Why young Port Adelaide defender Riley Bonner is no friend of the AFL umpires
RILEY Bonner has been a revelation for the Power playing as a rebounding defender but he has recorded the worst free-kick differential in the AFL so far this season.
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HE won a Rising Star nomination in round one but Port Adelaide’s Riley Bonner is no friend of the men in white.
The third-year rebounding defender, who was dropped by the Power for Saturday’s clash with West Coast, has incurred the wrath of the umpires this season, recording the worst free kick differential in the league.
Bonner’s -24 differential is one more than the umps next biggest culprit, Richmond ruckman Toby Nankervis, and three more than teammate Sam Powell-Pepper, who has paid a price for his fierce attack on the body and ball. Bonner has been penalised 33 times in his 18 games this season - almost twice a game - while receiving just nine free kicks.
The long-kicking left-footer has been pinged for holding the ball 12 times, for holding the man 11 times and for a push in the back on five occasions.
He has had two deliberate out of bounds paid against him and been penalised for one high tackle, one illegal block and one deliberate rushed behind. The numbers illustrate how the lightly-built 21-year-old has had trouble with his contest work in his first full season of AFL.
Bonner, who played one game in 2016 and three last year after being selected at pick 37 from SANFL club West Adelaide at the 2015 national draft, has been a mainstay in the Port side this year.
He has averaged 17.6 disposals and 364 metres gained - considered average and above average respectively for a general defender by Champion Data - but his contest work has been an issue.
His average intercept possessions (4.3) and spoils (1.3) are rated below average while his pressure points (17.6) are rated as poor.
Bonner clearly angered Ken Hinkley against the Western Bulldogs in Ballarat two weeks ago when the coach was seen giving him a spray at three quarter-time.
Senior assistant coach Matthew Nicks later explained that Bonner was being reminded of the “unconditional’’ football Hinkley demands of his men.
“It was about what roles we expect,’’ Nicks said.
“Riley is super important to the way we play - and at that point it was about his contest; what Ken wanted him to show.
“Riley has some amazing attributes, especially with the ball. He gets metres gained for us. He uses the ball well.
“And he is still working on his contest. He is a young half-back - and many of them have that sort of game and that work to do.’’
Port ranks in the bottom half of the free kick differential ladder, with a -13 count.
Hometown rival Adelaide sits fifth in the table, with a +42 differential.
Collingwood is the free kick leader with a +86 count while premier and top-of-the-table Richmond surprisingly has easily the worst free kick differential at -99.
andrew.capel@news.com.au