And yet his average disposal count, tackle count and scoring are all up this year compared to 2014... We can get rid of some of those without dumping the quality players.
Thank god for Ford. Was never sure I would utter that in one sentence...
There's multiple problems with this though.
1) His average disposals sit at just 19. Is that really enough for a player in his role in today's possession-rich game where spreading to space to be an uncontested possession cog is everything? 19...
2) A problem that has dogged him throughout his career is consistency...
But as I said, moving him on for a first or commensurately-credentialed midfielder (or forward) would be sound business.
oh c'mon don't give up that easy!!! I'm not gonna address all tribey's pts, however:
- he gets a lot more contested possesions and/or marks than our other hardest running defenders which is in his favor and something that has been required of his this season.
Except for Pittard who is the exception that proves the rule, it is hard to run and break lines when things are stagnant up field. Also see point one.
If his kicking doesn't appear as damaging or reliable (although according to stats he is as reliable as Jasper) see points one and two.
Also, I'm not with the idea that nobody can improve after 26/27 in footy. And at nearly 6'3" 87 kilos with reasonable pace he has all the right attributes to either improve or become more versatile in future.
Although a first rounder is alomst food for thought for most players, and I am all for a credentialed tall for. Our lack in this area keeps me up nights. I do see an inside mid as also being important but I am hoping that need might be offset if Ryder returns in anywhere near comparable form as 1st ruck.