The problem with Priddis is that he cannot be at 50% ability due to age and body and slowness. He has to be at 100% or near to have sizable impact. Not like a cooked, drug addicted Ben Cousins who could offer something still on the footy field (Richmond) on one leg with no pace or penetration, at like 30% playing capacity. The real champs hang around longer, often past their bodies use by date coz they have something to offer still that you cannot replace easily with high draft picks and rookies. Awareness and evasion (Sam Mitchell), leadership (Hodge), 1%ers (Dale Morris etc) creative handballs (Mitchell again). Priddis role is an inside bull, this is something a cooked aging body cant really do that well and when he doesn't win that first hardball as he isn't anymore, his weaknesses become more telling and noticeable. Point being he isn't in my definition a champion of the game (he is of our club) and even if he was sometimes you have to tap them on the shoulder, like we did our HOF ruckman Dean Cox. Why we signed him again mid year during his form slump is just mind blowing.
his weaknesses are more noticeable because everyone is no longer drunk on the magnitude of rubbish stats he gets. Along with the folly of equating getting lots of stats with being in FORM. This is not a form slump. He is playing less in the centre so is getting less opportunity to collect easy stats. Add Mitchell to our team and it's even harder for him to get opportunities.
Nik Nat gets the perfect tap to Priddis.. he's too slow, unco and standing flat footed so he gets there late so it bounces up hits him in the face. He picks up the ball, flour-bag bombs it straight up in the air to the top of the 50. Darling gets clobbered by 14 defenders. Ball spills and luckily Hill gets it a kicks a goal. Shuey, Jetta.. stand around and have to watch..
Priddis gets:
eg. 1 contested disposal, 1 kick, 1 inside 50, 1 hardball get, 1 score assist.
Does this another 5-6 times in the game. But with limited actual scoring 'success' as our forwards get clobbered, defenders intercept etc. bust back on the rebound past him etc.
RESULT:
Priddis gets 40 stats. you beauty MVP best ever... tackler... umm contested beast!!! yeaAAR!!!
Jetta, Hill & Lecras "goes missing" drop them melt!!!
NOW, he gets only 2-3 chances to "play to his strengths" like this, so gets 25 stats
oh its a form slump... .