Matthew LEUENBERGER

2017 Digest:   Given Bellchambers’ knee injury the former Lion is an ultra-important piece. Nearly got through the pre-season intact until a hamstring issue.

2017 NAB Cup:  

2017 Season

1		Hamstring.
2		Hamstring.
3	Carl	In for first game of the year and was up for the contest; Kreuzer might have shaded him but worked hard from start to finish.	6
4	Adel	Beat Sam Jacobs for hit-outs 38 – 33, but Crows continually took the ball away in first half.	5
5	Coll	Matched Grundy in hit-outs and may have taken the honours with his ground-level contribution (six tackles).	6
6		Rested.
7	Frem	Stopped Sandilands from giving the ball to teammates. Worked hard.	6
8	Geel	Matched Smith in the ruck and got involved enough to be a factor. Didn’t star but played his role pretty well.	6
9	WCE	Good in ruck against Vardy and bobbed up with a late gift goal. Gave Bombers’ first use.	7
10		Ill.
11	VFL	Did the bulk of the ruckwork against the Roosters and controlled the air. Good.	–
12	VFL	Fought an even battle in ruck against Campbell and Redpath. 35 hitouts and 13 possessions.	–
13		Bye.
14	VFL	Had 30 hitouts to go with six inside 50s. Handy contribution.	–
15	VFL	Even ruck battle with Tiger big men. Tried hard throughout.	–
16		Didn’t play for Essendon VFL.
17	VFL	Probably too good for this level, but Bellchambers keeping him out. 40 hitouts.	–
18	VFL	Big day in the ruck contests with 39 hitouts but the senior player could find the footy just nine times and took only two marks.	–
19	VFL	37 hitouts and made an impact around the ground. One of the league's better back-up rucks.	–
20	VFL	Bye.	–
21	Adel	Head to head with Jacobs in ruck and neither held sway.	5
22		Ankle.
23		Ankle.
EF		–

2016 Season

1	GCS	Ruck work OK but rusty around the ground.	4
2	Melb	Five hit-outs to advantage and ok around the ground. Had the better of Gawn.	5
3	Port	One of the few Bombers who won his position.	7
4	Geel	Hammered Cat pair in the ruck – eight hit-outs to advantage good around the ground.	7
5	Coll	Continued his solid start to the season with a fighting effort in the ruck.	5
6	Carl	Had 34 hit-outs and worked himself into the ground in what was a great battle with Phillips.	6
7	Syd	Competed well in the ruck against Tippett and Sinclair.	5
8	NM	Beaten by Goldstein. Ruck battle even but around the ground had little influence.	4
9	StK	Had the upper hand against Hickey in ruck duels and also did a bit around the ground.	6
10		Achilles.
11	Frem	Showed agility and pace in one contest. Won his position.	6
12	Haw	Main ruck for Dons and gave solid display.	5
13	GWS	Battled away in the ruck and slipped forward to kick two goals in second term. Handy.	5
15	WCE	Fought hard with a knee injury. Helped Essendon to control clearances early.	6
16		Knee.
17	Rich	Colours lowered in ruck and when Grimes ran him down it was a momentum-turner.	4
18	Bris	Lowered colours to Martin in ruck battle but not disgraced. Got around ground well enough.	5
19	Adel	Dominated the ruck after Jacobs limped off to end with 53 hit-outs. Tried hard.	7
20	Geel	Probably shaded Smith on the day but was anything but a dominant factor.	3
21	GCS	Started well opposed to Brooksby then drifted out a bit. Handy enough in final term.	6
22	WB	Shared ruckwork with Leuenberger and was solid	2
23	Carl	Good in the ruck and useful when forward. Had the better of Kreuzer and Phillips.	6

