The Phantom’s Trade Talk: James Sicily replacements
HAWK James Sicily has joined SuperCoach carnage list ahead of Round 18. The intercept king will miss at least six weeks after undergoing surgery to repair a broken wrist. If you can, it’s time to trade. The Phantom looks at the options. RECAP:
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We can add Hawthorn star James Sicily’s name to the list of SuperCoach carnage ahead of Round 18. The intercept king, who boasts the fifth-highest average of all SuperCoach forwards and defenders, will miss at least six weeks after undergoing surgery to repair a broken wrist.
If you can, it’s time to trade. Here are The Phantom’s options
DEFENCE
Jake Lloyd (Sydney)
$595,000, Average: 109
The Swans’ playmaker has scored 47 more points than any other defender in the game. If you have no other issues to deal with and can afford him; do it.
Angus Brayshaw (Melb)
$487,600, Average: 93
The 22-year-old has posted three consecutive SuperCoach tons to rank as the third-highest scoring defender in the past three matches. With skipper Jack Viney to miss at least a month, Brayshaw, who is averaging 32 disposals in this time, will remain a prime mover in the Melbourne midfield.
Michael Hurley (Ess)
$462,500, Average: 97
Despite a price rise of $16k this week, the All-Australia defender, who posted a season-high 120 points against the Suns, is still great value ahead of Round 18. Hurley recorded back-to-back SuperCoach tons for the first time since Round 6.
Luke Ryan (Freo)
$441,400, Average: 96
After averaging 111 points per game between Rounds 8 and 13, the intercepting defender’s form dipped after the Dockers’ Round 14 bye, when he failed to score more than 68 for two weeks. But Ryan, who is only in 5.3 per cent of teams, bounced back against the Power, tallying a season-high 140 points – the highest of all defenders - on the back of 28 disposals and 16 intercept possessions.
Alex Witherden (Bris)
$422,200, Average: 85
If you need some cash to fun another trade – Nic Naitanui to Brodie Grundy, for example – the sublimely-skilled Lion is your man. The 19-year-old is averaging 25 disposals, eight marks and 93 SuperCoach points per game in the past five matches.
FORWARD
Chad Wingard (Port)
$490,400, Average: 85
The Power star opened the season with 110 points in Round 1 against the Dockers but in the following eight matches, failed to score more than 89 points, while also dropping below the 50-point mark three times. But after moving into the midfield in Round 12, Wingard has posted SuperCoach tons in five of the past six games and has scored more points than any other forward in the game in the past three rounds.
Justin Westhoff (Port)
$508,600, Average: 103
Wingard’s team-mate is his the highest-scoring forward in the game after 17 rounds after scoring 85 points or more in 15 of his 16 matches in 2018, well-and-truly shaking the inconsistent tag.
Jack Billings (StK)
$409,000, Average: 77
Yes, The Phantom is talking about Billings again but after averaging 99 points in the past month, after returning to the senior side, I can’t leave him out. Like Witherden in defence, a trade to Billings would greatly benefit your bank balance for other moves.
Toby Greene (GWS)
$476,200, Average: 90
It would be a brave selection but Greene once again showed his importance to the GWS side with two goals and 80 SuperCoach points in his first game in three months against the Tigers. And we all know the scoring power the match-winner possesses. Greene averaged 96 points per game last season and posted scores of 131 and 93 in the opening two rounds of 2018.
Luke Breust (Haw)
$526,700, Average: 95
Despite featuring in less than four per cent of teams, the star Hawk is the sixth-ranked SuperCoach forward in the game. And after scores of 124, 131, 109, 165 and 46, Breust has scored more points than any other forward in the past five matches.
Originally published as The Phantom’s Trade Talk: James Sicily replacements