KFC SuperCoach 2020: The Phantom’s rookie-priced forward guide
Despite the pre-season injury, Izak Rankine is the early favourite as the top pick in the forward line but who comes next? The Phantom ranks the best cheap options 1 to 10 and names all the cash cows next in line.
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- Every standout from the final week of the Marsh Series
- Ultimate Rookie Guide: The Phantom’s cash cow rankings
The key to KFC SuperCoach success is nailing all of your rookie-price selections. The Phantom ranks the potential forward line cash cows.
1. Izak Rankine (GC)
$123,900, Fwd
Marsh series scores: DNP
Teammate Touk Miller believes there’s a big year ahead for the 19-year-old if he can stay fit in 2020.
But those who saw Rankine make his SANFL league debut at 16 already knew that.
The excitement machine, whose first year at the Suns was interrupted by injury, then tallied more goals, assists and score involvements than any other player and averaged 120 SuperCoach points per game at the 2018 Under-18 championships.
A shoulder knock kept him out of the Marsh Series match but coach Stuart Dew, following the win over the Crows, said Rankine should be fit by Round 1. And there’s still a good chance he’ll be picked.
PHANTOM’S MARCH VERDICT: I’m not writing him off until his name is missing from the Round 1 team sheet, though, and I’ll still pick him without any pre-season match.
2. Curtis Taylor (NM)
$123,900, Fwd-Mid
Marsh series scores: 33, 95
The second-year forward, who booted the second-most goals of any North Melbourne player in the VFL last year, was a standout against the Swans on the final weekend of Marsh Series action, tallying 21 disposals, a team-high eight score involvements, two goals and 95 SuperCoach points.
And that was after a quick-fire 33 points, on the back of eight disposals and a goal, in just 42 per cent game-time in the first week.
Is Taylor, 19, the rookie saviour we’ve been waiting for?
PHANTOM’S MARCH VERDICT: We all bloody hope so. And the signs are good, maybe even for an on-field spot, depending on Rankine’s selection.
3. Connor Budarick (GC)
$106,900, Mid
Marsh series scores: 74, 37
In the NAB League last season, only Matt Rowell and Tom Green averaged more SuperCoach points than the Gold Coast Academy gun.
But his price is far more appealing after the AFL’s assistance package allowed the Suns to take the 18-year-old, who played eight NEAFL games – and averaged 18 disposals – in his draft year, in the rookie draft.
He finished with 14 disposals and 74 points in a composed display in week one of the Marsh Series, before playing just a half against the Crows. What does that mean for his Round 1 chances?
PHANTOM’S MARCH VERDICT: I wish I knew but he’s ready to go and a SuperCoach must-have if he’s picked the opening-round clash with the Power.
4. Aiden Bonar (NM)
$202,800, Fwd-Mid
Marsh series scores: 76, 14
There’s been no harder engine room to crack than the Giants’ in recent seasons and Bonar has felt the squeeze first-hand.
The highly-rated 20-year-old, who was drafted at pick No. 11 in 2017 despite two previous knee reconstructions, played just six games in his two years at GWS, spending most of his time forward.
Bonar showed his wares as a big-bodied midfielder in the NEAFL, however, and it’s a role which he is set to play at the top-level at his new club this season after an impressive Marsh Series opener saw him attend the fourth-most centre bounces in just 61 per cent game-time.
There’s opportunity for him at North and he could be worth the elevated price, depending on your structure, in a shallow rookie-price pool this year.
PHANTOM’S MARCH VERDICT: Hamstring tightness from the practice match against the Demons saw Bonar only play a half against the Swans on Monday. Has he done enough work over summer to earn a Round 1 start? It’s hard to be sure but he remains this high on the list for now.
5. Max King (StK)
$123,900, Fwd
Marsh series scores: 46, 29
St Kilda fans are excited and SuperCoaches should be, too.
In the only TAC Cup game of his draft year, which was ruined by an ACL injury, King tallied 19 disposals, nine marks, 8.5 and 179 SuperCoach points.
The 19-year-old’s debut season at the Saints was ruined too, but not before he could boot 11 goals in five impressive VFL appearances.
King finished with one goal from six disposals and four marks in a less-than-convincing performance against the Hawks in week one and it was a similar story in the Saints’ final Marsh Series clash, despite a very lively start against the Magpies.
His scoring might inconsistent but King’s job security as a rookie-price player will be as strong as it gets in 2020.
PHANTOM’S MARCH VERDICT: A safe options for your bench.
