MC Extra Dollop, how many years experience had West had before jumping upto 20 hit-outs per game in 2011/2012?
How many rucks played alongside West during the 2011/2012 season?
I can tell you right now that he spent a large chunk of 2012 rucking by himself...
2011 - rd17, rd18, rd20
2012 - rd2, rd4, rd5, rd6, rd7, rd14, rd16, rd17, rd18, rd21, rd22, EF
So if Mark Blicavs were to spend the next couple of years in the VFL as a ruck, play the odd senior game here or there and then come into the senior line up for the start of the 2016 season, you don't think his output would be similar to that of Trent West's?