They are both low impact players, but Artie is consistently a better pressure player. Also, his 21 goals in 19 compares more favourably to Laiths 9 goals in 23.I like some stuff that Artie does and it's good that he's found ways to play up the ground but he just doesn't impact games enough and not a lot has changed.
He was dropped after a starting game with 0 disposals last year and then came back for one more starting game ... and had 3 disposals.
8 disposals in 67% time on ground still isn't great vs. GWS.
I know VFL games with winds and open stadiums and less overall disposals means that disposal numbers tend to be a bit lower, but this is his "better form" in the VFL in the last couple of months:
8, 10, 9, 13, 10, 9 10, 11, 12.
All of which would be fine if he was an impact goalkicker, but he's not, kicking 21 goals only in the VFL this year.
Bit surprised so many are calling for his inclusion. I'm glad he played well coming on as a sub and it was arguably fortuitous that he was able to work himself into the game and replace a like-for-like player rather than being an awkward fit ... but he was the sub in the first place replacing one injured player before replacing another, both of who should be fit for this game, and it's not as if his 8 disposals at AFL level significantly changed my view of the body of work at AFL and VFL level over the last couple of years.
Either way one of them should play not both, and I'd prefer we went with a more impactful sub.