On Thursday Fox Sports published an article suggesting that Rhys ‘Beastmode’ Mathieson was unlucky to miss out on an AFL Rising Star nomination in 2016… and we agree. Let’s look at the stats!
Mathieson made his debut for the Brisbane Lions in Round 9 against Melbourne at the MCG. He finished the game with a total of 14 disposals, eight contested possessions, three clearances and three inside 50s.
He backed that performance up with another 14 possession game against Hawthorn at the Gabba, before spending the next three weeks in the NEAFL.
When he returned, he came back firing, having arguably his best game for the Season with 24 disposals and seven tackles against Richmond in Round 14.
From Round 14, he registered 20 or more disposals on four occasions, including a 24-disposal, two goal performance against Adelaide.
The young Lions celebrate after our Round 18 win against Essendon. (Photo: Adam Trafford/AFL Media)
Mathieson finished the year with an average of 18.3 disposals per game, but it was his contested football that is most impressive - he truly is a contested football ‘Beast.’ Mathieson averaged 10.2 contested possessions a game, sitting only behind Mitch Robinson (10.7) and Tom Rockliff (11.8) for this stat on the Lions’ list.
Rhys Mathieson is an exciting prospect for the Brisbane Lions and their fans. He’s strong, he’s committed, and already has his name on the Brisbane Lions’ gym wall for his power in certain bodyweight exercises.
How did he stack up against other rising stars in the AFL?*
- Ranked 10th among rising stars in Total Contested Possessions.
- Ranked 10th among rising stars in Inside 50s per game
- Ranked 6th among rising stars in Disposals per game
- Ranked 1st among rising stars in Contested Possessions per game
- Ranked 4th among rising stars in Total Clearances.
- Ranked 8th among rising stars in Handballs per game
- Ranked 6th among rising stars in Effective Disposals per game
- Ranked 2nd among rising stars in Clearances per game.
*According to Footywire.
Mathieson was one of nine debutants for the Lions in 2016 as the Club focused on developing our young playing list. The promise these players showed should give fans plenty to look forward to. Mathieson finishes 2016 with 11 games experience to his name, and if this year’s anything to go by, he will attack the 2016/17 pre-season hard.
In 2016 we saw Josh Schache, Eric Hipwood, Ben Keays, Jarrad Jansen, Reuben William, Matt Hammelmann, Archie Smith and Josh Clayton make their senior debuts. Here is the experience they gained:
- Schache: 17 Games
- Hipwood: 10 Games
- Keays: 16 Games
- Jansen: 7 Games
- William: 3 Games
- Hammelmann: 9 Games
- Smith: 3 Games
- Clayton: 2 Games
Along with Mathieson’s 11 games, that’s a total of 78 games experience added to player’s that had never played Senior football.
At tomorrow night's Club Champion event, the Brisbane Lions will name a Rookie of the Year. Who do you think it will be?
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