 11 of the following 16 non-injury affected games, between Round 3, 2017 and Round 19, 2018.
Brodie recorded 24 disposals, 12 contested possessions and six clearances in his sixth career match, 27, 11 and five in his eighth appearance and another 27 disposals, 12 contested possessions and six clearances the following week.
Despite these impressive numbers, Suns coach Stuart Dew dropped Brodie on two occasions in 2018 and made him wait to Round 5 last season, before sending him back to the NEAFL two weeks later.
But the strong-bodied midfielder wasted little time in finally making his mark upon recall to the senior side in Round 12.
In his final six games of the year – all consecutive – before injury prematurely ended his season, Brodie ranked first at the Suns for hardball-gets, second for tackles and handballs, third for disposals, fourth for clearances and fifth for contested possessions.
The most-productive stretch of his career produced four SuperCoach scores of 88 or more, including a second SuperCoach ton in the final round against the Blues.
THE PHANTOM’S VERDICT: Could be a SuperCoach premium by the end of 2020.
Oliver Florent (Syd)
$466,300
The Phantom was at Adelaide Oval in Round 21 last year when the Swans travelled to take on the Power.
Port dominated but there was one shining light on an otherwise dark day for Sydney – Oliver Florent.
The 21-year-old found the football at will through the midfield, finishing with 29 disposals, 12 contested possessions, nine clearances and 102 points.
It was his second SuperCoach ton but it wasn’t his last.
Florent was, again, a key part of the Swans’ engine-room against the Demons, tallying 28 disposals, 12 contested possessions and 106 points.
Both tallies could’ve been higher, too, given the speedster recorded 11 clangers over the two weeks.
But with a below-average kick retention rate, it’s a part of his game that Florent needs to work on.
He’s got most other things working for him, though.
THE PHANTOM’S VERDICT: One to watch.
THE VETERAN
Dan Hannebery (StK)
$417,000
In 2016, Hannebery tallied more disposals than any other player in the competition, recording his second-consecutive SuperCoach season average of 113 or more.
Fast forward to 2018 and in his final season at the Swans, the three-time All-Australian limped through a season which saw him play just 14 games and fail to win more than 18 disposals in seven of them.
To begin with, 2019 wasn’t much better either.
Hannebery didn’t make his St Kilda debut until Round 14 and was sidelined again after two matches. The 28-year-old returned to play the final three home-and-away games but it was a frustrating first season at the Saints, to say the least.
But in those five appearances, the hard-running left-footer posted scores of 96, 65, 122, 94 and 103.
If you include the short 2019 season, despite averaging 95 points or more in six of the past seven years, Hannebery is priced at an average of 77 in 2020.
THE PHANTOM’S VERDICT: Some will say this is a calculated risk worth taking. And they may be right, even if he is recovering from a broken foot after falling down some stairs in October. Did I just say that?
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THE NEXT STEP?
Jarrod Berry (Bris)
$461,300
Despite knee surgery to remove a Baker’s cyst – and then six rounds on the sidelines – the 21-year-old increased his SuperCoach average from 80 to 85 in just his third year in the competition.
After passing three figures in three of the final four games of 2018, the young Lion posted six SuperCoach tons last season.
Berry won his fourth straight 3km time trial in January but is still likely to spend time at half-forward in 2020, given the strength of the Brisbane midfield.
And, while he’s shown he can still score well in the role, the next scoring spike might not eventuate until he’s awarded even more midfield minutes.
THE PHANTOM’S VERDICT: Possesses terrific SuperCoach scoring power but in a limited on-ball role, 2020 might not be his year.
Andrew McGrath (Ess)
$399,400
Speaking of increased midfield roles, is this finally McGrath’s year?
The No. 1 draft pick spent 60 per cent of his time on a wing in 2019 – a nine per cent increase on the previous year – and recorded more disposals, contested possessions, clearances, inside 50s and goal-assists than the previoys season.
But he added just two points to his SuperCoach average after only passing the 100-point mark once.
He’s got the tools - clean hands and breakaway speed, in particular - to move into an on-ball role and, like last year, there’s whispers that will happen in 2020.
But at $399k, as a midfielder-only, you’d want to be pretty sure it will.
THE PHANTOM’S VERDICT: I just don’t think I am sure enough.
Originally published as AFL SuperCoach 2020: All the mid-price standouts in the midfield
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