The revelation that Cross is an AFL record-breaker will surprise many, given the veteran Western Bulldogs midfielder is such a selfless, unassuming player. But then again, he has set a benchmark in the very statistical category that most highlights his unselfishness.
When considering the game's greatest handballers, legends like Graham 'Polly' Farmer and Greg 'Diesel' Williams immediately come to mind. This visionary duo used their hands far more - and to far greater effect - than any of their contemporaries and helped change the game.
Cross mightn't be revolutionary, but he stands head and shoulders above the giants when it comes to sheer weight of numbers.
Click here to view Cross's career stats
Remarkably, Cross averages 15.25 handballs a game. Next-best is another current player, West Coast's Matt Priddis, whose 22 handballs in the Eagles' 126-point win over Gold Coast in Perth on Saturday lifted his average to 14.403 - a smidgeon clear of Williams's 14.400.
Surprisingly, Gary Ablett junior is back in 13th place with a career average of 11.68 handballs (but an astounding 17.3 over the past four seasons).
Now for the qualification.
Records have so far been collated back to just 1974. Before then, 60 handballs for an entire team was considered excessive. Indeed, handball figures have since exploded, particularly in the past decade, so it's safe to regard the current list as virtual all-time standings.
The only pre-1974 player who could conceivably have challenged Cross's standing was Farmer, who was credited with 11 of Geelong's 44 handballs in the 1963 Grand Final and 14 of 55 in the 1967 playoff.
Against lesser opponents in the minor rounds, the big Cat would logically have won more of the ball.
In any case, Cross's 29-year-old hands are showing no signs of slowing down, averaging 14.92 handballs in his 13 games this season. (After six games he was averaging 19.3.)
In total handballs, Cross ranks sixth in a category led by his former teammate and mentor Scott West. At his current career average, the apprentice will need to play another 76 games to catch the master.
When it comes to the most handballs in a season, Cross again features prominently with three of the top-five tallies, and five of the top 20.
His best in a game is 30 (against Port Adelaide in round 12, 2009) - equal second behind Ablett's 33 against Adelaide just eight weeks earlier.
It's interesting to note that after 193 games - Cross's current tally - Williams averaged a superior 15.37 handballs.
Williams admitted that being shaded by Cross, and now Priddis, had dented his pride somewhat.
"Yeah, I suppose it does," he told AFL.com.au with a laugh. "But with possession numbers going through the roof, it was probably always going to happen."
Williams explained that back in his day, teams averaged about 280 possessions a game, whereas now that figure had ballooned by about 100.
"I averaged around 10 per cent of the team's possessions, so if I was playing today I'd be going all right," he said. "But that's not taking anything away from Cross - he a really good player, very good at stoppages and a fantastic handballer."
West wasn't surprised by Cross's statistical achievement.
"It doesn’t surprise me at all, knowing his workrate and how meticulous he is in his preparation," he said. "People wonder why 'Crossy' handballs so much but it's because he gets to so many contests."
Cross had been unaware of his place in handball history until informed by AFL.com.au.
"It's quite humbling," he said "I suppose it means you're doing something right and you've had longevity. As a young player, it was a huge thing for me just to get one handball. So it's a nice feeling."
Cross's explanation of his almost 1:2 kick-to-handball ratio is multi-faceted: he wins a lot of contested ball at stoppages, he's not blessed with great pace and he loves being a team player.
"I suppose I play a fair bit on my hands and knees, and it's hard to kick when you're down there," he said.
"People tend to love flashy players who use their feet, but I've always felt that if it's good enough for guys like Scotty West and (Brisbane Lions champion) Simon Black - two guys I model myself around - then it's definitely good enough for me.
"I love bringing my teammates into the game, and I've always had players around me who are much quicker and more damaging than me. So when guys like Lindsay Gilbee, Robert Murphy, Nathan Eagleton, Ryan Griffen and Adam Cooney run past you, it's an easy decision to give them the ball."
Cross insisted his handball-happy style wasn't due to a common misconception that he lacked confidence in his kicking.
"That may have been the case in my first couple of years but from '05, I've done so much work on my kicking. I back myself by foot just as much as I do by hand."
Cross's ability to win the ball and get his hands free from tacklers has no doubt been helped by his proportionately wide wingspan and bigger-than-average hands.
A source of curiosity for Cross is how he became a more proficient left-handed handballer, given he's a right-hander at everything else in life. He suggests it might be the result of breaking his right arm at 15 (an injury that weakened his right wrist, which he has strapped for each match). He can also relate to a theory espoused by Williams (another lefty), who believes the dominant hand is the one that actually holds the ball and provides the platform for a handball.
Asked if he had vivid recollections of any of the thousands of handballs he'd offloaded, Cross thought hard before nominating one - and only because he'd seen footage of it in a highlights package that accompanied West's recent induction to the Bulldogs' Hall of Fame.
The Dogs were playing Richmond at Docklands in round one, 2006, and Cross handballed over his shoulder without looking and found West, who goaled. The ever-modest Cross scoffed at the suggestion he shared a sixth sense with West.
"I'd just say we had a good relationship," he said. "And that was only the case because we worked hard at it. Nothing like that just happens."
And doubly so where records are concerned.
Highest average handballs - 1974-2012 (50 games minimum)
| Player | Average | Handballs | Games |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Daniel Cross (WB) | 15.25 | 2943 | 193 |
| 2. Matt Priddis (WC) | 14.403 | 1714 | 119 |
| 3. Greg Williams (Geel/Syd/Carl) | 14.400 | 3600 | 250 |
| 4. Jobe Watson (Ess) | 13.34 | 1934 | 145 |
| 5. Joel Selwood (Geel) | 13.13 | 1654 | 126 |
| Other Current Players | |||
| 9. Shane Tuck (Rich) | 12.16 | 1860 | 153 |
| 10. Tom Rocklff (BL) | 12.13 | 643 | 53 |
| 11.Sam Mitchell (Haw) | 11.86 | 2491 | 210 |
| 12. Scott Pendlebury (Coll) | 11.679 | 1600 | 137 |
| 13. Gary Ablett (Geel/GC) | 11.677 | 2604 | 223 |
| 14. Josh Kennedy (Haw/Syd) | 11.66 | 863 | 74 |
| 15. Brad Sewell (Haw) | 11.64 | 1839 | 158 |
| 16. Simon Black (BL) | 11.63 | 3559 | 306 |
| 17. Nathan Foley (Rich) | 11.61 | 1393 | 120 |
Most handballs in a season - 1974-2012
| Player | Handballs | Games | Average | Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Gary Ablett (Geel) | 445 | 22 | 20.23 | 2009 |
| =2. Daniel Cross (WB) | 423 | 25 | 16.92 | 2010 |
| =2. Scott West (WB) | 423 | 24 | 17.63 | 2006 |
| 4. Daniel Cross (WB) | 422 | 25 | 16.88 | 2008 |
| 5. Daniel Cross (WB) | 419 | 23 | 18.22 | 2009 |
Most handballs - 1974-2012
| Player | Handballs | Games | Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Scott West (WB) | 4093 | 324 | 12.63 |
| 2. Robert Harvey (StK) | 4008 | 383 | 10.46 |
| 3. Greg Williams (Geel/Syd/Carl) | 3600 | 250 | 14.4 |
| 4. Simon Black (BL) | 3559 | 306 | 11.63 |
| 5. Tony Shaw (Coll) | 3045 | 313 | 9.73 |
| 6. Daniel Cross (WB) | 2943 | 193 | 15.25 |
* Statistics sourced from stats.rleague.com/afl/afl_index.html
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs