Sydney forward Ben Ronke a genuine contender for AFL’s Rising Star award
NOTE to the jeweller engraving the AFL’s Rising Star Award ... don’t put Jaidyn Stephenson’s name on the medal just yet.Sydney’s surprise packet Ben Ronke is making his run and still has six games to further press his case.
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NOTE to the engraver of the AFL’s Rising Star Award: Don’t put Jaidyn Stephenson’s name on the medal just yet.
Ben Ronke’s matchwinning five goals for Sydney in Sunday’s thriller against North Melbourne is finishing the season like one of his explosive dashes towards goal. And he still has six games left to press his case.
Magpies forward Stephenson is still the hot favourite ($1.75 with the TAB) ahead of Adelaide’s Tom Doedee ($6) and early pick Alex Witherden ($7) from Brisbane. But Ronke’s haul against the Kangaroos has seen his odds slashed from $34 to $13.
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Ronke and Stephenson play almost identical roles as goalkicking pressure forwards and just a look at the statistics shows the young Swan is well and truly in the race for the prestigious award.
He leads the Magpie in goals, tackles, inside 50 tackles, disposals, contested possession and metres gained.
Former Swans forward Troy Luff says it’s not just what Ronke does with the ball in his hands that gives him the edge over his young rivals.
“His defensive skills are really good,” Luff said.
“He’s aggressive at the ball and the man and plays at a level well above most players who are new to the AFL like he is. He plays like someone who has been there for years.”
Stephenson really announced himself to the competition in Collingwood’s round four match against Adelaide at Adelaide Oval when he booted five goals to set up the win.
He was also pivotal in the Magpies’ 42-point win over Melbourne in round 12 at the MCG when he kicked four.
Ronke has had two big matches where he had arguably a bigger role in shaping the outcome. His seven goals in the Swans’ eight-point win against Hawthorn in round eight is a performance in a category of it’s own. Lance Franklin was out with a foot injury but the young Swan’s effort was a Buddy-like.
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Sydney had only three goal-kickers for the night (Ronke seven, Hayward three and Parker two) and kicked just 12 goals.
“Most players have an extraordinary game at some stage in their careers but for Ronke to do this in his third was amazing,” Luff said.
“He’s also shown consistency, he’s scored goals in seven of his 11 games and has become a dangerous forward. Opposition teams don’t just worry about Lance Franklin now they have to worry about Ben Ronke as well.”
Franklin played in Sunday’s epic win over the Kangaroos and kicked three, while Ronke kicked five in a match decided by seven points.
His two goals and seven tackles on debut in the Swans’ 17-point win against Geelong in round six were also impressive.
The Swans have three Rising Star winners, Adam Goodes (1999), Dan Hannebery (2008) and Callum Mills (2016). Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley won the first ever award playing for the Brisbane Bears in 1993 but the Magpies have not had a winner.
RONKE v STEPHENSON - BY THE NUMBERS
20 AGE 19
11 GAMES 16
21 GOALS (TOT) 25
1.9 GOALS (AVE) 1.6
0.3 GOAL ASSISTS 0.4
3.9 TACKLES 2.9
1.4 I50 TACKLES 0.8
13.4 DISPOSALS 12.6
6.1 CONTESTED 3.8
7.2 UNCONTESTED 9.1
3.1 MARKS 4.1
271 METRES GAINED 225
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