Merrett, Smith to lead the field all the way at the Bombers in 2019
Whether you are punting on a mid-price selection or backing the favourite, it’s not always easy picking a winner in SuperCoach. To help, The Phantom predicts Essendon’s best 22 and delivers a racing-style summer formguide covering every player in it.
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Whether you are punting on a mid-price selection or backing the favourite, it’s not always easy picking a winner in SuperCoach. To help, The Phantom predicts Essendon’s best 22 and delivers a racing-style summer formguide covering every player in it.
The Phantom’s Best 22
B: Aaron Francis, Cale Hooker, Connor McKenna
HB: Adam Saad, Michael Hurley, Andrew McGrath
C: Dyson Heppell, Dylan Shiel, David Zaharakis
HF: Orazio Fantasia, Jake Stringer, Kyle Langford
F: Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti, Joe Daniher, Jayden Laverde
1R: Tom Bellchambers, Zach Merrett, Devon Smith
Inter: Darcy Parish, David Myers, Mark Baguely, Shaun McKernan
The Phantom’s Formguide
(Ranked in order of SuperCoach significance in 2019)
Zach Merrett (Mid $544,800)
Looks to be a major player again after huge finish to 2018 which featured SuperCoach tons in 11 of the final 12 games. Worked through opposition attention as the year went on and the addition of Shiel will only help. Get on.
Devon Smith (Fwd/mid $531,300)
Averaged 107 in final eight games of 2019 and should improve on a super-impressive first-up effort as a Bomber. Best-and-fairest must be included as dual-position forward.
Aaron Francis (Def $350,900)
Impressive finish to 2018, scoring 86, 94 and 104 in final three starts to excite Bomber fans. Can improve again.
Joe Daniher (Fwd $277,800)
Resuming from groin injury which resulted in just seven starts last year. All-Australian in 2017 after averaging 86 points per game. May need the outing but plenty of value here.
Dylan Shiel (Mid $487,000)
First start as a Bomber. Won more disposals than any other Giant over the past three seasons but can he take his game to another level? In the running.
Dyson Heppell (Mid $551,500)
Bomber skipper can figure prominently on his day and rates highly again in 2019. Commands respect but can’t yet be considered an elite premium.
Michael Hurley (Def $491,800)
Role change, which saw him play more as a one-on-one defender – and do it well – in the back half of 2018 lead to just two SuperCoach tons after the bye. Wait and see.
Andrew McGrath (Def/mid $384,300)
Despite pre-season talk of midfield move – and spike in scoring – the talented 20-year-old failed to improve on debut season numbers. Capable of better this campaign.
Orazio Fantasia (Fwd $452,200)
Averaged 99 points in his final five games of 2018 but body continues to be a concern. A big chance if fit – and Bombers need him to be.
Darcy Parish (Fwd/mid $436,100)
Impressive in last start – 22 disposals and 101 points – but needs to find consistency after being dropped last season. Having a good preparation and is capable of better.
Kyle Langford (Fwd/mid $436,700)
Big mover in 2018, adding 22 points to his SuperCoach average. Role will be the key to further improvement. Keep in mind.
Tom Bellchambers (Ruck $505,700)
Impressive tap work has seen him post averages of 92 and 93 in the past two seasons. Do not dismiss in a ruck field that’s hard to pick after the first few.
Cale Hooker (Def $421,500)
Averaged more than 77 points per game in each of the past five seasons but only three tons back in defence last year. Consider in SuperCoach draft.
David Zaharakis (Mid $509,000)
The 28-year-old can figure but is unlikely to trouble the top SuperCoach scorers. Keep in mind as a late SuperCoach draft selection.
Adam Saad (Def $407,600)
Another important part of the Bomber defence but not a lot of value at the price. Posted five SuperCoach tons but also failed to score more than 60 points on seven occasions.
Jayden Laverde (Fwd $302,200)
Career-best effort in last start with three goals and 93 points in Round 23. Should be given every chance to improve in fourth season but unlikely to feature in SuperCoach at the price.
David Myers (Mid $418,300)
Can feature – as three scores of 120 or more in 2018 suggests – but no value at the price this season.
Jake Stringer (Fwd $383,800)
Capable of anything on his day and can’t be taken lightly but he’s very hard to trust in any form of SuperCoach.
Connor McKenna (Def $403,800)
Irish sprinter added eight points to his average last season but, given inconsistency in scoring, others have much stronger claims.
Shaun McKernan (Fwd $400,600)
By no means a certainty but could get a start as support for Bellchambers in the ruck and Daniher inside 50. Despite four scores of 90 or more in 10 games last season, look elsewhere.
Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti (Fwd $368,600)
Takes some catching on his day but hard to recommend in SuperCoach. Look elsewhere.
Mark Baguely (Fwd $328,200)
Plays a role and, more often than not, plays it well. But no room for role players in SuperCoach. Ignore.
MAKING THEIR CASE
Second-year midfielder Matt Guelfi (Mid $333,300) would be unlucky to miss after a terrific debut season while Jordan Ridley (Def $233,100), Marty Gleeson (Def $264,400) and Mason Redman ($309,700) will be fighting for spots in defence. Ball magnet Dylan Clarke (Mid $147,700) should get more opportunity this season, while his namesake, Zac Clarke (Ruck $142,600), should feature in the ruck at some stage.
Originally published as Merrett, Smith to lead the field all the way at the Bombers in 2019
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