The Phantom’s Round 20 Review: The good, the bad and Gaff’s replacement
ANOTHER week, another big round for SuperCoaches. In the Round 20 review, The Phantom looks at the good, the bad, the young Lion ready to roar, the in-form Bulldog and Andrew Gaff’s replacement.
AFL
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
WHAT a Sunday.
First, Giant star Josh Kelly posts a huge 205 points — the first SuperCoach double-ton of the season.
The smooth-moving left-footer tallied 41 disposals, 22 contested possessions, 10 clearances, 16 inside 50s — the equal-most ever recorded — and four goal assists.
HUGE.
In the second game of the afternoon, nine Demons scored 100 points or more in the club’s 96-point win over the Suns.
Then the ninth-highest scoring player in the competition, Andrew Gaff, who posted 123 points, hits young Docker Andrew Brayshaw off the ball — an incident which is likely to result in a lengthy ban.
If that wasn’t enough, by 9pm, three SuperCoaches had tallied final scores in excess of 2900 points.
That’s a big day in anyone’s language.
Gaff owners, hopefully you’ve saved a trade.
If you do and money isn’t an issue, it has to be Kelly, who, despite a price increase of $58k on the back of his season-high score against the Blues, is still available for $30k less than his starting price.
If you can only afford players in Gaff’s current price range, don’t sweat, there are a number of under-priced SuperCoach stars to choose from.
And there are two standouts.
After 35 disposals and 127 points in Showdown 45, Crow Matt Crouch has now posted three consecutive SuperCoach tons and five in his past six games.
At $517k, Crouch comes with a $90k discount on his 2018 starting price.
Remember, this is the same player who averaged 125 SuperCoach points after the bye last season.
Another player with a big scoring history who has fallen away slightly in 2018 is Geelong skipper Joel Selwood.
A slight change of role which has seen Selwood float behind the ball at times in the past month resulted in scores of 71, 80 and 52 between Rounds 17 and 19 and a price drop of more than $75k.
But against the Tigers at the MCG on Friday, the 30-year-old was back to his best, posting a season-high 159 SuperCoach points.
Selwood recorded 37 disposals — his highest tally since Round 1 — 22 contested possessions and nine clearances as he pushed back into the midfield.
Another big clash at the MCG, this time against the Hawks, awaits Selwood and the Cats this weekend.
But then it’s Fremantle and Gold Coast down at the Cattery to finish the year.
It’s Gaff to Selwood for The Phantom.
THE GOOD
Selwood’s team-mate Sam Menegola’s 144-point performance against the Tigers pushed his three-round average to 119 — the second-highest of all forwards. He’s another who could cash in on Geelong’s favourable run home.
Speaking of in-form forwards, Bulldog Josh Dunkley followed up his 147-point performance against the Power with 33 disposals and 132 points in Round 20. Dunkley’s three round-average of 128 ranks him behind only Tom Mitchell, Josh Kelly, Brodie Grundy and Patrick
Cripps. A big point-of-difference if you need one in a sudden-death final.
At this stage of the season, it’s always important to keep an eye on next year. And young Lion Hugh McCluggage’s 26-disposal, three-goal, 140-point performance against the Kangaroos reaffirmed The Phantom’s view that he will be a legitimate starting option in 2019.
Lance Franklin’s huge return to form against the Magpies has to get a mention. After scores of 61 and 52 in the previous two weeks, Buddy exploded on Saturday night, tallying six goals and 178 SuperCoach. Apologies to all of those who traded him out on my advice.
THE BAD
After posting scores of 82 and 72 against Rhys Stanley and Todd Goldstein in the past two weeks, can Lion Stefan Martin bounce back against No. 1 ruckman Brodie Grundy in Round 21? Unlikely.
In-form Geelong forward Tom Hawkins was brought back to earth by the Richmond defence in Round 20, recording just 59 points — his lowest score since Round 4. But he’ll be back.
THE PHANTOM’S MENACE
Andrew Gaff
No explanation required. Thankfully, I’ve held a trade.
THE PHANTOM ROUND 20
Score: 2590
Overall ranking: 11,491
Originally published as The Phantom’s Round 20 Review: The good, the bad and Gaff’s replacement
Other countries? Roos reveal bold plans after WA move
North Melbourne has confirmed its move to sell home games to Western Australia, but as it turns out, WA wasn’t the only option on their wish list.
Fixture leaks: Houston’s Port face-off revealed, Saints’ MCG push
Dan Houston will emerge from a five-game suspension to face his former club, while St Kilda have been granted another MCG home game. Plus plenty more fixture news.