The Contested Ball

[cs61]

Hawthorn are one of the best in the competition for getting it from defence defence to their forward line uncontested for a shot at goal.

The way people are intrepreting these stats, you'd think that was a negative.

Being able to win a contested ball is a huge asset, but if you can kick goals without the opposition contesting it, that's an even bigger asset, and is what clubs actually try and do a lot of the time in modern football.

Stats are interesting to look at, but bigfooty make far too many conclusions over stats, especially 'contested' ball stats.

 

[Splash]

Why because it suggests Hawthorn are soft?

Its not too different to how one would expect and despite a couple of glarring differences such as Hawthorn - it roughly depicts where clubs are on the ladder.

I don't see how its irrelevant like you pan to suggest.

Hawthorn are soft?
That's funny.Imagine Hodgey,Brownie or Jordie running towards you

 

[jonoman89]

You mean "e.g." hawthorn (not i.e.). That is, unless you believe Hawthorn is the only example supporting your argument.

i am hungover. shuddup.

 

[scroda]

Just a quick question - is this in comparison to the league average, or cumulative for/against from each game?

the latter

btw, this post must be breaking new ground for bigfooty. actual football discussion. quite amazing.

 

[Chief Crow]

From today's Age

Club vs Opposition

Richmond...................+108
Adelaide....................+79
Western Bulldogs........+75
Geelong....................+65
Collingwood...............+47
Sydney.....................+37
North Melbourne.........+2
Brisbane Lions.............-2
West Coast................-9
Carlton.....................-23
Hawthorn.................-38
Melbourne................-50
Essendon.................-55
St Kilda...................-69
Fremantle................-80
Port Adelaide...........-87


This is a great stat for us. Most contested ball comes from stoppages which shows our young midfielders are doing a fantastic job and the reason why we are currently travelling well

 

[stui magpie]

Uncontested footy doesn't win finals.

 

[lids2004roar]

a lot of those teams in the minus territory dont have as many hardball gets because they simply don't lose posession as much i.e. hawthorn.

What about Geelong, are they constantly losing possession?

I can't believe people are actually arguing that contested possessions aren't valuable.

They are highly valuable.

You need to be good at many aspects of the game before you have a great team, Richmond may be great at winning the hardball but they have other areas that let them down.

That doesn't mean winning the hardball isn't valuable in the outcome of a match!

 

[sante]

All we need to do is hit a target and we are premiers

 

[CyberKev]

You need to be good at many aspects of the game before you have a great team, Richmond may be great at winning the hardball but they have other areas that let them down.

The problem for Richmond is that the two aren't mutually exclusive, Benny.

Richmond aren't great at winning the hardball simply on account of this stat. From watching the Tigers play, all this stat shows is that they get themselves into an inordinate number of contested situations (that they shouldn't be in) because their skills and decision making processes are not up to scratch.

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

The Hawthorn stat shows just how vital, irreplaceable even, Sam Mitchell is in that side.

They have four or five Sam Mitchells