The Phantom’s ultimate guide: The must-have SuperCoach premiums and the ones you need to avoid
The Phantom has rolled the premium week of the SuperCoach pre-season into one complete and updated guide. See all the must-have big names and the ones you need to avoid.
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- REVEALED: The Phantom’s final team
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The Phantom has rolled premium week of the SuperCoach pre-season into one complete and updated guide. See all the must-have big names and the ones you need to avoid.
DEFENDERS
SURE THINGS
JAKE LLOYD (Syd) $608,000
JLT Series scores: 75, dnp
After recording a season SuperCoach average of 87 in 2017, despite averaging 26 disposals per game, some shared the view — The Phantom included — Lloyd was not damaging enough to make up for the uncontested nature of his game and become an elite scorer.
How wrong we were.
Last year, although he failed to win more contested possession, the 25-year-old, through a sheer weight of numbers, added a huge 25 points to his average.
Lloyd amassed 639 disposals, hitting the target with 507 of them, ranking him fifth in the competition. The skilful defender ranked second for kicks, second for rebound 50s and fourth for metres gained in the AFL in an outstanding season which earned him a place in the All-Australian squad.
Lloyd posted seven scores of 120 or more, three of them in excess of 140 to finish as the seventh-ranked scorer in the game.
His team-mates trust him with the ball in hand and always look to him as the go-to man out of defence. Unless heavy opposition attention comes, Lloyd should maintain his scoring.
And given he took majority of Sydney’s kick-ins last season — and there were a few with the Swans ranking as the hardest side to convert scoring shots against in the past three seasons — his numbers could even increase with the new stat ruling.
THE PHANTOM’S MARCH VERDICT: Original verdict still stands here. Hard to see Lloyd falling out the top-3 scorers in 2019 and, with a number of popular defenders sharing the round 14 bye, the Swans week off in Round 13 helps. Worth the extra cash.
RORY LAIRD (Adel) $587,600
JLT Series scores: 94, 82
Joining Lloyd in the likely top-three is the Adelaide ball magnet.
Just when you thought he couldn’t win any more football, he does.
Laird increased his disposal average from 27 to 29 in 2017 before pushing the figure to 32 last season, ranking him fourth in the competition.
The 25-year-old reads the play better than most with only Alex Rance, James Sicily and Phil Davis tallying more intercept possessions per game in 2018.
And while we’re talking decent company, only Tom Mitchell averaged more effective disposals than Laird.
The All-Australian defender, who finished sixth in the Brownlow Medal and won Adelaide’s club champion award, added eight points to his SuperCoach average despite the Crows winning three less home-and-away matches last year.
Laird’s consistency has improved, too with the neat-kicking right-footer posting 13 SuperCoach tons and scoring 84 points or more in all-but one game. He failed to reach that mark seven times the previous year.
THE PHANTOM’S MARCH VERDICT: As safe as selections come, given the Crows should bounce back in 2019. Should still score well despite the return of Brodie Smith and the development of Wayne Milera in the back-half.
CAN WE TRUST THEM?
JAMES SICILY (Haw) $570,400
JLT Series scores: 62, 61
Can we really trust the playmaking Hawthorn defender? No.
But will some SuperCoaches still pick him anyway? Definitely.
And they should — you don’t win by playing it safe.
While Sicily was suspended on two separate occasions last year and missed a further six weeks through injury, the aggressive 24-year-old posted eight SuperCoach tons — four of them in excess of 120 — as he made his name as a premier intercepting defender.
Sicily averaged 23 disposals per game — 18 of them effective — seven marks, five rebound 50s and nine intercept possessions in 2018.
And, given his effectiveness by foot, Sicily took the most kick-ins at the Hawks and should also benefit from the scoring change.
Of all defenders last season, only Lloyd, Laird and Elliot Yeo, who has lost his dual-position status, averaged more SuperCoach points.
THE PHANTOM’S MARCH VERDICT: The biggest concern to come out of the pre-season was coach Alastair Clarkson’s decision to use him in the forward line — something Sicily confirmed himself will happen from time to time. That’s enough to put me off.
JEREMY HOWE (Coll) $497,200
JLT Series scores: dnp, 34.
Although he did miss five home-and-away matches through injury last season, Howe’s trust issues aren’t related to his ability to stay on the park.
It’s the inconsistent scoring.
In the past three seasons, excluding the injury-affected Round 19 score in 2018, Howe has posted 12 scores of 120 or more but also failed to score more than 70 on another 12 occasions.
