Ogden, who is averaging 29.5 disposals a game, sits alongside the likes of Shepparton stars Adam De Cicco and Luke Smith, outstanding Rochester recruit Mitch Trewhella and Seymour’s Nathan Beattie as the best two-way runners in the league.
By two-way runners I mean those who have managed to register not only a significant number of inside 50 entries, but also have a decent return in the rebound 50 column — while winning a large share of the ball in the midfield.
The 200-game Bomber premiership player has 55 inside 50 entries to his credit this season, but has also worked into defence and rebounded the ball from the defensive 50m arc on 13 occasions.
His figures are a little behind some of the leading two-way performers, but Ogden is fourth on the disposal count, sixth for contested possessions and second in the league for ground ball gets.
He is also a top 10 player for clearances (fifth in the league for centre clearances) and fourth for inside 50s.
In round one Ogden had 10 inside 50s, but a week later in a two-point win against Rochester had more rebound 50s than he did entries into the attacking zone.
Alongside Ogden, De Cicco, Smith, Beattie and Trewhella in the top 10 midfielders are the competition’s top ruckmen Keelin Betson and Ash Holland, Seymour’s Jack Murphy, Mansfield mid Brett Mahoney and Mooroopna’s Tongala recruit Coby McCarthy who round out the top ranked midfielders (statistically speaking anyway).
Liam Ogden’s season averages
Disposals: 29.5
Contested possessions: 12.5
Clearances: 6.7
Inside 50s: 5
Total ground ball gets: 8.9
As for the leading players in the inside 50-rebound 50 combined count Seymour star Beattie is the most balanced of the top 10 midfielders with 33 inside 50s and 30 rebound 50s to his credit
De Cicco leads the field for inside 50s (67) and also 20 rebound 50s, while Trewhella has 51 (inside 50s) and 15 (rebound 50s) to his credit, Smith 55 and 13 (exactly the same as Ogden) and Tatura’s Brad Ryan has a more defensive focus with 89 rebound 50s (and 15 inside 50s).
Others to feature in the two-way running are Mansfield’s Mahoney (61 inside 50s and 26 rebound 50s), along with one of the competition’s surprise packets Luke Davies.
Davies crossed to Shepparton Swans this season, breaking ties with his brother Tom and becoming a star of the GVL.
Tom Davies is a Kyabram District League medallist and two-time premiership coach, but his brother has stolen some of the limelight this season.
Luke Davies has not only averaged 15 disposals, six marks and 73 ranking points, but he has done his work at both ends.
He has 14 inside 50s and 28 rebound 50s to his credit this season.
Shepparton ruckman Holland, who is probably the Morrison Medal favourite this season, averages 135 ranking points a week for his 50-plus weekly hit-outs, 15 disposals and five clearances.
Hot on his heels is Mooroopna ruck Betson, who averages almost as many disposals (23.6) as he does hit-outs (28).
He also has as many inside 50s as he does rebound 50s and is equal second for clearances in the competition.
Jake Parkinson and Josh Dillon are among the other top ranked two-way players in the Kyabram line-up.
Dillon has 26 inside 50s and seven rebounds 50s, while Parkinson has 52 rebound 50s and 12 inside 50s for the season.
Running machine and co-coach Kaine Herbert has 54 (one less than Ogden, inside 50s) and 13 (rebound 50s) to his credit this year.
Recruit Eamonn Ogden has also worked at both ends, 18 inside 50s and 22 rebound 50s for the season.
