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Who is best contested marker in afl?

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Meteoric Rise said:
As for Lynch's 2022 performance, if you remove his 8 v Eagles(this was on Tom Barass)
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Lynch is great, but Barrass did not play. McGovern did (after a few weeks off). Would've been mostly up against Edwards while McGovern stood hands on hips catching his breath.

Surprises me he took that many given how the game unfolded. 9 marks inside 50 I would absolutely believe but it didn't feel like we were contesting much.
 
DanA said:
Depends on the type/situation.

  • If you’re looking for a 3rd up Mark of the year candidate: Howe
  • If you’re looking for someone to drop into the hole: Gawn
  • If you’re giving someone a running jump at the ball: Lynch
  • If you’re talking a one on one wrestle in the goal square: Hawkins
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There are definitely different styles.

Jack Darling is great at reading the ball in flight and marking cleanly in front of his face despite physical defensive pressure, but he doesn't elevate or mark the ball at its highest point so he's not a great pack mark etc. Different to a Hawkins who is an immovable object but not suited to a run and jump or a Max King who can mark the ball 2.5m off the ground but can get bodied off the line because he's still built like a beanpole.

Agree with others that overall Lynch is currently #1. I hope McGovern actually plays a full season this year, his ability to mark balls that defenders aren't supposed to try and mark is amazing. Dixon another great contested mark but inconsistent. If you were his teammate you'd push him over while he's doing up is boot laces. He's so much better when he's angry.
 
Scotland said:
Lynch is great, but Barrass did not play. McGovern did (after a few weeks off). Would've been mostly up against Edwards while McGovern stood hands on hips catching his breath.

Surprises me he took that many given how the game unfolded. 9 marks inside 50 I would absolutely believe but it didn't feel like we were contesting much.
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Apologies I stand corrected, memory playing tricks on me. Thanks for the correction.
 
Max Gawn is up there
 

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maskmcgee said:
Fixed
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Do you realize how much of an idiot that makes you look like to anyone educated on the two Kings?

Even if Ben ends up being the better player he will not be the better-contested mark, they play a different style.

Ben has never taken more than 3 contested marks in a match in 53 games, Max has had rounds of 8, 5, 5, and multiple times 4 per game.

Max averages 2.1 contested marks per game over his career and Ben 1.0

Last season as a comparison: Max took 49 contested marks to Ben 24 in a season where Ben kicked more goals.

Basically they don't play the same way. Ben is more of a lead-up type. He will not dominate contested marks over the next 10 years
 
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2022 T Lynch if it's kicked down near him to a contested situation, and he just gloves it and locks on.
 
g_TRAIN said:
Honestly pure 1v1 I think Hawkins and Lynch have the body strength.

Give Aaron a run up though and he would win.
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This sums it up.
Hawkins is freakishly strong, you only have to look at what he does to opposition ruckmen at boundary throw ins to see it (Dixon quite good as well)
Harry McKay and Naughton have the 'run and jump' category well covered
 
Not sure how he compares to the names above but Mitch Lewis' contested marking has improved out of sight this year. Had been visiting a "hand therapist" (lol) and whatever the nature of that service provides it's certainly worked wonders for his ability to mark in a variety of situations.

Our midfield hasn't been great at getting the ball up forward though so his opportunities to be involved in marking contests may have been a bit more limited.

One to watch.
 
cryptor said:
Not sure how he compares to the names above but Mitch Lewis' contested marking has improved out of sight this year. Had been visiting a "hand therapist" (lol) and whatever the nature of that service provides it's certainly worked wonders for his ability to mark in a variety of situations.

Our midfield hasn't been great at getting the ball up forward though so his opportunities to be involved in marking contests may have been a bit more limited.

One to watch.
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Wish he would get an injury-free season so we could see the best of him more often.

That's the only reason he doesn't get talked about in these types of threads more IMO

Your midfield isn't that strong but on the plus side, your game plan is an attacking one and does provide your forwards with good opportunity relative to the overall strength of your mids.
 
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I think looking at totals isn't necessarily a true indicator because it depends on number of contests, plus you can rack up a decent total on uneven contests etc.

Personally I think the different descriptions given earlier (Hawkins in a wrestle, Howe in a 3rd man etc) sum it up. Lynch, Naughton, Gawn etc all have their own immeasurable and incomparable marking talents.
 

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If it included past players Stewy Bucket Hands Lowe and King Carey standout for me.
 
I almost feel like there should be different categories of contested mark (obviously there are already too many stats in the game but let's add some more.

For example, Hawkins is incredible at marking when he is one on one with two feet on the ground and able to bully his direct opposition. But you won't see him fly for a mark, crash a pack and take a contender. He hasn't been able to do that for years.

To be the best contested mark you should be unmovable one on one and have an aerial presence... Tom Lynch might be that guy.
 
Jetafl said:
If it included past players Stewy Bucket Hands Lowe and King Carey standout for me.
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Matthew Richardson for mine. Could wrestle, take them overhead in packs, vice like hands on the lead too.

I'm not convinced they measured stats too well though back in the early years of these players.
 

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Lynch took 8 in a game last year Max King did the same in 2021

Max Gawn also right up there

On Pixel 6a using BigFooty.com mobile app
 

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Who is best contested marker in afl?

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