The Phantom’s Round 6 Review: Fyfe’s return, Brodie’s big three weeks and Lachie Whitfield’s price

With upgrade season upon us, Round 6 was an important week for SuperCoaches. The Phantom looks at the highs, lows, Fyfe’s return, Brodie’s big three weeks and Lachie Whitfield’s price.

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With upgrade season upon us, Round 6 was an important week for SuperCoaches. The Phantom looks at the highs, lows, Fyfe’s return, Brodie’s big three weeks and Lachie Whitfield’s price.

Nat Fyfe won’t be this cheap in SuperCoach for a while.

Remember those concerns over just how quickly Nat Fyfe would return to form after the nasty concussion?

Nah, me either.

After missing one week following the Round 3 head knock against the Saints, the Fremantle skipper has posted scores of 110 and 128 on return.

But, after failing to reach his huge breakeven of 164, Fyfe’s price has fallen for the third consecutive week, despite 30 disposals and 16 contested possessions in his side’s win over the Bulldogs.

With the injury-affected 63 dropping out of his three-round rolling-average and a very achievable breakeven of 90 in Round 7, this could be the cheapest Fyfe will be for some time.

If you’ve got the cash, a trade from Zak Butters, who lost $2k off his price tag after 46 points against the Kangaroos, is a move to consider this week, despite a breakeven of 27.

Upgrade season is upon us, SuperCoaches.

And if you need a downgrade, mature-age Bulldog Will Hayes appears the pick of the bunch after scores of 70 and 55 in his first two matches and a breakeven of -57 - the lowest of all the bubble boys who played over the weekend.

At $519k, fallen premium Elliot Yeo won’t be getting much cheaper after a 116-point performance - and a new breakeven of 100 - against the Cats.

It’s a similar story for Crow Rory Laird, whose price is finally on the way back up after three consecutive price drops.

Laird’s 124 points against the Saints saw him add $8k to his price tag, bringing about a Round 7 breakeven of 92, making him the best premium buy in defence this week.

Another prime target, Giant Josh Kelly, capped off a terrific month of football since returning to the side with 31 disposals and 116 points in the Sydney Derby.

But the 24-year-old’s breakeven is still 128, meaning you can leave him for another week or two.

Like Kelly, Demon Clayton Oliver failed to reach his breakeven of 134, losing another $12k off his price tag. The young midfielder is struggling to have a real impact - just like his team - but he’s becoming super cheap.

In the forward line, Cat Tim Kelly is ripe for the picking at $476k after a Round 6 score of 82 brought about a new breakeven of 62.

If you started with Crow Brad Crouch, he shouldn’t be the player to make way in any form of upgrade.

Crow Brad Crouch tallied 30 disposals but just 85 points against the Saints.

The tough midfielder tallied another 30 disposals and 14 contested possessions but, for the second week running, the numbers failed to translate into a big SuperCoach score.

Start – or continue – to upgrade your rookies elsewhere before dumping a player averaging in the 90s.

Reassess his form around the byes.

As to why Crouch’s impressive raw numbers didn’t translate into a three-figure score? We’ll dissect this issue, with the help of Champion Data’s Fantasy Freako, in Monday’s edition of The Phantom’s Lair Podcast.

Staying on the Crows, what about Brodie Smith’s past three weeks?

The rebounding defender has averaged 25 disposals, 610 metres gained and 106 SuperCoach points in his past three matches.

Smith added a further $34k to his price tag and faces another low breakeven of 46 in Round 7.

While you’ve probably missed the boat, I’d argue $445k is still good buying for someone who could finish the year as a top-eight defender.

And, no, I’m not just saying that because he’s a long-time favourite of mine.

I’m quick to point out when I get one right – as we all do – but I also own my mistakes.

While, it’s a long year, trading Zac Williams to Lachie Whitfield prior to Round 5 appears a mistake.

Lachie Whitfield, middle, suffered a nasty corkie against the Swans.

It was never about Williams, it was about getting Whitfield after his blistering start to the year.

After averaging 129 points to sit as the second-ranked scorer after four rounds, Whitfield’s price continued so skyrocket

But he scored 86 in Round 5 and, after a copping a nasty cork and spending 75 per cent of the game in a forward pocket against the Swans, finished with just 45 points in Round 6.

Williams has scored 91 and 121 in the past two weeks.

It’s good news for non-owners, however, with Whitfield’s price falling by $41k and a huge Round 7 breakeven of 204, he will be very affordable very soon.

Fingers crossed the young star gets up for the clash with the Saints.

Same goes for team-mate Stephen Coniglio, who dislocated a finger against the Swans.

He still managed to record 103 points, on the back of 24 disposals and four goals, but he, too, is in doubt for this week’s Saturday afternoon fixture.

THE PHANTOM ROUND 6

Score: 2097

Overall ranking: 3696

Studs: Max Gawn (145), Brodie Grundy (134), Tim Taranto (136), Brodie Smith (103), Marty Hore (86)

Duds: Tom Liberatore (71), Lachie Whitfield (45), Isaac Heeney (74), Nic Newman (57)

Originally published as The Phantom’s Round 6 Review: Fyfe’s return, Brodie’s big three weeks and Lachie Whitfield’s price