Midfield stars Jack Macrae, Josh Dunkley and Marcus Bontempelli averaged 115 points or more last season. Can they all go big again in 2020?
It’s unlikely any teammate rivals the SuperCoach big three at the Bulldogs in 2020. But there still might be some hidden value. See The Phantom’s best 22 analysis.
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Whether you are punting on a mid-price selection or backing the favourite, it’s not always easy picking a winner in SuperCoach.
To help, The Phantom predicts Western Bulldogs’ best 22 and delivers a racing-style summer formguide covering every player in it
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THE PHANTOM’S BEST 22
B: Taylor Duryea, Zaine Cordy, Easton Wood
HB: Hayden Crozier, Alex Keath, Jason Johannisen
C: Bailey Smith, Marcus Bontempelli, Lachie Hunter
HF: Sam Lloyd, Aaron Naughton, Bailey Dale
F: Josh Schache, Josh Bruce, Mitch Wallis
1R: Tim English, Jack Macrae, Josh Dunkley
INTER: Caleb Daniel, Matthew Suckling, Ed Richards, Pat Lipinski
THE PHANTOM’S FORM GUIDE
(Ranked in order of SuperCoach significance in 2020)
Jack Macrae (MID $668,900)
The No. 1 SuperCoach midfielder, who averaged 133 points after the Round 12 bye last year, will take some catching again in 2020. Must be included.
Josh Dunkley (MID $632,400)
A big improver last season after posting four scores of 153 or more following permanent midfield move in Round 7. Looks capable of even better in 2020.
Marcus Bontempelli (MID $623,000)
Star midfielder finished with a career-high average of 115 last season and will be among the major SuperCoach players again with the Bulldogs boosting their forward-line stocks.
Caleb Daniel (DEF $537,800)
Skilful 23-year-old tallied 30 disposals or more eight times last season and scored in excess of 85 SuperCoach points in 13 of his 17 matches. Has strong claims in defence.
Pat Lipinski (FWD, MID $441,500)
Added 22 points to his SuperCoach average last year and looks capable of improving again after posting scores of 99, 113 and 89 in the final three home-and-away matches.
Bailey Smith (FWD, MID $415,900)
Coming off a super-impressive first-up campaign, which saw him play every game and score 86 points or more in 11 of them. A definite threat with even greater role in 2020.
Tim English (RUCK $448,400)
The 22-year-old posted scores of 97, 104, 105 and 84 in the final four matches of 2019 and looks capable of even better in 2020. Do not dismiss, this could be his year.
Lachie Hunter (MID $517,400)
Outside ball-winner’s 95-point average last year was seven less than in 2019 but he still has strong claims in SuperCoach Draft.
Mitch Wallis (FWD, MID $454,500)
Enjoying a terrific preparation after injury-interupted 2019 and still commands a spot in the Bulldogs’ forward-half. Monitor after six scores of 85 or more in his 10 appearances last year.
Matthew Suckling (DEF $454,000)
Can feature prominently, as eight SuperCoach tons last year suggests, but it’s hard to be certain about his spot in the side. Still, worth some thought.
Jason Johannisen (DEF $458,100)
Damaging playmaker is a reliable scorer, passing the 84-point mark in 13 matches last season but others have stronger claims in the classic format.
Sam Lloyd (FWD $419,100)
Impressive first-up performance as a Bulldog last year, posting nine scores in excess of 85. Looks capable of better again but should only be considered in SuperCoach Draft.
Bailey Dale (FWD $388,000)
Big improver last season, booting 10 goals and posting scores of 87, 121, 60, 93, 43 and 104 following senior recall in Round 13. Looks likely to improve again.
Hayden Crozier (DEF $406,800)
Can figure on his day, as 134-point performance against the Tigers in Round 7 suggests, but not enough to have strong claims.
Aaron Naughton (FWD $367,800)
Strong-marking young forward should be an improver again in 2020 but, despite seven scores of 89 or more last year, he’s unlikely to feature in SuperCoach at the price.
Alex Keath (DEF $413,000)
Far better than last start – five disposals and 29 points – suggests but it’s hard to make a case at the price.
Josh Bruce (FWD $358,200)
The 113-game recruit complements the Bulldogs’ side perfectly but he needs a bag of goals to feature in SuperCoach.
Ed Richards (FWD, MID $264,400)
Average fell from 59 to 49 in second season last year but he’s capable of better. Hard to recommend on recent form, though.
Taylor Duryea (DEF $411,400)
Takes some catching on his day, as 143-point performance against Melbourne last year suggests, but they are few and far between. Look elsewhere.
Easton Wood (DEF $289,800)
Former skipper is still as important to the Bulldogs defence as ever but others have much stronger claims in SuperCoach, despite the price.
Josh Schache (FWD $309,500)
Won’t feature in SuperCoach at the price.
Zaine Cordy (DEF $275,500)
Hard to recommend.
MAKING THEIR CASE
Defender Lewis Young (DEF $267,200) would be unlucky to miss while Toby McLean (FWD $380,100) and Tom Liberatore (MID $447,500) could be squeezed out given the depth of midfielder-forwards.
Bailey Williams (DEF $300,500) and Tory Dickson (FWD $330,900) are too good for the VFL, while draftee Cody Weightman (FWD $144,300) might get a look in his first season.
Originally published as Midfield stars Jack Macrae, Josh Dunkley and Marcus Bontempelli averaged 115 points or more last season. Can they all go big again in 2020?