... nor the fact that you could put a totally different interpretation on those charts to make him look ordinary, very ordinary.
Examples:
Nic Nat trails on key stat
Champion Data statistics show that West Coast ruck man Nic Naitanui, with 166, ranks a long way third on the list of total hit-outs to advantage, trailing Todd Goldstein (North Melbourne) (a massive 209) and Aaron Sandilands (Fremantle) (197).
Sandi and Nic Nat neck and neck
The latest Champion Data stats show that Fremantle superstar Aaron Sandilands and West Coast journeyman Nic Naitanui are equally ranked on hit-outs to advantage at all ruck contests. While Naitanui has a marginal advantage (1%) on Sandilands at centre square hit-outs, Sandilands ranks well ahead in total hit-outs to advantage and total ruck contests per game.
Nic Nat could work harder
Latest Champion Data statistics show that West Coast player Nic Naitanui does not take nearly as many ruck contests per game (a paltry 58%) as Todd Goldstein (North Melbourne) (87%), Mike Pyke (Sydney)(73%) and Fremantle behemoth Aaron Sandilands (69%).
Respected football commentator Freoboy told 'The West Australian' that it was clear from these figures that Naitanui is not contributing as much as he should, leaving too many ruck knocks to his WCE team-mates.
There are lies, damned lies and statistics, but to say Nic Nat tops the charts for ruckmen is indeed propaganda. On their own graphic, the best this paper could report is Nic Nat tops one chart for ruckmen.
Sycophant: servile flatterer, toady, parasitic person. [Concise Oxford Dictionary]