6. Jack Mahony (NM)
$117,300, Mid-Fwd
Marsh series scores: 30, 53
Mahony averaged 106 SuperCoach points at the national under-18 carnival after leading the competition for score involvements and score assists.
The 176cm small forward, who averaged 114 points in the NAB League, was so impressive last year that Champion Data rated him the 14th-best player in the draft.
With pressure forward Kayne Turner sidelined, Mahony is a chance to face the Saints next weekend after eight disposals, six contested possessions and a goal against the Swans.
PHANTOM’S MARCH VERDICT: Another terrific bench option, who looks set for early action. Pick him in the midfield, given the lack of bottom-price rookies there.
7. Lachie Schultz (Freo)
$208,800
Marsh series scores: 107, 59
In the two seasons before being drafted at pick No. 57 in 2018, the mature-age recruit who booted 55 goals in the VFL.
And in the second half of his final year at Williamstown, the 177cm forward showed his ability to impact the game away from goal, averaging 95 SuperCoach points per game.
The 22-year-old failed to have a big impact in seven games in his debut season at the Dockers but he’s just capped off a standout pre-season with an influential Marsh Series, which saw him lead the Dockers for scoreboard impact and rank equal-first for score involvements.
PHANTOM’S MARCH VERDICT: Expensive but with the scoring potential to match. Might rise up the rankings, depending on Bonar’s selection.
8. Mitch Georgiades (Port)
$130,800, Fwd
Marsh series scores: 30, 43
Port Adelaide footy boss Chris Davies described the Power’s top four draftees as “physically capable of competing” and more ready than last year’s trio.
Remember what Connor Rozee, Xavier Duursma and Zak Butters did in their first year?
Days later, senior assistant Michael Voss declared Georgiades, Port’s second pick in last year’s draft, “very much so in the mix for round one”, saying “if we sat down tomorrow, he’d probably be in it.”
And then the 192cm forward, who missed the entire 2019 season with a thigh injury, put on an impressive showing during Port’s intra-club and played in both of the Power’s Marsh Series matches, ensuring his Round 1 debut.
PHANTOM’S MARCH VERDICT: His scoring might not be through the roof but he’ll be there.
9. Ben Davis (Adel)
$123,900, Fwd
Marsh series scores: 55, 43
The 22-year-old struggled in his only senior appearance against Geelong at the Cattery last year but he’s not the only player to have ever done so down there.
But going by his pre-season and SANFL form, Davis could have an impact in a new-look Crows forward line in 2020.
The strong-marking 187cm forward, who tallied 11 disposals, six score involvements and four inside-50s against the Suns, is lively in the air and at ground level and isn’t afraid to take his opponent on as he showed in the Marsh Series.
PHANTOM’S MARCH VERDICT: Davis got his name on the scoresheet in both of Adelaide’s pre-season fixtures and looms as a likely Round 1 starter.
10. Kysaiah Pickett (Melb)
$157,800, Fwd
Marsh series scores: 43, DNP
The Tough, aggressive excitement machine, who averaged 92 points per game at SANFL reserves level last year, is set to be unleashed in Round 1 and the Demons’ top pick doesn’t need many touches to have an impact.
But price pushes him down the SuperCoach pecking order in a small-forward role
PHANTOM’S MARCH VERDICT: He’ll be exciting to watch and he might surprise in SuperCoach.
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WATCHLIST
Sam Sturt (Freo, $123,900 Fwd)
Marsh series scores: 39, 29
Fremantle’s top three picks from last year’s draft have impressed over summer but so has the pick No. 17 from the 2018 draft, who battled concussion during his first year at the club. The athletic forward, who booted three goals in his final WAFL match of 2019, was a late bolter in his draft year, booting 11 goals and averaging 100 SuperCoach points in the final six TAC Cup games of the season. And the rapid development has continued with the 19-year-old adding significant muscle to his slight frame over the pre-season.
Brad Close (Geel, $109,900 Mid-Fwd)
Marsh series scores: 51, DNP
The Cats are the mature-age kings so don’t be surprised to see the 21-year-old, who starred for Glenelg in the SANFL last year, in Chris Scott’s Round 1 side.
Lachlan Hosie (NM, $123,900 Fwd)
Marsh series scores: 30, DNP
The 189cm forward, who was plucked from the SANFL half way through last season, is the other player who has caught the eye of his more-experienced teammate. The 22-year-old booted 20 goals in 10 VFL games last year and was named as a senior emergency in each of the final four rounds. And at the time of the mid-season draft, Hosie led the SANFL’s goalkicking with 21.
