The careers of Patrick Dangerfield and Trent Cotchin have followed a similar path.
As teenagers, the pair played against one another and also toured South Africa as part of the same AIS-AFL Academy. They were drafted in the same year (2007), Cotchin to Richmond at pick No.2 and Dangerfield to Adelaide at No.10, and have both played 120-odd AFL games.
On Saturday night, they’ll lead their teams into battle for the crucial clash at Adelaide Oval.
Although both influential midfielders, Dangerfield and Cotchin are very different players.
Dangerfield wins more of his ball in the contest, ranked second in the competition for contested possessions, third in hard-ball gets and fifth in clearances. Like his Crows counterpart, Cotchin can win the ball in close, but is also used by his teammates to link up the play and hit a target – ranked third in the AFL for kicks and 17th in handball receives.
Dangerfield, who often endeavours to release the ball with players hanging off him, has had a near-even split of kicks and handballs. Both players have a disposal efficiency below 65 per cent largely because of the pressure they’re put under by opposition teams.
It’s unlikely the star onballers will be allowed to go head-to-head on Saturday night, but if one is able to get on top it could go a long way towards his team winning the game.
Statistical breakdown:
2014 Games
Dangerfield – 19
Cotchin – 19
Disposals
Dangerfield – 479 (20th overall)
Cotchin – 502 (ninth overall)
Kicks
Dangerfield – 234
Cotchin – 315 (third overall)
Handballs
Dangerfield – 245 (13th overall)
Cotchin – 187
Disposal Efficiency
Dangerfield – 61.2 per cent
Cotchin – 64.9 per cent
Contested Possessions
Dangerfield – 303 (second overall)
Cotchin – 205
Hardball Gets
Dangerfield – 131 (third overall)
Cotchin – 87 (12th overall)
Handball Receives
Dangerfield – 128
Cotchin – 198 (17th overall)
Clearances
Dangerfield – 120 (fifth overall)
Cotchin – 96
Metres Gained
Dangerfield – 7,270m (37th overall)
Cotchin – 7,198 (40th overall)
Inside 50m
Dangerfield – 86
Cotchin – 59
Tackles
Dangerfield – 63
Cotchin – 76
Goals
Dangerfield – 16
Cotchin – 17
Score assists
Dangerfield – 12
Cotchin – 18
