Aaron Sandilands has been one of the premium ruckmen in the league for over a decade, and Freo have missed his influence dearly this season, after the big man went down in the round three clash with the Eagles with fractured ribs and a punctured lung.

He returned, 17 weeks later in round 20, and his influence in the ruck contests and stoppage situations was immediately noticed. 

The past 10 games with Sandilands*, Fremantle have come out on top in the ruck battles nine times, and won five of those games. The total hitout differential is 548 hitouts for Fremantle, and 273 for the opposition, with Fremantle averaging 66 per cent of the hitouts per game, and average 41.2 clearances per game.

*Does not include round three, 2016 against West Coast where Sandilands suffered his injury

Fremantle’s highest with Sandilands
Round 20, 2015 Fremantle versus West Coast
Hitouts: 68 for, 17 against
Sandilands: 51 of Fremantle’s 68

Fremantle’s lowest with Sandilands
Round 17, 2015 Fremantle defeated Richmond
Hitouts: 49 for, 34 against
Sandilands: 34 of Fremantle’s 49 

The past 10 games without Sandilands, Fremantle have come out on top of the ruck battles six times, and won three of those games. The total hitout differential is 431 hitouts for Fremantle, and 416 for the opposition, with Fremantle averaging 51 per cent of the hitouts per game and average 37.8 clearances per game.

Fremantle’s highest without Sandilands
Round 18, 2016 Fremantle versus Gold Coast
Hitouts: 48 for, 30 against

Fremantle’s lowest without Sandilands
Round 16, 2016 Fremantle versus Melbourne
Hitouts: 32 for, 47 against