The Phantom’s Trade Talk: All the best options to replace injured Giant Stephen Coniglio

GWS coach Leon Cameron did it against the Tigers, is it now time for SuperCoaches to replace Stephen Coniglio with teammate Toby Greene? The Phantom looks at all options

After a knee injury forced him off the MCG in the opening minutes against the Tigers, GWS midfielder Stephen Coniglio is the most-traded out player in SuperCoach ahead of Round 18.

The 25-year-old has avoided any damage to his ACL but he’s unlikely to play again this season.

Remember The Phantom’s warning last week? Well it took just four more days for more SuperCoach carnage to come.

Hopefully you’ve still got room to move as Coniglio is a must-trade.

But, at this point of the year, trading out a premium isn’t as simple as it was in Round 6.

Money is scarce – as are trades – and many teams are still trying to make that final upgrade.

Here’s a few different ways to deal with Coniglio.

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Toby Greene during a Giants indoor training session in Sydney. Picture: Phil Hillyard

THE FORWARD-LINE SWITCH

Toby Greene (GWS)

$420,900

Three-round average: 94

If you need an extra $90k to fund a final upgrade elsewhere, the match-winning Giant could be the answer. At the price, Greene could be the best option in any position and that’s why swapping a dual-positon forward, such as Patrick Dangerfield and Josh Dunkley, into the midfield and then trading Coniglio to his GWS teammate could work. Against the Tigers, in the absence of Coniglio and fellow midfield star Josh Kelly, Greene – who started his career as an on-baller – recorded game-highs in SuperCoach points (138) and disposals (34) and an equal-game-high seven clearances. The only question is whether or not coach Leon Cameron persists with the star forward in the middle? It could be worth the risk.

MONEY ISN’T AN ISSUE

Patrick Cripps, Lachie Neale, Jack Macrae and Nat Fyfe are all in more than 39 per cent of teams so let’s assume you’ve got them.

Marcus Bontempelli (WB)

$583,000

Three-round average: 122

After scores of 112, 109, 130 and 146 in the previous month, a 93-point performance against the Demons in Round 17 saw Bontempelli’s price-rise ease. And that’s good news for SuperCoaches with another two games at Marvel Stadium to come in the next two weeks, a venue the 23-year-old is averaging 123 points at this season.

Brisbane skipper Dayne Zorko, left, with teammates Mitch Robinson and Daniel Rich.

Dayne Zorko (Bris)

$577,400

Three-round average: 124

If you’re looking for something even more different, consider the Brisbane skipper, who has been in blistering form after an inconsistent opening six rounds. Since Round 6, Zorko has posted seven SuperCoach tons – four of them in excess of 120 - and is averaging 114 points per game. And the rampaging Lions play four of their final home-and-away matches at the GABBA.

SIDEWAYS

Rory Sloane (Adel)

$544,600

Three-round average: 109

Again, if you take out the injury-affected 35 against the Demons in Round 11, Sloane is averaging 114 points per game this season, despite a sub-par performance in Showdown 46. After the Bombers (AO), Blues (MCG) and Saints (AO) in the next three weeks, the Crows finish with tough match-ups against the Eagles (Perth), Magpies (AO) and Bulldogs (Marvel). But the Adelaide co-captain loves the big games.

Josh P. Kennedy (Syd)

$533,500

Three-round average: 117

While he might not have the same scoring-ceiling as Sloane, Kennedy has, again, been consistent this year. The contested-ball beast, who averaged less than 100 points last season for the first time since 2011, has posted nine SuperCoach tons this year and two more scores in the 90s. An injury-affected 65 in Round 10 and a 77-point performance on return in Round 14 have been the only exceptions for the Sydney veteran, who, by average, ranks second in the competition for ground-ball-gets and 11th for contested possessions.

Marc Murphy, right, with Rising Star favourite Sam Walsh.

MAKE MONEY

Marc Murphy (Carl)

$462,500

Three-round average: 114

After returning from injury in Round 13, the former skipper has posted scores of 99, 125, 99 and 117 in a return to form which corresponds with the Blues’ fight-back under interim coach David Teague. And the best thing is, Carlton welcome the struggling Gold Coast Suns to Marvel Stadium this weekend.

Lachie Hunter (WB)

$481,100

Three-round average: 113

He’s been inconsistent this year but, if the past two rounds are anything to go by, Hunter is set for a big finish. The outside midfielder has tallied a combined 69 disposals in the past two weeks, posting scores of 132 and 156 in wins over the Cats and the Demons. And, like Murphy, he’s in less than 2,500 SuperCoach teams.

Jack Steele (StK)

$447,600

Three-round average: 97

The young Saint returned from a knee injury in Round 15 against the Tigers but struggled to have an influence matched-up on Richmond skipper Trent Cotchin. But in the past two weeks, Steele has played a defensive-midfield role on North Melbourne’s Ben Cunnington and Geelong’s Tim Kelly, while posting scores of 109 and 120 himself. It would be a big call but the 23-year-old scored 100 points or more in four of the opening five rounds of the season

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Originally published as The Phantom’s Trade Talk: All the best options to replace injured Giant Stephen Coniglio