Port Adelaide speedster Jared Polec is ready made to hop into action for North Melbourne
THINGS are finally heating up in the AFL’s Trade Period. The Phantom gives his analysis of every trade and free agency move as they happen. Jared Polec, Mitch McGovern, Ryan Clarke headline a big start to day 3.
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AMID the hysteria of the AFL’s Trade Period, The Phantom crunches the numbers and analyses every trade and free agency move as they happen.
Jared Polec
Port Adelaide to North Melbourne
The deal: Polec, Jasper Pittard and Pick No. 48 for Pick No. 11 and 2019 fourth-round pick
THE NUMBERS
2018 — Games: 22, SuperCoach average: 95
Average 2014-2017: 81, 70, 75, 81
The dashing wingman’s final season at Alberton was his best.
The once injury-prone Polec played 22 games for the first time in his eight-year career and averaged 95 SuperCoach points, eclipsing his previous high by 14 points per game.
After increasing his disposal average from 19 to 22 in 2017, Polec lifted this number to 25 in 2018, ranking him second behind only Ollie Wines at the club.
The 25-year-old, who recorded the equal second-most goal assists at the Power, ranked 8th in the AFL for kicks and 9th for metres gained.
All very good numbers if you are a North Melbourne fan.
But will it be good news for his SuperCoach output?
There is no question Polec is predominantly an outside player — and a very good one — but he is slowly improving his inside game, averaging two more contested possessions per game in 2018 than he did the previous year.
And that number is going to have to continue to increase if Polec is going to work his way into the premium bracket next season because the stats show the ball might not come to him as much as it did at the Power.
While the Kangaroos have a number of known inside ball-winners, they ranked 16th for clearances in 2018.
It’s a stark contrast from Port Adelaide, who were the No. 1 clearance side last year.
THE BIG QUESTION
A great get for the Kangaroos but does he have another level to go to?
ESTIMATED 2019 STARTING PRICE
$520,000
EARLY VERDICT
Price might be an issue but an injury-free Polec, coming off his best season to date, still has to feature on the point-of-difference watchlist, especially in the draft format.
Mitch McGovern
Adelaide to Carlton
The deal: Three-way trade with Sydney. Crows receive pick No. 13, 2019 fifth-round selection and state-league player Shane McAdam, Carlton receive McGovern and 2019 third-round selection, Sydney receive picks 26 and 28.
THE NUMBERS
2018 — Games: 12, SuperCoach average: 68
Average 2016-2017: 58, 69
McGovern exploded onto the scene in 2016.
The No. 43 pick in the 2014 National draft, who debuted in Round 1 and went on to play every game for the year, booted 32 goals and took 28 contested marks — the third-most at the club.
However, injury and inconsistency has seen McGovern only tally another 35 goals and 32 contested marks in the past two seasons.
At his best, the 23-year-old is a high-marking, match-winning forward.
But, as he showed late in 2018, McGovern has the potential to follow the path of older brother Jeremy as an intercepting defender.
In round 23, McGovern played in defence against his new side, recording a team-high nine intercept possessions and three intercept marks.
While McGovern has kicked all of his goals in a high-scoring Adelaide outfit, Carlton fans should still be excited; there is plenty to work with.
SuperCoaches not so much.
Well, not yet anyway.
In 45 career games, McGovern has only scored 90 points or more in four of them, with just the one SuperCoach ton to his name.
THE BIG QUESTION
Which end will he play?
ESTIMATED SUPERCOACH 2019 STARTING PRICE
$370,000
THE PHANTOM’S EARLY VERDICT
McGovern will strengthen the Blues’ spine but, at that price, won’t feature in many SuperCoach teams at all.
Ryan Clarke
North Melbourne to Sydney
The deal: Clarke for Pick No. 61
THE NUMBERS
2018 — Games: 19, SuperCoach average: 65
Average 2016-2017: 56, 67
Ball magnet alert.
After an underwhelming start to his sophomore year as a high half-forward, Clarke moved to half-back at the end of 2017, averaging 27 disposals, seven marks and 84 SuperCoach points in the final five rounds of the year.
But, although he started with 25 disposals and 80 points against the Suns in Round 1, inconsistency stopped Clarke from building on this form in 2018.
The 21-year-old, who averaged 136 SuperCoach points in the TAC Cup during his draft year, tallied 26 disposals or more on six occasions but also recorded less than 20 disposals in nine of his 21 matches.
His ball-winning ability is obvious but at North Melbourne his role wasn’t.
While the uncontested nature of his game is still holding back his SuperCoach scoring slightly, if Clarke can find a spot in the Swans’ line-up, he’s one to watch in 2019.
And, with the pending departure of Dan Hannebery, the Swans need another hard-running midfielder.
THE BIG QUESTION
Can he cement a spot in the best 22?
ESTIMATED SUPERCOACH 2019 STARTING PRICE
$360,000
THE PHANTOM’S EARLY VERDICT
Big fan. If he gets a chance, Clarke can flourish at the Swans.
Shane McAdam
Carlton to Adelaide
The deal: McAdam (state league pre-draft selection) to Adelaide in McGovern deal
There is plenty to like about this one.
And not just for Crows fans.
SuperCoaches love mature-age recruits and, after an impressive year in the SANFL, which resulted in 31 goals from 17 games, the high-marking McAdam is ready to step into the top level in 2019, in a similar way to premiership Eagle Liam Ryan this year.
The 23-year-old speedster, who was overlooked in the 2015 draft despite equalling Nic Naitanui’s running vertical jump record at the WA state combine, impressed at league level this season, averaging 11 disposals, three tackles and 77 SuperCoach points per game.
So much so that McAdam, who was playing amaetuer football in South Australia in 2017, would’ve likely been selected inside the first two rounds of November’s draft if Carlton didn’t nominate him as one of its two pre-draft selections.
ESTIMATED SUPERCOACH 2019 STARTING PRICE:
$117,000
THE PHANTOM’S EARLY VERDICT:
If all goes to plan, McAdam could be in Don Pyke’s Round 1 side and become a popular SuperCoach name.
Gary Rohan
Sydney to Geelong
The deal: Three-way deal. Sydney receive Clarke, North Melbourne receive pick No. 61, Geelong receive Gary Rohan.
THE NUMBERS
2018 - Games: 11, SuperCoach average: 48
Average 2014-2017: 85, 93, 88, 83
Unlike McAdam, apart from - maybe - the price, there’s not much to like about this one from a SuperCoach point-of-view.
Although he will add speed and x-factor to the Cats’ side, Rohan has never averaged more than 69 points in his nine-year career.
In fact, the 27-year-old, who has been unlucky with injury, has finished the season with an average of 55 or less on six occasions.
Although Rohan doesn’t win enough of the ball, recording 20 disposals only once in 101 senior games, a late run of form in 2017, when he posted three SuperCoach tons in the final seven rounds of the year, shows he can score,
But it’s unlikely to be enough.
THE BIG QUESTION
Two questions here. Can he find more footy and where does he best fit in?
ESTIMATED SUPERCOACH 2019 STARTING PRICE
$260,000
THE PHANTOM’S EARLY VERDICT
A pretty big NO at this stage.
Originally published as Port Adelaide speedster Jared Polec is ready made to hop into action for North Melbourne
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