IN a football landscape where statistics often dominate the headlines, outstanding performances without the ball can often be forgotten. While much of this weekend’s TAC Cup action surrounded the likes of star-studded performances from top 10 picks Paddy Dow, Cam Rayner and Jarrod Brander, there was an unassuming defender who, for the third week in a row, captured a huge scalp.

Greater Western Victoria Rebels’ defender Flynn Appleby had just 14 disposals, three marks and three rebounds in his side’s loss to Murray Bushrangers. But the level-headed defender was named his side’s best for good reason – he had shut down the dangerous Riley D’Arcy who a round earlier had used the goals like a dartboard against the Bendigo Pioneers, scoring 4.5 from a massive 26 disposals and eight marks, dominating that game. Against Appleby, D’Arcy had just six disposals, four marks and booted two behinds. After quarter time, Appleby restricted D’Arcy to just three disposals and one mark, an impressive feat given the in-form D’Arcy has booted 34 goals this season, at an averaged of 2.4 per game.

But D’Arcy has become Appleby’s latest victim in a string of impressive wins for the young defender, including against the VFL equal-leading goal scorer, Collingwood’s Kayle Kirby. In his debut for the North Ballarat Roosters, Appleby kept Kirby goalless, with the exciting small forward booting just one major for the day – when Appleby was not opposed to him – which was a sensational feat considering the Magpies romped to an 87-point victory that match.

Last month, Appleby was assigned the task of shutting down one of the TAC Cup’s most dangerous small forwards, Gryan Miers from the Geelong Falcons. He nullified Miers to just 10 disposals and two marks. It was another huge tick for Appleby, with Miers averaging 2.4 goals from 16 disposals and four marks so far this season.

His latest performance against D’Arcy drew praise from his coaches and Rebels’ staff with Shaun Kelly describing Appleby’s performance to Rebels TV as “absolute top shelf”.

Appleby, who would have to be considered stiff not to receive a state combine invitation, told Rebels TV he was just enjoying the challenge, especially being assigned to the dangerous Kirby on debut.

“It’s good to continue the form and keep it up, it’s been a good five weeks for me and just being assigned a role and someone to take down, some dangerous forwards, it’s been really good and I’ve been really enjoying it,” Appleby said.

“Another great opportunity and I was just glad the coaches trusted me with the role to play on Kayle Kirby who is obviously a really good player and obviously to keep him pretty quiet was a pretty proud moment for me. It was a really good opportunity to play up at a high level.”

The Rebels need to win their final two games, as well as a host of other results to go their way in order to secure a finals spot. This weekend they face Calder Cannons, before finishing off with the Bendigo Pioneers in the final rounds. Both sides have a number of small or medium forwards and midfielders who rotate forward, and, if his recent performances are anything to go by, Appleby could continue his unassuming dominance of the opposition’s most dangerous forwards.