Is Sandilands the best Ruckman in the competition?

 

Roar Guru

By Mark E, 14 May 2009 The Crowd is a Roar Guru

Tagged:

 Aaron Sandilands, AFL, Carlton Blues, Fremantle Dockers, Judd, Sandilands

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Some experienced commentators are coming over to the view that the 211 centimetre giant from the West is towering over the rest of the competition not just in height, but now in effectiveness.

Saturday’s night game against Carlton may have confirmed what Dockers fans have been saying for a while, that when Aaron realised his own potential, he will be virtually unstoppable. He racked up an incredible 42 hit-outs in a dominant display.

However, it was the effectiveness of the taps that was most impressive. If there has been a criticism of Sandilands, it is that much of his good work is ‘sharked’ by opposition midfielders. Rucking to a rejuvenated Hasleby, the tallest man in the league found his target, frustrating Judd and other Carlton midfielders.

When not involved in the ruck, Sandilands was making life difficult for opposition back men, positioning his long reaching arms in the forward 50. With new rules prohibiting the chopping of the hands, Aaron pulled in some great marks, and kicked goals, building his tally to 25 touches.

With Cox far from his best, spending most of time building up statistics and not much else in the back half, Aaron may finally be getting the recognition Freo fans have been clamouring for.