Less stoppages this year= less ruck points.
I don't think it's that.
I can't find a stat for Stoppages, but hitout totals for last night were 65, the 2019 game between the two teams was 66.
Clearances for last nights game totalled 70, 2019 game 59.
Yet Grundy scored 160 in 2019
2018 also saw lower hit outs (64) and only slightly more clearances (72) yet Grundy scored 152.
I think like others have said, the rucks are not being used in transition as much.
Grundy disposals in corresponding games:
2018: 26
2019: 23
2021: 11
Maybe it was just a bad night, maybe Martin/English deserve credit for effectively 'tagging' him, or maybe the game has changed so much that rucks are now s**t and we need to crack each other's heads open and feast on the goo inside...