KFC SuperCoach 2020: The Phantom names the mid-price players to add to your watchlist

Most know the big-name value. But who’s flying under the KFC SuperCoach radar? The Phantom names eight smokies from the mid-price bracket to add to your watchlist.

• Mid-Price guides: DEF | MID | RUCK | FWD

• Top-50 SuperCoach Draft rankings

We’ve been through all of the obvious mid-price value in every position but who’s flying under the KFC SuperCoach radar? The Phantom names eight smokie mid-pricers to keep your eye on

Bailey Smith at Bulldogs training at Whitten Oval. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty

Bailey Smith (WB)

$415,900, FWD, MID

After an Achilles injury ruined the end of his draft year, SuperCoaches were cautious on Smith’s cash cows prospects in 2019.

But we should’ve never doubted the teenager, who was touted as the most-professional and most-dedicated of the draft pool.

Smith played every game in his debut season and scored 86 points or more in 11 of them, finishing fourth in the Rising Star award.

The tough, hard-running 19-year-old, who averaged 25 disposals and 125 points at the national under-18 championships in 2018, spent time at half-forward, halfback and on a wing last year.

In the final five home-and-away matches, Smith averaged 21 disposals, eight contested possessions, five inside 50s and 88 points, while also booting four majors.

THE PHANTOM’S VERDICT: I’m cautious again, given the price, but there’s no doubting Smith’s standing as a future SuperCoach star.

Will there be another spike for Sam Walsh in his second year? Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty

Sam Walsh (Carl)

$471,900

Speaking of future SuperCoach stars, Carlton’s teenage sensation is exactly that.

Actually, maybe there’s no need for the extra word.

Like Smith, Walsh played every game in his debut season and only Patrick Cripps won more of the ball at the Blues.

Walsh, who averaged 25 disposals and 10 contested possessions per game, scored 80 points or more in 14 of his 22 matches and posted six SuperCoach tons.

Against the Lions in Round 12, Carlton’s second win of the year, the classy, hard-running midfielder tallied 31 disposals, 14 contested possessions, 12 marks and 141 points as an 18-year-old playing his 12th career game.

THE PHANTOM’S VERDICT: He’s only getting better. And, really, he doesn’t need to get that much better to push three figures. Can you overlook the price?

Patrick Lipinski (WB)

$441,500, FWD, MID

For all of the frustration Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge caused us by keeping Josh Dunkley forward to start 2019, we should be thankful for another position change he made at the same time.

Despite impressing in an outside role in his 17 games in 2018 – his second year in the competition – Beveridge sent Lipinski back to the VFL as an inside midfielder after a disappointing pre-season campaign.

And, while he was at state-league level for more than two months, the 21-year-old returned a much more SuperCoach-relevant prospect.

In Round 13 – his third game back in the senior side – the 187cm Lipinski tallied 29 disposals, nine contested possessions, eight marks, five clearances, two goals and 129 points.

He had 32 touches the following week against the Magpies before a quiet patch mid-year.

But Lipinski finished strongly, attending the fourth-most centre bounces at the Bulldogs and averaging 100 points in the final three home-and-away matches.

THE PHANTOM’S VERDICT: Not that the Bulldogs midfield needed one, but Lipinski adds another dimension to Beveridge’s engine room. And he looks to just be getting started in the role. How many Bulldogs can you pick, though?

Sydney Stack in action during Richmond’s pre-season camp on the Gold Coast. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty

Sydney Stack (Rich)

$435,100, DEF

Reilly O’Brien last week and, today, Walsh, Smith and, now, Stack?

It’s not every year when more than one of the previous season’s top cash cows is spoken about as a legitimate starting selection.

But, on scoring power alone, Stack cannot be left out.

The 19-year-old posted two SuperCoach tons in the first five matches of his career, on the back of disposal-tallies of 17 and 19 respectively.

Against the Giants on debut, Stack recorded an equal-game-high four intercept marks, among 10 total intercepts, and no clanger.

The 103-point score in Round 7 was on the back of six intercepts, two goal-assists and one major of his own from halfback.

Stack passed the 100-point mark on three more occasions in 2019, as well as producing a four-goal, 98-point performance in Round 15.

THE PHANTOM’S VERDICT: Won’t be as popular as last year but he could make a select few look very good.

Classy Gold Coast midfielder Jack Bowes.

Jack Bowes (GC)

$411,300, MID

Bowes could be the most-intriguing of the lot – he’s certainly been the most-difficult to write about.

The 22-year-old has class and plenty of it. And he’s performed well in a variety of roles in a struggling Gold Coast side.

But he’s never been a big accumulator – not that you have to be to score well in SuperCoach – and the question over his best position in 2020 still remains, especially with the inclusion of midfielders Hugh Greenwood and Matt Rowell.

His year in 2019 is also difficult to assess. There was brilliance, a two-month injury lay-off, multiple roles and inconsistency.

But there’s an impressive stat line which is hard to ignore.

In the seven games from Round 21, 2018 and Round 4, 2019, Bowes averaged 23 disposals, 11 contested possessions, five tackles, four clearances, four inside 50s and 100 SuperCoach points per game.

THE PHANTOM’S VERDICT: He’s definitely got it but will we see it in 2020? It’s hard to be sure.

Luke Davies-Uniacke (NM)

$342,100, FWD, MID

There was one glimpse – a 118-point performance in Round 2 last season – but the strong-bodied midfielder has, so far, failed to replicate his junior SuperCoach numbers at the top level.

Sure, they weren’t just any numbers – Davies-Uniacke averaged 24 disposals, 12 contested possessions, five clearances and 134 SuperCoach points in the TAC Cup – but it’s been an underwhelming start.

He’s had his reasons, though, with the 20-year-old carrying a shoulder injury through most of 2019 before having a reconstruction in August.

With Davies-Uniacke enjoying a standout – and injury-free – pre-season, it might be a different story in third year, however.

THE PHANTOM’S VERDICT: I’m expecting a spike but it’s a very awkward price.

Luke Davies-Uniacke during North Melbourne’s match simulation this week. Picture: Sean Garnsworthy/AAP

Jon Patton (Haw)

$337,000, RUCK, FWD

It feels like a new dual-position addition but it’s not, with Patton classified as a forward-ruckman in 2019.

But he was never in the SuperCoach conversation after recovering from a third knee reconstruction last year.

The strong-marking key-forward has been fit for some time, however, and that makes an injury-free Patton, who posted seven SuperCoach tons – two in excess of 150 – in 24 games between Round 22, 2016 and Round 3, 2018 one to watch over summer, especially at the price.

THE PHANTOM’S VERDICT: For those who want to start with ruck cover, this could be your play.

Connor McKenna (Ess)

$433,100, DEF

Hear me out.

Any player who tallies 35 disposals and 141 points in the final minor-round game of the previous season has to, at least, get a mention.

And that’s not all the Irish speedster did last year.

Despite some inconsistency, the 23-year-old averaged an impressive 92 points per game from Round 11 onwards in 2019.

McKenna increased his SuperCoach average from 53 to 66 in 2017 and to 74 in 2018.

Thanks to a slow start, the skilful right-footer only added six points to his average last year.

But 92 is the figure to keep in mind, given McKenna will be priced at 79 in 2020.

THE PHANTOM’S VERDICT: I won’t be picking him but don’t be surprised if he hangs around the fringes of the top-eight in 2020.

Originally published as KFC SuperCoach 2020: The Phantom names the mid-price players to add to your watchlist