GVL Data ǀ Marchbank blossoms as Saints’ sole ruckman

Despite a difficult campaign for Benalla, Josh Marchbank can hold his head high.

The Saints ruck has been a pivotal force for his side at stoppage this season, and showed again why last weekend.

Marchbank registered a mammoth 38 hitouts in the Saints’ loss to Echuca, more or less doing what he wants over the usually dominant Kane Morris and Liam Tenace.

It’s not the first time the Saints have won the hitout battle this season thanks to Marchbank’s dominance.

The big man averages a staggering 40.7 hitouts a game, gifting Saints onballers Chris Welsh and Will and James Martiniello first use where he can.

Marchbank has registered 366 hitouts in total this season, head and shoulders above his closest contenders in Mooroopna’s Liam Betson amd Euroa’s Andrew Smith.

Saints teammate and fellow ruck Tom Downie has stepped in on two occasions this year, also leaving his mark on the stat sheet.

Downie averages 17.5 contested possessions, eight contested marks and 36.5 hitouts across his two games played this year.

His arrival freed Marchbank up in games against Mansfield and Shepparton Swans, the Saints using his aerial ability on other areas of the ground.