The Phantom’s Five: More opportunity means more output for the most SuperCoach-relevant players of the AFL Trade Period
Of all the players to find new homes in the AFL Trade Period, The Phantom looks at five who look set to have the biggest impact on SuperCoach in 2020
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Out of all the players to find new homes in the AFL Trade Period, who is the most SuperCoach-relevant? The Phantom looks at the top-five.
Blake Acres (Fremantle)
Estimated 2020 Price: $390,000
2019 — Games: 19, Average: 71
Average 2015-2018: 48, 75, 75, 88
The 24-year-old wants to play in the midfield, new Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir wants him to play in the midfield and SuperCoaches, you guessed it, want him to play in the midfield.
During his six years and 75 games at the Saints, Acres struggled for consistency due to the lack of a defined role — along with injury — but he’s set lock down a spot in the Dockers’ midfield in 2020.
“I played a lot of roles for the saints and felt like I was able to settle in one position,” Acres said.
“Justin has made it clear what role I’ll play next year and in the future for the club. Around the ball, on the wing and a little bit of work inside.”
The Western Australian played as lead-up target and running half-forward for most of 2019 but there was a number of glimpses of what he can do in the midfield at the Saints, too.
In the first five rounds of 2018, the 191cm Acres averaged 24 disposals, 10 contested possessions, eight score involvements, four intercepts, four marks and 106 SuperCoach points per game, playing as a pure wingman. And there was a similar four-game stretch, which saw him average 24 disposals and 105 points in 2016.
But the best news is Acres is likely to be priced at an average of 71 and keep his dual-position status as a midfielder-forward.
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Hugh Greenwood (Gold Coast)
Estimated 2020 Price: $465,000
2019 — Games: 14, Average: 85
Average 2016-2018: dnp, 85, 86
Some players are just built for SuperCoach. And the Gold Coast recruit is one of them.
In his 51 career matches, Greenwood, who spent four years on Adelaide’s list, has scored 80 points or more in 31 of them, passing the 100-point mark on 12 occasions. The impressive scoring record comes on the back of the 27-year-old’s elite ability at the contest.
Greenwood’s contested possession rate of 64.1 per cent was the highest of the 225 players in the competition to average 17 disposals or more in 2019.
Across his career, the 191cm midfielder also rates elite for groundball gets, clearances, tackles, pressure acts and contested marks, despite never being part of Adelaide’s first-choice on-ball rotation.
But Greenwood will have greater responsibility in the Suns’ midfield and, after spending plenty of time forward in his final season at West Lakes, is also a chance to gain dual-position status as a forward.
And that will be the key to his selection, given the size of the spike will depend on the left-footer’s ability to improve his fitness and win more ball away from the contest.
Aiden Bonar (North Melbourne)
Estimated 2020 Price: $160,000
2019 — Games: 2, Average: 41
Average 2018: 57
A physically-ready, rookie-price midfielder with two pre-seasons under his belt? Yes, please.
There’s been no harder engine room to crack than the Giants’ in recent seasons and Bonar has felt the squeeze first-hand.
The highly-rated 20-year-old, who was drafted at pick No. 11 in 2017 despite two previous knee reconstructions, played just six games in his two years at GWS, spending most of his time forward.
Bonar showed his wares as a big-bodied midfielder in the NEAFL, however, averaging 18 disposals, 10 contested possessions, six tackles and 94 points per game in 2019.
But with Kangaroos’ coach Rhyce Shaw declaring “there’ll definitely be opportunities for Aiden to play” SuperCoaches might start to see these numbers translate to the top-level.
Jack Steven (Geelong)
Estimated 2020 Price: $400,000
2019 — Games: 7, Average: 75
Average 2015-2018: 104, 104, 91, 95
Steven has played all 22 games in four of the past seven seasons and he’s averaged 100 SuperCoach points or more in three of them.
In 2013, thanks to three scores of 150 or more, the 29-year-old finished the year as the sixth-ranked player in the competition.
At his best, there’s no arguing a fit-and-firing Steven is a SuperCoach star.
But Steven played just seven games in 2019 after taking time away from the club to deal with mental health issues.
If he can return full health and fitness following a move home to Geelong — and the signs are positive — he’ll be at the top of the watchlist come 2020.
And his status in the SuperCoach world might grow even more if he’s added to a forward pool, which is likely to see many popular names — including Josh Dunkley, Tim Kelly and Rowan Marshall — lose their dual-position tag,
Billy Frampton (Adelaide)
Estimated 2020 Price: $180,000
2019 — Games: 2, Average: 43
Average 2018: 44
Playing for Port Adelaide in the SANFL this year, Frampton posted SuperCoach scores of 175, 167, 145 and 141. Impressive numbers in anyone’s book.
And in Round 9 this year, Frampton booted three goals and took three contested marks to finish with 64 points against the Suns in the first of his two senior appearances in 2019.
The 23-year-old may have only played three AFL games during his five-year stint at Alberton but he showed enough to suggest he can slot into an Adelaide side which will be without Josh Jenkins and Sam Jacobs next year.
The 200cm big man could go straight past young Crow Elliot Himmelberg as the pinch-hitting ruck-forward in 2020.
SPECIAL MENTIONS
There’s a chance GWS veteran Shane Mumford plays purely as back-up to former Crow Sam Jacobs next year. If that’s the case, then the likely $390k price-tag for a player who boasts a career-best average of 108 and says he still has “plenty to offer” becomes hard to ignore.
On first look, Sam Frost’s move from Melbourne to Hawthorn isn’t at all relevant to SuperCoaches, given the defender has never averaged more than 65 points per game. But his addition to the Hawks’ defence will — hopefully — free intercept-king James Sicily from manning a key-post in 2020.
SUPERCOACH TRADE BIBLE: ANALYSIS ON EVERY PLAYER
Originally published as The Phantom’s Five: More opportunity means more output for the most SuperCoach-relevant players of the AFL Trade Period
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