Tigers on top in the clinches
COLAC’S ability to win the one percenters and get the ball in deep to its forwards has made the Tigers one of the teams to beat this season.
The Tigers average more than any other team when it comes to blocks, chases, spoils and smothers, with a number of their young players leading the way.
Forward- turned- defender Adam Garner, 20, sits fifth in the comp in one percenters a game courtesy of his spoil numbers (3.23 a game), while Jack Melican and Cooper Stephens also average high one percenter numbers.
Aaron Walter, meanwhile, has recorded 25 effective tackles in five games, joining Ryan Monaghan, Campbell Floyd, Jarryn McCormack, Tom Simpkin and Ben McCarthy in the tackle stakes.
“He’s worked his way into the senior side. He brings good intensity every week whether he’s forward or on the ball, so it’s no surprise Aaron is averaging five tackles a week,” co-coach Rowan McSparron said.
“We just want to have a pretty even contribution across the board. If one person’s doing it, we expect the other 21 to be doing it.
“It shouldn’t be up to one individual player.”
The Tigers also average more than 21 deep-50 entries a game, ranked No.1 in the competition, which helps their forward-50 tackle efficiency.
They come up against South Barwon, which ranks No.1 for effective tackles, led by Ryan Dillon (4.5 tackles a game), but Colac’s ability to get the footy from the inside to the outside and maintain high uncontested numbers has been an asset.
“South Barwon have obviously had their injury woes through the middle part of the year, but they’ve still got some quality players — Josh Saunders and the boys from Ocean Grove who have fitted in really well,” McSparron said.
“They’re going to be a fair challenge and they rolled us in an elimination final last year, so it’s going to be a good test.”