Doctor’s Orders: Three players to put on your 2020 watchlist

It’s never too early to start planning for SuperCoach domination. Whether you’re playing in a prelim this week or playing for rankings, here are three names to pencil in for next year.

Tom McDonald of the Demons.

Sometimes SuperCoach can be a cruel game. A late out, an injury or just an off day for one of your players and the next thing you know, you’re out of your league finals and too far back in overall rank to really make things count.

So what can you do when you seemingly have nothing left to play for in 2019? Prepare and start scouting for season 2020, of course!

The expert team at Doctor SuperCoach have compiled a quick list of players to add to your early 2020 watch lists who could provide you with some early value in your starting squads.

HUNTER CLARK (DEF?)

A role change after the bye round has been kind to the young Saint. Given the responsibility to start at half-back and charge through the middle has been lucrative for Clark, as he currently enjoys a seven-game streak with an average of over 92 SuperCoach points. This includes three matches breaking the ton and a three-round average of over 95 points.

Besides Round 16, where Clark suffered a head clash early on in the second quarter, he has gathered at least 23 touches per match, which has been the catalyst for his improved scoring ability. But is this type of form sustainable for someone like Hunter?

Hunter Clark is enjoying a strong finish to the season. Picture: Michael Klein

Clark was the seventh overall pick in the 2017 draft and the hugely talented youngster managed to average 25 disposals a game in the TAC Cup. While his position in the Saints side is not that of a pure midfielder, Clark is proving he is still capable of putting out a 90s average in his current role – which is certainly enough to consider picking him in your starting side should he gain defender status in 2020.

His starting price, likely in the low $400,000s, will be the deciding factor; however, Clark looks to be a prime candidate for the classic “third-year breakout”.

TOM McDONALD (FWD)

Don’t let 2019 fool you – McDonald is a seriously talented player. After almost his worst year by SuperCoach standards in his nine-season career, McDonald started to find some form in his final three games for the season (before suffering a knee injury) with a 112 SuperCoach point average.

Weaker opposition generally means more goals and for Tom McDonald, and this could be the perfect storm to make a mockery of his likely high $300,000s starting price. Against bottom-10 sides this season, Tom actually averaged 94.5 SuperCoach points per game and that includes being benched for the last quarter against Carlton in Round 16 when he was on track to crack 200 points!

PHANTOM: TOBY GREENE A MUST-HAVE IN 2020

MISTAKES: A LESSON IN SUPERCOACH TRADING

Lastly, McDonald has SuperCoach pedigree, averaging over 85 in the past four seasons. While only one of these was as a forward, where he averaged 97.5, at his low starting price and with a solid pre-season from the Demons, McDonald is a strong contender to the “add to your watch list” pile.

Tom McDonald could be a bargain in SuperCoach next year.

JAYDEN SHORT (DEF)

In 2018, Short had a breakout season, increasing his 2017 average of just 58 SuperCoach points per game to 86 points and playing all 22 matches.

This had the Tiger on the verge of the top-10 defenders and one to watch coming into 2019, especially as he seemingly had a monopoly on all of the Tigers kick-outs, courtesy of his booming right boot.

Fast-forward to the present day and season 2019 has not been kind to Short. Sitting at just a 65 average, including an injury-affected score in Round 3 of just seven points, Short has been nothing short of underwhelming.

With his average lowered by the horrible elbow injury he sustained early in the season, as well as the loss of kick-out duty to teammates, Jayden will find himself coming into next season priced in the mid-$300k range. Short’s late-season form has been encouraging and if he was to recapture his 2018 form, he would be a massive bargain and a lock at that price, however, with all of the uncertainty surrounding him as a SuperCoach option in 2019 (especially after returning from his injury), Short may be one to watch in the pre-season instead — definitely do not get too excited just yet.

Click here for more expert advice from the Doctor SuperCoach team