There’s big guns in the middle and value at either end as The Phantom reveals his 2020 SuperCoach team
There’ve been plenty of changes since December but The Phantom’s team is taking shape as SuperCoach officially opens for 2020. See who’s made the cut and why.
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As expected, since the launch of the 2020 team-picker in December, there’s been plenty of tinkering.
But I’m happy.
For now, anyway.
I think.
Bring on the next two months, we’re officially into it, SuperCoaches.
DEFENCE
It’s thin – it often is – but, again, there appears to be too much value at less than $500k.
Adelaide ball-winner defender Rory Laird is the only true premium, if we’re talking price.
Laird was a top-four SuperCoach defender in what was a year to forget for his club. If that’s the floor to Laird’s output – and I think it’s pretty close – he’s hard to pass up at $525k.
But then it’s the value.
Sydney young gun Jordan Dawson, who is available as a dual-position defender-forward, was almost the first-picked after his finish to 2019. St Kilda’s Hunter Clark wasn’t far behind for the same reason.
And, despite missing the past two seasons through injury, Blue Sam Docherty is must-have if he’s ready to go.
The same can be said for Docker Stephen Hill, who averaged 90 points or more in three consecutive seasons between 2014 and 2016,
MIDFIELD
I’ve gone with four big guns from the top-bracket – Jack Macrae, Nat Fyfe, Lachie Neale and Patrick Dangerfield – all of which need little explanation.
All I say is of the top 10 – 11 if we’re including Tom Mitchell who missed all of 2019 – most-expensive SuperCoach midfielders this season, Dangerfield has scored 362 more points than any player over the past three years
At $510k, young Lion Hugh McCluggage has been present at M5 but I’m unsure – at this early stage anyway – of the validity of the $500k to $575 price range.
So, it’s back to the tried-and-tested strategy of ‘guns and rookies’ in the midfield.
Top draft pick Matt Rowell is lock, as is one of Richmond’s grand final heroes, Marlion Pickett, who’s available at rookie-price, while Port Adelaide father-son pick Jackson Mead should feature early in 2020.
RUCK
If you saw The Phantom’s first team, you might have raised your eyebrows at the sight of Crow-turned-Giant Sam Jacobs at R2.
It wasn’t long before I, too, realised I didn’t like it either.
So it’s set-and-forget with Brodie Grundy and Max Gawn – the competition’s top-two scorers last year.
Fighting it just isn’t worth it – trust me, I’ve tried.
MORE SUPERCOACH NEWS:
Which player at your club could emerge as a SuperCoach star in 2020?
KFC SuperCoach 2020: The Phantom’s must have player in each position for 2020
SuperCoach rich list: The most expensive player at your club
FORWARD
After certainties Lachie Whitfield and Dustin Martin, you need to have returning Bomber Devon Smith, who played just seven games last season.
Smith averaged 98 points per game and won Essendon’s best-and-fairest in his first year at the club in 2018 and he’s in full-flight on the track.
But at F3, it’s Gold Coast recruit Hugh Greenwood who has dislodged new Cat Jack Steven.
In his 51 career matches, Greenwood has scored 80 points or more in 31 of them, passing the 100-point mark on 12 occasions.
His contested possession rate of 64.1 per cent was the highest of the top ball-winners in the competition last year and he’s finally set for the first starting-midfield role of his career.
Adelaide young gun Chayce Jones is set for more exposure in a new-look Crows side and, if all goes to plan, the No.3 pick from the 2018 draft, Izak Rankine, could win the Rising Star award at $123k.
All set? Not quite. There’s plenty that can - and will - happen, especially with the rookie-price players, over the next two months.
SUPERCOACH SUMMER FORMGUIDES: Essendon | Hawthorn | Carlton | Collingwood | Western Bulldogs | Richmond | Geelong | St Kilda | Sydney | Brisbane Lions | West Coast | Fremantle | Melbourne | GWS Giants | Adelaide
Originally published as There’s big guns in the middle and value at either end as The Phantom reveals his 2020 SuperCoach team