The case for and against selecting Jack Billings in SuperCoach this year

STRUGGLING to pick a high-scoring SuperCoach forward line? Jack Billings could save the day if he graduates to elite status in 2018. Here’s the case for and against picking him.

WILL 2018 be the year the ever-improving young Saint Jack Billings graduates to elite SuperCoach status?

In a year that lock-in forward-line options appear a little thin, Billings could be one set to break out and go from good to great. Following on from his season average of 92.7 last year, the former No. 3 draft pick is a good chance to push those numbers towards triple figures in 2018.

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Should Billings be a lock for your starting line-up? Here’s a look at some of the potential gains and risks selecting Billings could mean for your side.

WHY WE SHOULD PICK HIM

SCORING ability. The Saints may have won only 11 games for season 2017, but that didn’t stop Billings’ ability to continue to find the footy and score well, with 10 scores of 100-plus. Even when not kicking goals, Billings can still go large, twice going goalless for a game and still managing to crack the all important SuperCoach ton.

UNSTOPPABLE form. Billings tends to go through purple patches of form that can be invaluable to SuperCoaches. In Rounds 7-9 of last year, Billings scored 114, 136 and 104, and booted seven goals over just two of those weeks. Later in the year, from Rounds 19-23 he averaged 109 in what was a tough period for the Saints.

THE Saints are on the up (they hope). Though Billings has proved he is able to score well even if his team is underperforming, his scoring potential relies on the ball being up his end of the ground — as is the case with most forward line players. If the Saints can win a few more games in 2018 and manage to push into the eight, Billings will reap the rewards. His three highest scores of 130, 130 and 136 of last year all came in St Kilda wins.

AS mentioned above, there seem to be few enticing options up forward for our starting line-ups this season. Billings is priced as the No. 7 forward in the competition but there are serious question marks beside a number of the players above him. At just $509,500 he could be a potential steal if he does continue his improvement and reach elite status.

UNLIKE many smaller players, Billings’ kick-to-handball ratio is good; 1:1 in fact. His game in general is suited to SuperCoach scoring — as well as averaging 23.1 disposals a game last year, he averaged 5.5 marks and 3.1 tackles while conceding limited clangers (2.2) and free kicks against (0.3). Add another string to his bow for not missing a game in 2017. Very serviceable indeed.

THE Saints will play on their home ground of Etihad Stadium 13 times throughout 2018, where Billings holds his highest-ever score of 143 against the Bulldogs in Round 7 back in 2015.

COACH Alan Richardson has also indicated he hopes that Billings can play more midfield minutes this season. That added responsibility will only help his scoring potential and all-round versatility.

St Kilda fans hope Jack Billings can take his game to another level in 2018. Picture: Michael Klein

WHY WE SHOULDN’T PICK HIM

WHILE Billings’ scoring ceiling is rather high, unfortunately his basement scores are conversely disappointing. While he had his most consistent season to date last year, Billings still produced several substandard scores including his lowest of 53 in Round 3 against the Lions, one of six scores below 70. In all but one of those games Billings went goalless, and two were games St Kilda won. This needs to improve, and the potential of further opportunity to play through the midfield might help.

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EASILY the most disappointing aspect to his 2017 season was Billings’ goalkicking, specifically his set shots. Billings sprayed 23.36 over his 22 games last season. It was a problem not restricted to his own boot amid the boys from Seaford. The Saints completed the year with a goalkicking accuracy of just 52 per cent — the equal-worst in the league — which was arguably the difference between their eventual finish in 11th spot on the ladder and a potential finals berth.

To counteract the crisis, the Saints have recruited former sharpshooter Ben Dixon as a much-needed goalkicking coach. As a fellow left-footer, Billings is his No. 1 project. A new technique looked the goods in Billings’ only JLT Series game when he nailed a long set shot on his way to 95 SuperCoach points. If that accuracy continues through the home-and-away rounds, it’s guaranteed points in the bag.

ANOTHER problem coaches will face this year is the troublesome Round 14 bye. The Saints share a bye with Richmond, Adelaide, Geelong, Fremantle and Sydney, and many will be looking to avoid uncertain selections whose break falls in this period. This is an issue for each individual coach to assess, and will depend on the squad you have selected, and the reliance on whatever bench cover you can muster.

BILLINGS missed several weeks of the pre-season after suffering a hamstring strain at training. He blew out the cobwebs against the Demons on Thursday night and will be ready to go against the Lions in Round 1 but it is usually preferable to pick players who haven’t missed a beat over summer.

THE VERDICT

James Nice: Currently listed in my squad in the F3 spot, behind Isaac Heeney and Toby Greene; I’m predicting the trio to finish as the top three ranked forwards come Round 23. Pre-season injury is a concern, but if he lines up Round 1, I’ll lock him in.

Al Paton: My second forward is a toss-up between Bulldogs Luke Dahlhaus and Toby McLean but there’s every chance Billings outscores both of them given Luke Beveridge’s constant rotations. I would need to find an extra $40k but there is lots of juggling to do before Round 1.

Gilbert Gardiner: Billings has all the talent in the world but worried about his durability and the Saints in 2018. Need to see both deliver on a weekly basis before shelling out the money to buy a one-bedroom flat in Moorabbin.

Follow James Nice on Twitter @JamesNice4