I keep hearing about how low the Tigers are ranked in Contested Possessions - from memory we are 16th or 17th at the moment which is a HUGE stat.
So often commentators are saying that if you win the contested ball count and the tackle count, you will win the game. Our outside/running game is our strength so obviously the contested ball is the part of our game we need to improve to make the step up to being a top 8 side.
What makes us so bad at winning the contested ball?
Looking at our major ball winners, I would have thought we would be mid-range in this department - not dead last.
I would expect the 5 guys below to be great at winning the contested ball. IMO they are fairly hard players who have an inside game.
- Cotchin
- Martin
- Foley
- Jackson
- Newman
In the next category I would have:
- Grigg (I thought he was recruited as an inside mid?)
- Deledio (Makes up for it through his elite outside game)
- Riewoldt (Good on the ground but doesn't get enough 1 on 1)
- Houli (Tries hard but like Deledio is not a contested ball winner)
- Rance (improving every week)
New guys like Conca, Bachelor etc are not going to be contested ball winners in their first year.
How much of an impact does our poor ruck division have on this stat?
What about Shane Tuck, contested ball specialist? What does he need to do to break into the side?
So often commentators are saying that if you win the contested ball count and the tackle count, you will win the game. Our outside/running game is our strength so obviously the contested ball is the part of our game we need to improve to make the step up to being a top 8 side.
What makes us so bad at winning the contested ball?
Looking at our major ball winners, I would have thought we would be mid-range in this department - not dead last.
I would expect the 5 guys below to be great at winning the contested ball. IMO they are fairly hard players who have an inside game.
- Cotchin
- Martin
- Foley
- Jackson
- Newman
In the next category I would have:
- Grigg (I thought he was recruited as an inside mid?)
- Deledio (Makes up for it through his elite outside game)
- Riewoldt (Good on the ground but doesn't get enough 1 on 1)
- Houli (Tries hard but like Deledio is not a contested ball winner)
- Rance (improving every week)
New guys like Conca, Bachelor etc are not going to be contested ball winners in their first year.
How much of an impact does our poor ruck division have on this stat?
What about Shane Tuck, contested ball specialist? What does he need to do to break into the side?