The Phantom’s SuperCoach 2018 team: Defenders

ROUND 1 is almost here, SuperCoaches. And after a long, gruelling SuperCoach pre-season, it’s time for The Phantom to reveal his final 2018 team. A strong, expensive defence is up first.

The Phantom's SuperCoach team 2018

• Every JLT Series SuperCoach score
• The Phantom’s first pre-season team
• Ultimate cash cow guide
• Ultimate mid-pricer guide

AS The Phantom mentioned in the initial team reveal back in January, a shallow defence, which included a few failed mid-priced selections, set me back in 2017.

So, just like in that first team, I’ve gone big at the top end.

Essendon star Michael Hurley, left, is only in 11 per cent of SuperCoach teams.

Michael Hurley, who is in only 11 per cent of teams, despite posting 12 SuperCoach tons in his final 16 matches of 2017, is now a genuine point-of-difference after just one underwhelming JLT Series game.

Rory Laird just gets the job done — as he showed again with 102 and 90 in the JLT Series — and is as safe as selections come.

Michael Hibberd, centre, is one of the best SuperCoach scorers in defence.

Demon Michael Hibberd’s blend of attacking rebound and intercept ability makes him a great SuperCoach scorer.

Expensive, yes, but you get what you pay for.

The trio should comfortably sit inside the top 6 at season’s end.

And, in my opinion, it’s an easier task to predict the top scorers in defence than it is in an overcrowded midfield pool and uncertain forward line.

At D4, replacing Tiger Brandon Ellis from the first team, sits a young Port Adelaide defender.

The Phantom expects skilful 21-year-old Riley Bonner — who has four career games to his name — to establish himself as a regular in the Power’s best 22 in 2018 and, as we saw in JLT Series clash with the Crows, become the No. 1 ball-carrier out of defence.

For a while over the pre-season, The Phantom had experimented with just one on-field rookie-priced player but, after the arrival of a number of genuine options, I’ll be going with two in defence.

The forward line is the place to go with just one.

Third-year Crow Tom Doedee is a lock in defence.

Tom Doedee reaffirmed his place as a Round 1 lock after an impressive JLT Series for the Crows across halfback. The versatile 21-year-old wins the ball in the air and on the ground and will help fill the void left by Jake Lever.

After missing the AFLX Tournament and the first JLT Series game, his spot was under serious question for more than a month but Collingwood recruit Sam Murray also holds his place on the field after an impressive display against the Bulldogs last week.

Jeremy Finlayson, who looks to have locked down a spot in the Giants’ back six, is a great D6/D7 selection, while Lachie Murphy will be too cheap to ignore if, as some expect, he makes Don Pyke’s Round 1 side.

Top-price rookies Aaron Naughton and Nick Coffield are appealing but you’ll get bang for your buck with Doedee, Murray, Finlayson and Murphy.
Of course, all rookie-price players may change depening on Round 1 team selections.

The Phantom's SuperCoach Team 2018: Defenders

But a strong, expensive top-end in defence means something’s got to give.

And it’s the midfield.

All will be revealed tomorrow.

Originally published as The Phantom’s SuperCoach 2018 team: Defenders