The Phantom’s 2018 SuperCoach pre-season: Rookie-price smokies
THE top draftees and standout mature-age recruits always get a mention at this stage of the year but there are a number of rookie-price players flying under the SuperCoach radar.
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THE top draftees and standout mature-age recruits always get a mention at this stage of the year but there are a number of rookie-price players flying under the SuperCoach radar.
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Kieran Lovell (Haw) $174,800, midfielder
Ball magnet alert.
In his draft year of 2015, Lovell averaged 35 disposals and 187 SuperCoach points at the under-18 championships and 34 disposals, 17 contested possessions and 159 points in the TAC Cup.
Huge.
The following year, the strong midfielder played two AFL games in his debut season, winning 18 disposals, nine contested possessions and 62 points in his second game.
With the departure of Sam Mitchell at the end of 2016, Lovell, drafted at pick No. 22 in 2015, was earmarked as a potential replacement last season.
But a serious shoulder injury, that restricted him to just three VFL matches, ruined any chance of that.
In one of those games, the third-year Hawk tallied 34 disposals, 16 contested possessions, nine clearances, eight score involvements and seven tackles.
The Phantom’s Verdict: If he gets a chance, Lovell and teammate Tom Mitchell might be fighting between themselves for the ball soon.
Jack Trengove (Port) $162,700, midfielder
Even with all of the discussion around Trengove’s struggles at Melbourne — prior to the serious foot injury in 2014 — when he was handed the responsibility of co-captaining the club at just 20, the former Demon midfielder’s numbers still provide good reading.
In his first four seasons in the competition, the smart decision-maker played 79 of a possible 88 games and averaged more than 75 SuperCoach points in each year, with a high of 88 in 2011.
But then the foot troubles started.
Trengove only managed two games AFL games in the following seasons of 2014 and 2015.
Despite putting the major issue behind him in 2016, the 26-year-old failed to regain his spot in Melbourne’s senior side, making 32 appearances in the VFL and only five at the top level.
But, back in his home state, can Trengove take hold of the opportunity Port Adelaide have given him to start again with both hands?
And give the SuperCoach community another midfield cash cow to choose from?
An impressive performance at the club’s recent intra-club — where Trengove spent some time at half-back — shows there is a chance.
The Phantom’s Verdict: Could be a decent scorer if he can push his way in. But that’s the challenge.
Nathan Freeman (St K) $123,900, midfielder
Speaking of unlucky, Freeman has missed 57 games — 49 hamstring related — since he was drafted by Collingwood at pick No. 10 in 2013.
The midfield speedster played four VFL games in his first year at the Saints in 2016 before making 13 appearances last season, in a promising step forward.
And, in a number of those games, the 22-year-old showed why he so highly rated.
In a mid-season run of five games, Freeman averaged 29 disposals, 15 contested possessions, six clearances and six tackles.
The Phantom’s Verdict: Fingers crossed Freeman finally gets a good crack at it. He might be a mid-year downgrade option to keep in mind.
Mitch Crowden (Fre) $117,300, forward/midfielder
In his draft year, there were concerns the strongly-built Crowden had little development left and lacked leg speed.
There were also similar concerns over Richmond premiership hero Jack Graham.
But, simply, like Graham, the 18-year-old can play the game and boasts some great junior numbers to back it up.
The 174cm, 84kg midfielder dominated the under-18 championships in both years he played. Crowden averaged 31 disposals and 141 SuperCoach as a bottom-age player in 2016 before averaging 23 touches, five tackles, two score assists and 109 points last year.
And Crowden, who possesses an elite left-foot, also has experience playing against men, lining up in nine senior matches for Sturt in the SANFL in 2017, where he averaged 12 disposals — at 78 per cent efficiency — and five tackles.
Lachie Neale played in Round 4 of his debut season and his fellow South Australian, Crowden, has similar traits.
The Phantom’s Verdict: Who knows what Ross Lyon is thinking but don’t be surprised if Crowden is a late pre-season bolter.
Jeremy Finlayson (GWS) $123,900, defender/midfielder
After playing most of his junior football as a forward, Finlayson, who is now in his fourth year on the Giants’ list, has transitioned nicely into an intercepting defender in the NEAFL over the past few seasons.
Finlayson increased his disposal average from 14 to 20 in 2016 before averaging 28 disposals in his first six games of 2017.
The versatile 21-year-old averaged 127 SuperCoach points — the highest of all defenders in the competition — over this period, earning him an AFL debut in Round 15.
Unfortunately, Finlayson went down with a knee injury in the second quarter and played only three more NEAFL games for the year.
But now with rebounding defenders Zac Williams (injured) and Nathan Wilson (Fremantle) missing, Finlayson, along with second-year defender Isaac Cumming, will be pushing hard to fill the void.
The Phantom’s Verdict: We should find out who is leading the race between Finlayson and Cumming through the JLT Series.
Matt Guelfi (Ess) $117,300, forward
After 19 senior games for Claremont in the WAFL last season, the 20-year-old is another young player with experience playing against the bigger bodies.
Guelfi was overlooked at the 2016 draft but after averaging 15 disposals, eight contested possessions and 85 SuperCoach points, while also bagging 21 goals, as a small forward in the WAFL, he gets his chance with the Bombers.
Guelfi, who boasts a great mix of speed and endurance thanks to a junior track-and-field career, has fitted in well during his first pre-season and gets his chance in the AFLX tonight.
The Phantom’s Verdict: His versatility — Guelfi played predominantly as a midfielder in his junior days — is his strength so look for him to play a role at some stage in 2018
Originally published as The Phantom’s 2018 SuperCoach pre-season: Rookie-price smokies
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