Analysis Centre Bounce/Wing Attendance Megathread 2025

[Nunez]

Well, it's definitely quicker to do this when you're not enjoying your own team's goals.

So with Conor McKenna getting subbed out (and who was playing forward), Sam Marshall came on and basically played the whole time on the wing. For the third quarter Marshall took Berry's role as he played inside (I assume he was tagging someone but I can't be bothered going back and check). Berry took some CBAs from McCluggage and Dunkley who I guess had more time forward.

In the fourth quarter Levi gets a run in the middle, maybe in the sense that as we weren't going to win, we might as well use the opportunity to give Levi some experience on the inside. Berry goes back on the wing to replace Levi.

This would have been an interesting investigation if we weren't getting belted...

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I didn't watch and won't be watching the replay, how did Levi look in the middle and Sam on the wing (shit team footy aside)?

 

[briztoon]

I didn't watch and won't be watching the replay, how did Levi look in the middle and Sam on the wing (shit team footy aside)?

Marshall needs to be in the team. Smart kid, just knows where to be, where to run, just like Jaspa.

 

[ZoBlitz]

I had to rewatch the first quarter after I gave Bailey attendances that should have been Marshall's. I did notice that Marshall tends to sit a metre or so off the line when he's on the wing which is different to others so that helped.

With Neale out, there will be some interesting changes in the midfield rotation. Considering the willingness to give Levi some CBAs in the last quarter of the Gold Coast game, what I'd probably do is move Levi inside, bump up Will's attendances and maybe give Cam a smidge more inside time too. Then it's either play Bailey more through the wing and bring in an extra forward (probably McLachlan) or move Jaspa to the wing and bring in an extra defender (probably Beecken). Or just bring in Beecken as a winger and don't shift anyone around.

 

[ZoBlitz]

Happy with how my initial assessment for this week is looking.

 

[ZoBlitz]

Back at home after a trip to Brisbane and with two screen available again, I can get catch up with last week's game.

I take a moral victory for my prediction as in the first half the wing setup was Bailey-Berry-Marshall with McLachlan taking Bailey's forward position and Levi getting more inside time. After half time we switched things up with Levi heading out to the wing and Bailey going inside. Will also did get a lot more CBAs which didn't affect his overall clearance numbers but four centre clearances in a game is elite.

 

[Section 5]

In my opinion one of our weak spots is with Marshall on the wing. He is getting good experience though.
I hope they finally move Fletcher back to the wing this week to see how that original structure works.
I think it is better to have a good winger over a good half back.

Half backs of Zorko, Wilmot, Starcevich with Beecken debut as defense relief looks fine to me.
Beecken a wildcard to opposition so worth finding out how he goes in the starting 22

 

[ZoBlitz]

So a slight reshuffle on the wing with Reville replacing the Levi-Bailey job sharing last week. And when Berry went down with his shoulder injury in the last, Beecken came on as the sub to take up his wing role.

Obviously the match committee rated Bailey's performance as an inside midfielder in the second half of the Sydney game as he had the largest percentage of CBAs in a game since 2023. Interestingly Will's CBAs dropped back to his season average with Zac, Cam and Levi splitting the CBAs amongst themselves. Also thought it was interesting that Day didn't go back into the centre after half time.

Much like last week, there's a few options available to replace Berry on the wing. Personally, I'd be leaning towards keeping Jaspa where he is so the team doesn't need to restructure in defence as well as on the wings and in the forward line. If Kai is fit, I'd swift Levi back onto the wing and Kai can take his forward role. If Kai isn't ready, maybe give Beecken a full game although that would be a fairly inexperienced wing lineup.

 

[Section 5]

The last few weeks confirms to me Fort can hold that ruck with little help from others.

I think wings are too important to run with Marshall, Reville and another maybe Beecken who is not a wing anyhow.
That is asking for trouble in my opinion.
Need one permanent wing so at least one of Levi, Bailey or Fletcher then you can have two others with less experience.
Even if they play Berry (they should not) he will be well below his best.

Interesting that Dunkley without Neale for the last two weeks CBA's just 73% & 69%

 

[HereIGoAgain]

I thought that this was Fletcher's best game and it was down back. Also Marshall's best game and it was (mainly?) on the wing. Bailey was fantastic rotating through the midfield. The selectors would have to be tempted to run these guys in the same roles again.

 

[Nunez]

The last few weeks confirms to me Fort can hold that ruck with little help from others.

I think wings are too important to run with Marshall, Reville and another maybe Beecken who is not a wing anyhow.
That is asking for trouble in my opinion.
Need one permanent wing so at least one of Levi, Bailey or Fletcher then you can have two others with less experience.
Even if they play Berry (they should not) he will be well below his best.

