Sam JACOBS

2017 Digest:   Key player given lack of alternative ruck options. First big hurdle crossed after getting through summer without incident.

2017 NAB Cup:  

2017 Season

1	GWS	Shane Mumford took the honours in the battle of the big men.	6
2	Haw	Roamed all over the ground and easily the game’s dominant big man. Scored a goal and had 43 hit-outs.	7
3	Port	Struggled early to keep up with Paddy Ryder, but made amends in the second half.	6
4	Ess	Lost the hit-outs to Matthew Leuenberger, but made his presence felt around the ground.	6
5	GCS	Moved well around the ground and fought an even battle with Witts in the ruck.	6
6	Rich	Beat Nankervis convincingly with 50 hit-outs, eight inside-50’s and a goal.	8
7	NM	Actually was on top of Goldstein early, but the big Roo fought back and they shared the spoils.	6
8	Melb	Won a whopping 74 hit-outs but they counted for little as the Melbourne midfield dominated the centre clearances and stoppages.	6
9	Bris	Broke relatively even with Martin in the hit outs and in effectiveness around the ground.	5
10	Frem	Won forty hit-outs and pushed forward for a goal late in the third term when he found himself unmarked in the goal square.	6
11	Geel	Tried hard but probably had his colours lowered by Smith; 15 disposals. No clearances and one tackle.	5
12	StK	Won the hit-out battle against Billy Longer 37 – 33, but they shared the spoils during the game.	6
13		Bye.
14	Haw	Good tussle with McEvoy, neither team was dominant for their side.	5
15	Carl	Would want to rebound strongly next week as Matthew Kreuzer won the big man contest easily.	5
16	WB	Took advantage of the Bulldogs lack of big men with a dominant ruck performance.	7
17	Melb	Duel with Gawn with intriguing, but he ended up getting the points.	7
18	Geel	Monster effort. Hammered Cats ruckman and was able to link up at through the middle. Best game for the season?	9
19	Coll	Even battle with Brodie Grundy, honours even.	7
20	Port	Won his third Showdown medal by putting the footy down the throats of his midfielders all game.	9
21	Ess	Wasn’t able to take total charge in ruck, but gave a capable display.	4
22	Syd	Beat both Sinclair and Tippett in the ruck with 48 hit-outs.	7
23	WCE	Dominated the ruck and his hit outs to advantage were telling.	8
QF	GWS	Played with a heavy heart following the death of his brother and was superb in clash with Mumford.	7
PF	Geel	Dominant display by the bloke who has some serious good footy left in him. Set tempo early.	7
GF	Rich	Ruck work gave side an advantage early but it petered out as the game dragged on. One of the better Crows.	7

2016 Season

1	NM	One goal from 10 disposals and well beaten by Goldstein in the ruck.	4
2	Port	Won the battle against Lobbe, giving his midfield the edge.	7
3	Rich	Despite Crows dominance, lowered colors to Hampson in ruck. Will bounce back though.	4
4	Syd	Great tussle against old teammate Kurt Tippett, both players won 35 hit-outs.	7
5	Haw	As usual rucked solo against Hawk pair and had an effective night.	6
6	Frem	Just battling at the minute, needs more help from Josh Jenkins or a rest.	6
7	WB	Gave away a 50-metre penalty that cost a goal. Six hit-outs to advantage, one goal.	5
8	Geel	Toiled manfully in ruck against the three Geelong towers.	7
9	GCS	Laid the ball on a silver platter for his midfielders at the stoppages.	8
10	GWS	Even duel with Mumford.	6
11	StK	Good duel with Hickey, pushed forward for a goal in the first term.	6
12	WCE	Worked hard in the ruck. Also laid five tackles.	6
14	NM	Lost the hit-outs but won the around-the-ground battle against Goldstein.	7
15	Melb	Battled Gawn and ensured the Demon didn’t dominate. Clearance work solid.	6
16	Carl	Three goals and 11 hit-outs to advantage in a fine performance. Among best.	8
17	Coll	Beaten by Grundy. Did hit the scoreboard with a goal.	5
18	Geel	Battled hard but Stanley caught him a few times pushing forward early.	6
19	Ess	Rolled his ankle in the second term and did not return.	2
20		Ankle.
21		Ankle.
22	Port	First game back from injury and produced a workmanlike performance.	7
23	WCE	Would want to rebound quickly after being beaten by Giles.	4
EF	NM	Great battle with Goldstein. Had 13 hit-outs to advantage. Three marks.	6
SF	Syd	Unable to impose himself on the game. Three marks and few effective plays.	3