It’s the reason the high-marking Collingwood defender has failed to average more than 94 points in his career.
But the scoring ceiling is there as the 30-disposal, 12-mark, 149-point performance against the Tigers in Round 6 last year proves.
Can he put it all together in 2019?
THE PHANTOM’S MARCH VERDICT: Insists he’s right to go despite limited match practice over the pre-season. While it might be hard to pick Howe ahead of a number of other options, he’s still a nice point-of-difference and could be slightly underpriced given the scoring potential.
THE VETERAN
KADE SIMPSON (Carl) $570,300
JLT Series scores: 62, 105
After the 34-year-old’s average fell by 12 points in 2017, it looked like his days as a SuperCoach premium were coming to end.
But with the season-ending injury to Sam Docherty ahead of the 2018 season, Simpson was, once again, the main man at half-back.
Simpson posted seven scores of 120 or more — four of them in excess of 140 — to record a season average of 105 — the second-highest of career.
With another devastating knee injury to Docherty, the responsibility again falls on Simpson, who is entering his 17th season in the competition.
But there’s no concern over his durability with the left-footer playing a remarkable 286 out of a possible 292 games in the past 13 years.
THE PHANTOM’S MARCH VERDICT: Simpson was, again, the go-to man out of defence in the second JLT Series match after a quiet pre-season opener. Besides a number of better-value options, there’s still no reason not to pick him.
NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK
LACHIE WHITFIELD (GWS) $542,100
JLT Series scores: 93, 86
After showing plenty of potential, a move to half-back in 2018 saw the former No. 1 draft pick take the competition by storm and earn All-Australian selection for the first time.
It also saw the dashing 24-year-old record the first three-figure average of his career — one that would have ranked him as the fifth defender last season.
A closer look reveals Whitfield averaged 110 points per game between rounds 11 and 21 in an outstanding run of form which featured eight SuperCoach tons.
Whitfield increased his disposal average by three in 2018 and ranked fifth in the competition for metres gained and uncontested possessions per game.
And the best thing? He’s available as a SuperCoach defender in 2019.
THE PHANTOM’S MARCH VERDICT: Whitfield spent parts of the JLT Series playing at half-forward, in a role that may become a regular one, given the return of Zac Williams at half-back in 2019. And given his outstanding season last year, the threat of extra opposition attention will surface. An upgrade target for me.
HARRIS ANDREWS (Bris) $480,100
JLT Series scores: 87, 106
While, unlike Whitfield, Andrews has always been classified as a defender, 2018 was the year he announced himself as a top-line SuperCoach scorer.
Before the nasty collision with Jeremy Cameron in Round 14, the strong-marking Andrews had posted six SuperCoach tons to average 97 points after 12 rounds.
While he recorded two scores in the 60s upon return, the 22-year-old finished the year with three scores of 90 or more.
Andrews, who ranked second for one percenters per game in the AFL and averaged 16 disposals at an elite 85 per cent efficiency, is the rock of the Brisbane defence and a key defender we can bank on in SuperCoach.
THE PHANTOM’S MARCH VERDICT: Thankfully, after coach Chris Fagan forecast a move forward over summer, Andrews led the Lions’ defence in the JLT Series, posting two impressive SuperCoach scores. He’ll be worth well-and-truly over $500k very soon.
THE PREMIERSHIP SKIPPER
Shannon Hurn (WC) $523,400
JLT Series scores: 111, 89
After posting 10 SuperCoach tons last year, Hurn averaged 96 points per game — his first season average of more than 90 since 2012.
The 31-year-old had more kicks and marks than any other player in 2018 and he picked up where left off in the JLT Series, tallying 41 kicks and 18 marks in the Eagles’ two matches.
If the pre-season competition is anything to go by, Hurn, who took the second most kick-ins of any player in the competition last year, will look to play-on and use his damaging right-foote, more often than not.
THE PHANTOM’S MARCH VERDICT: A great point-of-difference option, who should get a boost in numbers with the new rules.
THE SMOKIE
LUKE RYAN (Frem) $489,900
JLT Series scores: 83, 81
After an impressive debut season, the Docker defender added 13 points to his average after posting seven SuperCoach tons, four of them in excess of 120 in 2018.
The 22-year-old tallied 20 disposals or more on eight occasions with his efficiency of 81 per cent the second-highest at the Dockers.
Ryan led Fremantle for intercept possessions and took more marks — 52 of them intercepts — than any other player at the club.
While only Nathan Wilson recorded more rebound 50s than the 186cm defender, coach Ross Lyon wants him to be more attacking in 2019.