2015 Season

Played for : Brisbane

1	Coll	Ruck work could not be questioned but not enough influence in play.	4
2	NM	The secondary ruckman and had no impact around the ground or in ruck duels.	2
3	NEAFL	Dominated the ruck with 46 hitouts in tight win.	–
4	NEAFL	Had 36 hitouts and 19 possessions in loss to Ainslie.	–
5	NEAFL	Even battle in ruck with Smith. Just seven touches though.	–
6	Carl	Couldn’t get into game until after half time when provided a contest.	5
7	Port	Made his presence felt in attack and good wingman in ruck.	6
8	Ess	Secondary ruckman who had no impact at all.	1
9	StK	Used mainly as a forward and only fair. Needs to make more impact.	5
10	GWS	Ineffective as a tall forward and did little in ruck before being subbed.	2
12	WB	Seems to be languishing as the second ruckman.	3
13	Adel	Got almost half his disposals in third term. Inconsistent.	5
14	Frem	Showed he is still capable of being a No.1 ruckman. Possibly shaded Sandilands.	7
15	Syd	Not overly influential against out-of-form Pyke. Never stopped trying.	5
16	Melb	Good battle with Gawn who eventually wore him down as game dragged on.	4
17	NM	Handy 34 hit-outs but not a lot of influence in general play.	5
18	Geel	Injured knee in marking contest and limped on. Subbed at half time.	3
19		Knee.
20		Knee.
21		Knee.
22		Knee.
23		Knee.

2014 Season

Played for : Brisbane

1	Haw	Just shaded in ruck duel with McEvoy and Hale. Battled hard until the end.	5
2	Geel	Seven hit-outs to advantage but didn’t impact at all around the ground.	4
3	GCS	Didn't do enough against younger opponent. Disappointing.	3
4	Port	Subbed out of the game with a serious knee injury.	3
5		Knee.
6		Knee.
7		Knee.
8		Knee.
9		Knee.
10		Knee.
11		Knee.
12		Knee.
13		Knee.
14		Knee.
15	NEAFL	18 disposals on return before sitting out final quarter.	–
16	NEAFL	Ruck work was good until he was rested in second half.	–
17		Achilles.
18	NEAFL	Got through a half in his first game back from injury.	–
19	NEAFL	Played full game and some of his ruckwork was good.	–
20	NEAFL	Ruckwork was good. 22 disposals and six marks too.	–
21	NEAFL	Started superbly but forced from ground with a toe injury.	–
22	NEAFL	Ruckwork was excellent. Also had 21 touches and four goals.	–
23	Geel	Just two marks and looked a little rusty. Great to see him back on field.	4
QF		–
SF		–
PF		–
GF		–

2013 Season

Played for : Brisbane

1	NEAFL	Played the majority of the game. Ready to return.	–
2	Adel	Great return from injury and will be much better for the run.	6
3	GCS	Rucked the majority of night on his own and played a big role.	6
4	NM	Performed superbly in absorbing battle with Goldstein.	7
5	Melb	Started forward and gave McDonald trouble. Three goals and rucked well.	7
6	Syd	Found Mumford and Pyke hard to counter due to their bigger body size.	5
7	WCE	Rucked against two All-Australians and found the ball too. Quality game.	7
8	Ess	Quiet in terms of possessions but did have 10 hits-outs to advantage.	4
9	Carl	Herculean effort against Warnock and Kreuzer. Dislocated thumb late in game.	7
10		Hand.
11		Hand.
12	Frem	Had the edge around the ground.	5
13	Geel	Had 11 hit-outs to advantage and a presence late in the game.	6
14	Haw	Best ruckman on the field but couldn't create dominance of last week.	5
15	GCS	Dominant. Had as many touches as a small midfielder and won the hit-outs.	9
16	NM	Won the hit-outs but not impactful in general play.	5
17	Melb	Growing into one of the game’s elite ruckmen. Influential in the air and on the deck.	7
18	Port	Most dominant ruckman on the ground with 38 hit-outs.	8
19	StK	Solid display in ruck on ball and around ground.	6
20	Rich	Well beaten in the ruck, unable to deal with Maric’s strength.	4
21	GWS	Had his hands full against GWS giants Brogan and Giles. Still had impact.	5
22	WB	Rucked well, worked around ground and kicked a couple of goals.	6
23	Geel	Didn’t dominate as he would have hoped against West. Not influential.	4
QF
SF
PF
GF

2012 Season

Played for : Brisbane

1	Melb	Used at full forward for periods but managed just one goal. Quiet.	3
2	Carl	Good in the ruck and around the ground but struggled when up forward.	6
3	Frem	Hurt his Achilles in the second term and got subbed out.	1