The Phantom’s Round 19 SuperCoach: Trade or keep Patrick Dangerfield?

THE Brownlow Medal favourite will miss a week at the pointy end of the SuperCoach season. Re-cap all the answers from The Phantom’s blog below.

Fremantle midfielder Lachie Neale, middle, could be a reliable replacement for Patrick Dangerfield. Picture: Matt Turner.

STAR midfielder Patrick Dangerfield, who has scored 279 more SuperCoach points than the next-best player in the competition, has accepted a one-match ban for a dangerous tackle on Carlton’s Matthew Kreuzer.

With SuperCoach finals starting this week, the timing isn’t ideal but the good thing is you are definitely not alone, this will affect most SuperCoach teams. Given Dangerfield is in 67.5 per cent of sides, you would be terribly unlucky if your opposition in week one of the finals didn’t have him.

TRADING DANGEROUSLY

Dangerfield has scored 151, 163, 149, 141, 145, 196, 165, 141, 142 and 108 in the past 10 rounds so it’s fair to say, even if you do have decent bench cover, his absence will leave a huge hole in your team. But it also presents a huge opportunity for the brave SuperCoach, especially one facing a sudden-death final.

Patrick Dangerfield will be missed by SuperCoaches this week - but you might be able to trade him back in next week. Picture: AAP Image/Julian Smith

By this stage of the season, you are doing well if you’ve got five or more trades left. If you do, it’s time to think about trading Patty.

Now, before you stop reading, hear me out. This is a great chance to get the jump on the many coaches who cannot afford to trade.

Dangerfield’s price of $741k not only allows you to choose from the entire midfield pool but make a handsome profit at the same time. For example, a trade to Richmond star Dustin Martin – the second-ranked SuperCoach midfielder, will pocket you a $144k. Or $211k if you choose Docker Lachie Neale. Depending on your situation, you could either use this money to bolster your team elsewhere as you do all you can to make it past the first week of the major round or save it so you can trade Dangerfield back in once he returns.

Trade him back in? Yes, that’s right. While his phenomenal scoring power provides great opportunity to get on top of your opponent this week, it could cost you when he returns. You should only make this move, if you’ve got the trades to bring him back.

Port Adelaide ruckman Paddy Ryder has been in flying form. Picture: Sarah Reed

THE RYD HOME

With scores of 119, 86, 127, 129, 105, 111 and 130 in the past seven matches, Paddy Ryder has hit his straps and shows no sign of slowing down. If you’re still holding Tiger Toby Nankervis or an under-performing forward, the Port Adelaide big man, who boasts the fifth-highest five-round in the competition, is the perfect replacement. And Jarrod Witts owners look no further if the Gold Coast ruckman fails to overcome a foot injury this week.

Ryder’s tap work is second-to-none and, while the unbelievable match-winning hit to Robbie Gray will be the one remembered from the St Kilda game, Ryder had another 17 hitouts-to-advantage on the night.

Clayton Oliver notched up 170 points against North Melbourne. Picture: Michael Klein

SECOND-YEAR STAR

If Demon Clayton Oliver’s second year wasn’t impressive enough already, the 20-year-old tallied 26 contested possessions and 170 points in just his 31st career game against North Melbourne. And that makes it 14 SuperCoach tons for the year. Consider Oliver in the Dangerfield trade and lock him in for 2018 and beyond.

Brisbane Lions player Alex Witherden has impressed in his debut season. Picture: Darren England.

ARE YOU SHAW YOU WANT TO START HIM?

Just 55 SuperCoach points for Heath Shaw against the Dockers in Round 19 but we’re hardly surprised anymore, given the veteran’s disappointing year to date.

If you haven’t already, it’s time to consider sending Shaw, who has only posted two SuperCoach tons in 2017, to the bench and promoting Lion Alex Witherden or Docker Luke Ryan permanently.

The sublimely skilled Witherden has scored 76, 91, 74, 109, 86 and 103 in the first six games of his career, while the mature-age Docker posted a huge 136 points, on the back of 26 disposals and 14 marks against the Giants.

Sorry, Ross but maybe he should have a beer more often.

If you can, give yourself the opportunity to play the emergency loophole with the these guys to maximise the points in defence.

The Phantom’s Round 19 score: 2222

Overall ranking: 21,770

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Originally published as The Phantom’s Round 19 SuperCoach: Trade or keep Patrick Dangerfield?