Tweet
With the departure of Jolly, I was prompted to think of whether he would be regarded as the best-performing ruckman of the Sydney era (1982-today)?
Greg Stafford leads the way in games, but Ball, Rose, Tunbridge, Doyle and Ironmonger have all played a role over the years.
Here's a quick comparison:
Stafford: 130 gms, 58 gls, ave 11.9 poss, 4.4 mks, 12.5 H/O, 38 Brownlow votes
Jolly: 118 gms, 59 gls, ave 9.8 poss, 3.5 mks, 23.1 H/O, 9 Brownlow votes
Ball: 90 gms, 45 gls, ave 11.6 poss, 3.9 mks, 12.8 H/O, 10 Brownlow votes
Rose: 55 gms, 5 gls, ave 10 poss, 2.8 mks, 10.1 H/O, 7 Brownlow votes
Tunbridge: 50 gms, 17 gls, ave 11.9 poss, 4.3 mks, 11.3 H/O, 14 Brownlow votes
Doyle: 47 gms, 19 gls, ave 5 poss, 1.6 mks, 10.7 H/O, 0 Brownlow votes
Ironmonger: 45 gms, 1 gls, ave 10.7 poss, 3.6 mks, 21 Brownlow votes
Haven't included Goodes, who only really played one full season as a ruckman, or the likes of Taubert, Everitt, Gareth John or Round, who didn't play a lot of games in the Sydney era (though Taubert had one awesome season).
Of those listed, I think Tunbridge was hugely under-rated and Ironmonger was good for his era, but it comes down to the top three of Jolly, Ball and Stafford.
Jolly is far and away the superior tap ruckman, albeit helped by our numerous stoppages. I don't think Ball ever dominated a game to the extent that Jolly did a few times this season, and though Stafford was probably better around the ground, I think Jolly was overall the more effective player.
Thoughts?
Greg Stafford leads the way in games, but Ball, Rose, Tunbridge, Doyle and Ironmonger have all played a role over the years.
Here's a quick comparison:
Stafford: 130 gms, 58 gls, ave 11.9 poss, 4.4 mks, 12.5 H/O, 38 Brownlow votes
Jolly: 118 gms, 59 gls, ave 9.8 poss, 3.5 mks, 23.1 H/O, 9 Brownlow votes
Ball: 90 gms, 45 gls, ave 11.6 poss, 3.9 mks, 12.8 H/O, 10 Brownlow votes
Rose: 55 gms, 5 gls, ave 10 poss, 2.8 mks, 10.1 H/O, 7 Brownlow votes
Tunbridge: 50 gms, 17 gls, ave 11.9 poss, 4.3 mks, 11.3 H/O, 14 Brownlow votes
Doyle: 47 gms, 19 gls, ave 5 poss, 1.6 mks, 10.7 H/O, 0 Brownlow votes
Ironmonger: 45 gms, 1 gls, ave 10.7 poss, 3.6 mks, 21 Brownlow votes
Haven't included Goodes, who only really played one full season as a ruckman, or the likes of Taubert, Everitt, Gareth John or Round, who didn't play a lot of games in the Sydney era (though Taubert had one awesome season).
Of those listed, I think Tunbridge was hugely under-rated and Ironmonger was good for his era, but it comes down to the top three of Jolly, Ball and Stafford.
Jolly is far and away the superior tap ruckman, albeit helped by our numerous stoppages. I don't think Ball ever dominated a game to the extent that Jolly did a few times this season, and though Stafford was probably better around the ground, I think Jolly was overall the more effective player.
Thoughts?
Comment