And that is likely to benefit his SuperCoach scoring.
As will the new kick-in stats, with Ryan taking the most at the Dockers last season. He only played on once in 2018 but the right-footer should increase that number dramatically with the new ruling, adding to his already-impressive kick tally, which made up 72 per cent of his total disposals.
THE PHANTOM’S MARCH VERDICT: Going against my original analysis, Ryan didn’t take many kick-ins and didn’t set the world on fire with his SuperCoach scoring in the JLT Series. While it’s never good to read too much into pre-season scores, he failed to separate himself from a number of other points-of-difference in defence.
MIDFIELDERS
THE NEW NO. 1
JACK MACRAE (WB) $689,700
JLT Series scores: 143, 104
With the injury to Tom Mitchell, Macrae enters the 2019 season as the most-expensive playing midfielder in the competition.
After averaging 127 points per game in 2018, the ball magnet deserves the title.
And, if you take out the injury-affected score against Port Adelaide in Round 13, Macrae’s average would’ve been 131 — a number which would’ve ranked him higher than Mitchell and top scorer Brodie Grundy.
Yes, everyone has a bad game and we can’t go pulling out low scores from players’ averages but it does give a great indication of his scoring power.
That power has been building for some time with the 24-year-old averaging more than 100 points in three of his first five years in the game, recording two scores in excess of 145 in 2017.
The neat-kicking left-footer, who ranked third in the competition for effective disposals, took it to another level in 2018, posting eight scores of 140 or more, including a career-high 189 in Round 7.
Macrae wins the ball on the inside and the outside, ranking inside the top 11 for both uncontested and contested possession per game last season, making him very hard to stop.
THE PHANTOM’S MARCH VERDICT: No change here. The perfect replacement for Mitchell and a go-to captain option every week.
PATRICK CRIPPS (Carl) $689,700
JLT Series scores: 124, 1056
After an injury-interrupted year in 2017 saw him average just 98 points per game, the contested-ball beast finally delivered on his enormous SuperCoach potential last year.
The 23-year-old, who led the AFL in contested possession, posted 16 SuperCoach tons — five of them in excess of 150 — to finish as the fourth-ranked player in the game.
Cripps tallied 20 or more contested possessions in eight matches last season. Nat Fyfe and Clayton Oliver were the next best, reaching the feat on five occasions.
Simply, there’s just no player better at getting the ball.
And the 195cm midfielder pushed forward more last season tallying 27 contested marks, after taking 33 in the first four years of his career.
An average of 120 or more is just around the corner.
THE PHANTOM’S MARCH VERDICT: Cripps will pinch-hit forward again this year and, given his size and marking ability, that should only help his scoring. Lock him in.
JOSH KELLY (GWS) $617,800
JLT Series scores: dnp, dnp
v CLAYTON OLIVER (MELB) $622,600
JLT Series scores: 127, 104
While you could squeeze them both in, it’s unlikely you start with Kelly and Oliver, who have both had off-season surgery, if you’ve selected either of the more-expensive options above.
And, like when I made the comparison at this time last year, they are hard to split.
Oliver, who ranked second for contested possession behind Cripps, increased his SuperCoach average from 111 to 115 in just his third season in the competition.
Yes, third season. In a remarkable stat, the 21-year-old has posted SuperCoach tons in 33 of the first 57 home-and-away matches of his career.
Kelly’s 2018 season was less convincing with the classy 23-year-old managing just 15 appearances after battling a groin issue.
But he still averaged 114 points per game thanks to five scores of 130 or more, including a huge 205-point performance in Round 20.
Kelly doesn’t win as much of the footy, especially in a contested situation, or tackle in the same way, as Oliver, but the star Giant is more damaging forward of centre.
On average, Kelly sent the ball inside 50 six times per game, compared to Oliver’s four and in the past three years, despite playing seven less minor-round games, Kelly has had 26 more scoring shots and booted 13 more goals.
And goal-kicking midfielders rule in SuperCoach.
THE PHANTOM’S MARCH VERDICT: They definitely do but, after Oliver put together two dominant JLT Series performances, on the back of a limited pre-season, and we are still yet to see Kelly in any sort of hitout, Oliver gets the nod. If they are on the park, you’ll want them both by the season’s end.
BACK TO HIS BEST?
NAT FYFE (Frem) $618,100
JLT Series scores: dnp, dnp
The Fremantle skipper averaged 120 points or more in consecutive seasons in 2014 and 2015.
