The stat which shows St Kilda’s Dan Hannebery could be a smart SuperCoach pick
He comes with risk attached after an injury-riddled first season at St Kilda, but there’s good reason to be considering Dan Hannebery in KFC SuperCoach. Here’s why, plus the latest whispers to help pick your team.
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Minimal game time. Big impact.
St Kilda midfielder Dan Hannebery provided enough evidence in five games last season to suggest his time as a premium SuperCoach scorer might not be over.
The 28-year-old struggled with injury in his first year at the Saints, but averaged 96 SuperCoach points in the five games he managed.
Those scores included a season-high 122 against Sydney and he only scored below 94 once (65 in Round 15).
Hannebery ranked 12th for SuperCoach points per minute last season with 1.13, ahead of Marcus Bontempelli (1.12), Lachie Neale (1.09) and Clayton Oliver (1.08).
After his pre-season was delayed by a fractured foot, it would be a bold choice to start Hannebery at an awkward price of $417,000.
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Yet, it is only four years since Hannebery averaged 113.4 and was one of the AFL’s premier on-ballers.
Tempted? You might be if he excels in the Marsh Community Series.
Nic Naitanui had the best points per minute ratio in three games last season with 1.37, 0.14 clear of second-ranked Max Gawn (1.23).
HORSE SET TO LEAVE SUPERCOACHES DISAPPOINTED
John Longmire has all but conceded Isaac Heeney and Callum Mills will reprise their respective roles at either end of the ground this year.
SuperCoaches have been waiting to see Heeney and Mills unleashed in midfield, but Longmire said on Melbourne radio this week the young pair had just as much value for Sydney in attack and defence respectively.
Longmire said Mills would not shift from defence until the Swans developed a replacement for his role across halfback, while Heeney has been training with the forward group and midfielders as he recovers from a broken thumb.
He said Heeney’s marking and goalkicking ability (he kicked 26.15 last year) meant he was as valuable to Sydney in attack as he would be as an on-baller.
Mills averaged a career-high 81.8 last year in SuperCoach, while Heeney’s average dipped from 97.5 to 94 as he played more as a forward.
MUMFORD, JACOBS TO SHARE RUCK ROLE
Veteran big man Shane Mumford expects to share GWS’ No. 1 ruck role with Sam Jacobs ($348.8k, RUC) in a blow for the ex-Crow’s SuperCoach prospects. It had been expected Jacobs would walk into the role after being traded from Adelaide, however Mumford cast doubt on that this week. “I think it’s going to be great for the both of us. It’s (sharing the load) only going to help our old bodies,” Mumford said. Cross Jacobs off your list and consider Nic Naitanui ($457.8, RUC) or Tim English ($448.4k) if you aren’t willing to pay $1.4 million for Brodie Grundy and Max Gawn.
PORT ROOKIE’S HAMSTRING WORRY
The SuperCoach midfield stocks took an untimely hit this week when Port Adelaide’s father-son draftee Jackson Mead suffered a hamstring injury at training. Initial reports from South Australia suggested it was the second hamstring concern of the pre-season for Mead, the No. 25 pick in last year’s national draft, and could rule him out for a month. However, Channel 10 reported the results of scans suggested Mead had escaped serious injury. Captain Tom Jonas said recently Mead ($117.3k, MID) had been one of the standout draftees at the Power. It’s worth considering other options for your midfield bench.
They've all been super impressive, but the poise and polish of Jackson Mead and athleticism and work rate of Mitch Georgiades have been the standouts - TJ https://t.co/Uc9pMJPWy4
— Port Adelaide FC (@PAFC) February 4, 2020
Positive news for Jackson Mead.@10NewsFirstAdl understands scans on the young mid's hamstring showed almost no damage.
— Max Burford (@mkfburford) February 7, 2020
He's unlikely to play next week's internal trial but contrary to reports; is still a big chance to feature in preseason games.
MAX RETURNS TO TRAINING TRACK
Max Gawn ($697.1k) returned to training on Wednesday after a knee scare at the Demons’ pre-season camp in Maroochydore. Gawn this week conceded he feared the worst when he hurt his knee, having twice suffered ACL injuries previously. But Melbourne is confident its star big man, who averaged 128.4 last year, will feature in Round 1. Gawn believes he’s a chance of taking part in the Marsh Community Series, with Melbourne to face Adelaide on February 22 and Hawthorn on March 6. If he features in the second pre-season fixture, don’t hesitate with your plans to set and forget the Gawn-Grundy combination.
Best thing @melbournefc fans will see all day. Max Gawn out of his knee brace and in light running 41 days out from R1 @AFLcomau pic.twitter.com/3hWf8Tvq7l
— Mitch Cleary (@cleary_mitch) February 9, 2020
COULD INJURY BRING OPPORTUNITY FOR JACKSON?
