Sloane, Hurn and Coniglio the big movers in the March edition of The Phantom’s SuperCoach Draft rankings
Taking part in a SuperCoach Draft over the next week? With the JLT Series complete, here is the third — and final — edition of The Phantom’s Top-50 player rankings.
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JLT Series Week 1 Standouts: Midfielders | Defenders | Ruckmen | Forwards
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- The Phantom’s mid-price smokies
- The Phantom’s premium midfielders
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 third and final instalment of my Top 50 player rankings — the March (post-JLT) edition. For new players, it will give you an indication of how a draft might play out.
THE BIG CHANGES
After sliding in the second instalment, Melbourne midfielder Clayton Oliver jumps back into the top 10 after showing no signs of the double shoulder reconstruction that restricted his pre-season in the JLT Series. Docker superstar Nat Fyfe is the player to make way undergoing elbow surgey and taking no part in the pre-season competition.
Melbourne ruckman Max Gawn jumps two places after the lingering concern about recruit Brayden Preuss’ effect on his scoring has all-but disappeared. He’ll even be selected ahead of Bulldog Jack Macrae in some drafts.
Giant midfield Stephen Coniglio climbs seven spots after a dominant JLT Series which re-affirmed his elite ball-winning, while young Demon Angus Brayshaw is a similar story, jumping six place to No. 32.
Shannon Hurn, Rory Sloane, David Mundy and Brad Crouch all make their first appearance in the list after impressive pre-season campaigns for different reasons.
Hurn is, again, the go-to man for Eagles and he’ll take the kick-in whenever possible while Rory Sloane’s scoring power could place him amongst the top-10 midfielder if he can work through opposition attention.
Mundy’s pre-season numbers suggest the Docker veteran is headed back into the midfield this year and he’s available as a forward.
And if Crouch can stay fit, he could even surpass younger brother Matt.
Lance Franklin and Chad Wingard fall out of the top-50 due to injury, while Gary Ablett’s forward-role in 2019, which might see some inconsistent scoring, sees the future SuperCoach hall-of-famer just slide out.
Magpie Defender Jack Crisp, who featured in the first list before dropping out, replaces Docker Luke Ryan.
I’m still predicting a big spike from Lion Alex Witherden but I’ve dropped hin back slightly - the February ranking of 17 might have been too high.
1. PATRICK DANGERFIELD (GEEL) FWD/MID
February 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 the first edition.
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.
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. MAX GAWN (MELB) RUCK (6)
2 018 Average: 127
Recruit Brayden Preuss – and the impact he might have on Gawn’s scoring – was the major concern over summer but, after the JLT Series, and an injury to Preuss, it’s time to forget about that. Grundy and Gawn are the clear top-two.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. Clayton Oliver (Melb) Mid (11)
2018 Average: 115
Showed no effect of the double-shoulder reconstruction during the JLT Series, posting scores of 127 and 104 and is a chance to take his scoring to an even greater level as he heads into his fourth year. Back in the top-10 after sliding out last month.
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. Unsighted in the JLT Series, which is a concern, but he still has to be taken here.
9. ISAAC HEENEY (SYD) FWD (9)
2018 Average: 97
Entered the top-10 in Februaru 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. Nat Fyfe (Freo) MID (7)
12. Dustin Martin (Rich) Mid (12)
13. Lachie Whitfield (GWS) Def (13)
14. Lachie Neale (Bris) Mid (14)
15. Matt Crouch (Adel) Mid (16)
16. James Sicily (Haw) Def (18)
17. Devon Smith (Ess) Fwd/mid (19)
1 8. Elliot Yeo (WC) Mid (15)
19. Josh Dunkley (WB) Fwd/mid (21)
20. Zach Merrett (Ess) Mid (20)
21. Stephen Coniglio (GWS) Mid (28)
22. Adam Treloar (Coll) Mid (22)
23. Sam Menegola (Geel) Fwd/mid (23)
24. Kade Simpson (Carl) Def (24)
25 . Justin Westhoff (Port) Ruck/fwd (25)
26. Andrew Gaff (WC) Mid (26)
27. Tim Kelly (Geel) Fwd/mid (29)
28. Dayne Beams (Coll) Mid (27)
29. Marcus Bontempelli (WB) Mid (30)
30. Zac Williams (GWS) Def (31)
31. Angus Brayshaw (Melb) Mid (38)
32. Mitch Duncan (Geel) Mid (32)
33. Alex Witherden (Bris) Def (17)
34. Todd Goldstein (NM) Ruck (33)
35. Tom Hawkins (Geel) Fwd (36)
36. Jeremy Howe (Coll) Def (37)
37. Seb Ross (StK) Mid (39)
38. Stefan Martin (Bris) Ruck (41)
39. Rory Sloane (Adel) Mid (-)
40. Shannon Hurn (WC) Def (-)
41. Joel Selwood (Geel) Mid (44)
42. Jack Billings (StK) Fwd (47)
43. Harris Andrews (Bris) Def (48)
4 4. Tim Taranto (GWS) Mid (49)
45. Brodie Smith (Adel) Def (50)
46. Jayden Short (Rich) Def (46)
47. David Mundy (Fre) Fwd/Mid (-)
48. Robbie Gray (Port) Fwd/mid (42)
49. Jack Crisp (Coll) Def (-)
50. Brad Crouch (Adel) Mid (-)
Originally published as Sloane, Hurn and Coniglio the big movers in the March edition of The Phantom’s SuperCoach Draft rankings
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