the problem with these sorts of debates is they have to be based on statistics, as otherwise all we hear is 'well i watched the game and thought this' etc. you can't make an argument based on your thoughts and feelings, you can state an opinion, but not persist to argue the point as it isn't based on evidence, only your memory and feelings.
so to put the details in front of us clearly the av stats in 2013;
player: Blitz Vardy West Walker Simpson
Kicks: 4.4 4.5 5.8 4.7 3.7
hand: 6.5 4.3 3.9 3.7 6.2
marks: 2.9 2.9 1.8 2.7 3.5
hitouts: 10.8 11.3 21.4 2.3 29.8
so as long as the above table displays ok... it is clear people are pumping up vardy and blitz around the ground value ahead of west, because the stats don't support it at all. in fact all our rucks average only around 10 touches a game, the only difference is west and simpson actually win hitous the other 3 dont.
now to say 'well i think west never hits to advantage but blitz and vardy do' needs to be backed up with data people. i dont know where to get that from, so if someone can show it that would be great.
based on the above, clearly the best option for finals would have been west and vardy.
Statistically :
http://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/...1=1637&tid2=10&pid2=3748&type=A&fid1=S&fid2=S
West is behind Blicavs in disposals (marginally as you point out - but when factoring in West's clangers per match, the gap widens slightly more in Blicavs favour), marks, contested marks and tackles.
Admittedly the differences are pretty narrow, but they
are in Blicavs favour, and West has 7 extra pre-seasons and 32 extra games under his belt. That's pretty damning on West.
West of course does hold a pretty healthy lead in hit-outs, 21-to-10 for the year (on average).
I haven't been able to find statistics on hitouts to advantage though (I'm at work and people rudely keep expecting me to do some work).
http://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/...1=1637&tid2=10&pid2=3353&type=A&fid1=S&fid2=S
West shades Vardy in disposals, but Vardy is ahead in tackles, marks and contested marks. Vardy also hits the scoreboard more often than either West or Blicavs.
Hit-outs go 21-11 in West's favour.
So, West is behind both Blicavs and Vardy in most statistical categories despite being far and away the most experienced of the three players. Except hit-outs, which is the only thing even keeping him in the minds of supporters at all. But we've all
seen his ruckwork, haven't we ? It's no better than Vardy's or Blicavs, all three are ordinary-to-rubbish in the ruck contests.