2015 Season

1	NM	Great tussle with Goldstein, but beaten on the day.	6
2	Coll	Broke even with Grundy in the hit-outs but eclipsed him around the ground.	8
3	Melb	Great one-on-one battle with Jamar, and was slightly ahead.	7
4	WB	Dominated the hit-outs without same control around field.	5
5	Port	Bore the brunt of the tandem work of Matthew Lobbe and Paddy Ryder.	5
6	GCS	Monstered the Suns ruckman and got plenty of the footy.	8
7	StK	The big man needs help, hopefully next game he will have a partner.	8
8	GWS	Big task taking on Mumford with minimal support. Tried hard.	5
9	Frem	Ran into a brick wall, monstered by Sandilands in the ruck.	4
10	Carl	Had 16 hit-outs to advantage, kicked a goal and used ball well. Solid.	7
12	Haw	Best big man on the ground with 40 hit-outs.	7
13	Bris	Herculean lone effort in the ruck against a difficult customer.	6
15	WCE	Couldn’t stop Naitanui from dominating.	4
16	Port	A whopping 51 hit-outs, single handedly beat Ryder and Lobbe.	8
17	GCS	His tap work at the centre square was delightful.	7
18	Syd	Most accomplished ruckman on the field but had his moments with Tippett.	5
19	Rich	Outshone the double team effort of Maric and Hampson.	8
20	Ess	Had 15 hit-outs to advantage and dominated from the outset.	8
21	Bris	47 hit-outs including 18 centre bounce clearances.	8
22	WCE	Outplayed Naitanui with a fine display of ruckwork.	8
23	Geel	Dominated ruck (18 h/o to advantage) but team lost clearances by 11.	6
EF	WB	Hands full with opposing ruck Minson, but had the overall edge.	6
SF	Haw	Clearly the best tap ruckman on the night and tried hard around ground.	6

2014 Season

1	Geel	Huge first half and while tired a little he was big – eight marks, four clearances.	8
2	Port	26 hit-outs and a key contributor when the Crows got back in the game.	6
3	Syd	Playing a lone hand in ruck and the signs of fatigue are showing.	7
4	StK	Best ruckman afield and had 39 taps to generate chances.	7
5	GWS	Always made space in the middle when Crows were moving forward.	7
6	WB	Minson shaded him in the ruck duels but got involved more around the park.	6
7	Melb	Best ruckman on the ground with 41 hit-outs.	7
9	Coll	Great duel with Grundy.	7
10	Carl	11 hit-outs to advantage and close to best afield. Kept finding the footy.	9
11	GCS	Subbed out of the game with a groin injury after doing well in the ruck.	5
12	Frem	Battled along but beaten by Sandilands.	4
13	NM	33 hit-outs and four clearances up against the inform Goldstein.	6
14	Ess	Squared the ruck with Ryder but the Don kicked two goals.	5
15	Port	Deserved recipient of the Showdown Medal with a masterful display.	9
16	GWS	Competed hard against Mumford in ruck and was useful around ground.	5
17	Haw	Battled hard against Ceglar and McEvoy with little reward.	7
18	Coll	Some tap work late helped side turn the tide – 16 hit-outs to advantage.	7
19	WCE	42 hit-outs in his 100th game.	7
20	Bris	Won the aerial duel and also looked slick at ground level.	8
21	Rich	Another towering performance with 46 hit-outs and seven clearances.	7
22	NM	Even contest with Goldstein.	5
23	StK	Dominated ruck duels all day and had opponent subbed off by half time.	7
QF		-
SF		-
PF		-
GF		-

