Cox vs Sandilands

[Escobar123]

In their prime, who would you rather have in your team?

 

[Reckoner Tiger]

Very, very tough.

Cox was the benchmark for a number of years in a premiership side as the ultimate ruckman. Won the hitouts, gathered ridiculous numbers of possessions, kicked goals.

Judging Sandiland's 'prime' as being this year however, you would have to say he nudges Cox aside. As a pure ruckman, his tapwork and influence at the contests is unparelled in the modern era. Not enough has been said about his impact this year and he is an invaluable and incredible force in the AFL at the moment.

 

[quotemokc]

I would take Sandilands for complete and utter domination in the ruck and for well setup set plays. (Imagine Collingwood or Geelong with Sandilands rucking)

Whilst Cox is better around the ground Sandilands beats him hands down at what he is on the field for.

 

[DivideandMultiply]

I think this will be a case of many posters having short memories.

Cox constantly presented as a marking and link up target, was a prolific ball winner, excellent tap work to advantage, dual sided and kicked clutch goals or did crucial things when it counted.

And whilst not being the first mobile ruck, raised the current bar about what we expect from our ruckman in terms of mobility and impact around the ground.

 

[Upgrayedd]

Lets see Sandilands repeat his standout season 4-5 times before we judge.

 

[carntheroos4eva]

Sandilands easily.

Cox has passed his use by date

 

[BONG RIPS MKII]

sandilands at his best>>>>>every other ruckman i've ever seen

 

[Axel.]

In their prime, who would you rather have in your team?

Sandilands easily.

Cox has passed his use by date

You're doing it wrong, Suzi.

 

[adelaide_40]

Cox.

 

[donbooger]

Sandi will beat anyone that is something you accept heading in to the game, but heaven help you if you dont have a high quality ruckman as he can dominate a game as good as any of the best players ever if you unable to give him respect.

Ive seen him tear us apart single handedly when up against Blake twice now and it is so painful. Cox cant do that as great as he is around the ground.

If he can become a one grab mark, he will be someone we will talk about for decades.

 

[larson]

Sandilands, I prefer the ruckman to dominate the ruck, lay big bumps and get clearances rather than play as an extra outside midfielder.

 

[Bulldog1954]

In their prime definitely Cox. Absolutely dominant, two players in one

 

[Sman-21]

Sandilands was just as dominant last year only diff is our midfield couldnt get the taps.
Sandilands isnt just dominant in ruck he is dominant around the ground.
Providing get out options where we just kick long an he either marks it, taps it backwards for little fellas to run onto it and into the open,or gets it down to crumbers in front.
Also gets down an dirty to help with clearances.
Gets quite a few disposals per game an they are genarally useful.

Been the most dominant for the last 2-3years.

 

[Chops_a_must]

I think this will be a case of many posters having short memories.

Cox constantly presented as a marking and link up target, was a prolific ball winner, excellent tap work to advantage, dual sided and kicked clutch goals or did crucial things when it counted.

And whilst not being the first mobile ruck, raised the current bar about what we expect from our ruckman in terms of mobility and impact around the ground.

I'd rate Sandi as a target as greater than Cox's best though.

We have been phenomenal from kick outs and dead kick plays this year.

And Sandi is the biggest reason for that. Contested marking has been very very good.

 

[Azzleberry]

Cox easily in his prime.

 

[Play by Numbers]

I'd rate Sandi as a target as greater than Cox's best though.

We have been phenomenal from kick outs and dead kick plays this year.

And Sandi is the biggest reason for that. Contested marking has been very very good.

Disagree strongly Chops.

Sandi has averaged just over 4 marks per game (4.3) this year, which is his second best total (his best being 4.6).

That is only 0.2 more than Cox in 2010 at 4.1.

Cox averaged over 5 marks a game in 6 consecutive seasons (2004-2009), with 7.4 being his highest.

Provided the same avenue from kick outs but better than Sandi this year and the link up man on the wing/HFF that hard working CHF's often do.

Like I said, people have very short memories.

 

[c00lcat]

Disagree strongly Chops.

Sandi has averaged just over 4 marks per game (4.3) this year, which is his second best total (his best being 4.6).

That is only 0.2 more than Cox in 2010 at 4.1.

Cox averaged over 5 marks a game in 6 consecutive seasons (2004-2009), with 7.4 being his highest.

Provided the same avenue from kick outs but better than Sandi this year and the link up man on the wing/HFF that hard working CHF's often do.

Like I said, people have very short memories.

i wonder how many of those would have been uncontested marks though. The majority of Sandi's marks would be contested.

Lets see Sandilands repeat his standout season 4-5 times before we judge.

hes been all australian 3 times now so its not as if hes just had one standout season, his last two have been amazing

In relation to the OP i would think Sandi's influence at its peak this year would be greater than Cox's has ever been. Its not unreasonable to say he could win a Brownlow in the next few years, hes improved every year and if he could get a full season who knows

 

[Play by Numbers]

i wonder how many of those would have been uncontested marks though. The majority of Sandi's marks would be contested.




hes been all australian 3 times now so its not as if hes just had one standout season, his last two have been amazing

In relation to the OP i would think Sandi's influence at its peak this year would be greater than Cox's has ever been. Its not unreasonable to say he could win a Brownlow in the next few years, hes improved every year and if he could get a full season who knows

How about checking.

