For a 29th consecutive game, rising Richmond star Brandon Ellis racked up 20 disposals or more in a match, in his excellent performance against Essendon last Saturday night.
Ellis finished with a game-high 33 touches in the Tigers’ 13-point victory over the Bombers in the annual ‘Dreamtime’ clash, and was awarded the Yiooken Medal for being best afield.
The gut-running, 21-year-old, who is averaging a highly impressive 27.5 disposals per game this season, hasn’t slipped below 20 touches in a match since Round 3, 2014, when he had 15 against the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium.
Richmond coach Damien Hardwick is suitably impressed with Ellis’ strong development at the game’s highest level.
“He's probably a player who's found what works for him, with regard to his work rate,” Hardwick said.
“He covers an enormous amount of ground.
“His contested ball work has dramatically improved and we've been really pleased with that.
“He's growing into the player we thought he'd be.”
Experienced Richmond defender Troy Chaplin believes Ellis has increased his importance to the Tigers’ team by becoming a more rounded player
“He’s done a fair bit of work with Mark Williams,” Chaplin said on Channel Nine.
“’Choco’ has been into his ear about improving his contested ball.
“When he first got to the Club, he was an elite runner, and he gave us a lot of outside work. But in the last few weeks, he’s been able to win his own footy.
“That’s what we’ve been asking from him and he’s been doing that.
“I think he’s had four or five games, where he’s had 30-plus disposals . . .
“His ball-winning ability and his running ability, allows him to get outside the opposition teams.
“He’s a great user by foot either side of the body.”
