The Phantom’s Round 6 review: The good, the bad and the rookie ready to be traded

SIX rounds down, SuperCoaches and some of our favourite early-season cash cows are starting to fatten up in readiness for a trade. With one in particular seemingly reaching his peak this week. Plus, catch up on the latest Phantom’s Lair podcast.

The Phantom's Round 6 Review

• Who to trade in and out

NICK Holman has been a great servant for thousands of SuperCoach teams across the country, adding more than $160k to his bargain basement price tag in the opening six rounds.

And, on behalf of the SuperCoach community, The Phantom thanks Holman for his services but, despite a Round 7 brekeven of 35, his time is up.

After tallying just eight disposals and 33 SuperCoach points – his second score of 33 or less in the past three weeks – Holman’s cash generation has almost reached its peak.

The mature-age recruit spent majority of the clash with the Crows in the Suns’ forward half, as he has in the past three matches.

Holman laid 30 tackles in the opening three rounds but only eight in the past three games.

If you’ve got the cash and didn’t jump on him last week, Bomber Zach Merrett is still great value at $506,100 after a third consecutive SuperCoach ton.

The trade will only cost you $242k.

Crow Matt Crouch picked up where he left off prior to the hamstring injury, tallying 30 disposals and 100 SuperCoach points but his price is still coming down so hold off, if you can.

In fact, holding off a week might be something worth considering - especially if Holman fails to hold his spot in Gold Coast’s side -because we saw a few more potential cash cows play their first game in Round 6.

Melbourne debutant Charlie Spargo, who averaged 219 SuperCoach points at the Under-16 National Championships before a run of injuries, was impressive in his side’s win over the Bombers, registering 18 disposals, two goals and 81 SuperCoach points.

In the same game, Essendon’s Kobe Mutch, who finished runner-up in the Bomber’s VFL best-and-fairest in his first season on the list in 2017, was equally as impressive on debut with 66 SuperCoach points, on the back of 20 disposals and six marks.

Depending on your situation, a downgrade might be the best option to help improve your team elsewhere.

I’ll have all of the trade options in The Phantom’s Trade Talk on Wednesday.

Patrick Cripps once again showed his value against the Bulldogs with 24 contested possessions. Picture: AAP Image/Julian Smith

THE GOOD

One of The Phantom’s favourites Patrick Cripps backed up his 141-point performance in Round 5, with another huge score against the Bulldogs, delighting those SuperCoaches who had the VC on him Friday night. Cripps finished with 32 disposals, 24 contested possessions and 143 points. The 23-year-old is still available for $573,500 but he won’t stay under $600k for long.

How can you not love Max Gawn? A fan at Etihad Stadium on Sunday seemingly didn’t but he copped a fierce Gawn stare down after the Melbourne big man slotted a checkside goal from the boundary line. That finish was just a small part of Gawn’s dominant performance against the Bombers, with the 26-year-old posting a round-high 168 SuperCoach points.

Is Lachie Neale back? His 35-disposal, 151-point performance in Sunday’s derby would suggest so. And he’s just about bottomed-out in price at $523k. Add him to your list of upgrade targets.

After 147 points against the Kangaroos, Power utility Justin Westhoff is the 11th-ranked player in the game. And he’s only in seven per cent of teams. Any takers? Just be aware of the imminent return of Paddy Ryder.

THE BAD

The Phantom’s frustration with Jack Billings eased a little with his encouraging 85-point return against the Giants in Round 5 but it’s built up again after the talented, yet inconsistent, Saint booted three behinds in the first half against the Hawks.

And besides putting one through the two big sticks, the second half didn’t get much better as Billings finished with 15 disposals – at 40 per cent efficiency – and a season-low 47 SuperCoach points.

After exploding out the blocks with 119 points in Round 1, The Phantom’s pre-season tip Riley Bonner has failed to score more than 64 in the past three weeks. The plan was to always hold Bonner to the Power’s Round 10 bye but my patience is being tested. He’s only one big score away from generating some more cash but will it come?

With popular SuperCoach forwards Lance Franklin, Toby Greene and Christian Petracca all missing through injury in Round 6, the knee setback for Fremantle star Michael Walters hasn’t come at a good time. Walters is expected to miss at least a month, making him almost a must-trade.

The late-withdrawal of Geelong’s Brandan Parfitt is what SuperCoach nightmares are made off. Especially for those who just traded him in on the Friday night,

THE PHANTOM’S MENACE

Jack Billings’ goal-kicking coach.

What were you teaching him during the pre-season? Whatever it was, it’s not working.

THE PHANTOM IN ROUND 6:

Score: 2082

Overall ranking: 9258

Originally published as The Phantom’s Round 6 review: The good, the bad and the rookie ready to be traded