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New Post has been published on http://www.sportsbanter.com.au/whos-third-man-up/
Who's Third Man Up?
It’s late in the quarter; a boundary throw in is about to take place on centre wing. Your team is trailing on the scoreboard, they need to roll the dice but your ruckman is fatigued and the opposition is just happy to wrap the ball up and slow the play down. The ball is thrown in and all of a sudden a third player engages the ruck contest, he comes in from the side off a shot run up, jumps and belts the ball in the direction of his goals… It’s the Third Man Up!
Most AFL teams have this designated player. A player who whether instructed to by the coach or of their own accord jumps into the arena usually reserved for 100kg plus and 200cm plus big men. Revealed below is the list of players who are the bane of opposition ruckmen everywhere:
Hawthorn – Jordan Lewis
The forgotten man of the Hawks star studded team, Lewis averages more hit-outs than any other non genuine tall player in the game.
Sydney – Luke Parker
Josh Kennedy is far and away the best clearance player in the AFL, add to this the presence of countless talls across the park in Pyke, Tippett, Franklin, Reid and Richards and a third man up option might seem redundant for the Swans. But despite this it’s the hardworking Parker who when required puts his hand up for the premiership favourites.
Geelong –Mitch Duncan
While former Sun Josh Caddy statistically enacts more hit-outs than Duncan, his dodgy shoulders could stunt his progression in the role. Duncan is the Cats best bet moving forward.
Fremantle – Nat Fyfe
It would seem strange for any side with Aaron Sandilands in it to ever need a third man up but if that time ever arises, Nat Fyfe is Freo’s man. Mind you at 190cm tall he’s not exactly a garden gnome
Port Adelaide – Ollie Wines / Brad Ebert
While Justin Westhoff often launches himself out of turn at a stoppage, he is a borderline ruckman anyway. Within the Power’s midfield ranks, it’s Wines and Ebert who fill the role to greatest effect.
North Melbourne – Jack Ziebell
While Nick Dal Santo and Daniel Wells often have a crack as the third man up, it’s robust onballer Ziebell who coach Brad Scott would ideally deploy in the role providing he can keep his body right.
Adelaide – Patrick Dangerfield
Is it any surprise that the player who shoulders so much on field responsibility for the Crows also takes on this role as well?
Essendon – Brendon Goddard
The former Saint goes within a whisker of qualifying as a genuine tall but since he falls just shy of 190cm we’ll let him slide on this one.
Collingwood – Scott Pendlebury
It makes perfect sense for the former basketballer, who no doubt competed in his fair share of jump balls, to fulfil the role for the Pies. Plus he makes it look bloody easy.
Gold Coast – David Swallow
While Swallow currently fills this role for the Suns, the player most likely to take on this role moving forward is Kade Kolodjashnij. The man with the difficult to pronounce surname had the highest vertical jump and running vertical jump at the 2013 AFL Draft Camp.
West Coast – Jeremy McGovern
He’s already shown his aerial capabilities with a couple of “mark of the year” contenders and he’s set to continue to utilize his leap to great affect for the Eagles at stoppages. Although good luck to him trying to jump over the top of Nic Natanui
Richmond – None
Outside of genuine ruckmen Ivan Maric and Shaun Hampson as well as tall forwards Ty Vickery and Ben Griffiths, the Tigers don’t employ a third man up option, maybe it’s something they should look into.
Carlton – Bryce Gibbs
Currently employed as somewhat of a utility by coach Mick Malthouse, it’s only appropriate that Gibbs add to his all-round reputation by being the Blues pinch hitter at stoppages
Western Bulldogs – Marcus Bontempelli
Excitingly the Bulldogs have already bestowed third man up duties on one of their young guns. Bontempelli’s pure athleticism should see him become a dangerous third man up option for years to come
Brisbane – Pearce Hanley
Remarkable to think that a player who didn’t know what a Sherrin was until 2005 is now not only so skillful with one in hand but understands the nuance of the third man up role so well.
Melbourne – Daniel Cross
At 31 years of age and having suffered several injuries this season, the mind may still be willing but Cross’ body is beginning to question if he is still the best option for the third man up role at the Dees. Paul Roos will no doubt be taking applications this pre-season.
GWS – Callan Ward
It comes as no surprise that in a team full of developing players, Callan Ward, their battle hardened skipper is the man who rises above the pack when the team needs it most.
St Kilda – Lenny Hayes
It’s a good thing the Saints have acknowledged they’re in a rebuilding phase because Lenny is their designated third man up and he’s retiring so looks like someone else will be learning a new role in pre-season.