Fremantle ruckman Aaron Sandilands could break the VFL/AFL record for most hit-outs in a season by year’s end.
Sandilands needs 38 more hit-outs to break North Melbourne’s Gary Dempsey’s record of 952 in a single season, set in 1982.
While the Freo big man has already earned third spot on the list with his 2015 effort of 915 hit-outs, he has some tall competition to take the record, in Kangaroo ruckman Todd Goldstein.
Goldstein is leading the competition for hit-outs with 937 this year, ranking him second in the record books, just 16 hit-outs short of Dempsey’s record.
The Freo star's cause will not be helped by the likelihood he will be one of the players senior coach Ross Lyon rests from Saturday's clash against Port Adelaide.
But Sandilands is then set to have at least two finals to pass Dempsey's old mark, given Fremantle have secured the 2015 minor premiership and a double chance.
Depending on how far North progresses this September, Sandilands could also make a serious assault on Goldstein's prospective new record.
MOST HIT-OUTS IN A VFL/AFL SEASON
| PLAYER | TEAM | YEAR | HO | G | AVE. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gary Dempsey | NM | 1982 | 952 | 24 | 39.67 |
| Todd Goldstein | NM | 2015 | 937 | 21 | 44.62 |
| Aaron Sandilands | Frem | 2015 | 915 | 21 | 43.57 |
| Aaron Sandilands | Frem | 2014 | 890 | 23 | 38.7 |
| Will Minson | WB | 2013 | 860 | 22 | 39.09 |
| Todd Goldstein | NM | 2014 | 838 | 24 | 34.92 |
| Todd Goldstein | NM | 2013 | 822 | 22 | 37.36 |
| Simon Madden | Ess | 1983 | 812 | 26 | 31.23 |
| Gary Dempsey | NM | 1983 | 797 | 23 | 34.65 |
