In summary:
Ever-reliable defender Jake Lloyd claimed the 2018 Bob Skilton Medal last Friday night to ice arguably the best season of his career.
The fifth-year Swan polled 540 Club Champion votes at the Star Events Centre, eclipsing the second-placed Luke Parker (517) and third-placed Lance Franklin (510) to earn his first Bob Skilton Medal.
Lloyd topped the Swans in average disposals and rebound 50s per game and operated at 79 per cent disposal efficiency.
The 25-year-old recorded the most Swans disposals on nine occasions and tallied 30-plus possessions eight times.
He’s played 115 of a possible 119 games in the early days of his career and didn’t miss a beat in 2018, playing all 23 matches to help Sydney lock in a ticket to the finals.
Lloyd, moreover, registered six Brownlow Medal votes to run equal fourth among the Swans.
What the numbers say:
Games: 23
Kicks: 420
Handballs: 219
Disposals: 639
Marks: 149
Tackles: 37
Rebound 50s: 139
AFL Fantasy: 101 (average)
Best performance:
Round 9: Sydney Swans v Fremantle, SCG
Lloyd was rewarded with three Brownlow Medal votes and a near-perfect nine AFL Coaches’ Association votes as the Swans trumped the Dockers in Round 9. The Victorian gathered 41 disposals, 15 marks, nine rebound 50s and a goal as Sydney pencilled in a 59-point victory at the SCG.
Milestone:
Playing 100th game
Lloyd became the quickest Swan in history to reach 100 AFL games as Sydney snared a thrilling win over Hawthorn at the MCG in Round 8. Lloyd, who made his senior debut as Sydney overcame Fremantle in Round 5, 2014, sits in equal third with West Coast great Glen Jakovich (1995) in the race to 100 matches. North Melbourne champion Wayne Schimmelbusch leads the way and Hawthorn star Luke Breust runs second.
What they said:
Assistant coach Dean Cox
“Loydy had a really good year. He finished second in our Club Champion last year and to put in another consistent year was terrific. I don’t think there were many games this year that he didn’t impact for our footy team. At times when the backs were under the pump he was a really safe ball-in-hand option, he makes really good decisions and he can actually start to change angles and open a team up. But not only is he good for ball movement and getting the footy, he really improved at his one-on-one stuff and defending isolated.”
In pictures:
Jake Lloyd warms up for a contest at the SCG during the 2018 season.
Lloyd in the commemorative guernsey worn against Collingwood in Round 18.
Jake celebrates his Round 1 goal with star forward Lance Franklin.
Stay tuned for more season reviews at sydneyswans.com.au over the coming weeks.
