I can't recall who posted it but a really good point was made in another post on here that Ballin has to make so many tackles each game because the opposition are running at him, be it to tire him out because he is so good or because he is the smallest weakest like in the forward defensive line.
I'd love to know the stats on how many tackles Hodges made whilst on the field Sunday.
He copped a blast on here last week when we signed api. U would think the bloke didn't have shoulders.
He was a terrier in defence and brought the biggest forwards down. I was really taking note of his defence. Stats may prove me wrong, but I certainly ended up thinkIng that some of the credit needs to go to Hodges. It was because he is an attacking hooker, causing the opposition problems with his attack. As a result he is working their forwards over, and that's why he isn't having to do as much work as Ballin does in defence.
I also though Mason and Burgess had by far their best games this year.
Bozo's clean out may have fired those big guys up. But that spark from hooker, plays a massive role it gets those big guys moving forward.
Ballin has to get more attacking to stay in first grade for mine. His defensive brilliance is also his biggest down fall.