Consistently found in the best players for their respective sides this season, both Smith and Morris have been pivotal to the good fortunes of the Magpies and Murray Bombers, who currently occupy the top two spots on the ladder.
So as they prepare to do battle at Memorial Oval this Saturday afternoon, let’s delve into the numbers that will decide this key match-up through the power of GVL Data.
When it comes to ruckmen the first and most important stat to look at is hit-outs.
And in this category it is Smith that reigns supreme in 2022.
Playing 11 games this season, the Euroa big man averages 31.6 hit-outs per game, while on the 10 occasions Morris has appeared in 2022 he averages 24.4.
Around the contest Smith has also shown a propensity to get his hands dirty, collecting 8.5 contested possessions and five clearances a game.
Morris on the other hand averages 5.5 contested possessions and 1.7 clearances.
Magpies coach Scott Rowan explained the influence Smith had on his team.
“Smithy is very important to us, and it’s not just his tap work but his work around the ground,” Rowan said.
“I know he really likes these big match-ups so I’m expecting big things from him this weekend.”
But while Smith has had the ascendancy in and around the ruck contests and stoppages, it is around the ground where Morris truly makes his mark.
Key stats
Andrew Smith v Kane Morris in 2022
Hit-outs per game
Smith: 31.6
Morris: 24.4
Contested possessions per game
Smith: 8.5
Morris: 5.5
Clearances per game
Smith: 5.5
Morris: 1.7
Marks per game
Smith: 3.3
Morris: 6.1
Averaging 6.1 marks per game, he sits head and shoulders above all other top ruckmen in this category, showing his ability to spread from the contest and have an impact.
Compare this to Smith, who hasn’t had nearly the same dominance in the air, averaging just 3.3 marks per game.
So what happened the last time the pair faced off?
Well, back in round two — a match Echuca won by a convincing 43 points — Smith took control of the ruck contests, winning 29 hit-outs to Morris’ 17 and had four more contested possessions and four more clearances.
At a glance
The ruck battle in round two
Hit-outs
Smith: 29
Morris: 17
Contested possessions
Smith: 12
Morris: 8
Clearances
Smith: 6
Morris: 2
Marks
Smith: 4
Morris: 8
On the spread it was Morris who took the points, taking four more marks and having five more uncontested possessions.
As the star casts of the Magpies and Murray Bombers take to Memorial Oval, watch out for the battle in the ruck, which appears set to have a big say in the end result.
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