Peter Ladhams’ performance gives Ken Hinkley a tall selection order conundrum
Newly re-signed Peter Ladhams’ impressive game against Essendon looks set to keep him in the AFL side ahead of flag-winning star Scott Lycett for at least one more week.
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Peter Ladhams’ impressive game against Essendon gives Power coach Ken Hinkley one tall selection issue, but the young ruckman did enough to keep a flag-winning star out of the side for at least one more week.
Hinkley rolled the dice last week and brought in Ladhams, who signed a new long-term deal with the Power on Tuesday, for the third game of his career against the Bombers, at the expense of Premiership winning ruckman Scott Lycett.
This is despite Lycett, who helped the West Coast Eagles to last year’s flag, being a consistent performer for the Power this year.
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Champion Data have his 15.4 disposals per game, 9.7 contested possessions, 3.1 marks, 1.2 intercept marks and 3.9 clearances in 2019 rated all above average for ruckman.
His 7.9 hit-outs-to-advantage per game is considered by Champion Data as average for the competition.
But Hinkley last week said the decision was made just as much because of Ladhams’ form in the SANFL, saying he was “killing it”.
And Ladhams brought this hot form into the big league, making the most of being the main man in Port’s ruck against Essendon.
Recording 75 per cent of his game time in the ruck, 25 per cent forward, Ladhams had 18 disposals, a game-high 22 hit-outs, an equal game-high six hit-outs-to-advantage and seven clearances — the equal second most in the match.
This earnt him 95 ranking points according to Champion Data.
On Tuesday Hinkley suggested that Lycett may have to spend another week out of the side.
“It would be fair to say Scott was disappointed,” Hinkley told SEN.
“I’m sure as he has done since he has been with us he will work his butt off to get back in the side.
“(But it) has a fair bit to do with what Pete and Paddy (Ryder) do ahead of him in the side.”
While Ladhams has re-signed, Ryder is out of contract at the end of the season, along with emerging ruckman Sam Hayes, but Hinkley said the Power wasn’t facing a list management dilemma.
“It is a risk because you can only play one and a bit or two if they have good forward craft together but then there are injuries and it's the most damaging position in the ground to play in,” he said.
“We’ve seen teams cry out for a ruckman this year and we are lucky to be in a position we are in right now where we have what I would say three ready to play AFL ruckmen and Hayes and even (Billy) Frampton can play as a ruckman … who will give us good comfort with our numbers.”