Star midfielder Tim Kelly might get even better at the Eagles but can we trust Nic Naitanui?
There’s plenty of reliable SuperCoach scorers at the Eagles but can we trust mid-price ruckman Nic Naitanui in 2020? And can Tim Kelly get better? See The Phantom’s best 22 analysis.
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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 West Coast’s best 22 and delivers a racing-style summer formguide covering every player in it
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THE PHANTOM’S BEST 22
B: Liam Duggan, Tom Barrass, Brad Sheppard
HB: Shannon Hurn, Jeremy McGovern, Lewis Jetta
C: Dom Sheed, Elliot Yeo, Andrew Gaff
HF: Jamie Cripps, Jack Darling, Jack Petruccelle
F: Liam Ryan, Josh Kennedy, Oscar Allen
1R: Nic Naitanui, Tim Kelly, Luke Shuey
INTER: Jack Redden, Mark Hutchings, Tom Hickey, Jarrod Cameron
THE PHANTOM’S FORM GUIDE
(Ranked in order of SuperCoach significance in 2020)
Tim Kelly (MID $561,800)
Coming off a super-impressive second campaign, which featured 12 SuperCoach tons and 24 goals from the midfield. Looks capable of even better at the Eagles, however and looms as a major player in 2020.
Nic Naitanui (RUCK $457,800)
The athletic big man is hard to trust given past fitness issues but takes some catching on his day and doesn’t need much of a look. Might leave the field in his wake or struggle to even get out of the gate. Consider.
Shannon Hurn (DEF $562,200)
The premiership skipper was the fifth-highest SuperCoach defender last year and rates highly again in 2020, despite some durability concerns at 32.
Andrew Gaff (MID $583,200)
Another 14 SuperCoach tons for the reliable ball-winner last year and should be prominent again. Do not dismiss.
Elliot Yeo (MID $584,400)
Averaged 112 points per game from Round 4 onwards, after slow start to 2019. Another safe bet from star-studded midfield stable.
Josh Kennedy (FWD $335,600)
The 243-game stayer is enjoying a terrific preparation – his first in a number of years – and is far better than 62-point average suggests. There’s some value here.
Jack Darling (FWD $458,900)
Can figure prominently on his day, as six scores of 123 or more last year suggests, but he also failed to score more than 71 on seven occasions. Others might have stronger claims but he can’t be taken lightly.
Dom Sheed (MID $516,100)
Scores of 148, 144, 138, 134 and 122 last year proves the 24-year-old runner can feature prominently in a midfield role. Do not dismiss.
Luke Shuey (MID $548,200)
Star midfielder must be respected after nine consecutive seasons with an average in excess of 91. Finished with 10 scores of 100 or more last year and is a strong SuperCoach Draft chance.
Brad Sheppard (DEF $455,700)
Important defender can figure, as 13 scores of 80 or more last year suggests, but others have stronger claims.
Jeremy McGovern (DEF $475,300)
The four-time All-Australian must be respected but others look better placed, especially after a limited preparation.
Jamie Cripps (FWD $413,700)
Coming off an injury-interrupted campaign and is better than 76-point average suggests. Booted four goals and finished with 145 points in the elimination final win over the Bombers but it wasn’t enough to boost his claims in SuperCoach classic.
Jarrod Cameron (FWD $278,600)
Exciting 19-year-old, who booted 11 goals in the first seven matches of his career last year, looks a likely improver with a terrific preparation.
Jack Redden (MID $485,400)
Can feature, as another eight scores of 100 or more last year proves, and is always worth some thought but is more of a SuperCoach Draft chance in 2020.
Tom Barrass (DEF $424,500)
Limited preparation after off-season foot surgery makes the intercept defender, who posted five scores of 90 or more in his 12 matches last year, a late SuperCoach Draft option only.
Jack Petruccelle (FWD $276,400)
Takes some catching on his day but there’s no value here this year.
Mark Hutchings (MID $274,200)
Important role player no longer features in SuperCoach, despite the price.
Liam Ryan (FWD $334,700)
The exciting forward can figure but others have much stronger claims.
Oscar Allen (FWD $357,900)
Strong-marking tall is a likely improver in his third season but not enough to have strong SuperCoach claims in 2020.
Lewis Jetta (DEF $382,600)
Precise field kick makes his teammates look better but it’s hard to make a case in SuperCoach.
Liam Duggan (DEF $353,000)
Should reclaim his spot in West Coast’s back-six after injury-interrupted 2019. But there’s no place for him in SuperCoach this season.
Tom Hickey (RUCK $425,700)
Look elsewhere.
MAKING THEIR CASE
Will Schofield (DEF $242,600) could easily fit into the Eagles’ back-six in Round 1 while young defender Josh Rotham (DEF $274,800) and Jackson Nelson (DEF $272,000) will, again, be right in the mix.
Daniel Venables (FWD $233,800) is ready to return after concussion issues, while Jake Waterman (FWD $301,600) would be unlucky to miss.
The uncertainty surround W illie Rioli (FWD $374,700) means the best-22 lock wasn’t considered here.
Originally published as Star midfielder Tim Kelly might get even better at the Eagles but can we trust Nic Naitanui?
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