SuperCoach: Want to select a ruck premium other than Grundy or Gawn? The Phantom looks at the best options
It might be a risk to go against the two best scorers in SuperCoach, but The Phantom has named the premium alternatives to powerful ruck duo Max Gawn and Brodie Grundy.
Supercoach
Don't miss out on the headlines from Supercoach. Followed categories will be added to My News.
It’s a risky move.
Actually, it’s more than that.
Overlooking the top-two scorers in the competition, let alone in a position which allows just two on-field spots, might have you playing catch-up from the get-go.
I could spend this entire article outlining why you should start with Brodie Grundy and Max Gawn but I won’t.
My fellow SuperCoach friend Tim Michell has that covered. Look out for that on Friday.
But for those of you who do want something else – and don’t trust any of the mid-price options in the ruck – there’s three serious options to consider. Two of them will free up a considerable amount of cash but, as always, it all depends on how you can spend it elsewhere.
Reilly O’Brien (Adelaide)
$517,400
After the Sam Jacobs injury in Round 2 last year, Adelaide, with no real alternative, recalled O’Brien for his first senior game since 2016.
He struggled at the centre bounce but, immediately, O’Brien showed his competitiveness, strong marking and ball-winning ability at ground level.
The 24-year-old posted SuperCoach scores of 85, 84, 90, 88 and 123 in his first five matches of the 2019.
But he was only just getting started.
As the 202cm big man’s confidence grew – as did the understanding of why the Crows’ faith in the back-up ruckman never wavered – he really showcased his scoring power.
In the 12th appearance of his career, O’Brien tallied 17 disposals, 12 contested possessions, nine clearances and 104 points against the Giants.
The following week, O’Brien posted the highest SuperCoach score by a ruckman since 2017. Not even Grundy or Gawn – at that stage – had reached the heights of O’Brien’s 181-point performance against the Tigers.
After three more SuperCoach tons in the next five matches, O’Brien’s seven-game average ballooned to 116. And he had only made 18 appearances at the top-level.
He signed a two-year contract extension to stay at West Lakes in July, after recording more hit-outs than any other player on record after 16 career games.
“I want to elevate my game to another level next year and become one of the best ruckmen in the competition,” O’Brien said in December.
With Jacobs moving to the Giants, and seemingly no real back-up, he will get every chance to do so.
Scott Lycett (Port Adelaide)
$550,600
Let’s not talk about the Round 19 demotion to the SANFL after a 111-point performance against the Giants.
Ken Hinkley wanted to reward the form of young big man Peter Ladhams and persisted with Paddy Ryder
Anyway, I don’t want to get angry.
Ryder is no longer at Alberton, after being traded to St Kilda in October and, with Ladhams’ support, Lycett is the clear No. 1 ruckman at the Power.
And he’s a big SuperCoach sleeper in all formats, given Lycett averaged 33 more points per game when Ryder wasn’t in the same side.
The 27-year-old also has the high ceiling, as evident by scores of 180, 167 and 165 last year.
And he’s also consistent when given the opportunity.
From Round 11 onwards, Lycett averaged 121 points per game and posted SuperCoach tons in seven of his nine matches to finish the year.
Todd Goldstein (North Melbourne)
$609,400
After a slow start last season – a 98-point average through the first eight rounds – Goldstein wound back the clock.
In form reminiscent of his league-leading 128-point season in 2015, Goldstein posted SuperCoach tons in 10 or his 13 matches between Round 9 and 22 – six in excess of 130 – to average 124 points per game in this stretch.
In Round 23, he encountered an unstoppable Gawn, who tallied 212 points.
And, after signing a three-year contract extension in September last year, Goldstein said “I feel the best I ever have in terms of both my body and my mind”.
There’s no doubt Goldstein can still score but you have to ask yourself is the $100k saving really worth it?
Originally published as SuperCoach: Want to select a ruck premium other than Grundy or Gawn? The Phantom looks at the best options