Carlton co-captain Sam Docherty AFL’s No. 1 ranked defender after stunning return from two knee reconstructions

Sam Docherty’s stunning return from two knee reconstructions has been emphasised by stats showing the Carlton co-captain is the AFL’s No. 1 ranked defender after four rounds.

AFL Round 4. Essendon v Carlton at the MCG. 27/06/2020. Sam Docherty of the Blues clears the defensive 50. Pic: Michael Klein

Sam Docherty could be forgiven for easing into 2020 given the mental scarring of two knee reconstructions that threatened his career.

But for a Carlton co-captain who admitted he wondered if he would be play again, the return has been astonishing.

Four weeks into his comeback, Docherty’s form is white-hot.

Docherty is the league’s No. 1 defender on any metric you choose to measure him on.

Averaging 129 ranking points, he leads Jeremy Howe (120), Adam Saad (114), Brayden Maynard (110) and Jordan Ridley (109).

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He has averaged the most ranking points, the most disposals (26.3), the second-most metres gained (576) and the second-most intercept possessions (8.8).

And playing in a team that is winning games, he is averaging career-best numbers in ranking points, metres gained, contested possessions and intercept possessions.

“It has been a pretty long two years sitting on the sidelines with a pretty tedious rehab to go through and there have been stages where I wondered if I was going to get back,” he told Channel 9 on Sunday.

“I always thought I could come back and play at the level, it was a matter of my body allowing me to do that and it’s good to be back playing footy, I am thoroughly enjoying being back out on the field with my mates.”

Sam Docherty is the top-ranked defender in the AFL after four rounds.

At Carlton not only is All-Australian Docherty on fire, the Blues are getting career-best performances from Jack Martin, Marc Pittonet, Levi Casboult and against Essendon, David Cuningham.

And finally the club doesn’t have to rely on Patrick Cripps to be the hero that drags them over the line in rare victories for the Carlton faithful.

“As a collective, we had a few (standouts) … what I’m liking is we’re not relying on one or two,” coach David Teague said.

“It’s an even spread. It’s going to be hard for us as coaches to pick the best few players.”

Originally published as Carlton co-captain Sam Docherty AFL’s No. 1 ranked defender after stunning return from two knee reconstructions