Interesting that Dunkley without Neale for the last two weeks CBA's just 73% & 69%

Has adapted very well at VFL level when playing wing.

 

[ZoBlitz]

With the experience loss of Berry and Lohmann returning to the side, Ah Chee shifted into a primary wing position for the first time since the round 24 game against Essendon last year while Kai played forward. When Tunstill was subbed in, he had a few wing attendances with Ah Chee, Reville and Marshall all rotating through there as well. I was also unable to comprehensively identify who was on the bottom wing position at the last bounce but gave it to Tunstill as a reward for his mark against Sicily (and it could have been him!)

Only real change in the midfield was that Hugh and Dunks swapped percentages from last week with Dunkley having a few more attendances.

It will be interesting to see how the structure is rejigged again with the return of Neale and Berry for finals.

 

[Section 5]

Thanks for doing this for season 2025 again.
Takes a bit of time and is much appreciated.
I only watch FTA and some of the angles (diamond over square) shown this year must throw you out a bit.
I imagine a pause and replay is required to get your bearings.

Over the years Berrys strapping always helped but no strapping this year.
However, i assume he will have it on this week again and so will Will Ashcroft.
Just something else to make it a bit harder for you this week. At least Will is blond

That whole midfield mix next week looks very good

I have always been a believer that without a good wing mix you will struggle to win finals games
They may not be in contention for BOG but vital in defense and delivering good ball to your forwards.
Wings this week likely Berry, Will Ashcroft and Bailey relief.
If Berry was 100% right that's about the best wing combo in the comp.

 

[ZoBlitz]

Putting aside the result which just added to the frustration, this was one of the more annoying weeks since I've started doing it. Lots of missed bounces or late cuts to a wide shot because of a lingering zoom in on a player not doing anything. There's about three of four bottom attendances that I've just guessed at. It wouldn't surprise me if Hugh had some more considering his lack of CBAs in the third quarter.

Lots of chopping and changing on the wing as it started L.Ashcroft-Berry-Bailey and then late in the first Cal moved into the wing position beyond his usual defensive work very late in quarters. In the third Bailey played more as a permanent midfielder (his heat-map on the AFL app is very helpful for demonstrating his positional changes in this game) with Hugh not having a CBA in the third. In the last quarter Marshall subbed in for Levi and took his wing role with Bailey returning to his wing-forward position and Cal back out to playing as a permanent forward.

It's the usual messiness that occurs in losses where the coaching group is trying to get something going.

 

[Sanchez365]

2 clearances from all mids in the first quarter? Holy shit that's bad lol

 

[Section 5]

2 clearances from all mids in the first quarter? Holy shit that's bad lol

Neale and McCluggage total possessions in the first quarter 7 between them

Just 4 in the last and 6 in the 3rd quarter is also not great.
Too much pressure on our defense.

 

[ZoBlitz]

Shift in the wing setup from the qualifying final with Marshall starting the game and Levi moving from the wing to have more inside midfielder time. I had to double-check but there must have been some mix up late in the fourth for Ty to have been stuck on the wing.

Oscar wasn't really used as a second ruck, rather more as a forward-ruck that chips in for the occasional central bounce.

 

[ZoBlitz]

They've been making me work hard (well, harder at least) this season. Started with the same setup as last week until Berry was subbed and then Bruce took over. It'll be interesting to see what wing structure we go with if the predicted Neale in, Berry out changes happen. Levi and Bailey have the most used wingers this season so I'd assume one of them would take up the role.

Oscar had to do a little more work in the middle this week which I assume happened when Fort was getting his head patched because generally Oscar has just been chipping in for centre ruck contests.

When Neale returned for the qualifying final, Levi was shifted to the wing and there was some rejigging between the main midfielders. Bailey did keep his inside midfield time and I think they'll continue this as he does provide some variety and point of difference from our already pretty dangerous midfield lineup.

 

[Section 5]

Ah-Chee has been spending more time on the wing the last 4 weeks. Bolded the Cats game
With Berry a likely out that should not change.
Going backwards his 6 weeks Wing CBAs: 22, 10, 12, 16, 3, 1

Levi over the same 6 weeks going backwards
Wing: 0, 0, 11, 0, 0, 9
Center: 10, 9, 0, 5, 7, 7.

If Neale named in the run on side Levi likely back to wing or sub if they go Reville.
Note Reville did not play in the Cats game

Marshall the last 6 weeks
Wing: 19, 16, 6 (subbed on in last qtr), 14, 11, 16

 

[twhowler]

Ah-Chee has been spending more time on the wing the last 4 weeks. Bolded the Cats game
With Berry a likely out that should not change.
Going backwards his 6 weeks Wing CBAs: 22, 10, 12, 16, 3, 1

Levi over the same 6 weeks going backwards
Wing: 0, 0, 11, 0, 0, 9
Center: 10, 9, 0, 5, 7, 7.

