We already know that Jack Macrae is a ball magnet.
But here’s something you might not have picked up during the Bulldogs’ desperate attempt to reel in the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba on Sunday.
Macrae amassed the highest individual tally of possessions for any player in a game so far in 2019.
His 45 disposal haul was one better than the 44 notched by Melbourne’s Clayton Oliver (Round 2) and Port Adelaide’s Tom Rockliff (Round 1) this year.
It was also his second game of 40 or more possessions this season, and the eighth of his career so far.
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Against the Lions, 21 of his touches were contested, he won a game-high 12 clearances, had eight inside 50s and applied seven tackles.
“Jack does a power of work for us on the spread. With his incredible ball-winning ability he sets us alight, with his ability to spread to the open side and really outrun opposition midfields,” said Bulldogs’ vice-captain Marcus Bontempelli.
“We get a lot of goodness from what Jack’s able to do. He’s having a really prolific season with his ability to rack up the ball.
“He deserves probably more credit than what he gets. He’s quite underrated, I think, in the AFL scheme of things. Hopefully he can continue to finish off the year the way he’s been going.”
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Macrae currently sits second in the AFL for total disposals this season (623), behind Collingwood’s Adam Treloar (646).
From a club perspective he leads the overall possessions, contested possessions and goal assists, is second for tackles and third for clearances and inside 50s.
TOP AFL INDIVIDUAL DISPOSAL GAMES IN 2019
45 – Jack Macrae
44 – Clayton Oliver, Tom Rockliff
43 – Lachie Neale (twice), Jake Lloyd
42 – Jake Lloyd, Lachie Whitfield, Jaeger O’Meara
41 – Josh Dunkley, Jack Macrae, Tom Rockliff
40 – Matt Crouch, Lachie Whitfield, Lachie Neale, Adam Treloar, Travis Boak
