What the numbers tell us!

[noosa hawk mad]

By Jennifer Witham 6:11 PM Tue 17 June, 2008

Surprisingly, Hawthorn's Lance Franklin leads the competition in goals and clangers
Today's headlines

http://www.afl.com.au/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsid=61671


STATISTIC: sta-tis-tic (noun). A fact or piece of data obtained from a study of a large quantity of numerical data.

That's how the Oxford Dictionary defines it, anyway.

In the world of professional sport, and in this case, Australian football, statistics are a direct indication of how a player or team is performing, and can be broken down into hundreds of different categories.

Sometimes, stats can be unsurprising correlations of how players are travelling. For example, the two widely-known premier ruckmen of the competition in Aaron Sandilands (Fremantle) and Dean Cox (West Coast) are the most influential in their field, leading the league with 363 and 319 hit-outs respectively.

Not surprising, given their renowned dominance in the battle between big men.

Prolific midfielders Joel Corey (Geelong), Adam Cooney (Western Bulldogs) and Gary Ablett (Geelong) are no revelations as the leading ball-getters, given their obvious ability to find themselves around the leather each week.

Hawthorn's Sam Mitchell, known as 'The Extractor', also isn't a surprising name at the top of the centre clearance tally with 71 for the season, while the in-form Scott Thompson (Adelaide), hard-working midfielder Lenny Hayes (St Kilda) and the tenacious Brett Kirk (Sydney) expectedly trail him.

Statistics can also help highlight a player's ability that has otherwise been less notable.

Many would be surprised to learn Carlton young gun Marc Murphy has the most inside 50s in all the competition, from experienced midfielder Ablett and teammate Nick Stevens.

And, in another twist, West Coast full-forward Quinten Lynch is fourth on that tally, having switched his game from a stay-at-home goalkicker to a more mobile scoring option that can set up attacks on the big sticks rather than just finish them off.

This is just one example of a stat that can catch you unaware.

Here's another - how is it possible that on paper, the league's most influential player and one of the favourites to poll the most votes (although ineligible) on Brownlow night in Lance 'Buddy' Franklin leads both goalkicking (60 goals) and clangers (54)?

For his equal top-of-the-table side, it's interesting how the stats claim Buddy shanks a kick for almost every goal he scores. And, how he has the most 'free kicks against' his name ahead of Port Adelaide's Dean Brogan and Sydney Swan Darren Jolly.

Also, how is it possible that the two clubs most recently known for their tackling and pressure on the man – Collingwood and the Western Bulldogs – don't have a player in the top eight tacklers in the league?

And, how does St Kilda pair Hayes and Luke Ball top the table, despite the shaky season their side has endured so far to record just five wins and remain at 10th on the ladder?

Granted, Kirk is equal with Ball on 74 for second spot, with teammate Jude Bolton close behind on 73 followed by Jimmy Bartel, Domenic Cassisi and James Kelly.

But the first Bulldog to rate a mention is Daniel Cross in ninth position, followed by the first Magpie in Shane O'Bree at 12th.

Interesting, considering both those sides are in the top eight and have brought tough oppositions undone by applying the most tackles in a year when intensity required to win games has increased dramatically.

Statistics can also emphasise the work rate of a player, when it can sometimes appear suspect at first glance. Embattled Carlton captain Chris Judd, who many believe is playing hurt and hasn't had the same consistent impact he had in his best years, still leads the league for contested possessions with 138.

Ablett (124) is next, followed by Brisbane Lion Simon Black (122) and the perennially bleeding Ball (119) before Richmond's Nathan 'Axel' Foley on 115.

Of course, for Dream Team fanatics who watch the game these days barracking more for high-scoring individual manoeuvres than team results themselves, stats can tell you which players should be on your shopping radar after each round.

Following round 12, punters should look to recruit the big four – Thompson, Ablett, Dane Swan and Corey, with Matthew Richardson, Bartel and Cox the next best acquisitions if you're looking for a strong fantasy outfit.

Whichever way you look at it, statistics are a useful part of our game even when they aren't entirely telling.

And if anything, they make for interesting debates over who leads the league in kicks (Alan Didak), the most prolific rebounder (Daniel Pratt) and just how cost-effective Buddy really is.

Very.

Interesting read!

 

[phez23]

I hope the writer realises that a free kick against is considered a clanger. Take 31 Frees Against out of his clanger tally and he has 23. So he's not quite shanking a kick for almost every goal he's kicked as the writer says.