Superstar Sun Hugh’s tackling the big issue
TACKLING machine Hugh Greenwood continues to elevate his game to another level following another starring role in Gold Coast’s victory against Sydney.
For the third week in a row — and fourth time in his past five games — Greenwood applied double-digit tackles (12) as the Suns collected their fourth win of 2020 to move back into the top eight.
While his defensive work has continually shone since crossing from Adelaide, the former basketballer showed he can also find plenty of the football himself, gathering a team and season-high 23 disposals, 18 of them contested.
Greenwood also had a match-high nine clearances, and after the first seven rounds would be firmly in contention to be leading Gold Coast’s best and fairest count.
He leads the competition for tackles (62) and pressure acts, is second for contested possessions behind only Brownlow favourite Lachie Neale and is equal second for stoppage clearances.
Tasmanian teammate Lachie Weller booted two goals from his 15 disposals, the second time in three weeks he has bagged a double and the midfielder has now hit the scoreboard in five of the Suns’ seven matches.
It was another dirty night for North Melbourne as it slumped to a fifth consecutive defeat at the hands of Richmond, but Aaron Hall did his part in an effort to stem the bleeding. With Jack Ziebell going down with an early injury and Jy Simpkin (ankle) playing under duress, Hall shouldered a bulk of the midfield load alongside Shaun Higgins. He picked up 22 touches (nine contested) to go with four clearances.
Key forward Ben Brown’s struggles continued, with the big man’s confidence clearly suffering following a string of bad performances.
Though he was starved of opportunity with the Roos smashed 51-28 on the inside-50 count, Brown could only kick 0.3 from his eight possessions and four marks.
Tigers forward Jack Riewoldt kicked a late goal in the 54-point demolition.
The class of Grant Birchall was on full display in Brisbane’s victory against GWS, highlighting why the Lions were so eager to add the fourtime premiership Hawk.
Birchall finished with 18 disposals and eight marks in the 20-point win, with his ability to pinpoint a target coming back into the corridor often allowing the Lions to surge forward.