SuperCoach 2025: The Phantom’s top breakout contenders
Injury has dashed The Phantom’s breakout hopes for two SuperCoach young guns – but he’s added another big contender who could outdo them all. These are the names to watch in 2025.
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Every SuperCoach knows the big guns – the stars of the game almost guaranteed to score well.
But the key to getting the jump on the rest of the competition – in your league or in the race for the grand prize – is identifying the players set to take the next step.
Sure, it can backfire (we’ve all been there) but finding the value in SuperCoach is one of the keys to building the foundation of a successful year.
Here are the players The Phantom is tipping to increase their average significantly in 2025.
And, yes, if you are checking in for a second time this summer, a few things have happened.
Mattaes Phillipou and George Wardlaw headlined the first instalment – but they were both ruled out for three months in late January.
Jamarra Ugle-Hagan also featured but, he, too, is in doubt to miss the start of the season.
I’m not giving up on them completely in 2025, but it will have to be a very late breakout.
Enter Wardlaw’s teammate...
Will Ashcroft (Brisbane Lions)
$441,200, MID
2024 average: 81.9
Predicted 2025 average: 104
Let’s start with the obvious one. Sure, you can’t break out much more than winning the North Smith Medal on grand final day at the MCG, but the numbers say Ashcroft averaged 82 SuperCoach points per game last year. Not bad for a second-year player, you’re right, but it was two points less than his debut season of 2023, and nowhere near his 128-point – and zero-clanger – performance in the decider against Sydney.
So, if we’re talking players who will take another step forward and increase their output in 2025, it has to start here. The 20-year-old built slowly back from an ACL injury after returning in round 16, scoring 62 or less in four of his first six games. But from round 22 onwards, he showed what might be around the corner, finishing the year with scores of 129, 92, 115, 98, 113, 74 and 128. Ashcroft may have still only been the fourth choice in Chris Fagan’s centre bounce rotation during this time, but he tallied 25 disposals or more in five of those seven matches
The Phantom’s January 31 verdict: All going well, it’s hard to see a fit Ashcroft, after a full pre-season, averaging less than three figures in his third year. There are a few options in the price bracket, but he’s replaced Wardlaw in my side for now.
Matt Roberts (Sydney)
$434,800, DEF
2024 average: 80.7
Predicted 2025 average: 100
A big finish to the previous season is always a sign of a potential breakout – and that’s exactly what Roberts produced in 2024. The neat-kicking left-footer averaged 111 points in the final six home-and-away games as he settled into life as one of Sydney’s go-to men out of defence. Roberts took 68 kick-ins – playing on from all of them – second only to Nick Blakey at the Swans, and his kicking efficiency of 84.8 per cent was the fourth-highest of any player in the competition to average 12 or more kicks per game.
But not only did the South Australian finish the year well, he started strongly, winning an Opening Round Rising Star nomination and becoming one of the SuperCoach cash cows of 2024 after averaging 87 across the first seven rounds. In between were a few VFL games and sub vests, but the junior SuperCoach star built a more than a solid foundation to launch from.
The Phantom’s January 31 verdict: I want to pick him – but can you start him over teammate Callum Mills? Will be in my team after the early bye, either way.
James Peatling (Adelaide)
$352,800, MID
2024 average: 65.5
Predicted 2025 average: 95
The new Crow started as the sub seven times in his first 11 senior appearances for the Giants last year. But forget that – Adelaide didn’t recruit him as its 23rd man. The Crows targeted a 24-year-old who can immediately improve their midfield with his mix of ball-winning, speed and defensive aggression. In the nine games Peatling attended at least 50 per cent of centre bounces in 2024, he averaged 18 disposals, 10 contested possessions, eight tackles and 98 SuperCoach points. And, on occasions during those matches, he featured as a tagger. For the trade to be a success, the Crows will want more than just a role player.
The Phantom’s January 31 verdict: A centre-bounce heavy role looms for Peatling, who has made his mark on the track over summer. And that means he could be one of the best SuperCoach buys of 2025.
Colby McKercher (North Melbourne)
$476,900, DEF
2024 average: 88.5
Predicted 2025 average: 103
They young Roo averaged 24 disposals per game, had 30 or more on six occasions, posted five SuperCoach tons and ranked equal-15th for effective kicks in the league. They are not numbers you usually associate with a teenager in his debut season – especially one split in two by a foot injury. Sure, his role in the back half of the year, as the distributor and kick-in king in defence, helped, with McKercher finishing the year with more kick-ins than any other Kangaroo (91). But you still have to execute.And he did, gaining the trust of his teammates – and his coach – so much so, they gave it back to him for the one-two 37 times in 2024, a figure that ranked sixth in the league. It’s also true that more midfield minutes could come his way this season – especially after the Wardlaw injury – but this is the kid who arrived at Arden Street after averaging 150 and 144 as a midfielder at the national under-18 carnival and in the Coates League, respectively. He’s also the kid that arrived this summer for his second pre-season and won the time trial.
