Levi Casboult has proven to be the AFL’s ultimate swingman

Once a whipping boy among the Carlton faithful, Levi Casboult has a unique skill set no other player in the competition has, writes Jon Ralph.

Levi Casboult is arguably the most versatile player in the AFL. Picture: Michael Klein

People have said many things about Levi Casboult, some of them unprintable.

But never before have they declared him football’s most versatile and adaptable player.

It is not a debating point, it is an undeniable fact.

No other player in the league can do what Casboult has this year — comfortably fill a key position slot in any area of the ground.

FINANCIAL BOOM: BLUES FANS’ STUNNING LOYALTY PAYS OFF

TRADE NEWS: GIANT BARGAIN? PATTON EYES HAWKS MOVE

Levi Casboult takes a contested mark against the Crows last week. Picture: Getty Images

Caboult goes up against Crows ruckman Reilly O'Brien at a boundary throw-in. Picture: Getty Images

The one-time erratic full forward has played 41 per cent of his game time forward, 36 per cent as a key back and 23 per cent in the ruck.

Champion Data says the only other swingman who has also played in the ruck this year is Hawthorn’s Tim O’Brien, who has played two per cent of game time in the ruck.

Port Adelaide’s Justin Westhoff is capable of pinch-hitting as a kick-behind-play ruckman but has not been called on to do so this season.

Not even the scintillating Adam Goodes played as a defender despite winning a Brownlow Medal as a quasi-ruckman who turned into a rover who could push into attack.

To put Casboult’s Round 8-13 stint in defence into perspective, he recorded 4.2 intercept marks a game, an average that would make him the league best over a full season.

Levi Casboult kicks a goal against Adelaide last week. Picture: Michael Klein

He is more than handy in the ruck and as a forward has kicked 14.8 goals (plus three misses) for the year and 10 goals in the past five weeks.

As a symbol of his resurgence his 50m goal on the run against Adelaide last week was the perfect exclamation point.

David Rhys-Jones, once Carlton’s ultimate swingman who played every position except ruck and rover, said he was thrilled with Casboult’s resurgence.

Live stream the 2019 Toyota AFL Premiership Season on KAYO SPORTS. Every match of every round. Live & anytime on your TV or favourite device. Get your 14 day free trial >

“Levi has been one of those much-maligned type players and mainly through his kicking at times and people got a bit carried away that he was the best contested mark player in the AFL,” Rhys-Jones said.

“It is a tag that stuck with him on a team sitting pretty low on the ladder.

“He has been a real revelation, similar to Liam Jones, to get back and have the ball coming to them.

“Look, I went back in my career and found as long as your midfielder is putting pressure on it’s not a bad position to play.

“He has been terrific and a person like Levi wouldn’t have had the pressure for positions much through his career and that has changed with Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay coming in and the recruitment of Mitch McGovern.

“If he wanted to keep playing he had to find another avenue, and his ruck work has been fantastic as well. Levi has had to be the second ruckman a lot and it’s been a real turnaround story.”

SUBSCRIBE TO THE SACKED PODCAST HERE

Originally published as Levi Casboult has proven to be the AFL’s ultimate swingman