AFL By The Numbers: 5 Brendon Lade
5
Brendon Lade.
Ruckman for the Port Adelaide Power.
Lade has been with the Power since the very start. A very solid foundation to build a team around, Lade shared the ruck spot at Port Adelaide with Primus for several seasons. When Primus was out injured it was Lade who increased his production to keep the Power switched on. Lade also missed a lot of games around season 2000 and 2001 with an injury, he returned better than ever.
Whatever the role is that the Power need Lade to do he is up to the task. If he has to take the centre bounce and then patrol around half back he can dominate in the air. With the play of Cornes, the Chad one, in recent seasons there hasn't been a big need for Lade to help down the back line. The forward line has been a different situation this century, with or without Warren Tredrea the Power have a use for Lade in the forward 50. Lade kicked his biggest total for goals in a game during the finals of 2003, with 5 goals. In 2004 he kicked goals nearly every game, sometimes as a forward and other times punishing the other team's ruckman by going into the forward area and kicking a goal.
The ruck position is where Lade has done the most damage, and a couple of thousand hitouts prove that. His best ever game was 34 hitouts. The totals may look impressive but it is the quality of the hitouts that make Lade stand out from other ruckmen. The timing, the understanding he has with the onballers, he is one of the best at cleanly hitting the ball to a teammate who is in a position to clear the ball from the stoppage.
Lade is being awarded for his achievements now, recognition that is coming a bit late. His 2006 All-Australian selection was well deserved. Lade was a great player last century when he was wearing number 20, now with number 5 he is a winner of the AFL Grand Final and one of the top 3 ruckmen in the AFL.
Brendon Lade information:
199cm, 101kg
Official AFL Profile
Wikipedia entry
Number 4
Brendon Lade.
Ruckman for the Port Adelaide Power.
Lade has been with the Power since the very start. A very solid foundation to build a team around, Lade shared the ruck spot at Port Adelaide with Primus for several seasons. When Primus was out injured it was Lade who increased his production to keep the Power switched on. Lade also missed a lot of games around season 2000 and 2001 with an injury, he returned better than ever.
Whatever the role is that the Power need Lade to do he is up to the task. If he has to take the centre bounce and then patrol around half back he can dominate in the air. With the play of Cornes, the Chad one, in recent seasons there hasn't been a big need for Lade to help down the back line. The forward line has been a different situation this century, with or without Warren Tredrea the Power have a use for Lade in the forward 50. Lade kicked his biggest total for goals in a game during the finals of 2003, with 5 goals. In 2004 he kicked goals nearly every game, sometimes as a forward and other times punishing the other team's ruckman by going into the forward area and kicking a goal.
The ruck position is where Lade has done the most damage, and a couple of thousand hitouts prove that. His best ever game was 34 hitouts. The totals may look impressive but it is the quality of the hitouts that make Lade stand out from other ruckmen. The timing, the understanding he has with the onballers, he is one of the best at cleanly hitting the ball to a teammate who is in a position to clear the ball from the stoppage.
Lade is being awarded for his achievements now, recognition that is coming a bit late. His 2006 All-Australian selection was well deserved. Lade was a great player last century when he was wearing number 20, now with number 5 he is a winner of the AFL Grand Final and one of the top 3 ruckmen in the AFL.
Brendon Lade information:
199cm, 101kg
Official AFL Profile
Wikipedia entry
Number 4