The Phantom’s January 31 Verdict: Like his teammate Harry Sheezel, I think we will learn very quickly that he doesn’t need the role in defence to average three figures in SuperCoach. Edging closer to my starting team.
Jase Burgoyne (Port Adelaide)
$430,800, MID
2024 average: 80
Predicted 2025 average: 92
This one’s not even about the numbers. If you saw what Burgoyne produced on the big stage in September last year, you’re, rightly, already expecting big things in 2025. The 21-year-old was clean, calm, composed and close to Port Adelaide’s best player in the final series, standing up in a heated battle against Hawthorn before backing up against the Swans. And his numbers were good, too. Burgoyne finished with 25 disposals, seven intercepts and 113 points across half-back in the win over the Hawks and posted another SuperCoach ton, on the back of just 19 disposals and eight contested possessions, in the Power’s final game of the year.
Despite proving he could help fill the Dan Houston void in defence, Burgoyne might remain on the wing to start the year, depending on who else Ken Hinkley has available. But don’t expect him to be lost there – like some under Hinkley in that position before him. Burgoyne’s skill set is far too valuable. And, as the three double-digit contested possession games prove, the smooth mover isn’t just a receiver.
The Phantom’s January 31 verdict: While I’m looking forward to watching him develop this year, the jump might not quite be enough to start him as a midfielder-only in SuperCoach,
MAYBE LATER...
As I said, I’m not giving up – but we’ll have to come back to these guys later in the year...
George Wardlaw (North Melbourne)
$461,300, MID
2024 average: 85.6
Predicted 2025 average: 107
And here we are again. Although I didn’t quite go as far as saying Wardlaw would match Clayton Oliver’s second-year breakout of 2017, I did predict a big jump this time last year – from 65 to 93 to be exact. And the young bull got close, finishing with an average of 86 after six SuperCoach tons. There was inconsistency and low game-time again but, importantly, he got through 18 games, with concussion his only injury concern. Before a head knock at training ahead of the round 16 clash with the Bulldogs, Wardlaw’s SuperCoach scoring power was on full show, with the young Roo averaging 25 disposals, 13 contested possessions, eight clearances, six score involvements, six tackles and 119 SuperCoach points in the three-game stretch before his season was brought to a halt.
As I wrote last summer, Wardlaw – the Kangaroos’ second centre bounce midfielder behind Luke Davies-Uniacke in 2024 – wins the ball and dishes out like prime Oliver, and his contested possession rate of 48.9 per cent was identical to the Melbourne champ’s. And, like last year, that figure puts him above contested-ball beast Tom Green.
The Phantom’s January 31 verdict: Sadly, we will be waiting a little longer – but he will explode soon enough.
Mattaes Phillipou (St Kilda)
$313,800, FWD-MID
2024 average: 58.2
Predicted 2025 average: 86
The 10th pick in the 2022 draft arrived at St Kilda after a dominant draft year which saw him average 144 in the SANFL under-18s and 102 at the national carnival as a powerful midfielder who pushed forward and hit the scoreboard. As he found his feet at AFL level, and in a Ross Lyon-coached team, it was mostly pushing forward that Phillipou did in his first 33 senior games. But in the young Saint’s final four games of 2024 things changed. In and around a late injury setback, the 190cm Phillipou proved just how effective he’s going to be in St Kilda’s midfield, averaging 22 disposals, nine contested possessions, six tackles, six score involvements, four clearances and 94 SuperCoach points. And Phillipou – strong, clean and smart – didn’t attend a centre bounce in the final round clash with the Blues.
The Phantom’s January 31 verdict: A SuperCoach star of the future – but a three-month injury setback will halt his progresss.
Jamarra Ugle-Hagan (Western Bulldogs)
$355,400, FWD
2024 average: 66
Predicted 2025 average: 90
Is a four-week stretch enough to go on? Because from what we saw between rounds 18 and 21 last year, Ugle-Hagan priced at an average of 66 is a bargain. The former No.1 draft pick booted 14 goals and averaged 17 disposals, 10 score involvements, eight contested possessions and 103 SuperCoach points in a scintillating month. Whenever the ball came near him, the 22-year-old always looked like winning it. It was an eye-catching combination of speed, overhead marking and a stunning vertical leap that saw Ugle-Hagan taken as an NGA prospect with pick 1 in the 2020 draft, and, at times last year, those traits made him look unstoppable. Sure, his two SuperCoach tons for the season came in that stretch, and more inconsistency followed – but the upside is undeniable.
The Phantom’s January 31 verdict: Passed the eye test with flying colours – even if just in glimpses – in 2024. But his immediate playing future remains under a cloud.
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Originally published as SuperCoach 2025: The Phantom’s top breakout contenders
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