Melbourne’s ruck woes have continued with big man Braydon Preuss ruled out for 8-10 weeks with a knee injury. It compounds the loss of their aforementioned ruckman Max Gawn. But as we know, injury brings opportunity. The double blow means prized No. 3 pick Luke Jackson ($198.3k, RUCK) has risen up the pecking order. The mobile prospect has caught the eye of track watchers, even playing as a midfielder in some drills, and is closing in on a Round 1 berth. With Gawn likely to be right to go, Jackson appears set to partner him as a forward. But potentially playing as their No. 1 ruck in the Marsh Community Series could help stake Jackson’s claim for enhanced time at stoppages in season.
UNCERTAINTY CLOUDS MARSHALL ROLE
Ruckman Rowan Marshall ($598.7k, RUC) was one of the breakout stars last season when his SuperCoach average soared from 62.8 to 110.2. But the arrival of Paddy Ryder in last year’s trade period has been tipped to lead to greater time playing in attack for Marshall, who rucked one-out in 2019. Ryder added to the uncertainty over how he would share the ruckwork with the 24-year-old, telling the AFL website: “If we come up against a ruckman and Rowan’s been good against him in the past, then he’ll get first crack and if he’s going well, we’ll leave him in there. That’s how it will play out in the games; if he’s on top, I’ll leave him in there and play my role up forward, but if he needs a hand, then I might come up.” Do yourself a favour and avoid the uncertainty by picking another big man.
IS PHILLIPS A GENUINE R2 CONTENDER?
Tom Bellchambers’ recent knee surgery has given former Carlton ruckman Andrew Phillips the chance to mount his case for a Round 1 berth at Essendon. Phillips doesn’t hold huge SuperCoach appeal at $403,100, but did average 92.8 from five games last season when deputising to Matthew Kreuzer. His lowest score in 2019 was 75 and he went as high as 114 when he had 35 hit-outs against Adelaide in Round 19. Nic Naitanui ($457,800) is a better option. Another new Bomber, Jacob Townsend ($222.9k, FWD), says he wants back into midfield after playing as a pressure forward at Richmond. “I started my career as an inside mid and I think that’s where they (Essendon) see me playing here,” he told the Bombers website.
BALME’S HIGH PRAISE FOR PICKETT
As if we needed any more reason to pick him. One-game-wonder Marlion Pickett ($123.9k, MID) has been praised by Richmond football boss Neale Balme, who said the club believes the mature-age recruit will be “outstanding” in 2020. “He will be bigger and better. He’s a 27-year-old, so he’s quite mature,” Balme said on SEN SA. The premiership sensation is also at an outstanding price this season with his 96-point Grand Final effort not being calculated towards his SuperCoach price. At $123.9k, you will be behind the pack leaving him out of your side. Lock him in, Eddie.
SIER EARMARKED FOR GREATER MIDFIELD ROLE
Brayden Sier has put his suburban basketball misdemeanour behind him and produced a near-faultless pre-season at Collingwood. The tough on-baller looms as a potential SuperCoach bargain at only ($242.7k, MID) if he can become a regular in the Magpies’ midfield arsenal. The 22-year-old showed his capabilities when he averaged 80 from eight games in 2018 and his first match of 2019 resulted in 23 disposals and a SuperCoach score of 103. It’s worth monitoring his progress in the Marsh Community Series.
TEAMMATE LAUDS YOUNG DOCKER
Docker Adam Cerra has tipped uncapped teammate Luke Valente ($123.9k, MID) to step up in the absence of injured veteran David Mundy. Valente spent most of last year on the sidelines with a groin issue, playing just seven WAFL games, and remains on the comeback trail. “He’s had a really tough run with injuries but at the moment I think he’s doing the majority of training and a bit of match play,” Cerra told the club website.
“He injects a bit of class into the game. He’s elite both sides of the body and he’s got a really good game sense. He’s really valuable to us.”
Valente showed his SuperCoach potential in his draft year, averaging 118 points at the under-18 national championships.
The young midfielder is another to keep tabs on.
AIDEN BONAR’S MIDFIELD ROLE
Aiden Bonar was starved of opportunity at the Giants but midfield time beckons at his new club. The 20-year-old has impressed two key figureheads in his short time at Arden Street – his coach Rhyce Shaw and his captain Jack Ziebell, as reported by the Herald Sun this week. “I’ve been really impressed with his attitude since he’s come down from GWS and I’m really looking forward to seeing what he can do,” Shaw said last week. Ziebell echoed his sentiments on: “He’s very big and powerful and I’d like to see him in our midfield pretty early on to see if he can add a few more dimensions in there.” At $202.8k with FWD/MID status, Bonar looms as an expensive cash cow for our forward lines. Watch his progress in the Marsh Community Series with interest.
These comments from Rhyce Shaw will have Roos fans and Aiden Bonar's @Supercoach owners excited! via @chriscavanagh1 https://t.co/s2ZWvJ1EYS
— SuperFooty (AFL) (@superfooty) February 10, 2020