The Phantom: Hold on to your precious trades

AS tempting as it may be to trade a Sam Kerridge or Tom Liberatore to bring in that final premium you are craving, just remember, there is still a long way to go, writes The Phantom.

It might be best to hold mid-pricers such as Ollie Wines. Picture: Sarah Reed

The bye rounds are over and many SuperCoaches are close to completing their teams, stacked with premium players.

But as tempting as it may be to trade a Sam Kerridge or Tom Liberatore to bring in that final premium you are craving, just remember, there is still a long way to go.

How many trades should we have left at this stage of the year? It is a question that The Phantom is asked all the time. However, there is no exact answer. It really depends on each specific team.

More than 10 trades, you’re going along fine. Short on trades but quality bench cover, you’re going well, too. Short on trades and not a lot on the bench, maybe your best bet is to start praying.

If you are looking to make your final upgrade, instead of trading up an underwhelming premium or mid-pricer — in the mould of Ollie Wines, Brodie Smith, Sam Kerridge, Aaron Hall or Patrick Cripps, just to name a few — try to trade one of your cash cows and move them to the bench as cover for the rest of the season. Even if that means waiting another week or two.

If you are sitting pretty with plenty of trades in the bank, you could look at bringing in one of these very cheap fallen premiums as cover ...

Steven motlop FWD/MID (Geel) $377,900 Ave: 86 BE: 49

With three scores of more than 120, among five SuperCoach tons, for the year, there is no doubting Motlop’s scoring potential. But an inconsistent season, which includes five scores below 60, has seen the 25-year-old’s price fall by more than $97k. With the Cats playing four more games at Simonds Stadium, a venue Motlop averages 114 points at in 2016, in the run home, the risk may well be worth the reward.

ANDREW GAFF MID (WC) $373,800 Ave: 85 BE: 15

The Phantom mentioned Gaff’s fall, on the back of a six-week stretch that saw the Eagle midfielder fail to score more than 80, earlier in the week. But at this price, he has to be mentioned again. Are Gaff’s past two weeks, which have resulted in scores of 85 and 124, a sign of things to come? Only the brave will find out.

POINT OF DIFFERENCE

Zac Williams (GWS) $473,900 Ave: 94 BE: 54

After a point-of-difference in defence, the young Giant, who is in two per cent of teams, could be your man. With five scores of more than 90 — and three SuperCoach tons — in the past seven weeks, the dashing defender is starting to make a name for himself. It’s not just a flash in the pan either with the 21-year-old averaging 88 points in the final five matches of 2015.

Marcus Bontempelli (WB) $562,400 Ave: 104 BE: 123

The young Bulldog star, who could one day soon be the No. 1 SuperCoach midfielder, started slowly but has gone bang in the past eight rounds, averaging an impressive 117 in that time. Bontempelli only features in five per cent of teams and, with three scores of more than 120 in the past four weeks, could help you shoot up the rankings.

Has The Phantom just talked himself into ‘The Bont’?

CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN

BY THE NUMBERS

Average past three games v opponent

Tom Mitchell Mid 138 $512,100

Gary Ablett Mid 134 $610,500

Matthew Boyd Def 125 $523,300

Matt Priddis Mid 120 $511,800

Kade Simpson Def 119 $537,200

THE PHANTOM’S PICK

Patrick Dangerfield is back this week and fronts up tomorrow night in a blockbuster against the Swans. This year’s No. 1 scorer loves big games so have no hesitation on giving him the VC. Don’t worry about Ablett’s 87 points in round 15, he will be back this week against the Lions. Look to the little master as C if Dangerfield struggles. Also consider Melbourne ruckman, Max Gawn, who should dominate the Dockers in Darwin.

THE PHANTOM’S MENACE

ROSS LYON

Sick of seeing Ross Lyon’s name in this section? Well, The Phantom is sick of writing it. While it may not be entirely his fault this time, Lyon said yesterday that midfielder — and popular SuperCoach player — Michael Barlow could resume against the Demons on Saturday night. This is the same bloke who was ruled out for 3-4 weeks on June 28.

Originally published as The Phantom: Hold on to your precious trades