Wednesday whispers: Latest SuperCoach news from the pre-season training track

PORT Adelaide injected several experienced players into its team over the off-season but the least high profile could prove the most valuable in SuperCoach. All the SuperCoach news from around the country you might have missed.

“MORE midfield time.” It’s a line you’ll hear a lot more between now and Round 1 and it’s a phrase that should make SuperCoaches take notice.

Graduating to the engine room is one of the biggest indicators of a looming breakout SuperCoach season.

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Gary Ablett is the poster boy for this theory after he went from playing as a small forward to on ball in 2007 and averaged 114 points for the year — and he hasn’t dipped under three figures since.

A more recent example is Bomber Zach Merrett, who became a SuperCoach premium after graduating to the midfield full-time in 2016.

And he will have some new mates in there if we believe the pre-season talk out of Tullamarine.

Devon Smith said on Tuesday he planned to play 70 per cent midfield, 30 per cent forward line this year, which would be a massive shift after he spent just 6 per cent of game time in the GWS midfield last year. He averaged 80 points in 16 matches — boost those numbers by 15 points and he’ll be a steal at $439,100.

Extra midfield time should mean more numbers for Jake Stringer too.

“He’s been winning stoppages on a consistent basis at training and almost every stoppage Jake will come out with the ball and we haven’t really had anyone dominating training like that,” teammate David Zaharakis told RSN radio.

“It’s great to watch and he’s excited to get off the leash in the midfield. It’s really impressive.”

Stringer spent just 23 per cent of his game time last year in the midfield (his highest career percentage) and if he can build his fitness there is a position vacant for an extractor after the retirement of Jobe Watson. Watch this space.

Jake Stringer fends off David Zaharakis at Essendon training.

THE DOM-INATOR

Port Adelaide recruit Dom Barry is firming as a midfield bench candidate after tearing up the training track over summer.

The former Demon was recruited at age 23 after impressing in the SANFL last year — and is available for a bargain $117,300 in SuperCoach.

“He’s been outstanding, one of our real shining lights so far this pre-season,” assistant coach Matthew Nicks said this week. “I haven’t seen a guy run like he can.

“It wouldn’t surprise me if we see him a lot earlier (at AFL level) than most people would probably have predicted.”

Barry will feature in Port Adelaide’s first intra-club hitout on Saturday alongside another recruit Tom Rockliff, who was this week named in the Power’s leadership group despite not having played a game for the club.

SuperCoach watchers will be taking note of how much time Rockliff spends in the midfield, where he racks up huge numbers.

Dom Barry is making the most of his AFL lifeline. Picture: Calum Robertson

WHEN WILL WE SEE NIC NAT?

WEST Coast says ruckman Nic Naitanui is on track to play in Round 1 but admits it isn’t sure when in the pre-season he will make his comeback from a knee injury.

“At the moment he’s aimed for Round 1 but he hasn’t got into the competitive stuff yet,” assistant coach Sam Mitchell said.

“The risk of putting him into competitive work at any point is there, so whenever we do that it has to be at the right time with as little amount of risk as possible. But there’s always some risk once you start competitive action, and he’ll implement that over the next couple of weeks. At this stage he is aiming for Round 1 ... but I’m not the medicos. They say he’s on track, but what he has to do between now and then there’s still some hurdles he has to jump.”

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Mitchell said he wasn’t sure if Naitanui would feature in the JLT Series but that the $465,900 ruckman — currently the fourth-most selected player in SuperCoach, sitting in more than 40 per cent of teams — was doing everything right in his preparation.

“He’s a compromised athlete with his knees and that’s going to be an issue for him. I think his best will still be absolutely outstanding but how often we see it and how soon we see it, only time will tell.

“At this point he’s doing everything right and should be there for Round 1.”

West Coast isn’t taking any risks with Nic Naitanui.

Meanwhile, Eagles recruit Brendon Ah Chee spoke to Broome Advertiser about his plans to earn a spot in his new club’s best 22.

The contested ball winner is hoping to add to his 27 career games (including three SuperCoach tons) in a new-look West Coast midfield.

“There’s already some really talented boys here at the club and the competition is what makes pre-season so good,” he said.

“I want to get through pre-season as fit as possible, then hopefully I’ll get some action in the JLT Community Series to put my skills into practice.”

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SAINT’S ALIVE

FORGOTTEN Saint David Armitage is tracking well for a return during the pre-season competition.

Armitage played two games last year but averaged 110 SuperCoach points a game just three years ago. That kind of output is unlikely in 2018 but there is plenty of value to be had at just $310,100.

The 29-year-old has completed a full pre-season after his 2017 was written off due to a groin injury.

“He is training really strongly now, standing out on the track,” reappointed skipper Jarryn Geary said.

“It’s good to see him out there free of any issues he’s had over the last 12 months. Hopefully he can continue that ... (because) he’s been a really good player for us.”

The Saints are also banking on a boost from Jack Billings, who hopes a new set-shot run-up will fix his goalkicking yips.

Billings kicked 23.36 last season and if he can reverse those numbers it would turn him into a 100-point SuperCoach forward (he averaged 93 last year).

And you can add Billings to the list of players hoping to spend more time in the middle.

“(I) probably spent more time forward last year, so the aim this year is to hopefully spend about half and half,” ­Billings said of his midfield-forward mix.

“I’ve just kept trying to ­improve my running capacity and my strength, which I think I’ve been able to do, and just training a lot more with the midfield.”

Remember this guy? David Armitage at St Kilda training. Picture: Michael Klein

AROUND THE GROUNDS

— Geelong skipper Joel Selwood said on SEN mature-age recruit Tim Kelly ($117,300 mid) is in the mix for a Round 1 debut.

— Richmond assistant coach Andrew McQualter says Jack Higgins ($130,800 mid/fwd) “has shown some great signs already” and could make an impact as a forward early in his career. Daniel Rioli and Jayden Short are training with the midfield group.

— Jack Gunston’s SuperCoach stocks took a hit with news he’s returning to the forward line in 2018. Gunston ($474,800 fwd) racked up some big stats after being moved to halfback in the second half of last season, posting four SuperCoach tons in the run home.

— Melbourne recruit Harley Balic ($253,900 forward) has revealed the demons he battled at Fremantle last year.

“I got some bad anxiety and even panic attacks,” he told the AFL website.

He’s now turning heads training in the Demons forward group.

“I know I can play AFL football, it was just about getting my head right,” Balic said.

“Now that I’ve done that I don’t see any reason why I can’t (play at the highest level). I’d like to play as soon as possible, hopefully Round 1.”