Gus Underwood is as red and black as they come, so it was no surprise to see him push Zac Norris’ name to the fore in his Sporting Snapshots column last week when debate was raging about who exactly was the Goulburn Valley’s number one ruckman.
There is, however, in this instance at least, some strong evidence to back up Gus’ claims. Norris has more blue (the colour used by Premier Data to show elite status in statistical categories) in his profile than any other GVL ruckman.
He made his senior debut with the Bombers at the start of an extraordinary run in 2016, but has had his best start to a season this year.
He was understudy to Jake Reeves during an era when the Bombers lost just one game in four seasons — the 2018 grand final to Shepparton.
Since debuting with a six game season in 2016 and playing five reserve grade matches at the end of the 2017 season (a season in which he also made 15 senior appearances), he has not missed and has now racked up 90 games of senior GVL football.
Norris’ statistical return this year is in contrast to the ruckman he is being compared to for the title of number one big man in the Goulburn Valley.
In some instances he is a top five ranked player across the entire competition, not just when compared with the league’s rucking population.
Norris is third for average contested possessions in the GVL, the leading player in the competition for gathers, a top 10 centre clearance player and second for overall clearances.
He is the only recognised ruckman rated elite for both clearances and contested possessions and is averaging 20 disposals (15 of those contested), almost five marks, more than 10 clearances and three inside 50s every week.
His possession count is far superior to any other ruckman in the competition, while he is also above average for score involvements (4.6 a week) and inside 50 entries.
Norris is only the ninth ranked ruckman for hit outs, Benalla’s Josh Marchbank has a stranglehold on that title with 288 for the season.
It’s hard to provide a completely accurate reflection of Norris’ season, it may even be better than what we are explaining, as one week is missing due to poor video quality from the Mooroopna match.
Marchbank’s 48 hit out average (14 to advantage), six score involvements and 4.2 clearances are in the elite category, but he averages just 7.7 disposals and one mark a game.
The Benalla giant also features prominently in the free kick category, having had 17 free kicks paid in his favour and just two against him this season.
Mansfield’s Tom McDonagh averages less than 13 disposals a week and less than three clearances, while Shepparton big man Bryce Stephenson is elite in contested possessions, clearances and score involvements.
His disposal and clearance averages, however, are half of what Norris is posting on a weekly basis.
Andrew Smith averages 14.3 disposals a game, but is well behind Norris in regard to clearances. Smith has, however, kicked four goals this season — compared to the Kyabram big man’s two.
Moooroopna ruckman Liam Betson averages 6.8 clearances and is ranked as elite for hit out work, while Echuca’s Kane Morris is the best ruckman for contested marking (almost three a game) and also has four goals this season.
Rochester part-timer Mitch Cricelli, who spends half his time in attack, is elite contested mark and averages almost four inside 50 entries a week, but is still seven disposals a week behind Norris’ numbers.
There you have it, by the numbers, make up your own mind.