There’s a young Docker who could just be the most damaging player in the competition.
Meanwhile, Port Adelaide’s clearance game is humming once more, thanks to one star veteran.
Plus, the issue that could stop the Bulldogs winning the flag in AFL 360 Talking Points!
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IS YOUNG DOCKER ‘MOST DAMAGING’ IN COMP?
We always talk about the likes of Marcus Bontempelli, Nick Daicos or Isaac Heeney when it comes to the best player in the competition, but there’s a young Docker who is quietly flying under the radar.
“There’s a new king in town, Hayden Young is the most damaging player in the game right now,” North Melbourne champion David King said on Fox Footy’s AFL360.
“He’s got a deadly left leg and runs around untagged.”
Since round 16, Young ranks first for damage from ball use ahead of the likes of Toby Greene, Patrick Cripps and Power duo Zak Butters and Dan Houston.
Fremantle have made the most of their opportunities going forward, ranking first in the competition for inside 50 kick to mark (27%), inside 50 kick to score (41%) and inside 50 kick to goal (26%).
“This is why they’re a constant threat, their ability to get bang for buck,” King said.
“The quality of their supply and the way they bring the ball in is what sets them apart.”
Young’s numbers are incredible. When he kicks the ball inside 50 from 50-70m out, 50% of those kicks turn into a goal. The league average if about 15%.
He’s polled in the coaches votes in four out of the last five games and is going to be one of Fremantle’s most important players heading into a September campaign.
Forget Caleb Serong and Andy Brayshaw, Young is the man opposition sides have to give attention.
“It’s time for the competition to wake up… this is the man you have to tag.”
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POWER CLEARANCE GAME HAS THEM HUMMING
It’s time we give Port Adelaide some credit.
The Power have won five out of their last six matches to put themselves in the box seat for a top four spot for the fourth time in five years.
Ken Hinkley might not have delivered that elusive flag yet, but the Power have been incredibly consistent during his tenure.
And their clearance game is well and truly up and running.
The Power are ranked third for clearance differential across the competition since round 16 and first in the competition for points from clearance differential. Earlier in the season, they were ranked seventh and 10th in those respective statistics.
“Their clearance game has always been their strength,” St Kilda champion Leigh Montagna began.
Veteran Ollie Wines has moved back into the midfield in recent times and is back in his very best form, providing more balance to Hinkley’s on-ball brigade.
“He’s doing the grunt work and there’s a better balance in their midfield,” Montagna said.
“It’s allowing the others to do what they do really well and get to the outside and use the footy. He’s going to be crucial in the finals as a big body.”
Wines clearly still has some good footy left in him and he’s freed up the likes of Zak Butters and Connor Rozee in the midfield, allowing Jason Horne-Francis to spent more time forward as well.
How Cats were ‘blindsided’ by sly Tigers | 02:56
ISSUE THAT COULD STOP DOGS WINNING THE FLAG
The Dogs are one of the most in-form teams in the competition right now but there is one alarming issue that they must fix in order to contend for the premiership.
“There’s one thing that can stop the Dogs winning the flag this year and it’s accuracy in front of goal,” King said.
“It’s the snaps, the on the run, those types of kicks. The corridor shots are the ones I’m talking about, the ones you just have to kick.”
The Bulldogs’ big four in front of the sticks – Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, Aaron Naughton, Sam Darcy and Marcus Bontempelli – have had their woes at different stages this year.
The quartet have converted just 11 times from 30-50m out from goal from 43 opportunities. To put that into perspective, Giant Jesse Hogan has converted 14/17 opportunities and Docker Jye Amiss 10/14.
“The competition’s doing it and they’re not. They’re leaving the door ajar, if they don’t fix this, it’ll cost them a big game,” King said.
The Dogs are flying and seem to be peaking at the right time of the year, but if they can’t fix their goalkicking woes it could come back to haunt them.
Source Agencies
