Number Crunch: Jasper Pittard has gone from clumsy defender to Port Adelaide’s metre eater

KEN Hinkley declared it was time, reports Andrew Capel. Time for a player who reminds him of himself in his early playing days to stop the comical backline errors and take his game to the next level. BLOG Replay Andrew’s blog here.

Jasper Pittard has shown huge improvement, says Andrew Capel.

KEN Hinkley declared it was time.

Time for a player who reminds him a little bit of himself in his early playing days to stop the comical backline errors and take his game to the next level.

“I asked him to be mature,’’ Port Adelaide coach Hinkley said of his pre-season message to seventh-year defender Jasper Pittard.

“You’ve played enough games now, Jasper, it’s time for you to be mature and make those good decisions and keep your composure out there on the footy field, you’ve got enough experience.’’

Mature he has.

Pittard — long maligned even by Power supporters for ruining some of his exhilarating play with head-scratching turnovers — has been one of Port’s biggest success stories in its inconsistent start to 2016.

The 25-year-old half-back flanker — selected at pick 16 at the 2009 national draft — has played with great dash and bravery to average a career-high 25.5 disposals (up from 19.6 last year) at a personal-best 76 per cent kicking efficiency, a league-best 641 metres gained per game and 96 SuperCoach points.

He leads the Power in a host of key statistical categories and has been so impressive that former Essendon star Matthew Lloyd has picked him in a back pocket in his rolling All-Australian team after six rounds.

“He’s been Port’s best player all year,’’ Lloyd declared.

Pittard has had at least 20 disposals in every game with a season-high 32 in the thumping by GWS in Canberra in round four.

Significantly most of the howling areas for which he had become accustomed have been cut out of his game, leading to him being ranked sixth for all defenders in SuperCoach.

No other player has gained as much territory for his team, with Pittard’s 641m average eclipsing midfield ball magnets Patrick Dangerfield of Geelong (630m) and Gold Coast’s Aaron Hall (581).

Pittard gets Port out of hot water. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Crows rebounding defender Brodie Smith is the second-highest ranked defensive metre eater with an average of 585m.

Illustrating his ability to run and carry the ball, Pittard ranks second in the league for running bounces with 23 — behind only Giants’ playmaker Heath Shaw — and eighth for disposals and intercepts among general defenders.

Hinkley, who has been one of Pittard’s greatest supporters because he loves the way he takes the game on, described his form as “rock solid’’ and said he had “grown as a player’’.

“Jasper’s growth since I’ve been here (2013) has been pretty impressive,’’ said dual All-Australian half-back flanker Hinkley, noting some style similarities between the pair.

“He’s quite an established half-back flanker now who plays the game the right way most of the time.

“He has a mistake in him every now and then whereas not that long ago he probably had a few more mistakes in him.’’

Pittard’s Power rebounding partner in crime Matthew Broadbent noted the improvement in the long-kicking left-footer.

“Jasper’s been fantastic all year,’’ Broadbent said.

Pittard clears the ball at Manuka Oval in Canberra.

“He’s shown flashes of brilliance in the past but to be able to back it up week after week has been his strength this year.

“He’s matured with his decision making, he’s defending well and he’s obviously got the speed and skill to go with that so it’s rounded out his game nicely.

“If you look at all the good rebounding defenders they have high metres gained and Jasper’s leading that category, which says a lot.’’

Pittard said “cutting those mistakes out of my game and being really composed with the ball’’ were his two key goals heading into the season.

“That’s something I’ve really worked hard on and I think I’m making some inroads there,’’ he said.

Number Crunch.

Number Crunch.

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