Effective disposal % is an ok quick guide, but it only tells part of the story. The key part of the story is decision-making and risks you are taking with your disposal. For efficiency purposes a 15m kick in the backline across goal under no pressure counts the same as a dangerous centering ball into the middle of the ground that opens up the play. The stat doesn't reward players like MJ, who often makes brave decisions with the ball, or D Pearce, who hoofs it a mile off one step deep (if occasionally haphazardly) into the forward line
Roly specifically mentioned turning it over 'working on the spread', so it's a specific type of skill he's referring to.
Out of that 8, there's some pretty good company behind him. But Barlow can't kick, Hill's kicking has been below his high standards, and Mundy has barely played a good game this year. If you were to judge each of those players on their disposal skills this year, you'd find them wanting. But they have runs on the board. Blakey doesn't and has plenty of time in his career to go back and fix those things. He isn't a long kick, so he needs to be an accurate one, especially given his likely partner in crime over the next five years in Neale is also an average kick. There are genuine questions about whether you can carry two slow, small, hard-working inside ball winners who can't kick in the same midfield.
Micky Barlow was pushed to the flanks on that basis, and he's a better player than Blakely. I reckon it's a good call to give him time and space to work on it in the WAFL for a few games.
