The Phantom’s SuperCoach pre-season 2018: The mid-price value in defence

Every SuperCoach loves a mid-pricer. But how many is too many? The Phantom takes you through all of the mid-price value in defence.

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EVERY Supercoach loves a mid-pricer. But how many is too many? The Phantom takes you through all of the mid-price value in defence.

THE KIDS

Riley Bonner (Port) $257,300

Riley Bonner.

In the cutthroat, high-pressure elimination final between Port Adelaide and West Coast last season — a game which was riddled with mistakes — only two players finished with no clanger to their name.

One was Eagle forward Josh Kennedy. The other was 20-year-old fourth-gamer Bonner.

The dashing defender, who sits just above the rookie-price bracket in 2018, was clean and composed with the ball in hand, tallying 19 disposals — at 84 per cent efficiency — and 74 SuperCoach points.

And he produced similar numbers in the previous two matches.

Bonner recorded 17 disposals at 82 per cent and 81 points in Round 23 after 18 disposals at 88 per cent and 75 points in his first game for the year against the Bulldogs in Round 22.

After an impressive debut in the final round of 2016, which resulted in 22 touches and 76 points, the long-kicking left-footer was forced to wait majority of 2017 before his second senior appearance came.

But, with his impressive late-season form and the injury to fellow rebounding defender Matthew Broadbent, Bonner, who has not missed a beat over summer, is ready to cement his spot in the Power’s best 22 in 2018.

The Phantom’s Verdict: A breakout year is well-and-truly on the cards and Bonner could be worth every bit of his high price tag.

Andrew McGrath (Ess) $388,400

Andrew McGrath

SuperCoaches don’t usually pay $388k for a second-year player. But first-year performances aren’t usually as impressive as McGrath’s.

The 19-year-old, who displayed the poise of a veteran, averaged 20 possessions and 71 points per game playing in defence in his debut season.

But, although McGrath was great defensively, the Bombers look set to unleash the Rising Star winner into the midfield full-time in 2018, with assistant coach Mark Harvey confirming this prior to Christmas.

In his draft year, playing predominantly as a midfielder in the TAC Cup, McGrath averaged an enormous 32 disposals and 144 SuperCoach points.

So expect his numbers to spike when the midfield move eventuates.

The Phantom’s Verdict: As good as McGrath is, it’s still a lot to pay for someone who has played 21 games on AFL footy. But, then again, last year’s SuperCoach revelation Clayton Oliver had only played 13.

THE VETERAN

Pearce Hanley (GC) $428,000

Pearce Hanley

Unlike the kids, Hanley has been there and done it before.

The 29-year-old experienced an injury-interrupted 2017, playing just 13 games in his first season at the Suns after crossing from the Lions.

Despite a final season average of 77, his lowest return since 2010, Hanley sent a subtle reminder of his scoring power, averaging 100 in the final five rounds of the year after getting his body right.

For those who did forget, at his best, Hanley was a prolific SuperCoach scorer.

Over his career, Hanley, who has been earmarked for a greater midfield role by new coach Stuart Dew, has passed the 140-point mark on eight occasions and boasts a career-high of 191.

Any player with that scoring history needs to be consider, especially at $428k.

The Phantom’s Verdict: There is room for him to play a major role in a young Suns midfield but can we trust him? Monitor.

IS IT TIME?

Christian Salem (Melb) $437,100

Melbourne coach Simon Goodwood had this to say as part of the club’s list update series; “Christian came back for pre-season in great shape. He had a really big off-season in getting his body attuned to playing AFL footy. Christian continues to prove that at training — the quality of what he can produce at full fitness has been impressive.”

So, after a career riddled with injury and inconsistent flashes of brilliance to date, is this the year the 22-year-old puts it all together?

After only managing 18 games in the previous two seasons, the classy half-back flanker played 16 games in 2017, scoring than 90 points in six of them, including a 31-disposal, 134-point effort in Round 2.

But the inconsistency was still there with Salem failing to score more than 63 points on six occasions.

The attacking defender has all the weapons to become a great SuperCoach scorer. Is 2018 the year it eventuates?

The Phantom’s Verdict: It’s risky, sure, but with uncertainty surrounding many of the top-end selections in defence, this could be the year to take a chance on a player like Salem.

ROLE CHANGE

Jack Crisp (Coll) $455,300

Jack Crisp

In the first nine rounds of 2017 — just as he had in the first five years of his career — Crisp played predominantly in the midfield, spending 73 per cent of his time there.

In the second-half of the year, he was recast as a defender, playing an attacking role at halfback.

And this is great news for SuperCoaches; Crisp is a defender in 2018.

The former Lion’s average fell from 86 to 83 last season but this can be put down to a slow start to the year with three scores of 52 or less in the opening eight games.

Crisp’s numbers following the role-change paint a better picture. Crisp, who averaged 89 points in his first year at Collingwood in 2015, averaged 91 after the bye, scoring 88 or more points in eight of the final 10 games of the year.

The 24-year-old is a proven ball-winner and has already turned himself into an influential rebounding defender, rating elite for intercept possessions and ranking second for score launches at Collingwood from Round 10.

The Phantom’s Verdict: High on the watchlist. Very high.

Ryan Clarke (NM) $369,100

Ryan Clarke

After struggling to have an impact as a high half-forward, the 20-year-old was moved to halfback towards the end of last season.

And what a successful move it was.

Clarke, who failed to win more than 21 disposals in his first 10 games, averaged 27 disposals, seven marks and 84 SuperCoach points in the final five rounds of the year.

While the uncontested nature of his game is still holding back his SuperCoach scoring slightly, Clarke’s junior numbers show he’s got the potential. The No. 31 draft pick averaged 136 points — the fourth-highest in the competition — in the TAC Cup during his draft year of 2015.

If we can believe teammate Luke McDonald, who said Clarke “is in for a bloody big year”, then there is some genuine value to consider here.

The Phantom’s Verdict: Should improve his scoring substantially but can he average 90+?

Callum Mills (Syd) $403,100

Speaking of role changes, surely this is the year the young Swan moves into the midfield. Coach John Longmire teased us last summer, playing Mills through the midfield during the JLT Series but, once Round 1 came around, the academy product was back in defence.

Mills — along with fellow young gun Isaac Heeney — has been working with midfield coaches during the pre-season but, given he’s so important to the Swans in the back half, a role change is far from a certainty.

Phantom’s Verdict: Please, Horse.

Originally published as The Phantom’s SuperCoach pre-season 2018: The mid-price value in defence