Originally Posted by
NeonBible
TB, I have seen you make the suggestion that Rowbottom should be in defence a number of times now. I am with you that he is a great defensive player! He is leading the club for tackles with 7 a game (he is 3rd in the whole AFL!) and a few weeks back i shared his pressure act numbers, which were through the roof. Im afraid that is where i draw the line, as the numbers suggest everywhere else he is doing more than fine as a midfielder!
He's currently 4th at the club for SCORE INVOLVEMENTS behind Mills, Gulden and Papley!! I consider SIs to be one of most important stats in the game today as it is the difference between those who make their possessions count and those who dont! His average of nearly 6 a game shows his disposals are leading to good things = scoring opportunities!! If you dont believe me about score involvements take a look at the top 5 in that category for the current top 4 sides!!
MELB - Petracca, Oliver, Pickett, McDonald, Fritsch
WB - Macrae, Bont, Dunkley, Treloar, Naughton
GEEL - Hawkins, Duncan, Selwood, Guthrie, I. Smith
BRIS - Zorko, McCluggage, Lyons, Daniher, Bailey
That is a who's-who of the most dangerous forward half players in the league!! & you want to take one of our most promising YOUNG players in this area and put him in a back pocket??? You say you arent convinced of him because he doesnt win enough of the ball and doesnt win enough clearances with his possessions, but he is top 5 in both clearances AND contested possessions? In both areas ahead of Chad who you've made no secret of the fact you rate him so highly in this regard!! Puzzling, hm?
What about metres gained?? Another key stat. We did poorly in this area in 2020. We lost the territory battle so often. We were climbing uphill every match!! Rowbottom is top 5 for this stat (376m a match!!!)! Hes in good company with Dawson, Lloyd, Florent and Rampe, all players who gain high meterage with their rebounds from the back half! RB is a midfielder which makes those numbers even more impressive!
Maybe you will be convinced by tackles inside 50?? You said yourself it is a key part of our game and its even what made you come around to Sam Wicks! It might interest you to know Rowbottom is 4th in tackles inside 50? He's behind only forwards (Hayward, Wicks and Franklin!) and AHEAD of other forwards like Papley, Gulden, Reid and Heeney!!
Three stats that have been key to our rise up the ladder - more scoring, more territory and more forward pressure! Rowbottom is a key driver in ALL THREE areas!! Not only does he work hard off the ball but when its his turn to use it he is getting the ball to the right spots and being dangerous with it!! How can you want this player these numbers describe to be in the back line?? He is a forward half machine!! And still so young! Usually i am one of the few who are OK with your opinions of Rowbottom because i can accept them as just what they are, opinions!! But on this one you are WRONG! The numbers dont lie!
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