Out of all current players, only Gary Ablett, Scott Pendlebury and Patrick Dangerfield have done the same.
That’s the highest of company. And it’s where Fyfe belongs.
In those two seasons, Fyfe posted SuperCoach tons in 32 of his 36 games, 19 of them in excess of 120.
Since then, the star midfielder has battled injury, playing only 41 of a possible 66 matches, and has averaged 105, 109 and 114 in the past three seasons.
Hardly a bad return but we know he’s capable of much better.
In 2018, Fyfe posted SuperCoach tons in 10 of his first 12 matches for the year to average 124 points per game before suffering a hamstring injury against the Lions in Round 15.
If he’s fit for the entire 2019 — with or without Lachie Neale by his side — he’s every chance to be the No. 1 scorer in the game.
And he’s scored 141, 126, 139 and 163 in his past four matches against the Kangaroos — the Dockers’ Round 1 opponent.
Will you take the risk?
THE PHANTOM’S MARCH VERDICT: Fyfe took no part in the JLT Series after minor injury but he’s right to go for the Dockers’ season opener. But, if you’ve been looking for a reason to avoid the risk, you’ve probably got it.
DON’T FORGET
ELLIOT YEO (WC) $585,500
JLT Series scores: 91, 74
It’s easy to forget about players who lose their dual-position status in SuperCoach.
It’s happened with Macrae, Dangerfield, Dustin Martin and Zach Merrett, just to name a few, in the past.
And it might happen to the star Eagle in 2019, who is classified as just a midfielder.
In 2018, Yeo finished as the 10th-ranked player in the competition and, if you take the very unusual 27-point performance in Round 3, the 25-year-old would’ve recorded an average of 112 — the equal-eighth highest of all midfielders.
Yeo, who averaged 25 disposals and 12 contested possessions, ranked in the top five players in the competition for tackles and inside 50s per match, while his average of 479 metres gained was the 11th-highest in the game.
He’s an all-round statistical beast.
And it makes it very hard for opposition teams to keep him quiet.
THE PHANTOM’S MARCH VERDICT: The January verdict still stands for Yeo. He’s great unique option with a high ceiling who is well and truly in the mix for a top-8 midfield spot in 2019. And, given he didn’t score through the roof in the JLT Series, he continues to fly under-the-radar, featuring in just five per cent of teams.
THE VALUE
DUSTIN MARTIN (RICH) $563,800
JLT Series scores: 78, 81
MATT CROUCH (ADEL) $551,300
JLT Series scores: 110, 155
ZACH MERRETT (ESS) $544,800
JLT Series scores: 27, 63
At this time in 2018, all three were priced at more than $600k after averaging 109 points or more in 2017.
Martin led the way with a 119-point average, ranking second behind Dangerfield for the year, while Crouch (111) and Merrett (109) were ranked the 8th and 11th best midfielders respectively.
Going into the 2019 season, they are the 18th, 28th and 29th-most expensive midfielders in the game.
If that’s not value, I don’t know what is.
Martin, posted five scores of 139 or more but also failed to reach the 90-point mark on seven occasions in an inconsistent year. But the 2017 Brownlow Medallist is too good not to bounce back.
Crouch, like his team, also struggled with consistency in 2018. Despite averaging 32 disposals per game and posting 12 SuperCoach tons, the Crow ball magnet’s average fell by nine points per game. He, too, should bounce back in a fit-and-firing Adelaide midfield.
After working through opposition attention in the first half of 2018, Bomber Zach Merrett came storming home, scoring 100 points or more in 12 of his final 14 matches and averaging 105 points from Round 9 onwards. And the addition of Dylan Shiel to the midfield should only help deflect any further opposition attention.
THE PHANTOM’S MARCH VERDICT: It’s still a good question. You would’ve been happy Martin, Crouch and Merrett as your first three starting midfielders last season so why not this year? While Martin posted some encouraging midfield numbers and Crouch was huge, Merrett was given limited game-time, after an interrupted pre-season, in the JLT Series. The other two have done enough but leave Merrett out for now.
NEW COLOURS
LACHIE NEALE (Bris) $607,300
JLT Series scores: 136, 106
In home-and-away matches since 2016, the 25-year-old ranks No. 1 in the competition for contested possessions and clearances and only Brownlow Medallist Tom Mitchell has won more disposals.
Although it’s still likely to be Dayne Zorko, if a tag does he come his way, Neale, who has averaged 104, 113 and 109 in the past three season, has shown the capacity to deal with it in the past, winning 25 disposals or more in 54 of his past 65 matches.
