The Phantom’s Round 1 SuperCoach review: The good, the bad, Riley Bonner and what to do next
AFTER a long pre-season, the players SuperCoaches have agonised over since January, finally took the field. As usual, there were some big scores and some disappointing ones. Here is The Phantom’s take on Round 1 and what you should do next.
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- The Phantom’s team revealed
- The Phantom’s five-minute guide
DID you take The Phantom’s advice on 21-year-old, mid-priced, Port Adelaide defender Riley Bonner?
Excuse the boasting but how good was he on Saturday!?
Just as The Phantom predicted earlier in the pre-season and on The Phantom’s Lair SuperCoach podcast, after what we saw during the JLT Series, the Power looked to get the ball in Bonner’s hands whenever they could coming out of defence.
The result; 31 disposals — at 81 per cent efficiency — five rebound 50s, four inside 50s, seven intercept possessions, 689 metres gained and 119 SuperCoach points.
Not bad for $257k.
But, although The Phantom believes this will be his breakout year — rather than just a once-off — before you scramble to trade Bonner in this week, give him another game.
Remember, his price will not change until after Round 3.
Nothing topped Bonner’s performance for The Phantom in Round 1 but there were plenty of other positives in an up-and-down start to the SuperCoach season.
THE GOOD
1. Lance Franklin. I’m sorry, Buddy, after your eight-goal, 175-point performance against the Eagles, I’ll never bring up your slow starts again.
2. Tom Mitchell was at his dominant best in Hawthorn’s victory over Collingwood, breaking the all-time AFL/VFL record for disposals in a game. Mitchell tallied 54 touches and 27 contested possessions, to finish with 167 SuperCoach points.
Only three the players on the ground won 27 disposals or more, let alone in a contest.
Well done to not only those who started with him but made him captain.
3. Speaking of winning the footy in a contest, in the season opener on Thursday night, Carlton star Patrick Cripps registered 25 contested possessions of his own, on the way to 130 SuperCoach points. It was the start The Phantom, and fellow Cripps owners, needed.
4. In the same game, veteran defender Kade Simpson wound back the clock, tallying 35 disposals, 10 rebound 50s, nine intercept possessions and a game-high 150 SuperCoach points. In the absence of the injured Sam Docherty, Simpson kicked to himself five times from eight kick-ins. During the pre-season, The Phantom wasn’t convinced Simpson could score big enough, often enough anymore but the 33-year-old has made a good start.
5. Bonner wasn’t the only mid-price defender to impress in Round 1. Hawk James Sicily, whose popularity surged in the lead-up to the start of the season, finished with 26 disposals and 125 points against the Magpies and Bomber Andrew McGrath, after an underwhelming pre-season, was a standout through the midfield against the Crows. The 19-year-old tallied 26 disposals, 11 contested possessions and 102 points.
Given their price, both might come into consideration in correction trades next week. Again, try to leave that for after Round 2.
6. Staying on mid-pricers, I hope you started star Giant midfielder Stephen Coniglio. He missed most of last season through injury but lead the club for disposals, contested possessions and clearances in 2016.
And, if yesterday’s performance, which saw Coniglio tally 32 disposals, 12 contested possessions, two goals and 129 points, is anything to go by, he’ll go close again this year.
At $452k, he’s looming as a must-have before the Round 3 price rise.
7. Patrick who? In the absence of superstar team-mate Patrick Dangerfield — in the Geelong midfield and in SuperCoach teams across the country — mature-age recruit Tim Kelly was outstanding on debut against the Demons. The 23-year-old recorded 27 disposals, 13 contested possessions, six inside 50s, one goal and 118 points. Play him on your field going forward with confidence.
THE BAD
1. Injuries to popular ruckmen Matthew Kreuzer and Paddy Ryder have SuperCoaches scrambling across the country.
The Blues have said Kreuzer is still in the frame for the clash with the Suns but, given the way he moved after returning to the field on Thursday night and his importance to the team, it’s unlikely. If he does miss one, or even two, The Phantom would still be tempted to hold and look to Bulldog Tim English as bench cover, after the 20-year-old scored 83 points in Round 1.
However, the early indication on Ryder, who is left the field against the Dockers with an achilles problem — one that he’s had some trouble with before — is the star big man could miss about a month. If it is confirmed, you will need to trade.
And, after 113 points on Sunday, Nic Naitanui, who moved well, despite the pre-season concern about his fitness, is looming as a money-making trade.
More on both of these issues and the rest of the Round 1 trade talk on Wednesday.
2. Those who went with unique midfield option Dayne Zorko would’ve been throwing whatever they could find at the TV on Saturday, when the Brisbane midfielder could only manage 14 disposals and 32 SuperCoach points against the Saints. But, as much as you might want to, avoid rage trading Zorko out at all costs. The Lions are back at the Gabba this week and there’s every chance he responds in a big way.
Those who don’t have him; put him at the top of your upgrade list.
3. After a standout JLT Series, many SuperCoach teams started first-year Bulldog defender Aaron Naughton on the field in his debut against the Giants.
But they wouldn’t have been happy with the result. The 18-year-old posted just 25 points, on the back of 11 disposals and two marks. Again, give the kid a chance and back him in.
4. Another concussion to Essendon star Zach Merrett. A Richard Douglas bump saw Merrett leave the game in the first quarter on Friday with just 17 SuperCoach points to his name. That makes it two head knocks in a month, after one in the pre-season opener against the Tigers, so he’s very much in doubt for Round 2. Hold for now, though.
5. After a terrific pre-season, Tom Libertore looked set to bounce back after a disappointing 2017. But, unfortunately, the Bulldog midfielder will undergo a second knee reconstruction after injuring his right knee against the Giants. If you don’t have Coniglio, he’s your man.
ROUND 1 WARNING
The Phantom has said it before and will definitely say it again; it’s only Round 1, SuperCoaches. As frustrating as this game can be, try not to panic. Give the kids another go and back your premiums in. You picked them for a reason.
The early talk from some SuperCoaches about trading Zorko, Nat Fyfe and Michael Hibberd is crazy. Like the old saying goes; it’s a marathon, not a sprint.
THE PHANTOM’S MENACE
Stuart Dew
Thanks for picking Nick Holman, Stuey but where was second-year midfielder Will Brodie? He would’ve had a field day in those conditions on Saturday night.
Originally published as The Phantom’s Round 1 SuperCoach review: The good, the bad, Riley Bonner and what to do next
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