The majority of Sandilands marks this year were not contested.

He averaged 1.9 in comparison to Cox's 1 in what was Cox's worst year in terms of marks (avg) since 2001.

Again Sandilands marking does not compare to Cox's at his best. In fact the only area of Sandilands game which matches Cox's at his peak in terms of numbers is hitouts.

Sandilands impact is amplified by the fact he is one of a small core group this year which have been the backbone of Fremantle. Yet Cox at his peak was a virtual onballer, dual sided linkman and gun ruckman.

To say Cox has never had the same impact as Sandi at his peak is patently false and a tad ludicrous, but should I expect any different from a one eyed Freo fan.

 

[wirra44]

To say Cox has never had the same impact as Sandi at his peak is patently false and a tad ludicrous, but should I expect any different from a one eyed Freo fan.

People have very short memories, i remember when he was at his peak people were naming him one of if not the best ruckman of all time.

Sandi is a mountain, and is awesome at hitouts because he is so bloody tall and heavy as. But sandi will never beat cox's running, at his peak he was an extra midfielder.

 

[ThePuppetMaster]

sandilands at his best>>>>>every other ruckman i've ever seen

didn't see stynes play???

 

[WCErevival]

Sandi at the hitouts.

Cox for everything else.

I dont think there will be anyone better than Sandi for hitouts unless some team find an 8ft 140kg mammoth. His sheer size cant be beaten.

 

[ThePuppetMaster]

How about checking.

The majority of Sandilands marks this year were not contested.

He averaged 1.9 in comparison to Cox's 1 in what was Cox's worst year in terms of marks (avg) since 2001.

Again Sandilands marking does not compare to Cox's at his best. In fact the only area of Sandilands game which matches Cox's at his peak in terms of numbers is hitouts.

Sandilands impact is amplified by the fact he is one of a small core group this year which have been the backbone of Fremantle. Yet Cox at his peak was a virtual onballer, dual sided linkman and gun ruckman.

To say Cox has never had the same impact as Sandi at his peak is patently false and a tad ludicrous, but should I expect any different from a one eyed Freo fan.

considering that the highest average contested marks was 2 per game, which was J Reiwoldt and another player i would say averaging 1.9 is pretty impressive

 

[The Chrome Dome]

didn't see stynes play???

sandilands at his best>>>>>every other ruckman i've ever seen

Corey McKernan 96-98 was easily the most dominant ruckman of the last 20 or so years.


In 96' McKernan eclipsed the likes of Carey, Lockett, Hird, Voss, Buckley, R.Harvey etc as the best player in the competition, winning the AFLPA MVP, Brownlow (if not suspended), AA.


I can't say Sandilands, Cox or Stynes (despite the brownlow, he wasn't the #1 player in the league) have ever been considered the unanimous #1 player in the competition at any point in their careers.


Played basically an aggressive style that Cox employed, where Cox was an extra midfielder, McKernan played as a "free" power forward around the ground, very hard style to replicate, and no surprise he wasn't able to sustain it.

Also no surprise, that there hasn't been a ruckman like it since.

He averaged over 18 disposals a game, 3.2 contested marks a game and kicked close to 40 goals playing from the ruck in 96'

When you surpass a 26 year old Wayne Carey in the eyes of the football public, you are a ****ing good player.


If we are talking at their "peaks", McKernan was it.

 

[c00lcat]

How about checking.

The majority of Sandilands marks this year were not contested.

He averaged 1.9 in comparison to Cox's 1 in what was Cox's worst year in terms of marks (avg) since 2001.

Again Sandilands marking does not compare to Cox's at his best. In fact the only area of Sandilands game which matches Cox's at his peak in terms of numbers is hitouts.

Sandilands impact is amplified by the fact he is one of a small core group this year which have been the backbone of Fremantle. Yet Cox at his peak was a virtual onballer, dual sided linkman and gun ruckman.

To say Cox has never had the same impact as Sandi at his peak is patently false and a tad ludicrous, but should I expect any different from a one eyed Freo fan.

Well its basically half so dont act as if i was way off. And surely you aren't seriously saying im one-eyed with all of your bs. Sandilands doesn't match Cox as a tap ruckman, no he is much better. You hear it from opposition supporters its a daunting task facing him with anything less than a quality ruckman. His stats would look more flattering if he had a midfield which could win more than the occasional clearance. Also you just pointed out that Cox only gets a quarter of his marks contested ie he gets cheap kicks. Im not denying Cox wasn't good - he was very good, but Sandi this year i believe has reached heights just pipping Cox, no pun intended , and i honestly think he'll be better next year. Its simple though, a ruckman should primarily be judged upon his performance in the ruck, and undoubtedly sandi dominates cox there.

Actually i just found something else then, he was 6th for clearances and contested marks this year. So obviously he cant mark or have any influence around the ground

 

[Scootyb]

One thing that springs to mind for some reason was Sandi ironing out Rick Ladson in our final against the Hawks, leaving Mora to kick a goal.
Can't remember Cox having that physical, intimidatory presence out on the ground that teams sometimes need