Statistics don’t lie.
Take note critics of Darren Jolly's performance from the weekend.
The big man played a crucial role in Collingwood’s midfield dominance against arguably the best one-two ruck punch in the competition.
The Magpies recorded 53 clearances on Saturday afternoon, 22 more than the Eagles.
A large part to the clearance success was due to Jolly’s work in the ruck. He accumulated 23 hitouts with 10 going to the advantage of a teammate (43.5 per cent).
He also served as a crucial link man with 10 handballs and had four centre clearances.
The highly rated Nic Naitanui recorded 10 more hitouts in the ruck (33 total) but managed only four to advantage, a 12.1 per cent success rate.
Dean Cox and Todd Goldstein, both All-Australian nominees for the ruck position, both averaged numbers lower than Jolly produced on Saturday. Cox is averaging 7.1 hitouts to advantage in season 2011 with Goldstein posting an impressive 9.1 to a teammate.
Jolly is one of the few ruckman in the history of the VFL/AFL that has recorded two premierships at two different clubs.
Statistics don’t lie.
Player breakout - Harry O’Brien
In his best performance of the season, O’Brien had a career-high 30 disposals and used it at 83.3 percent effectiveness.
The defender played on Mark LeCras for 63 minutes and only allowed one (freakish) goal.
O’Brien’s defensive work has been a key to the Magpies’ success this year allowing just one goal or less in 14 matches this season. The same number he allowed at the corresponding point of his 2010 All Australian season.