THE PHANTOM’S MARCH VERDICT: A super-premium at the Dockers. A super-premium at the Lions. Neale hit the ground running with his new club in the JLT Series and is, again, a likely top-six midfielder.
THE SMOKIES
SEB ROSS (StK) $558,400
JLT Series scores: 86, 101
The 25-year-old is already a star of our game — no one would argue that — but can he now become an elite SuperCoach scorer?
His scoring trend would suggest it’s a chance.
In his breakout year of 2016, the hard-working midfielder added 26 points to his SuperCoach average after increasing his disposal average from 18 to 26.
In the following season, Ross tallied 30 disposals per game — ranking equal-sixth in the competition — and pushed his SuperCoach average past three figures for the first time.
Last year, Ross averaged 30 disposals, five marks, five inside 50s, four tackles, three rebound 50s, increasing his average slightly from 101 to 103 after posting six scores of 129 or more.
But it’s his form in the final six games of the 2018 that suggests, despite his overall season average remaining stable, another spike could still be coming.
From round 18 onwards, Ross averaged a huge 36 disposals and 125 SuperCoach points.
Is it sign of what’s to come in 2019?
THE PHANTOM’S MARCH VERDICT: While all signs point to the answer being yes, it’s a tough selection to make, especially give the absence of Jack Steven and Dan Hannebery in the midfield.
LUKE SHUEY (WC) $492,700
JLT Series scores: 44, 108
In the last game of AFL football played, Shuey tallied 34 disposals, eight tackles and 168 SuperCoach points as he led his side to victory in the Grand Final, claiming the Norm Smith Medal as the best player on the ground in the process.
But a regular season average of just 91 will ensure he’s not the first picked in SuperCoach.
The main reason for the star Eagle’s lowest average since 2013 was an inconsistent and injury-affected first half of the year, which saw Shuey fail to score more than 63 in four of his first nine matches.
But once he had recovered from a hamstring injury and blown the cobwebs out in the first two matches on return, he reminded us all of the scoring power he possess.
From Round 14 onwards, including finals, Shuey averaged 107 points per game — only slightly more than his career-high season average in 2016.
THE PHANTOM’S MARCH VERDICT: At less than $500k, there’s 56 midfielders more expensive than the most recent North Smith Medallist in 2019. And, while he’s never been an elite SuperCoach scorer on a consistent basis, he’s still very underpriced.
JACK STEELE (StK) $512,600
JLT Series scores: 117, 115
Steele was a popular SuperCoach name in his first season at St Kilda in 2017, scoring 80 points or more in 14 of his 20 matches, seven of those scores in excess of 100.
The 23-year-old lost dual-position status for 2018, however, and with that went his popularity.
It didn’t return either with the 23-year-old posting just one SuperCoach ton in his first 11 games for the year.
Then he exploded, averaging 26 disposals, 11 contested possessions, seven tackles and 110 SuperCoach points from Round 13 onwards to finish third in St Kilda’s best-and-fairest.
And his SuperCoach average in the final four rounds of the year was an elite 127 points per game.
Steele’s 140 tackles was 57 more than any other team-mate and a number that ranked him fifth in the competition for tackles per game.
And that’s on the back of the second-highest number of tackles per game in 2017.
THE PHANTOM’S MARCH VERDICT: A terrific JLT Series only reaffirmed my pre-season thought Steele is a great all-round SuperCoach scorer in the making. His selection in 2019 could pay big dividends.
RUCKMEN
THE STARS
BRODIE GRUNDY (Coll) $708,200
JLT Series scores: 94, 85
Not since former Eagle Dean Cox went back-to-back in 2011 and 2012 has any ruckman finished as the top-ranked scorer in consecutive seasons.
Not even the dominant big men of the past few seasons Max Gawn and Todd Goldstein have done it.
But if any player is going to break the trend, it might be Grundy in 2019.
The Collingwood big man added an enormous 33 points to his average last season after posting 19 SuperCoach tons — seven them in excess of 150.
Grundy had more hitouts, disposals, clearances, contested possessions and tackles than any other ruckman.
In fact, his 12 contested possessions per game ranked him 20th in the competition — that’s higher than Dustin Martin, Luke Shuey, Adam Treloar, Stephen Coniglio, Dayne Beams and Scott Pendlebury.
And his clearances number had the 24-year-old equal with midfield stars Matt Crouch and Joel Selwood.
Given a ruckman will this year be allowed to grab the ball out of the ruck and no longer be regarded as having had prior opportunity, expect these numbers to climb.