If Neale named in the run on side Levi likely back to wing or sub if they go Reville.
Note Reville did not play in the Cats game

Marshall the last 6 weeks
Wing: 19, 16, 6 (subbed on in last qtr), 14, 11, 16

So from this

Wings this weekend likely Marshall, Ah Chee, Levi. Bruce once he comes on. Maybe Bailey a few with Neale back?

Ah Chee makes sense to have some experience there.

I'd like us to have Fletcher as a break-glass. Such an awesome player, if we want something different at half time that would be my main move. He has very attacking instincts.

 

[Section 5]

So from this

Wings this weekend likely Marshall, Ah Chee, Levi. Bruce once he comes on. Maybe Bailey a few with Neale back?

Ah Chee makes sense to have some experience there.

I'd like us to have Fletcher as a break-glass. Such an awesome player, if we want something different at half time that would be my main move. He has very attacking instincts.

Regarding Bruce Reville.
We have a few more hours to wait to find out the actual team. Then we can have a guess on who the Sub is.

EDIT- Getting too excited mixing up what day it is.

 

[ZoBlitz]

Well I know why the AFL wanted to get rid of the bounce as the broadcasters apparently hate them going off the number of bounces they missed or cut late to the action. On that basis, I had to guess a few but I think the numbers are generally reflective of what happened.

We started with Marshall-Ah Chee-Reville without Berry and when Neale came on for Marshall in the second half, Levi shifted into the wing for the rest of the game. Bailey also took a number of attendances on the wing in the last and with all the goals and the mayhem of celebration, Lohmann and Cameron had to cover a wing attendance each.

Interesting that the last quarter had the least variety of rotations I've seen for a while with Will, Hugh, Dunks and Lachie taking all the midfield CBAs and Oscar giving Forty a rest in a few bounces.

On a general note, I'll be back again next season. I'll whip up some kind of season averages report for next year that I didn't manage to get sorted for 2025. Also happy to take suggestions on notice from people if there's anything they'd like to see. Maybe I need fancy graphs...

 

[Section 5]

Well I know why the AFL wanted to get rid of the bounce as the broadcasters apparently hate them going off the number of bounces they missed or cut late to the action. On that basis, I had to guess a few but I think the numbers are generally reflective of what happened.

We started with Marshall-Ah Chee-Reville without Berry and when Neale came on for Marshall in the second half, Levi shifted into the wing for the rest of the game. Bailey also took a number of attendances on the wing in the last and with all the goals and the mayhem of celebration, Lohmann and Cameron had to cover a wing attendance each.

Interesting that the last quarter had the least variety of rotations I've seen for a while with Will, Hugh, Dunks and Lachie taking all the midfield CBAs and Oscar giving Forty a rest in a few bounces.

On a general note, I'll be back again next season. I'll whip up some kind of season averages report for next year that I didn't manage to get sorted for 2025. Also happy to take suggestions on notice from people if there's anything they'd like to see. Maybe I need fancy graphs...

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Thanks for doing this for the year again.
Gives us great incite to these two important areas of the game.

For the first three quarters the Lions had a total of 7 center clearances.
Lions had 8 in the last quarter with Neale getting 3 from his massive 15 last quarter CBA's

 

[Sanchez365]

Has been a ripper thread for years and definitely the best way to track midfield time across a game. Great work ZoBlitz.

Happy to help chat visuals if you want someone to bounce ideas.

 

[Nunez]

Well I know why the AFL wanted to get rid of the bounce as the broadcasters apparently hate them going off the number of bounces they missed or cut late to the action. On that basis, I had to guess a few but I think the numbers are generally reflective of what happened.

We started with Marshall-Ah Chee-Reville without Berry and when Neale came on for Marshall in the second half, Levi shifted into the wing for the rest of the game. Bailey also took a number of attendances on the wing in the last and with all the goals and the mayhem of celebration, Lohmann and Cameron had to cover a wing attendance each.

Interesting that the last quarter had the least variety of rotations I've seen for a while with Will, Hugh, Dunks and Lachie taking all the midfield CBAs and Oscar giving Forty a rest in a few bounces.

On a general note, I'll be back again next season. I'll whip up some kind of season averages report for next year that I didn't manage to get sorted for 2025. Also happy to take suggestions on notice from people if there's anything they'd like to see. Maybe I need fancy graphs...

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Between your jokes and stats each week, you've overtaken BRAB in the Nunez poster rankings. Great work my friend!

 

[ZoBlitz]

Has been a ripper thread for years and definitely the best way to track midfield time across a game. Great work ZoBlitz.

Happy to help chat visuals if you want someone to bounce ideas.

Oooh thanks!