The Phantom: Don’t forget about Joel Selwood

THE phenomenal season of recruit Patrick Dangerfield has overshadowed the huge SuperCoach year — the past six weeks in particular — Joel Selwood is putting together.

Joel Selwood signs autographs at a Geelong training session Picture: Nathan Dyer

The phenomenal season of recruit Patrick Dangerfield has overshadowed the huge SuperCoach year — the past six weeks in particular — Joel Selwood is putting together.

Last week, the Geelong skipper didn’t feature in the Ablett replacement conversation nearly enough with The Phantom partly to blame after being swept up by ‘Bont’ fever.

The 28-year-old, who has averaged more than 117 in four of the past nine seasons, has posted 12 SuperCoach tons in 2016 — seven of them in excess of 130 — to boast the fifth-highest average in the game.

But it’s his form over the past six matches that has really caught The Phantom’s eye. Selwood has scored 150, 141, 130, 106, 102 and 128 since round 11 in a period when only Dangerfield has scored more SuperCoach points.

While Dangerfield is in almost 150,000 teams, Selwood features

in less than 42,000 sides, making him the 17th-most popular midfielder, which is staggering given Selwood is the third-ranked player for points scored.

Convinced yet? If not, Selwood’s record against the Crows, who travel to Simonds Stadium tomorrow night, pushes his case even further. While he was disappointing against Adelaide earlier this year, managing only 69 points, in the previous two meetings between the clubs — both in Geelong — Selwood has posted huge scores of 142 and 157. Over his decorated career, the courageous midfielder averages 123 points from 12 matches against the Crows — his third-highest average behind the Giants and Suns.

With Adelaide star Rory Sloane in red-hot form, too, it could be a big night for SuperCoach midfielders tomorrow. Just don’t forget about Joel.

CARNAGE

Remember when The Phantom warned you to be patient and keep a few trades because something will pop up in the run home?

Well, it’s been three days and something has already popped up. Popular SuperCoach names Aaron Hall (hamstring) and Jarrad McVeigh (groin) will miss through injury, while Tiger Brett Deledio has failed to overcome a calf problem that saw him sit out the second half last week and Docker Michael Barlow will miss the rest of the season.

McVeigh reportedly tweaked a groin at training during the week and will miss the home clash with the Blues but the club is hopeful that’s all it will be. If you have the Sydney veteran and have cover, hold and re-assess next week.

Hall could be a different story. The Suns confirmed this afternoon he was likely to miss three games, so if you have the trades, it’s time for him to go.

Above all else, don’t panic. Think ahead — and not just about this week — when deciding on which move is right for you, especially if head-to-head leagues are your focus. Trades are invaluable come SuperCoach finals time.

CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN

BY THE NUMBERS

Average past three games v opponent

Callan Ward Mid 128 $509,300

Joel Selwood Mid 120 $573,900

Lance Franklin Fwd 116 $465,800

Tom Rockliff Mid 111 $549,400

Sam Mitchell Mid 110 $554,700

THE PHANTOM’S PICK

Magpies’ skipper Scott Pendlebury, who faces the Kangaroos tonight and Swans Luke Parker and Dan Hannebery, who are at home to the Blues tomorrow are the standout VC options this weekend. Although there could be a number of big scores on Saturday night with Rory Sloane and Joel Selwood flying, again it’s hard to go past Patrick Dangerfield as C. If only there was a way to have the VC and C in the same game.

THE PHANTOM’S MENACE

DAN HANNEBERY

Hey Dan, did you not realise almost 10,000 SuperCoaches — The Phantom included — traded you in for Gary Ablett last week, pushing your ownership to almost 70,000? Or maybe the pressure got to you because 68 points is just not good enough for a player of your ability. However, given that was only your second score of less than 70 in the past 37 games, The Phantom will let you off the hook with a warning. But you could find yourself back here if you don’t lift against the Blues.

Originally published as The Phantom: Don’t forget about Joel Selwood