THE PHANTOM’S MARCH VERDICT: The simple January verdict still stands. He’s expensive but you’ll be caught short without him.
MAX GAWN (Melb) $692,100
JLT Series scores: dnp, 119
The Melbourne star joined Grundy in the top-three overall scorers after posting 18 SuperCoach tons in an outstanding season.
With an average of 118, Gawn was the top-ranked ruckman in 2016 before a hamstring injury saw the 27-year-old manage just 13 appearances the following year.
But he was back to his best in an injury-free 2018.
Gawn wasn’t as prolific around the ground as Grundy but was more effective in the ruck, recording more hitouts-to-advantage.
Like Grundy, his influence is very difficult to quell.
THE PHANTOM’S MARCH VERDICT: After being sent back to the VFL — and then getting injured — for the second week of the JLT Series, recruit Brayden Preuss isn’t a concern anymore. So, if you can afford, lock both Gawn and Grundy in. They are the two players in the entire pool most-likely to finish as the top ranked players in their position.
NEXT IN LINE
TODD GOLDSTEIN (NM) $548,000
JLT Series scores: 117, dnp
At the end of 2015, Goldstein was — by some margin — the best ruckman in the game after recording a SuperCoach of 129 to sit as the top-ranked scorer in the competition.
Fast forward to Round 8, 2018 and — after his average fell to 95 at by the conclusion of 2017 — the 30-year-old was averaging 84 points per game after failing to score more than 77 points in five of his opening eight matches.
At that point, many SuperCoaches — The Phantom included — wrote him off and traded him out.
But in the following 14 rounds, Goldstein posted 12 SuperCoach tons to still finish with a three-figure season average.
Even more impressive was the news Goldstein has shed around 5kg over the pre-season and is in the best shape of his career.
With no Brayden Preuss to worry about, can he get back to his absolute best?
THE PHANTOM’S MARCH VERDICT: Goldstein still appears the next-best R2 candidate if you aren’t going with the big-two or a value option.
STEFAN MARTIN (Bris) $573,700
JLT Series scores: dnp, 92
Since joining the Lions, the 32-year-old has been a consistent SuperCoach ruckman, averaging 106 or more in three of the past five seasons.
After his averaged fell to 98 in 2017 and with the thought young big man Archie Smith might feature more, there was concern over Martin’s SuperCoach scoring prior to last season.
But the athletic Martin put those concerns to bed, posting 13 SuperCoach tons, five of them in excess of 130, finishing inside the top four in Brisbane’s best-and-fairest for the fourth time in as many seasons.
THE PHANTOM’S MARCH VERDICT: Despite returning to the lead the ruck against Gawn and the Demons in the second week of the JLT Series, Martin, who battled injury over the pre-season, is still no certainty to do so in Round 1 with Archie Smith a big chance. Avoid for now.
THE SWINGER
JUSTIN WESTHOFF (Port) $549,500
JLT Series scores: 54, 98
In his 12th season in the game, Port Adelaide’s oldest player was their top-ranked SuperCoach scorer, finishing 86 points ahead of midfielder Ollie Wines.
The 32-year-old scored 85 points or more in 18 of his 22 matches, posting 10 SuperCoach tons to record a three-figure average for the first time in his career.
The Power utility was everywhere with Ken Hinkley using the best swingman in the game forward, in the ruck, on the wing and behind the ball last year.
As a result, Westhoff has gained valuable dual-position status as a ruckman-forward and, despite an elevated price, remains well and truly in the conversation.
THE PHANTOM’S MARCH VERDICT: Looks a touch over-priced this season, given the inclusion of ruckman-forward Scott Lycett. Wait for a potential price drop.
FORWARDS
THE NO-BRAINER
PATRICK DANGERFIELD (Geel) $660,500
JLT Series scores: 129, 128
The Geelong superstar’s average fell by a significant 14 points last season after he battled a number of small niggles.
But he still averaged 122 points per game.
Yes, that means he averaged 136 in 2017, which followed on from the 132-point mark he set in 2016.
Just. Pick. Him.
THE PHANTOM’S MARCH VERDICT: See above.
THE NEXT-BEST
ISAAC HEENEY (Syd) $529,200
JLT Series scores: 104, 70
The other forward who is looming as a must-have for 2019 is young Swan Isaac Heeney.
“I am feeling really fit and ready to go. Hopefully, touch wood, it will mean I will be able to run out games a bit better and to produce a full and consistent season.
“I feel I can take my game to the next level and help the team go to the next level, too.”
