Essendon’s ruck stocks could not be stronger heading into the 2013 season with Tom Bellchambers, David Hille and Paddy Ryder all impressing during the round one NAB Cup matches.
6:51pm Feb 17, 2013
Tom Bellchambers is priming himself to be Essendon's first-choice ruckman in 2013, according to coach James Hird.
12:37pm Jan 25, 2013
12:50pm May 9, 2011
Junior Clubs: Northern Bombers
Clubs:
Debut: 2008
Recruited from: Tasmania U18
Brownlow Votes: -
Supporter
CT Solutions Australia - David Parasol
Benefactor
Profiler Recruitment
The agile ruckman enjoyed the best of his five AFL seasons in 2012, playing 16 games and establishing himself as the club's first choice big man. Averaged 28 hit-outs a game and built a strong relationship with Essendon's midfielders. Broke his foot in the warm up before the last round clash with Collingwood and was a late withdrawal, but will be expected to develop into one of the most damaging ruckmen in the competition in 2013.
Bellchambers managed 13 matches in 2011 as James Hird tinkered with a three-ruckman strategy. The aggressive and talented big man won an average 21 hit-outs a match and has the agility and nous to also move forward, where he kicked eight goals for the season. Seems set to play a bigger role in 2012, and signed a two-year contract extension with the club in June.
| Statistics | Best | Opponent | Round |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kicks | 10 | Geelong Cats | Rd 7 |
| Handballs | 7 | Collingwood | Rd 5 |
| Disposals | 15 | Collingwood | Rd 5 |
| Marks | 7 | Melbourne | Rd 2 |
| Hit-outs | 33 | Fremantle | Rd 3 |
| Tackles | 3 | Collingwood | Rd 5 |
| Goals | 4 | Melbourne | Rd 2 |
| Dream Team | 108 | Collingwood | Rd 5 |
| Rd | Opponent | Result | K | H | D | M | HO | FF | FA | T | G | B | DT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Adelaide Crows | W 82 - 117 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 2 | 26 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 56 |
| 2 | Melbourne | W 184 - 36 | 9 | 3 | 12 | 7 | 21 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 102 |
| 3 | Fremantle | W 68 - 72 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 2 | 33 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 58 |
| 4 | St Kilda | W 91 - 128 | 10 | 4 | 14 | 6 | 16 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 89 |
| 5 | Collingwood | W 121 - 75 | 8 | 7 | 15 | 5 | 32 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 108 |
| 6 | GWS Giants | W 120 - 81 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 4 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 62 |
| 7 | Geelong Cats | L 113 - 85 | 10 | 4 | 14 | 4 | 31 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 89 |
| 8 | Brisbane Lions | L 86 - 96 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 19 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 74 |
| 9 | Richmond | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| 10 | Sydney Swans | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| 11 | Carlton | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| 12 | Gold Coast Suns | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| 14 | West Coast Eagles | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| 15 | Port Adelaide | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| 16 | Western Bulldogs | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| 17 | GWS Giants | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| 18 | Hawthorn | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| 19 | Collingwood | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| 20 | West Coast Eagles | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| 21 | North Melbourne | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| 22 | Carlton | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| 23 | Richmond | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| TOTAL | W: 6 - L: 2 | 55 | 35 | 90 | 36 | 188 | 14 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 4 | 638 |
| Statistics | Best | Opponent | Round |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kicks | 13 | Brisbane Lions | Rd 6, 2012 |
| Handballs | 12 | Gold Coast Suns | Rd 6, 2011 |
| Disposals | 21 | Brisbane Lions | Rd 6, 2012 |
| Marks | 9 | North Melbourne | Rd 20, 2012 |
| Hit-outs | 48 | North Melbourne | Rd 20, 2012 |
| Tackles | 4 | Gold Coast Suns | Rd 6, 2011 |
| Goals | 4 | Melbourne | Rd 2, 2013 |
| Dream Team | 114 | Geelong Cats | Rd 17, 2012 |
| Season | Club | K | H | D | M | HO | FF | FA | T | G | B | DT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Essendon | 55 | 35 | 90 | 36 | 188 | 14 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 4 | 638 |
| 2012 | Essendon | 113 | 73 | 186 | 77 | 448 | 21 | 19 | 21 | 10 | 10 | 1282 |
| 2011 | Essendon | 68 | 72 | 140 | 44 | 276 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 8 | 2 | 840 |
| 2010 | Essendon | 21 | 24 | 45 | 23 | 56 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 254 |
| 2009 | Essendon | 11 | 25 | 36 | 15 | 55 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 210 |
| 2008 | Essendon | 7 | 17 | 24 | 8 | 24 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 119 |
AFL Games: 43
