ANSWER MAN with

I notice Lachie Neale has recorded 30-plus disposals on 96 occasions in his career. Has any player in VFL/AFL history produced more 30-plus disposal performances than the Brisbane Lions star?

FRASER KRANE, JOLIMONT, VIC

LE: No player in AFL/VFL history has recorded more 30-plus disposal games than the little master Gary Ablett jnr, who did so 126 times. Ablett overtook Hawthorn and West Coast superstar Sam Mitchell in 2018. Currently there are nine players in the competition who have recorded 30-plus disposals on 78 or more occasions. One of those is Collingwood’s Scott Pendlebury, who is on the way to breaking Ablett’s record – he is on 114. Ultra consistent Western Bulldog Jack Macrae should also go past the 126 mark, being already on 107 from 222 matches. Since the start of 2021, Macrae has played 63 games, collecting more than 30 disposals in 43 of them.

MOST 30+ DISPOSALS IN MATCHES IN AFL/VFL HISTORY

ROUND 16, 2022

CAN YOU ASSIST?

u Former Gold Coast, Geelong and Richmond player Josh Caddy played 174 games and kicked 164 goals between 2011-21. Caddy played in two premiership teams for the Tigers in 2017 and 2019 when he was at his third club. His grandfather John Reeves played 110 games and kicked 37 goals for North Melbourne and St Kilda between 1948-55.

If you know of other examples of relatively recent AFL players who have ancestors with a different surname who also played in the equivalent competition, please email Col.Hucthinson@afl.com.au.

u Carlton and Sydney both missed golden opportunities to stake themselves as genuine threats. The Blues were upset by a St Kilda team that ended a three-game losing streak to stay in the finals race. Despite holding a three-goal lead at quarter-time, the Swans could not shake off a persistent Essendon and went down by nine points. Brisbane Lions made it seven wins from seven games at the Gabba with a 41-point victory over a disappointing Western Bulldogs. Charlie Cameron kicked four goals for the Lions and Lachie Neale starred with 33 disposals. Geelong welcomed back Patrick Dangerfield for his first game since round 10 as the Cats unleashed on a hapless North Melbourne. Gold Coast went down narrowly for the second successive week, this time to Collingwood at Metricon Stadium. Nick Daicos (37 disposals) again impressed for the Magpies. Richmond held off a determined West Coast at the MCG, GWS rookie Callum Brown booted four goals to sink Hawthorn at a wet Giants Stadium and Rory Lobb kicked a career-high five goals in Fremantle’s eight-point win over Port Adelaide.