Tom Sparrow (Melb, $182,500 Fwd)
Marsh Series scores: 77, Dnp
The strong-bodied midfielder, who played two senior games in his debut season before suffering a season-ending knee injury in the VFL, might surprise in 2020 after an impressive midfield display in week one of the Marsh Series. Sparrow, at the top-end of the rookie-price bracket, was strong and composed, tallying 17 disposals, eight contested possessions, seven tackles, six clearances and 77 points in 60 per cent game-time. If he gets a chance this year, Sparrow has game style perfectly suited to SuperCoach.
Ben Cavarra (WB, $123,900 Fwd)
Marsh series scores: DNP
Cavarra captained the Eastern Ranges and won the Morrish Medal as a midfielder in the TAC Cup in 2013. But in the two seasons before he was drafted in 2018, he booted 65 goals in the two seasons playing for Williamstown in the VFL and averaged an impressive 97 SuperCoach points per game. And, despite a number of injury issues last season, the 24-year-old continued his impressive VFL form for Footscray, booting 19 goals from 12 matches and winning more of the ball. He’ll have an immediate impact when he gets the opportunity. But when will it come?
Miles Bergman, (Port $148,800, Fwd)
Marsh series scores: DNP
Throughout his junior career, Bergman, who suits Port Adelaide’s want for more speed and versatility, was never a big ball-winner and that’s unlikely to change this year, given his possible high half-forward role but he’ll have an impact. And SuperCoaches know the importance of that.
Tobin Cox, (Port, $123,900 Fwd)
Marsh series scores: DNP
Port Adelaide captain Tom Jonas declared the 20-year-old a pre-season smoky after the small-forward booted 31 goals, from 14 matches, in the SANFL last year. The 181cm Cox is terrific above his head and clean at ground-level and will be eyeing a forward line spot at the Power in 2020, despite just one – disappointing – Marsh Series appearance
Ely Smith (Bris, $123,900 Fwd-Mid)
Marsh series scores: 18, DNP
The contested beast, who also possesses a brilliant vertical leap, signed a contract extension at the end of last year, despite failing to make a senior appearance in his debut season. But, at 187cm and 86kg, the 19-year-old, who averaged 114 points SuperCoach points per game in the TAC Cup in 2018, is ready to go. Could pop as an idea downgrade target mid-year – here’s hoping anyway.
Cody Weightman (WB, $144,300 Fwd)
Marsh series scores: DNP
“He is a little pocket rocket. He has always got plenty of energy. He has surprised me with his ability and quickness and ability to jump. He can jump so high. He has the chance to take a mark of the year in his career. The club looks after the first-year boys but he’s doing the bulk of the work and he performed well in match simulation.”
That’s what Western Bulldogs defender Jason Johannisen had to say about his new teammate, Weightman, who was the leading goalkicker at the under-18 championships last year. Despite an impressive national carnival, the 18-year-old only averaged 80 points per game. But the opportunity might come at some stage in 2020.
Sam Skinner (Bris, $111,400 Fwd)
Marsh series scores: DNP
Since 2015, the year he was drafted, Skinner has undergone three knee reconstructions and the horrible run of injury has restricted the 22-year-old to just one senior appearance in his four years at the Lions. But the 198cm skinner played 19 NEAFL games last year and booted 3.2 – and took a number of contested marks – in Brisbane’s recent intra-club hitout.
Jake Riccardi (GWS, $117,300 Fwd)
Marsh series scores: DNP
After booting 38 goals in 2019, the 195cm forward won the Fothergill-Round-Mitchell medal as the VFL’s best young player. Bayley Fritsch (Melb), Luke Ryan (Freo), Nic Newman (Carl), Kane Lambert (Rich), Michael Hibberd (Melb) and Michael Barlow are other players to win this award since 2009. And the Giants didn’t go after the mature-age forward to fill their NEAFL team.
Billy Frampton (Adel, $165,400 Fwd)
Marsh series scores: 54, DNP
Playing for Port Adelaide in the SANFL this year, Frampton posted SuperCoach scores of 175, 167, 145 and 141. Impressive numbers in anyone’s book.
The 23-year-old may have only played three AFL games during his five-year stint at Alberton but he showed enough to suggest he can slot into an Adelaide side which will be without Josh Jenkins and Jacobs this year.
Originally published as KFC SuperCoach 2020: The Phantom’s rookie-priced forward guide
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