That’s what the 22-year-old told the Herald Sun early this week after, so far, completing the first full pre-season of his career.
Heeney averaged 98 points per game in 2017 — his third year in the game — after battling glandular fever.
Last season, he posted SuperCoach tons in nine of the first 12 rounds, despite knee surgery over summer.
And he still split his time between the forward line and the midfield last season, which makes his 11 SuperCoach tons — five in excess of — even more impressive.
THE PHANTOM’S MARCH VERDICT: I can’t wait to see what the next level holds — lock him in.
ON THE RISE
JOSH DUNKLEY (WB) $516,300
JLT Series scores: 54, 107
Assessing late-season form from the previous year is key to identifying a scoring spike or a full-blown SuperCoach breakout.
And after looking at the Bulldog midfielder’s final nine games of 2018, he’s a prime candidate for the latter.
From Round 15 onwards last year, Dunkley averaged 29 disposals, 11 contested possessions, seven tackles, five marks and 116 SuperCoach points per game.
And, if you narrow it down to the final five rounds, Dunkley’s average of 132 points per game ranked fourth in the competition behind only Brodie Grundy, Jack Macrae and Dangerfield.
The 22-year-old tallied 9.6 disposals per game more than he did the previous season, the biggest jump of any player in the AFL.
Despite an injury-interrupted first two years, Dunkley has always shown his scoring potential.
In the first 16 games of his career, Dunkley posted six scores of 89 or more, including a match-winning 23-disposal, 111-point performance, as a 19-year-old, in the Bulldogs semi-final victory over the Hawks.
THE PHANTOM’S MARCH VERDICT: Despite coach Luke Beveridge’s obsession with moving the magnets around, I think he’ll play majority midfield and that makes the 22-year-old a must-have SuperCoach forward.
DEVON SMITH (Ess) $531,300
JLT Series scores: 54, 45
While the 25-year-old, who won the best-and-fairest award in his first year at the Bombers, has already risen to an elite level in the SuperCoach world, expect him to push his average past three figures for the first time in his career.
The former Giant averaged 98 points per game in 2018 after scoring 86 or more in 17 of his 22 games, including 11 SuperCoach tons.
And the more the year went on, the better Smith was, averaging 107 points in the final eight games, compared to 93 in the opening 14 rounds.
While the tough midfielder-forward averaged 22 disposals per game, he led the competition for tackles, laying 18 more than the second-ranked Clayton Oliver, even if you include the Demon’s two finals.
Scoring aside, after injury had restricted him in his time at the Giants, the most pleasing part of Smith’s 2018 was the fact he played all 22 games for the first time in his seven-year career.
THE PHANTOM’S MARCH VERDICT: I’ve cooled slightly but the original line is still accurate. A reliable SuperCoach selection for the foreseeable — and injury-free — future.
THE OTHER CATS
SAM MENEGOLA (Geel) $543,100
JLT Series scores: 76, 59
The Geelong ball magnet has averaged 100 points per game in the past two seasons.
Not one point more or one point less. And that’s the frustrating part.
Menegola posted 13 SuperCoach tons in 2018, six of them in excess of 120 as his productive roaming half-forward role continued.
But the 26-year-old failed to score more than 74 points in six matches, including scores of 57 and 59, and it’s this consistency that’s stopping him from become an absolute must-have in SuperCoach.
This is encapsulated in his first seven rounds of 2018 with Menegola scoring 74, 57, 128, 129, 121, 70 and 85.
And it wasn’t just last season.
In his past 52 matches, Menegola has posted 15 scores of 120 or more and 10 of less than 74.
While he doesn’t look to have an average of 110 in him, only four eligible SuperCoach forwards last season finished with a better average.
THE PHANTOM’S MARCH VERDICT: Menegola’s scoring is unlikely to improve dramatically given his role but he’ll again be among the top-ranked forwards.
TIM KELLY (Geel) $505,800
JLT Series scores: 43, 110
The classy midfielder posted nine scores of 100 or more to finish with an average of 93 in his debut season of 2018
We haven’t seen first-year SuperCoach numbers like that since Michael Barlow exploded on to the scene in 2010.
But with a failed bid to move back home and the potential for more opposition attention, can he build on last season?
At the price, you’d want to be very sure and, at this point anyway, I don’t think you can be.
THE PHANTOM’S MARCH VERDICT: There’s no doubting Kelly’s star potential but, if you’re playing it safe, find the extra money and go with Menegola. Both should benefit from Gary Ablett’s permanent move to the forward line.
