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Once he had fully recovered from injury last year, he was the same old Sandilands, who always gives us a touch up (though rarely to the extent that he did in the 2013 QF). He had a three game lead-in to the elimination final in 2012, during which he averaged 16 disposals, a goal and 35.3 hitouts. If he was 'on one leg', he was doing a decent job of concealing it. He absolutely cremated (in order): an AA squad member that year, an AA squad member from 2013 and the 2010 AA ruckman - all of whom averaged well over 30 hitouts per game in 2012 (West averaged a shade under 25). Then for an encore, he soundly beat another 2012 AA squad member (and league hitouts leader that year) in the semi final.
Considering all that and the number of 'big name' ruckmen that Sandilands was absolutely abusing at the end of 2012, I think West actually did reasonably well. In fact it was the only game since Sandilands' return where the Dockers actually lost the clearances (and in three of the other four games, they won the clearance count by a significant margin)
And how did Geelong respond? Well, they dropped Stephenson, put West in on his own against Hale and McCauley for the Easter Monday game...and Geelong won the hitouts.
Geelong has actually won 42% of the hitouts and 51% of the clearances in games that West has played against Fremantle and Sandilands. It was 23% and 34% in the most recent encounter in the elimination final. As for his 'poor form', well his 25 hitouts the week he was dropped is five better than Blicavs or Vardy have ever managed in an AFL game. If Blicavs got 25 hitouts in a game, a petition would probably come out to rename the Ablett Terrace in Blicavs' honour. Plus, for a game where Sandilands' dominance at the ruck contests was always expected to be a factor, West's average of over 46.5 hitouts a game in the VFL (to that point) was probably worth considering.
Considering all that and the number of 'big name' ruckmen that Sandilands was absolutely abusing at the end of 2012, I think West actually did reasonably well. In fact it was the only game since Sandilands' return where the Dockers actually lost the clearances (and in three of the other four games, they won the clearance count by a significant margin)
And how did Geelong respond? Well, they dropped Stephenson, put West in on his own against Hale and McCauley for the Easter Monday game...and Geelong won the hitouts.
Geelong has actually won 42% of the hitouts and 51% of the clearances in games that West has played against Fremantle and Sandilands. It was 23% and 34% in the most recent encounter in the elimination final. As for his 'poor form', well his 25 hitouts the week he was dropped is five better than Blicavs or Vardy have ever managed in an AFL game. If Blicavs got 25 hitouts in a game, a petition would probably come out to rename the Ablett Terrace in Blicavs' honour. Plus, for a game where Sandilands' dominance at the ruck contests was always expected to be a factor, West's average of over 46.5 hitouts a game in the VFL (to that point) was probably worth considering.
