Heeney, Kelly the big movers in the February edition of The Phantom’s SuperCoach Draft rankings
To help you prepare for your SuperCoach draft, here is the February edition of The Phantom’s top 50 draft rankings with some big changes, including the rise of Swan Isaac Heeney and Cat Tim Kelly.
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The Phantom’s pre-season guide to: Premium smokies | Premium forwards | Premium defenders | Premium midfielders | Mid-price defenders| Mid-price midfielders | Mid-price ruckmen | Mid-price forwards | Mid price smokies | Cash cows in defence | Midfield cash cows | Cash cow defenders | Cash cow ruckmen | Cash cow forwards | Cash Cow smokies
If you haven’t played SuperCoach Draft before, you’re missing out.
Arguably, it’s a fun, more-exciting way to play our favourite fantasy game.
Take part in a league with your mates — or join any available public league — and select a unique SuperCoach team through a live draft where each player is only available once.
You can then trade players with other teams throughout the season and pick up any undrafted player from the free agency pool as you go.
League settings — number of teams, squad size, trading and free agency options, gameplay and draft type, just to name a few — are customisable, allowing you to set up your competition your own way.
To help, here is the second instalment of my Top 50 player rankings — the February (pre-JLT) edition. For new players, it will give you an indication of how a draft might play out.
THE BIG CHANGES
Swan Isaac Heeney jumps into the top 10 at the expense of an unlucky Clayton Oliver, who has only just re-joined the Demons’ main training group after off-season surgery on both shoulders.
Gary Ablett falls 12 spots after the news the veteran is set to spend majority of his time forward in 2019.
Tim Kelly and Sam Menegola’s midfield minutes should increase as a result and the new position of both dual-position forwards reflects this.
Docker Connor Blakely is no longer in the top 50 after suffering a serious hamstring injury at the end of January.
Collingwood defender Jack Crisp makes way for Crow Brodie Smit h, who is set to bounce back in a big way this season and will be a big beneficiary of the new kick-in stat ruling, as will Tiger Jayden Short, who also slides into the list.
The Phantom is starting to be sucked into the hype around Jack Billings. Is this the year he finally puts it all together in the midfield? It’s no certainty but he has more potential upside than Demon Tom McDonald who he replaces in the top 50.
Young Brisbane ball magnet Alex Witherden climbs into the top 20 with The Phantom believing he could be a top-five defender this season.
His team-mate and key defender Harris Andrews falls to the bottom of the list after the news Lions’ coach Chris Fagan has been trialling him as tall target in attack.
After an injury-interrupted pre-season and with young big man Archie Smith impressing in his absence, ruckman Stefan Martin drops to No. 42 — behind Justin Westhoff and Todd Goldstein.
And Hawk recruit Chad Wingard falls nine places after a pre-season calf injury.
THE PHANTOM’S MUST-HAVE PLAYER ON EVERY LINE
1. PATRICK DANGERFIELD (GEEL) FWD/MID
January ranking: 1
2018 average: 122
With Dangerfield a chance to average 20 points more than the next best player in his position, it has to be the Geelong superstar at No.1. No change from January and there won’t be going forward with Dangerfield declaring his participation in pre-season training has doubled this summer.
2. BRODIE GRUNDY (COLL) RUCK (2)
2018 Average: 130
The top-ranked scorer from last season should go close again in 2019 and is a worthy No. 1 selection. But the gap between he and the second-ranked ruckman — likely to be Max Gawn — might not be as great. Back in full training after toe issue.
3. JACK MACRAE (WB) MID (3)
2018 average: 127
With the two best positional players gone, it’s time to take the No. 1-ranked midfielder. And, with Tom Mitchell injured, Macrae is the man.
4. PATRICK CRIPPS (CARL) MID (4)
2018 Average: 119
Last season there was only three midfielders who averaged more than 120 points per game; Dangerfield, Macrae and Mitchell. Expect the contested-ball beast from the Blues to join the group in 2019.
