Port Adelaide 2017 SuperCoach preview: premium selections and who to avoid

IT was another year to forget down at Port Adelaide with several big names failing to stand up, which may make it hard for you to find SuperCoach value, says The Phantom.

IT was another year to forget down at Alberton with the Power failing to make the finals for the second year running.

While injury and suspension hurt, it was some of the big names who, again, failed to stand up.

The talent is still there but we will ever see this group build on the promise they showed in 2014?

Or, with the club injecting four top-33 draft picks, is it time to focus on a new brigade of stars at Alberton?

These questions make the SuperCoach value at Port Adelaide hard to read.

PREMIUMS

Robbie Gray $588,200 mid

No question marks over this guy. Reigning three-time best-and-fairest, Gray, makes the game look easy. The sublimely-skilled midfielder, who has averaged more than 108 for the past three seasons, works his way through traffic as if it’s not there and hits the scoreboard — off his own boot and by dishing it off to others — more than most. Posted 14 SuperCoach tons from 19 games in 2016, eight of them in excess of 120. A great point-of-difference.

Robbie Gray is always bankable.

Ollie Wines $533,700 mid

Many were left disappointed Wines didn’t explode into super-premium status last season but give him time. Port’s raging bull is only 22 and in his first four seasons at the top level, he’s averaged more than 97 in three of them — that’s impressive in anyone’s book. While there was only two scores in excess of 120 in 2016, the contested-ball beast scored more than 80 in all but two of his 22 games.

Jasper Pittard $499,300 def

It has always been there but, before last season, skill errors and a lack of poise in pressure situations over shadowed Pittard’s talent and SuperCoach value. In 2014, the play-making defender only managed to break the 80-point barrier on five occasions. In 2015, he wasn’t much better, scoring more than 80 just the nine times. However, in 2016, the 25-year-old shot into SuperCoach relevance by scoring more than 80 in 17 of his 22 games, with six scores of more than 100.

Travis Boak $496,800 mid

For the first time in three years, the Port Adelaide skipper, who looked to be battling injury at times in 2016, will be available for less than $500k to start the season. If he can recapture his form of 2013 (13 SuperCoach tons) and 2014 (10 SuperCoach tons, four in excess of 150), then there is plenty of value in Boak at $496k. And, given Boak finished last year in 1.3 per cent of teams, he’s likely to be very unique.

MID-PRICE RISKS

Paddy Ryder $418,100 ruck/fwd

At only $418k, it’s going to be hard to not be tempted by the dual-position ruckman. While he only averaged 85 in his first year at Alberton in 2015, Ryder twice recorded a season average of more than 100 at the Bombers. After teammate Matthew Lobbe’s forgetful 2016, we are likely to see Ryder play solely as a ruckman, which is another big tick for his scoring potential. The only concern is just what effects the year out of footy will have on him.

Paddy Ryder will carry the Power ruck duties. Picture: Sarah Reed

Hamish Hartlett $423,700 def/mid

What a great thing dual-position status is. In 2017, at $423k, if Hartlett was classified as a midfielder only — as he was last year — he would be lost in the sea of irrelevant mid-priced midfield options but, as a MID/DEF, the 26-year-old, all of a sudden, presents some value. While Hartlett only averaged a disappointing 78 last year, in the previous five seasons, he averaged 90 or more — numbers which would see him fit comfortably among the top 10-15 defenders. If the booming right-footer can, once again, find consistency — in both his body and form — he’s one to watch.

Brad Ebert $437,100 mid

After a season to forget in 2016, Ebert — just like his skipper — is way underpriced for his scoring potential. The hard-running midfielder went missing far too often last year, failing to score more than 80 points in 10 of his 21 games. But he has the runs on the board. From 2012 to 2015, Ebert averaged 100, 97, 94 and 97 in each year respectively, scoring 11 SuperCoach tons in a breakout 2012 season. The 26-year-old is one who needs to lift.

Chad Wingard $439,800 fwd

The theme here is obvious. While his brilliance was again on show at times in 2016, it was an inconsistent year for the mercurial forward. But, a player with his ability, who has twice averaged more than 97 in his first five years of footy, has to be in this conversation. And with a host of big-name dual-position forwards from 2016 becoming midfield-only prospects in 2017, this conversation becomes more intriguing.

ROOKIES

Riley Bonner $248,100 def

Ken, what have you done to us!? Bonner made an impressive debut in the final round of last season, registering 22 disposals — 17 of them kicks — and 76 SuperCoach points. While it gave SuperCoaches a taste of the 19-year-old’s ability, it also gave him an elevated price tag for 2017. Without that one game in 2016, Bonner would, again, be available for around the $123k mark. At that price, he would’ve been a lock, given we should see the classy right-footer in action across half-back for the Power early this season.

Will you fork out for Riley Bonner? Picture: Sarah Reed

Matthew White $198,400 fwd/mid

White was priced at $328k at the start of the 2016 season but, after injury wiped out his year halfway through the first quarter of round one, the 29-year-old speedster starts 2017 at the discounted price of $198k. White, who has never averaged more than 75, won’t score big, but he should play and become an early-season cash cow.

Sam Powell-Pepper $135,300 mid

From what The Phantom has seen of Port Adelaide’s top draft pick, it’s going to be hard for the Power to hold the hard-as-nails, strong-bodied midfielder back. The 19-year-old has been turning heads with his attack on the ball and body in his first pre-season at the club and should feature early in 2017. There is a bit of Dustin Martin about this kid.

Brett Eddy $102,400 fwd

The Power wouldn’t have picked the 27-year-old with no intention of playing him so expect to see plenty of Eddy, who booted 74 and 61 goals in the past two SANFL seasons, this year. While he still needs to win promotion to the senior list, Eddy would slot in nicely alongside Charlie Dixon and Justin Westhoff. At bargain-basement price, Eddy is perfect for a spot on the bench.

NO-GONE ZONE

Sam Gray $436,200 mid

In the SuperCoach world, Gray was one of the most-hyped players during last year’s pre-season and, as a dual-position midfielder/forward, who could find the footy, rightly so. However, the glimpses of his scoring potential were few and far between and, even though he averaged 95 over the final four rounds of 2016, Gray is still not in the Power’s best midfield. Plus he’s lost his dual-position status. Pass.

Sam Gray has lost his dual-position status, which is a big negative. Picture: Sarah Reed

Matthew Lobbe $357,700 ruck

If you are still considering Lobbe after last season and the return of Ryder, it’s back to the drawing board unfortunately.

Angus Monfries $325,500 fwd

The returning Monfries appears cheap but, after failing to average more than 66 in 2014 and 2015, his price is about right. It’s unlikely we see a return to form which saw him average 90 in his first season at the Power in 2013.

TEAM PROFILE

Maybe it’s time we stop reminding ourselves about the Power of 2014. As brilliant as they were, after two years of mediocrity, things need to change. There is no need for a complete overhaul because the stars are still there — and their young — but they will need to lift across the board. Prior to last year’s draft, Port armed itself with four picks inside the top 31 and this injection of young, top-end talent will help rejuvenate the list. Just how quickly this new brigade of stars come on will determine just how quickly the Power pushes it way back towards the top.

Originally published as Port Adelaide 2017 SuperCoach preview: premium selections and who to avoid