Analysis Jack Macrae Is Officially The Most Underrated Player In The AFL

[Scott Tracy]

Morning all.
I flipping love Jack Macrae.

 

[Dogs 13]

 

[zucvv]

Jack Macrae’s top five 30-plus disposal games in 2021 (so far)

On Saturday night, Macrae will have the opportunity equal a record Tom Mitchell set in 2018. We've taken a look back at his best games of the season (so far.)

www.theinnersanctum.com.au

Jack Macrae’s top five 30-plus disposal games in 2021 (so far)
08/09/2021 Jack Dobson 0

Jackson Macrae taking on Geelong in Round 14 (Image: Western Bulldogs)
It’s hard to believe that Jackson Macrae

6

Jackson Macrae

Age

31

Ht

192cm

Wt

89kg

Pos.

M/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

27.8

5star

K

13.1

5star

HB

14.8

5star

M

4.6

4star

T

4.8

5star

CL

3.8

5star

D

24.4

5star

K

10.9

4star

HB

13.5

5star

M

3.3

3star

T

3.8

4star

CL

4.1

5star

D

16.8

4star

K

8.6

4star

HB

8.2

5star

M

1.8

2star

T

2.8

5star

CL

1.8

4star

has once again taken his games to new levels in 2021. On Saturday night, Macrae will have the opportunity equal a record Tom Mitchell set in 2018.
Any player that accumulates 30+ disposals in a game has to be in the conversation as one of the best players on the day.
In 2021, Jack Macrae has played 22 games in which he has had over 30 disposals. Macrae now sits just one game short of the 23 games that Tom Mitchell recorded in 2018, the current record holder for most 30+ disposal games in a season.
Macrae has amassed 89 games in which he has had over 30 disposals, recently surpassing former teammate Matthew Boyd

Matthew Boyd

Age

43

Ht

184cm

Wt

88kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

25.0

5star

K

13.5

5star

HB

11.6

5star

M

5.1

5star

T

3.4

5star

MG

452.0

5star

No current season stats available

D

7.0

2star

K

3.4

2star

HB

3.6

3star

M

1.6

2star

T

1.0

3star

(84). Reaching 90 on Saturday will have him sitting alongside Hall of Famer Terry Wallace, ranking equal ninth on the all-time total 30+ disposal games record.

Macrae surpassed former teammate, Mathew Boyd, in total 30+ disposal games earlier this season. (Image: Western Bulldogs)
At just 27 years of age, Macrae has plenty of footy left in him to chase down Gary Ablett Jr’s record of 126 games.
With just three games left in the 2021 AFL season, The Inner Sanctum takes a look into Jack Macrae’s top five performances of the year (so far),
Round 2 vs West Coast Eagles
41 disposals
15 contested possessions
Nine clearances
14 score involvements
Coming off a solid win against Collingwood in round one, the Bulldogs backed it up in a thrilling seven point win against the Eagles in round two.
It was a Marvel Stadium classic with 14 lead changes, as the game showed the capability of going towards either side.
While captain Marcus Bontempelli

4

Marcus Bontempelli

Age

30

Ht

194cm

Wt

96kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

22.5

5star

K

12.3

5star

HB

10.3

5star

M

3.6

4star

T

4.8

5star

CL

4.4

5star

D

18.4

4star

K

9.7

4star

HB

8.8

4star

M

2.6

3star

T

4.1

5star

CL

4.0

5star

D

12.0

3star

K

5.8

3star

HB

6.2

4star

M

2.0

3star

T

3.8

5star

CL

1.8

4star

kicking three goals on the day, Jack Macrae will also be up there in the votes with his first 40+ disposal game for the season.
With the game on the line, Macrae came alive in the final quarter, his 12 disposals and seven contested possessions helping to get it done for the dogs.
Round 6 vs GWS Giants
40 disposals
11 contested possessions
Six clearances
One goal
Six tackles
10 score involvements
The 39-point win over the Giants at Manuka Oval in round six was a lot tighter than the scoreline suggests.
With just a three-point lead heading into the final term, the Western Bulldogs ran away with it. The Dogs were able to put together nine final quarter goals to the Giants three in what was an incredible team performance.
The Dogs had eight separate goalkickers in just the fourth quarter alone. Most of the goals came in the final 10 minutes, including one from the 50-meter line from Macrae.
Macrae was certainly the standout player on the day with his 40 touches including 11 contested possessions and a goal.

Jack Macrae is a ball magnet (Image: Western Bulldogs)
The performance was especially notable as he stood up in the absence of injured teammates Lin Jong

46

Lin Jong

Age

32

Ht

188cm

Wt

87kg

Pos.