THE VETERAN
David Mundy (Fre) $520,200
JLT Series scores: 81, 90
The 33-year-old, who averaged a huge 113 points per game in 2015, moved forward permanently last season but that didn’t stop his scoring.
Mundy posted 11 SuperCoach tons to finish with his highest average since the career-best effort in 2015.
But with departure of Lachie Neale and injury to Connor Blakely, the ever-reliable Mundy looks set to return to the midfield in 2019, if the JLT Series is anything to go by.
Is another three-figure average on the cards?
The Phantom’s March Verdict: While I don’t think he’ll quite reach that mark, Mundy is looming as a great, albeit risky, point-of-difference this season.
THE KEY FORWARDS
TOM HAWKINS (GEELONG $552,900)
JLT Series scores: dnp, 79
TOM MCDONALD (MELBOURNE $529,800)
JLT Series scores: 61, 64
LANCE FRANKLIN (SYDNEY $543,500)
JLT Series scores: dnp, dnp
TOM LYNCH (Rich) $425,600
JLT Series scores: dnp, dnp
Previously, as like many key forwards in the game, Hawkins has been an unreliable SuperCoach selection, averaging 90 points or more in just one season since 2007.
But in 2018, the star cat, who booted 59 goals, posted 10 SuperCoach tons, four of them in excess of 135, to finish the year as the highest-averaging forward to play more than one game.
Unlike Hawkins, McDonald had shown is worth in SuperCoach, posting a 96-point average in a breakout 2015 season playing in defence.
However, in 2018, he showed he could be even better.
After missing the first five rounds through injury, the 26-year-old set a new career-high, scoring 80 points or more in 15 of his 17 games and recording seven SuperCoach tons as a forward.
When he’s on, Franklin has both Hawkins and McDonald covered in SuperCoach.
In fact, apart from Dangerfield, he’s got every other forward covered, averaging 90 points or more in 10 of his 15 seasons in the game.
But can we trust the star Swan, who has averaged more than 107 points per game for three consecutive seasons between 2010 and 2012, after another limited pre-season?
And then there’s the star Tiger recruit. Despite limited supply in his time at the Suns, Lynch kicked more than 40 goals in four consecutive seasons from 2014 to 2017 and booted 66 goals and a took a league-high 62 contested marks in a standout 2016 campaign.
THE PHANTOM’S MARCH VERDICT: Hawkins, who looks a tough over-priced after a big 2018, and McDonald are Round 1 certainties, while Franklin and Lynch are battling to be ready after limited pre-seasons. It’s probably a category you should avoid for now.
NEW COLOURS
CHAD WINGARD (Haw) $481,100
JLT Series scores: dnp, dnp
Wingard is a mercurial forward, there’s no doubt about it.
The left-footer booted 232 goals and directly assisted 111 others in 147 games in his time at the Power.
But he’s also a creative and dangerous midfielder as he’s shown at different stages over his career.
With the season-ending injury to Brownlow Medallist Tom Mitchell, it’s time for new coach Alastair Clarkson to make the most of this potential and deploy Wingard as a full-time midfielder in 2019.
After a quiet start, Wingard was moved into the midfield in the second half of 2018 with tremendous success.
In the final 12 games of the year, the 25-year-old averaged 24 disposals, 12 contested possessions, five clearances, five inside 50s, five tackles and 103 SuperCoach points per game, while also booting 11 goals.
THE PHANTOM’S MARCH VERDICT: A lingering calf injury and coach Alastair Clarkson hinting at a Cyril Rioli-type role has Wingard right down the list of SuperCoach forwards to start this season. I wanted to pick him, too.
THE SMOKIE
LUKE BREUST (Haw) $516,400
JLT Series scores: dnp, 101
While he’s been a consistent SuperCoach scorer, averaging more than 82 points per game in five of the first seven years of his career, the 28-year-old has never been in the premium conversation.
But, after nine SuperCoach tons — five of them in excess of 120 — and an average 95, he now has to be considered as a left-field selection.
For total points, he was the fifth-highest scoring forward in 2018.
Breust ranked sixth in the competition for tackles inside 50, fifth for score involvements and 10th for goal assists, to go with a fifth-place finish in the Coleman Medal.
The creative forward also posted career-highs in disposals, marks and inside 50s per game.
THE PHANTOM’S MARCH VERDICT: Featured through the midfield in his only JLT Series appearance against the Tigers suggesting maybe he can repeat the numbers of 2018.
Originally published as The Phantom’s ultimate guide: The must-have SuperCoach premiums and the ones you need to avoid
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