Harris Andrews is probably never going to get 35 possessions in a game. Indeed, in 253 games he’s only had more than 20 possessions 10 times, with a best of 24 possessions all the way back in 2018.
But Andrews has hit an AFL possession milestone that has eluded all but 12 Queenslanders.
The Lions co-captain, a leading contender for All-Australian selection this year, topped 3,000 possessions at the Gabba last Friday night as the Lions beat the Western Bulldogs.
He’s the third Queensland tall defender to hit this mark after Collingwood’s Gavin Crosisca (3951) and St.Kilda’s Sam Gilbert (3460), having gone past Max Hudghton (2367) and Mal Michael (2324).
The Aspley junior has hit the 3,000 mark just ahead of three other current players – Adelaide’s Ben Keays, Gold Coast’s Lachie Weller and Brisbane’s Charlie Cameron – and is the 13th Queenslander to this milestone.
And, with Crosisca, Gilbert, Hudghton, Michael, Aliir Aliir, Max Hudghton and Daniel Merrett, he flies the flag for the tall defenders among Queenslanders who have hit 2000 AFL possessions.
Members of this group, who collectively have played for every current AFL club except Carlton, West Coast and GWS, plus Fitzroy, are (current players in bold):-
6455 – Dayne Zorko (Bris)
6143 – Michael Voss (Bris)
5868 – Jason Akermanis (Bris/WB)
5848 – Marcus Ashcroft (Bris)
5613 – Nick Riewoldt (StK)
4970 – Jarrod Harbrow (WB/GC)
4529 – Dayne Beams (Coll/Bris)
3951 – Gavin Crosisca (Coll)
3639 – Scott McIvor (Fitz/Bris)
3460 – Sam Gilbert (StK)
3330 – David Armitage (StK)
3207 – Jason Dunstall (Haw)
3009 – Harris Andrews (Bris)
2983 – Ben Keays (Bris/Adel)
2824 – Lachie Weller (Frem/GC)
2743 – Charlie Cameron (Adel/Bris)
2576 – Charlie Dixon (GC/Port)
2513 – David Hale (NM/Haw)
2393 – Mitch Hahn (WB)
2374 – Aliir Aliir (Syd/Port)
2367 – Max Hudghton (StK)
2324 – Mal Michael (Coll/Bris/Ess)
2285 – Jack Bowes (GC/Geel)
2242 – Michael Osborne (Haw)
2225 – Matthew Kennedy (Bris)
2221 – Ben Hudson (WB/Adel/Bris/Coll)
2205 – Alex Sexton (GC)
2187 – Andrew Raines (Rich/Bris/GC)
2138 – Clint Bizzell (Melb/Geel)
2129 – Courtenay Dempsey (Ess)
2113 – Joel Macdonald (Bris/Melb)
2102 – Lee Spurr (Frem)
2092 – Che Cockatoo-Collins (Ess/Port)
2056 – Daniel Merrett (Bris)
2000 – Dean McRae (NM/Syd)
Andrews enjoyed his rare moment in the statistical spotlight as the Lions posted a critical win over the Bulldogs and climbed to within half a game of the top of the ladder after Fremantle’s win over Collingwood.
Collingwood still lead the ladder with 56 premiership points, but Brisbane (54) and Adelaide (52) are now within striking distance a game ahead of Geelong, Hawthorn, GWS and Fremantle (48), and two games ahead of Gold Coast (44) who have a game in hand.
With five rounds to play this leaves the Dogs (40) under pressure.
Collingwood: Rich (MCG), Bris (MCG), Haw (MCG), Adel (AO), Melb (MCG).
Brisbane: GC (PFS), Coll (MCG), Syd (Gabba), Frem (Perth), Haw (G).
Adelaide: Port (AO), Haw (AO), WC (Perth), Coll (AO), NM (Marvel).
Geelong: NM (Marvel), Port (KP), Ess (KP), Syd (SCG), Rich (MCG).
Hawthorn: Carl (MCG), Adel (AO), Coll (MCG), Melb (MCG), Bris (G).
GWS: Syd (S/Sh), WB (Marvel), NM (Canb), GC (PFS), StK (S/Sh).
Fremantle: WC (PS), Carl (PS), Port (AO), Bris (PS), WB (Marvel).
Gold Coast: Bris (PFS), Rich (PFS), Carl (Marvel), GWS (PFS), Ess (PFS), Port (AO).
W/ Bulldogs: Ess (Marvel), GWS (Marvel), Melb (MCG), WC (Marvel), Frem (Marvel).
Will Ashcroft was best afield for the Lions against the Dogs with 26 possessions (10 contested), five clearances and five tackles, while Dayne Zorko had 25 and Levi Ashcroft 18 possessions and two goals.
Brisbane’s commanding win, more dominant than the final 10-point margin suggests, was in total contract to the fortunes of the Gold Coast Suns, who copped a 61-point wake-up lesson from Adelaide at Adelaide Oval which was worse than the final margin.
The SUNS conceded the first 11 goals of the game, and for the first time in club history they were held goalless in the first half.
It was 11 minutes into the third quarter before Queenslander Ethan Read kicked the Suns first goal – and even that came from a contentious 50m penalty that put him within easy range of goal.
Connor Budarick was one of few standouts in the beaten side, collecting 24 possessions – one short of his career best.
Corey Wagner continued his outstanding season as Fremantle beat Collingwood by a point to make it eight wins from nine games.
Aliir Aliir played 100% game time for the 12th time in 17 games this year as Port went down to Hawthorn in Launceston.
And Ben Keays had 18 possessions, a goal and eight score involvements with Adelaide.