The Phantom’s Pre-Season: The SuperCoach midfielders who must be on your JLT Series watchlist
The JLT Series is upon us and it’s finally time to see the players we’ve been talking about over summer in action. The Phantom looks at the SuperCoach midfielders who must be on your watchlist.
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The JLT Series is upon us and it’s finally time to see the players we’ve been talking about over summer in action. The Phantom looks at the SuperCoach midfielders who must be on your watchlist.
Adelaide
Brad Crouch $418,000
The first step of Crouch’s comeback — the practice match against the Power last week — was a success. If all runs smoothly over the next two weeks, SuperCoaches will be tempted.
Chayce Jones $171,300
The Crows’ first selection in last year’s draft wasn’t a standout in the practice match but he’ll get plenty of opportunity to showcase his speed and toughness in the JLT Series.
THE DEFENDERS TO WATCH IN THE JLT SERIES
Brisbane
Hugh McCluggage $416,800
With his midfield role set to increase, The Phantom is tipping a breakout season for the classy, third-year Lion.
Ely Smith $117,300
The ready-made draftee should get a chance to show his ball winning ability on the inside over the next two weeks but faces a tough task breaking into the senior side early in his debut season.
Carlton
Sam Walsh $207,300
Can the No. 1 draft pick follow up his dominant practice match performance with an impressive showing in the JLT Series? Blues fans — and SuperCoaches, who are considering the top-price rookie — are hoping so.
Michael Gibbons $102,300
The mature-age recruit, who played predominantly as a forward in the practice match against the Hawks, is already in 32 per cent of SuperCoach teams after being added to the Blues’ list earlier this month. Expect that number to skyrocket come Round 1.
Collingwood
Taylor Adams $523,100
He was pushed out the midfield at times last season but don’t forget about the Collingwood ball magnet, among the other big names, in 2019.
Essendon
Dylan Clarke $147,700
In the VFL last season, the 20-year-old averaged 27 disposals, eight tackles, five clearances and 110 SuperCoach points per game and, despite concern over his kicking, deserves a chance to showcase his strengths in the senior team.
Fremantle
Brett Bewley $117,300
The long-kicking, hard-running mature-age recruit from Williamstown in the VFL is ready to have a big impact in his first season at Fremantle.
Tom North $123,900
As the Dockers look to cover the loss of Lachie Neale and his work at stoppages, the big-bodied, inside midfielder could be a Round 1 bolter.
Geelong
Charlie Constable $123,900
Constable just missed out on a Round 1 debut last season but it could be a different story for the tall midfielder in 2019. Watch for the 19-year-old’s clearance work during the JLT Series.
Tom Atkins $112,900
The VFL’s tackle king — Atkins applied a record-breaking 23 in 2017 — has been training with the Cats’ forwards over the pre-season and has his eyes set on a pressure-forward role this season.
Gold Coast
Anthony Miles $342,000
The 26-year-old’s numbers will increase on the back on increased midfield responsibility at the Suns but will the rise be enough to warrant selection in SuperCoach? We’ll get an indication over the next fortnight.
George Horlin-Smith $270,300
He’s part of the Suns’ leadership group but what sort of role will the former Cat play on the field in 2019? The 26-year-old has played some great senior football and dominated in the VFL during his time at Geelong.
GWS
Jackson Hately $148,800
Hately arrived at the Giants with a body ready for the big time after a number of impressive performances at senior level in the SANFL last season. Keep an eye on the 18-year-old as he lines up on a wing.
Jye Caldwell $162,300
From a SuperCoach point-of-view, Caldwell has been overshadowed by his fellow draftee Hately for most of the pre-season but the classy right-footer is slowly turning the tables after an impressive practice match showing through the midfield
Tim Taranto $481,600
The third-year Giant was the main man in the midfield against the Swans last week and he dominated. Trust me, it won’t be the only time the 21-year-old dominates in 2019.
Hawthorn
James Cousins $219,900
Can the 21-year-old, who has seven senior games to his name, help fill the void left by Tom Mitchell in the Hawthorn engine room? His practice match performance would suggest he’ll get a chance. Watch closely as he battles with a number of other young team-mates for a Round 1 midfield spot.
Darren Minchington $190,900
The former Saint is eyeing a forward-line role at his new club and the JLT Series is his chance to make a case.
Melbourne
Tom Sparrow $117,300
Despite being a longshot for Round 1 selection, given the strength of the Demons’ midfield group, expect to see the tough South Australian showcase the contested nature of his game at some stage over the next two weeks.
THE MUST-HAVE SUPERCOACH PLAYER ON EVERY LINE
Corey Wagner $123,900
Wagner, signed by Melbourne under the AFL’s new rookie rules, has been a standout with his running over summer. Can he squeeze into Simon Goodwin’s side as a role-player?
North Melbourne
Aaron Hall $389,200
Will coach Brad Scott give his new recruit a licence to thrill in 2019? Let’s hope so.
Luke Davies-Uniacke $197,500
Failed to live up to the hype in his debut season but 2019 could be a different story. The 19-year-old will be given every opportunity to blossom in a developing Kangaroos midfield.
Port Adelaide
Zak Butters $157,800
The No. 12 selection from last year’s draft was the Power’s best-performed first-year player in the practice match against the Crows. With spots up for grabs at Alberton, look for the damaging 18-year-old to make a compelling case over the next two weeks.
Tom Rockliff $405,900
In a stark contrast to last year, Rockliff is fit and the Power need help on the inside with Ollie Wines set to miss the early part of the season. An impressive JLT Series will make for interesting SuperCoach discussion.
Richmond
Riley Collier-Dawkins $121,800
This kid is a future SuperCoach star and, if he can carry his intra-club form into the JLT Series, a debut might come sooner than most originally suspected.
St Kilda
Jack Steele $512,600
After a standout summer, watch for Steele’s running to go to another level in 2019. And, with that, so should his numbers.
Nick Hind $117,300
The mature-age speedster, who averaged 22 disposals and 87 points in the VFL last season, could all be sew up a Round 1 debut with an impressive showing over the next two weeks.
Sydney
Jordan Dawson $260,600
If he finally gets consistent opportunity, look for a big spike in scoring from the 192cm midfielder, who has dominated the NEAFL for the past two years.
Oliver Florent $359,300
The third-year Swan has been earmarked for more midfield minutes in 2019. Will that mean an increase in SuperCoach scoring? The JLT Series might tell us more.
Western Bulldogs
Bailey Smith $180,300
Superstar Marcus Bontempelli has been impressed with the Bulldogs’ top draft pick and I think we all might be after the pre-season competition.
Will Hayes $117,300
After averaging 26 disposals and 10 contested possessions, on the way to winning Footscray’s best-and-fairest award in the VFL last season, Hayes finally gets his chance in the big time. And SuperCoaches should get their first look at the 23-year-old over the next two weeks.
West Coast
Luke Foley $117,300
Like Docker Bailey Banfield, the 19-year-old was drafted after being overlooked the previous year. Can the 188cm midfielder have a similar impact in his first season?
Originally published as The Phantom’s Pre-Season: The SuperCoach midfielders who must be on your JLT Series watchlist
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