KFC SuperCoach 2020: Hunter Clark, Wayne Milera and Dan Houston headline the Marsh Series week 1 standouts in defence

Missed any of the Marsh Series? Don’t worry, The Phantom has you covered. Here are the standout defenders and their SuperCoach scores from the first weekend of pre-season action.

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• Revealed: The Phantom’s pre-Marsh Series team

The Marsh Community Series kicked off on Thursday night - it’s time to get serious, SuperCoaches. The Phantom looks at the standout defenders from week 1 of the pre-season competition.

Hunter Clark at St Kilda training. Picture: Michael Klein

Hunter Clark (StK)

$402,200

97 points

Dashing off half-back, the young Saint averaged 86 points from Round 15 onwards last year and he picked up where he left off against the Hawks on Thursday night.

Clark was clean and composed, tallying 22 disposals – 16 of them kicks – eight intercepts and a game-high 694 metres gained in a damaging performance, which included a long running goal in the third term.

The 20-year-old took the ball on centre-wing, found a teammate with a short, pin-point pass, got it back and finished on the run from just inside 50.

Damon Greaves (Haw)

$123,900

77 points

The rookie-listed Hawk has barely received a mention over summer but he impressed in a composed display in defence.

Greaves went at 74 per cent by foot in 18 VFL games last year so it’s no surprise to see him given an early opportunity in an Alastair Clarkson-coached side.

The 19-year-old finished with 19 disposals, a team-high eight rebound 50s and 77 points, while also taking a number of Hawthorn’s kick-ins.

Caleb Daniel (WB)

$537,900

92 points

Daniel, as he was last year, was efficient across half-back in the Bulldogs’ season-opener, hitting the target with 18 of his 20 disposals against the Kangaroos.

The skilful right-footer also finished with six intercepts – two of them marks – in the 92-point performance, enhancing his status a safe premium selection.

Christian Salem (Melb)

$491,200

87 points

Despite his side’s struggles, the neat-kicking defender enjoyed a career-best season in 2019, increasing his SuperCoach average from 82 to 90 in his sixth season.

On Saturday against the Crows, he was again the designated kicker in the back-half, finishing with 20 kicks, among 23 disposals, 562 metres gained, two intercept marks and five score involvements.

Can he take another step?

Wayne Milera signed a five-year contract extension at the Crows earlier this month. Picture: TAIT SCHMAAL.

Wayne Milera (Adel)

$402,500, Mid

103 points

Milera was one of the SuperCoach disappointments of 2019 after averaging 74 points – six less than the previous season – in a season plagued by inconsistenty, both in his form and body.

But, he’s just signed a five-year contract extension and was a standout against the Demons in the Crows’ opening Marsh Series match.

Milera started at half-back and, while he didn’t attend a centre bounce, drifted through the midfield at times – a role which is likely to continue through the year – and tallied 29 disposals, 455 metres gained, five intercepts and 103 points in 73 per cent game-time. And just remember, he’s priced at that 74-point mark from last year.

Lachie Weller (GC)

$481,100

75 points

Weller, stationed mainly across half-back, added 14 points to his SuperCoach average last year but he played as a permanent midfielder in Round 23. And that’s where he’s likely to be for most of 2020.

The 23-year-old attended the second-most centre bounces for the Suns on Saturday night, despite playing just 48 per cent of the game.

And in his limited time on the ground, Weller tallied 19 disposals, six contested possessions and 75 points.

See what he can do in a full game against the Crows on Friday week.

Lachie Weller during a Gold Coast training session at Palm Beach Parklands. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Jack Lukosius (GC)

$274,600, Fwd

70 points

In a similar story to Weller, the No. 2 pick from the 2018 draft played just 56 per cent of game-time against the Cats. But the 19-year-old was impressive in the intercept-defender role which he will play this season.

The 195cm Lukosius finished with 18 disposals, a team-high eight intercepts and 70 points.

Add him to the watchlist if he wasn’t on there already.

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ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 14: Dan Houston in action during the Port Adelaide Power Intra-Club match at Alberton Oval on February 14, 2020 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Matt Turner/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Dan Houston (Port)

$484,800, Mid

97 points

The defender-turned-midfielder, who played 71 per cent of the game, attended the most centre bounces for the Power on Sunday, finishing with 22 disposals, 12 contested possessions, 10 clearances, nine tackles and five score involvements.

The 22-year-old’s performance was far from convincing - the first-quarter in particular - but it was one which highlighted the multiple avenues of scoring he boasts as a midfielder.

Harris Andrews (Bris)

$449,300

97 points

The Power got on top after quarter-time but Andrews was dominant in the air again, tallying 14 spoils in the first two-and-a-half quarters. The key defender finished with 15 disposals, 17 one percenters, eight intercepts and 97 points.

Zac Bailey (Bris)

$263,200, Mid

77 points

The 20-year-old, who split his time between a wing and defence last season, spent plenty of time forward-of-centre in the club’s opening Marsh Series clash, finishing with 15 disposals, eight contested possessions, seven intercepts and five tackles. Keep him on the radar at the price.

OTHER NOTABLES

Third-year Lion Brandon Starcevich ($146,700) sat the first half on the bench but finished with 8 disposals - all effective - and 39 points after a solid second-half performnace.

Crow Rory Laird ($525,800) tallied 13 disposals and 49 points in just 41 per cent game-time, while his young teammate Jordon Butts ($123,900) finished with 12 disposals and 55 points in his first appearance in the tri-colours.

Cat Jacob Kennerley ($123,900), who is pushing hard for a Round 1 debut in the continued absence of Mitch Duncan, recorded 13 disposals, three marks and 34 points in less than a half.

Originally published as KFC SuperCoach 2020: Hunter Clark, Wayne Milera and Dan Houston headline the Marsh Series week 1 standouts in defence