The Phantom’s verdict on line-ball SuperCoach selections in the forwardline

LUKE Dahlhaus or Jack Macrae? Paddy Ryder or Jarryd Roughead? Here is The Phantom’s forwardline form guide to help with the decisions which could make or break your SuperCoach season.

LUKE Dahlhaus or Jack Macrae? Paddy Ryder or Jarryd Roughead?

Here is The Phantom’s forwardline form guide to help you out with some of the borderline calls which could make or break your SuperCoach season.

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Dahlhaus or McRae?

Luke Dahlhaus (WB — $520,700) v Jack Macrae (WB — $511,700)

Over the past few days during the The Phantom’s Face-off, I’ve received many messages quoting a certain Mexican burrito ad and, now, it’s finally time to use it myself.

Why don’t we have both!?

With popular 2016 forwards Dustin Martin, Dayne Zorko and Zach Merrett losing their dual-position status in 2017, the task of finding a sure-thing in the forward line has become more difficult.

The Bulldog stars are about as close as we get.

Dahlhaus averaged 105 and was ranked 14th in the competition for total points in 2015 before an injury-interrupted 2016 campaign saw that figure fall to 96.

Macrae’s career numbers are even more impressive. While queries still remain over his ball use at times, in his four seasons at the top level, the ball magnet has averaged 61, 100, 100 and 94 in each year respectively. Macrae was injured late in 2016 but returned to be an influential player in the finals, scoring 140 in the semi-final win against the Hawks, 93 against the Giants and 112 in the grand final victory over the Swans.

VERDICT: Both.

Greene or Caddy?

Toby Greene (GWS — $492,000) v Josh Caddy (Rich — $488,600)

Greene’s outstanding year as forward in 2016, which earned him his first All-Australian jumper, came at a slight cost to SuperCoaches.

While he still averaged 90, Greene will remain predominantly a forward for the time being. And The Phantom maintains that if Greene is released into the midfield full-time, he will put daylight between himself and the next best SuperCoach forward.

Don’t believe me? Check out the final seven matches of 2014, when Greene played as a ball-winning midfielder. He averaged 129 in the period.

Caddy, the goal-kicking midfielder could only break the 100-point barrier four times in 2016 in an engine room led by Patrick Dangerfield and Joel Selwood.

But, at Richmond, Caddy — who has a 171-point SuperCoach game to his name — will be given more responsibility in a Brett Deledio-less midfield. Can he finally take the next step?

VERDICT: The answer to that question remains unknown and, while that continues, Greene wins out.

Riewoldt, Kennedy or Lynch?

Nick Riewoldt (Stk — $549,500) v Josh Kennedy (WC — $532,200) v Tom Lynch (GC — $507,200)

While dual-position midfielders have dominated the SuperCoach forward line for the last few years, with many of them now missing, this could be the year the key-forward makes a comeback. But which one will be top dog?

Riewoldt has led all comers for years and, just when it looked like the game was catching up with him, averaged 101 in 2016.

Kennedy scores in a different way to the St Kilda veteran and relies heavily on big bags of goals. Luckily, they are a regular occurrence. But too many low scores have stopped Kennedy averaging more than 100 in any season.

And there this is Lynch. The recently appointed Suns’ co-captain booted 66 goals and scored more than 80 points 15 times in a bottom-four side, with a second-string midfield delivering it to him for most of 2016. When the Suns’ best midfield kicks in to gear, just how good is Lynch — who, at 24, is yet to reach his peak — going to be?

VERDICT: Lynch. This is the year he announces himself as a SuperCoach force.

Ryder or Roughead?

Patrick Ryder (Port — $418,100) v Jarryd Roughead (Haw — $367,100)

For very different reasons, the two big men missed the entire 2016 season but, at their best, are great SuperCoach prospects. After Lobbe’s disappointing 2015, Ryder should, once again, take complete charge of the ruck duties at Alberton.

This could see a return to Ryder’s three-figure average days as Essendon’s No. 1 ruckman in 2012 and 2014.

Roughead’s return to footy is already the best story of the year and, after averaging more than 96 in his past six seasons, the versatile Hawk presents significant value at $367k.

VERDICT: It’s hard to predict just how quickly both will find their best form but, given the varying ways Roughead can score, he is your man for now.

Heeney or Miller?

Isaac Heeney (Syd — $433,400) v Touk Miller (GC — $428,900)

To save you time, I will make this one short.

Even though Miller averaged 101 across the final nine rounds of 2016, it remains to be seen just how he fits in to the Gold Coast midfield, when Gary Ablett, David Swallow, Jarryd Lyons and Michael Barlow are added back into the mix.

But to be honest, even if we did know, Heeney is still your man. The young Swan dominated every junior competition as a midfielder and, after biding his time up forward in the first two years of his AFL career, it’s time for coach John Longmire to unleash Sydney’s next midfield beast.

VERDICT: The Isaac Heeney train is overcrowded with passengers but for good reason. Jump on-board.

Originally published as The Phantom’s verdict on line-ball SuperCoach selections in the forwardline