M/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

15.6

4star

K

6.3

2star

HB

9.3

5star

M

2.7

3star

T

4.0

5star

CL

2.3

4star

D

13.7

3star

K

4.0

1star

HB

9.7

5star

M

3.3

3star

T

3.0

4star

CL

0.7

3star

D

16.0

4star

K

7.8

3star

HB

8.2

5star

M

3.0

3star

T

1.8

4star

CL

0.6

3star

and Josh Dunkley

5

Josh Dunkley

Age

28

Ht

191cm

Wt

87kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

21.8

5star

K

10.4

4star

HB

11.3

5star

M

4.3

4star

T

5.8

5star

CL

3.2

5star

D

20.7

5star

K

7.0

3star

HB

13.7

5star

M

2.3

2star

T

5.3

5star

CL

2.7

4star

D

14.2

4star

K

7.2

3star

HB

7.0

5star

M

4.8

5star

T

4.0

5star

CL

1.4

4star

, who both took to the bench unable to continue at different points of the game.
Round 10 vs St Kilda
41 disposals
13 contested possessions
Nine clearances
Nine tackles
14 score involvements
Somehow not their biggest win for the season, the Western Bulldogs produced a 111-point hammering of the Saints in round 10.
The game was seemingly a training drill for the Dogs after quarter time, the last time the Saints would have felt they were in the game.
Aaron Naughton

33

Aaron Naughton

Age

26

Ht

196cm

Wt

92kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

10.7

3star

K

7.0

3star

HB

3.7

3star

M

4.9

5star

T

1.8

4star

G

0.8

4star

D

6.3

1star

K

4.0

1star

HB

2.3

2star

M

2.5

3star

T

0.8

1star

G

0.5

4star

D

12.8

4star

K

8.8

4star

HB

4.0

3star

M

4.8

5star

T

1.2

3star

G

0.0

1star

kicked five and Bontempelli had four himself, but Macrae had full control of the midfield.
Over 40 touches, nine clearances, 13 contested possessions and 14 score involvements, it was all clockwork; rinse and repeat for Macrae.
The Saints could not find an answer that would stop the momentum of Macrae and the Bulldogs.
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Round 19 vs Melbourne
38 disposals
16 contested possessions
Nine clearances
Seven tackles
Nine score involvements
The late season victory over the Demons was a huge win for the Bulldogs in their premiership campaign, beating the minor premiers and giving the team the confidence in their ability to go all the way.
It took tremendous grit and resilience to maintain a steady lead throughout the course of the match against the Demons who wouldn’t relent.
With Clayton Oliver

13

Clayton Oliver

Age

28

Ht

189cm

Wt

88kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

27.8

5star

K

9.5

4star

HB

18.4

5star

M

3.2

3star

T

6.3

5star

CL

6.3

5star

D

25.1

5star

K

11.1

4star

HB

14.0

5star

M

3.6

4star

T

5.6

5star

CL

5.9

5star

D

19.2

5star

K

4.6

2star

HB

14.6

5star

M

2.0

3star

T

4.4

5star

CL

3.8

5star

playing one of his best games of the year, Macrae went toe to toe with him the all the way to the final siren.
16 contested possessions in arguably the Bulldogs’ most important game of the home and away season along with nine clearances and seven tackles is incredibly impressive even for Macrae’s high standards.

Jack Macrae tackles James Harmes

22

James Harmes

Age

30

Ht

186cm

Wt

86kg

Pos.

M/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

19.4

5star

K

9.4

4star

HB

10.0

5star

M

3.1

3star

T

4.1

5star

CL

2.4

4star

D

16.3

4star

K

7.4

3star

HB

8.9

4star

M

2.9

3star

T

1.6

3star

CL

1.9

4star

D

10.6

3star

K

5.2

2star

HB

5.4

4star

M

1.6

2star

T

1.8

4star

CL

0.2

2star

of the Melbourne Demons. (Image: Western Bulldogs)
Semi Final vs Brisbane Lions
39 disposals
19 contested possessions
11 clearances
One goal
Five tackles
Nine score involvements
What an unbelievable game of footy this was, a one point thriller that went down to the final seconds that had every spectator out of their seats.
Macrae played his best game for the year, and it was needed. Macrae produced 39 disposals which included a mammoth 19 contested possessions, 11 clearances, and a goal.
He kicked the first goal of the final quarter, a goal that inspired and instilled belief in the Bulldogs to steal the game from the grasp of the Lions
Macrae’s performance came at a time when it was needed the most and made a difference in the outcome of the game.

If the Western Bulldogs manage to upset the Power on Saturday and find themselves in the Grand Final, Macrae could have the opportunity to become the sole record holder for the most 30+ disposal games in an AFL/VFL season.

 

[zucvv]

 

[Libbaaaa]

What a gun and probably in the top 10 for toughest players. Always getting belted and gets straight back up, no Dangerflog theatrics, no hangbags Viney carry on, just straight to the next contest to win the ball.

 

[Oliver G]

View attachment 1233508

Gotta love his post-match interview where he said he "honestly" had no idea what the record was. He knew exactly what he needed to do.

 

[zucvv]

Gotta love his post-match interview where he said he "honestly" had no idea what the record was. He knew exactly what he needed to do.

Hahaha going to game with a counter this guy.

 

[Arkangel]

I'm glad I wasn't growing up at the same time/in the same place as Jack Macrae. Reckon he'd have had all the high scores on the local arcade machines.

 

[zucvv]

I'm glad I wasn't growing up at the same time/in the same place as Jack Macrae. Reckon he'd have had all the high scores on the local arcade machines.

Jacko is the number 1 player in AFL playing FIFA World games. Certainly extremely smart guy