The Eagles are blooding the next crop of club stars — Harry and Max Mahoney, Sam Thomson, Ben Les and more — and chief among them is key forward Ben Christopher.
Yet to feature 50 times at senior level, Christopher is enjoying another stellar campaign for the Eagles ― off the back of his breakout 2022 season.
With 23 goals to his name from nine games, the centre half-forward is third in the league goal-kicking tally and has fast become Mansfield’s go-to target with Cam Arnold missing in the early parts of this year.
Christopher is the number one ranked player for marks inside 50 with 33 and has an average of 3.7 a game.
Key stats
Season averages
Disposals: 9.6
Marks: 5.4
Contested marks: 2.3
Score involvements: 6.4
Tackles: 4
Goals: 23
His height helps him in the air and he’s averaging 2.3 contested marks and is ranked fourth in the league.
He is also the third-ranked player in the league for score involvements with 6.4 a game and he averages 1.1 goal assists a match ― the fifth best in the comp.
But surprisingly, it’s his pressure and intensity around the ball carrier that has surprised many this year.
Christopher leads the competition for inside 50 tackles with 2.9 a match and is averaging four tackles in total.
At the weekend, in the 111-point win over Shepparton United, Christopher racked up nine tackles and kicked a goal.
His best goal haul came in round four against Benalla where he slotted five in the win.
He was also a shining light for the GVL in its defeat to Ovens and Murray League in this year’s interleague clash where he booted two important goals.
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