Tom Stewart headlines point-of-difference trade options ahead of Round 5

He is the third highest scoring defender behind Jake Lloyd and Lachie Whitfield, yet he is in just 4.3 per cent of teams. Is it time to jump on underrated Geelong defender Tom Stewart in SuperCoach?

Tom Stewart has started 2019 with a bang in SuperCoach.

PODs are dominating the SuperCoach landscape.

Travis Boak was priced at $478,000 and owned by just 4,000 teams at the beginning of the season. Fast forward three weeks and he is the fourth highest SuperCoach scorer in the competition, jumping to an ownership of 12.6 per cent and rising $83.9k in value.

In the midfield it’s Marcus Bontempelli who is blowing SuperCoaches away — yet he is in just 7.5 per cent of teams.

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Remarkably, eight of the top 10 highest averaging forwards started the year as point-of-difference selection

Down back it is a similar story, with five of the top seven in under 10 per cent of SuperCoach teams.

With many teams making their first upgrade this week, who are the hidden gems getting the job done?

Check out the best POD options ahead of Round 5

DEFENCE

Shannon Hurn ($536,700)

2019 average: 111.3

Ownership: 9.1 per cent

Staggering how this man continues to fly under the radar. Hurn enjoyed his best game yet, tallying 32 disposals (including 26 kicks), eight marks and 139 SuperCoach points. Looms as a set and forget defender.

Shannon Hurn continues to be overlooked in SuperCoach. Picture. Getty Images

Luke Ryan ($520,400)

2019 average: 104.5

Ownership: 2.5 per cent

Ryan’s average is helped by his monster 156-point effort in Round 3, but he remains a tasty POD option. The 23-year-old has posted three 90+ scores to start the season, with his intercept marking and high kick to handball ratio allowing him to score well without high possession tallies. Has shown he can score well across a full season — averaging 90.2 points in 2018.

Tom Stewart ($516,400)

2019 average: 111.8

Ownership: 4.3 per cent

Tom Stewart is proving he is more than just a stopper. The tough 26-year-old hasn’t fallen below 95 this season, posting three tons and averaging 111.8 SuperCoach points. He is taking the majority of the Cats’ kick-ins out of defence and is ranked third in the competition for kicks — sitting behind Jake Lloyd and Lachie Whitfield. That’s some handy company. Will this continue when running defender Zach Tuohy returns to the side?

MIDFIELD

Marcus Bontempelli ($588,200)

2019 average: 126.6

Ownership: 7.5 per cent

Bontempelli is the real deal. He has always had the potential to deliver this kind of SuperCoach output, and his full-time midfield role is allowing him to produce big totals consistently. The Bont has amassed three 120+ scores including a round-high 158 SuperCoach points in Round 1. The 23-year-old has a knack for lifting when the game is on the line, making him a valuable SuperCoach asset.

Zach Merrett ($565,400)

2019 average: 112.5

Ownership: 3.6 per cent

Many were looking to jump off Zach Merrett after he collected just 16 touches against the Giants, but the ball-magnet has bounced back with three straight tons. His 35 possession game last weekend yielded 155 SuperCoach points, with his break-even sitting at a lowly 56. Looks to be a very attractive upgrade option with Dylan Shiel likely to cop the tag from opposition sides.

Zach Merrett has repaid the faith in SuperCoach. Picture. Getty Images

Tim Taranto ($497,500)

2019 average: 103.8

Ownership: 4.9 per cent

Tim Taranto has proven his SuperCoach worth in the opening month, punching out three 110+ scores. Is a key cog in the Giants midfield and with cult hero Callan Ward suffering a season-ending ACL injury, he is likely to remain there. Taranto has been getting his hands dirty in the coalface, averaging 5.2 clearances and 7.5 tackles per game. At under $500k, he presents plenty of value if the youngster can build on this strong start.

RUCK

Shane Mumford ($320,200)

2019 average: 101

Ownership: 5.9 per cent

Suspended for the opening two rounds, Mumford has returned to the Giants side with a bang. The 32-year-old posted his first ton for the season after a formidable display at Kardinia Park. For those without a Gawn and Grundy combination, Mumford could prove to be the perfect stepping stone, and is projected to rise $44.5k this week. However, one must consider the inherent injury and suspension risk when making the call. Mummy has failed to play a full season across his career.

FORWARD

Jack Billings ($473,100)

2019 average: 101.5

Ownership: 5.9 per cent

Last year’s SuperCoach burn man is proving his doubters wrong, racking up over 27 disposals in all four matches. He was wasteful early, but a strong last quarter saw Billings finish with 126 SuperCoach points on the weekend. The 23-year-old is spending over 90 per cent of time in the midfield and his SuperCoach scores reflect that. Can we trust him in 2019?

Caleb Daniel ($471,900)

2019 average: 103.3

Ownership: 2.6 per cent

Caleb Daniel has continued to gather possessions at will in the Bulldogs’ back 50. The 167cm defender hasn’t fallen below 90 Supercoach points this season, helped out by being the Bulldogs’ kick-in beneficiary. His precise disposal out of defence is very promising for SuperCoach, hitting the target 80 per cent of the time. We know how lucrative attacking defenders are — here’s the chance to pick one in the forward line.

Rowan Marshall ($406,100)

2019 average: 114.7

Ownership: 4 per cent

Is it time to holler for a Marshall? The Saints ruckman appears to have nailed down the top job, averaging 16 disposals, 29.7 hit-outs, 6.7 clearances, 5 tackles and a whopping 114.7 points per game. Marshall boasts the second highest SuperCoach average of any forward, and showed he can match it against a solid ruckman in Ben McEvoy. He faces a much tougher assignment against Dees superstar Max Gawn this weekend. His work around the ground means he doesn’t need massive hitout numbers to score well, but Billy Longer is breathing down his neck.

Rowan Marshall appears to have taken St Kilda’s No. 1 ruck spot.