Tom Rockliff’s 45 possessions against Fremantle last Saturday was not only a career-best, but also a Club record.
Rockliff had previously shared the previous record of 40 disposals with Luke Power, but eclipsed that total with a monster final term, which saw him rack up 16 touches despite receiving heavy attention from Dockers tagger Ryan Crowley.
Even more impressive was the fact that 21 of the Vice-Captain’s possessions were contested, which was more than twice the amount of the next best Lions player (Ryan Harwood had 10 contested possessions).
MORE RECORDS
The Lions broke a number of other records last Saturday night – including the lowest score by the Club since the 1997 merger.
The Lions’ total of 3.4 (22) was 11 points shy of the Club’s previous low of 5.3 (33) against Geelong at Simonds Stadium in 2009.
However, it was still a way off from the Club’s all-time lowest score when Fitzroy booted just one straight goal (six points) against Footscray at the Western Oval in Round 5 of 1953.
HANLEY DOWN
While Tom Rockliff enjoyed a career-best night, Pearce Hanley was kept to an equal career-low nine disposals against the Dockers.
Hanley was paid the ultimate compliment by having Crowley run with him for the first three quarters, and will no doubt learn plenty from the experience.
That said, the Irishman isn’t the first, and won’t be the last, player to have his colours lowered to the dogged Fremantle midfielder.
BIG NUMBERS FOR MARTIN
Stefan Martin has faced three of the competition’s best ruckmen in the past three weeks, and hasn’t taken a backwards step against any of them.
In his biggest task for the season, both literally and figuratively, Martin went head-to-head with Fremantle giants Aaron Sandilands.
While Sandilands expectedly won the hitout count 41-25, the versatile Lions big man competed well in difficult conditions.
In fact, Martin had a career-high nine tackles (the third most for the Lions) and collected 20 disposals, which was his greatest return since joining the Club at the end of 2012.
North Melbourne’s Todd Goldstein looms as another huge test for Martin this Saturday night.
DEFENDERS HAVE WORK CUT OUT
You wouldn’t have wanted to be a Lions defender on Saturday night, with Fremantle being allowed 72 entries into forward 50m.
Senior Coach Justin Leppitsch said post-game that Joel Patfull was probably the only other Lions player, along with Rockliff, that deserved some praise following a terribly disappointing performance.
Patfull had 16 disposals, took six marks, had six rebound 50s, and was generally strong in defence.
Justin Clarke finished with a game-high 15 one per centers, with Matt Maguire not far behind with 11.
AFL FANTASY TOP FIVE
1. Tom Rockliff – 172 points
2. Jack Redden – 117 points
3. Stefan Martin – 111 points
4. Sam Mayes – 81 points
5. Joel Patfull – 72 points
WHO WAS BEST?
Afl.com.au listed Rockliff, Patfull, Lewy Taylor (20 disposals), and Sam Mayes (21 disposals and five tackles) as the Lions’ best, but who do YOU think were the team’s three best players?
Vote now online for the Club Player of the Year
