GWS Category B Rookie Jack Buckley has “come from nowhere” to become one of the best key defenders in the competition, according to Champion Data’s Daniel Hoyne.
Buckley, who has played 25 career games, has carried a heavy load in defence for the Giants, particularly since Sam Taylor went down with injury in Round 6.
Hoyne revealed that the 25-year-old Buckley has competed in 13 more one-on-one contests than another key defender and is rated elite at both winning and halving those contests.
“What he’s been able to do this year, I had a look at his numbers last week and it took me by surprise – I had to sit back and watch him against Aaron Naughton this week and I thought the battle was fantastic to watch in pretty challenging conditions,” Hoyne told SEN’s Sportsday.
“What he’s done this year has been phenomenal for a key defender. He’s had the seventh hardest matchups in the competition. He’s been involved in 49 one-on-one contests. To put that in perspective the next most one-on-one contests is 36. He’s been involved with 13 more than any other player.
“In terms of his ability to win those one-on-one contests, it’s elite. He also doesn’t lose those contests, that’s also rated elite.
“What he’s been able to do in terms of ball winning and ball-use perspective, he ticks all the boxes.
“For the next 10 years, you can lock away a gun key defender in Sam Taylor and then this guy has come from nowhere I don’t even think they expected him to do what he’s done.
“He’s gone from strength to strength this season Jack Buckley.”
Buckley will likely have another big matchup against Brody Mihocek this weekend when the Giants face Collingwood at the MCG on Sunday.
He was selected out of the Giants’ Academy zone in 2018 as a Category B Rookie.