5. JAKE LLOYD (SYD) DEF (5)
2018 Average: 112
The skilful Swan was the only defender to average more than 110 points per game in 2018 and, with the new kick-in stat ruling, he’s a chance to better his 112-point average this season.
6. MAX GAWN (MELB) RUCK (6)
2018 Average: 127
There’s a concern about what the impact of recruit Brayden Preuss might be on Gawn’s scoring but we might be overplaying it. He has to be selected here — and it could be higher if we get more clarity on Preuss’ role during the pre-season.
7. NAT FYFE (FREO) MID (7)
2018 Average: 114
While some SuperCoaches might opt for Josh Kelly or Clayton Oliver ahead of Fyfe, the Docker skipper still possesses one of the highest ceilings in the competition. If he stays fit, look out.
8. JOSH KELLY (GWS) MID (8)
2018 Average: 114
After returning from injury, the classy midfielder averaged 120 points from Round 12 onwards last season. Uses the ball better than most and hits the scoreboard so, if he gets a clear run at it, expect that to be his average across the entire season in 2019.
9. ISAAC HEENEY (SYD) FWD (16)
2018 Average: 97
Jumps into the top 10 after stating “I feel I can take my game to the next level” after the first full pre-season of his career. Averaged 98 points per game in 2017 after battling glandular fever over summer and posted nine SuperCoach tons in the first 12 rounds, despite pre-season knee surgery, last year. The next-best forward behind Dangerfield.
10. RORY LAIRD (ADEL) DEF (10)
2018 Average: 108
The Crow ball magnet is still the second best SuperCoach defender behind Lloyd and is as reliable as selections come. Laird should, at least, maintain his average this season.
11. Clayton Oliver (Melb) Mid (9)
12. Dustin Martin (Rich) Mid (11)
13. Lachie Whitfield (GWS) Def (12)
14. Lachie Neale (Bris) Mid (14)
15. Elliot Yeo (WC) Mid (15)
16. Matt Crouch (Adel) Mid (17)
17. Alex Witherden (Bris) Def (23)
18. James Sicily (Haw) Def (18)
19. Devon Smith (Ess) Fwd/mid (13)
20. Zach Merrett (Ess) Mid (19)
21. Josh Dunkley (WB) Fwd/mid (20)
22. Adam Treloar (Coll) Mid (21)
23. Sam Menegola (Geel) Fwd/mid (31)
24. Kade Simpson (Carl) Def (26)
25. Justin Westhoff (Port) Ruck/fwd (27)
26. Andrew Gaff (WC) Mid (28)
27. Dayne Beams (Coll) Mid (29)
28. Stephen Coniglio (GWS) Mid (30)
29. Tim Kelly (Geel) Fwd/mid (48)
30. Marcus Bontempell i(WB) Mid (32)
31. Zac Williams (GWS) Def (35)
32. Mitch Duncan (Geel) Mid (37)
33. Todd Goldstein (NM) Ruck (36)
34. Chad Wingard (Haw) Fwd/mid (25)
35. Shaun Higgins (NM) Mid (38)
36. Tom Hawkins (Geel) Fwd (39)
37. Jeremy Howe (Coll) Def (40)
38. Angus Brayshaw (Melb) Mid (42)
39. Seb Ross (StK) Mid (43)
40. Lance Franklin (Syd) Fwd (34)
41. Stefan Martin (Bris) Ruck (22)
42. Robbie Gray (Port) Fwd/mid (44)
43. Luke Ryan (Freo) Def (45)
44. Joel Selwood (Geel) Mid (49)
45. Gary Ablett (Geel) Mid (33)
46. Jayden Short (Rich) Def (-)
47. Jack Billings (StK) Fwd (-)
48. Harris Andrews (Bris) Def (41)
49. Tim Taranto (GWS) Mid (50)
50. Brodie Smith (Adel) Def (-)
Originally published as Heeney, Kelly the big movers in the February edition of The Phantom’s SuperCoach Draft rankings
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