The Phantom’s SuperCoach team revealed: Value selections in defence allow for rolled-gold stars
SuperCoach is officially open for 2019 and The Phantom has spent the summer holidays working on his team. Here is the second — and first official — draft of the pre-season. RECAP THE PHANTOM’S FIRST LIVE BLOG
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With SuperCoach officially open for 2019, it’s time to get serious.
Forget the FIRST TEAM REVEAL back in December, I’ve made some big changes.
And I’m finally happy.
For now, anyway.
Here’s the second — and more official — draft of my team.
RECAP THE PHANTOM’S LIVE BLOG IN THE COMMENT BOX BELOW
DEFENCE
In 2019, when kicking in, a player can play on out of the goal square without kicking it to himself. All kicks taken outside of the square will count as a disposal, meaning those players who bring the ball back in after a behind will receive significant boost to their stat line. It’s going to make selection in SuperCoach even more interesting.
Crow Rory Laird should fight Swan Jake Lloyd — who I can’t quite squeeze in yet — for the No. 1 ranking again in 2019. Laird wasn’t the main kick-in candidate at Adelaide last season — Luke Brown was — but he’s likely to take a few more given the new rules. I’ve also opted for Laird over Lachie Whitfield, who will be the first upgrade target early in the season.
And he’s the only player worth more than $500k in my defence.
I believe the next four players all have the potential to finish in the top-eight defenders by the season’s end.
Docker Connor Blakely is set to assume Lachie Neale’s midfield role while Alex Witherden is a ball magnet on the rise — and one who will greatly benefit from the extra kick-in stats, given he took 126 last year.
Returning Giant Zac Williams, who failed to make a home-and-away appearance in 2018, is a must-have at the price and Nic Newman’s scoring potential has never been questioned. He just needs more opportunity and he should get it in Sam Docherty-less defence at the Blues.
And, like Witherden, both will take their share of kick-ins.
MIDFIELD
I’ve gone with two of my favourites at the top; Carlton star Patrick Cripps and Giant Josh Kelly, providing the classy midfielder enjoys an uninterrupted build-up to Round 1.
There’s plenty of value around the $550k mark this season. Dustin Martin and Zach Merrett, who started the 2018 season priced at more than $600k, are significantly underpriced in 2019 given their scoring potential. Martin will bounce back and Merrett, despite a pre-season injury hiccup, should benefit from the addition of Dylan Shiel in the Bomber midfield.
I’ve backed third-year Giant Tim Taranto, who added 23 points to his average in 2019, all summer and I’m sticking with him. Expect another scoring spike to come.
Young Geelong midfielder Charlie Constable, who was close to a debut last year, should finally get a chance and mature-age Docker Brett Bewley is pushing hard for a Round 1 spot after an impressive pre-season to date.
RUCK
He’s expensive but it’s going to be hard to start without Magpie Brodie Grundy, who scored 130 points or more on 12 occasions last season. If you can fit him in, do it, because he could be the first ruckman since Dean Cox to go back-to-back as the top-ranked scorer.
The second spot in the ruck has been a revolving door with returning Swan Sam Naismith holding the spot at this stage. He’s never been a big SuperCoach scorer but, if he’s ready, the 26-year-old will take back the No. 1 ruck role at Sydney.
FORWARD
The selection of superstar Patrick Dangerfield is a no-brainer and, along with Bomber Devon Smith, hasn’t moved from my side since December. And that won’t change.
Bulldog Josh Dunkley is a likely top-six forward this season after averaging 127 points per game in the final six games of 2018, while new Hawk Chad Wingard could benefit from more midfield time with the injury to Tom Mitchell.
Carlton recruit Will Setterfield will be among the most-popular SuperCoach players in 2019 if he’s ready to go in Round 1.
Like elsewhere on the ground at this point, I’ve gone with three mature-age rookie priced players in the forward line, who should all feature for their respective sides this year.
Bring on the official pre-season.
Originally published as The Phantom’s SuperCoach team revealed: Value selections in defence allow for rolled-gold stars
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