2013 Season

1	Ess	Battled hard but Bomber counterparts had more impact at the stoppages.	5
2	Bris	Had his colours lowered by the Lions big men.	4
3	Port	Double teamed by Lobbe and Renouf and uninfluential.	6
4	WB	Resting in the forward line when not in the centre square, looks tired.	6
5	Carl	Had his colours lowered to Warnock and is struggling to recapture 2012 form.	4
6	Haw	Won the hit-outs but not playing at the high levels of last season.	6
7	GWS	Lifted compared to recent performances.	6
8	StK	Held sway over McEvoy in his best game for the year.	7
9	NM	Struggled. Subbed out in third term after failing to have a kick.	1
10	Frem	Returned to form with a bang winning 50 hit-outs.	7
11	Syd	Dirty day as he was thrashed in the ruck and then limped off.	2
12	Rich	Had 36 hit-outs but offered little around the ground. Struggling for form.	3
14	GCS	Dominated the ruck and showed signs of last year's form.	7
15	WCE	Did well to combat the dual threat of Nic Naitanui and Dean Cox.	7
16	Coll	Couple of marks in defence in first half but otherwise quiet.	3
17	Geel	Beaten by Simpson but gave something to the effort – six h/o to advantage.	5
18	Frem	Eclipsed in the ruck by Sandilands. Only took three marks.	4
19	Port	Won the hit–outs 38 to 32 over Lobbe.	6
20	NM	Had the edge over Goldstein in ruck.	6
21	WB	Had 24 hit-outs and a reason side got on top in second and third quarters.	6
22	Melb	Most dominant ruckman on the ground with 42 hit-outs.	6
23	WCE	Solid and workmanlike in ruck.	5
QF
SF
PF
GF

2012 Season

1	GCS	Was dominant in the ruck and gave midfield first use.	7
2	WB	Had a tough night up against Will Minson and Jordan Roughead.	6
3	Haw	Main ruck for Crows held his own in ruck duels.	6
4	GWS	Won 28 hit-outs against Dean Brogan and Jonathon Giles.	6
5	Port	Best ruckman on the ground with 24 hit-outs.	7
6	Syd	Best big man on the ground in first quarter, but then faded.	5
7	Geel	Great game. Stood tall when he had to and had West covered.	7
8	Carl	More hit-outs to advantage (16) than 15 Carlton players had possessions.	8
9	Coll	Had a great tussle with Jolly but came off second best.	5
10	Frem	Battled to win hit outs against Sandilands but didn’t let him dominate.	5
12	StK	Dominated ruck duels all night.	8
13	NM	Broke even with Goldstein but neither was major force.	5
14	Rich	Fantastic duel in ruck with former teammate Maric.	7
15	Port	Undoubtedly one of the greatest games from a ruckman: AFL high 61 hit-outs.	10
16	GWS	Had his hands full all day with Brogan and Folau, but came out on top.	5
17	WCE	Up against the best in the business and was good, chipped in with a goal.	7
19	Ess	Great tussle with Bellchambers and kicked a goal in the first term.	7
20	Frem	Great tussle with Griffin and came out slightly on top with 33 hit-outs.	6
21	Bris	Easily won hit outs, but made no impact when used at full forward.	5
22	Melb	Did most of the ruck work and proved too nimble for the Demons’ big men.	6
23	GCS	Could be feeling the effects of a long arduous season.	5
QF	Syd	Nullified by the two Swan ruckmen. Mumford ran him hard.	4
SF	Frem	Misjudged run at centre bounces and seemed fazed by Sandilands’ size.	5
PF	Haw	Ruck work good and helped midfielders keep pressure on the Hawks.	7