Further to my post earlier re player rankings, below are all player profile brienfs from the AFL Prospectus. Apologies for spelling mistakes if any, but assume they will be forgiven with the info below.
Jacob Brennan - DEF
Brennan was sparingly used in his debut season, starting as the substitute on three occasions and recording the lowest game-time of any Eagles to play at least 10 matches. He didn’t find much of the ball for his position, averaging the fewest disposals of any general defender in the competition to play 10 games, and he didn’t have significant match-ups, spending more than 40 minutes on one opponent in just two matches. Brennan preferred to kick, posting the sixth-highest kick-to-hand ball ration of all general defenders, but had the second-worst kick rating of the top 16 players at the club for kicks out of the defensive 50 – an area that must improve if he is to continue in defence.
Mitchell Brown - DEF
Brown played eight games for the Eagles last season purely as a stopper. He ranked below-average for a key defender in spoils and intercept possesions, and averaged the fewest Champion Data rank points per game, metres gained and the second-fewest disposals of any key defender in the competition. He conceding goals in just two of his eight matches, allowing Matthew Pavlich to kick four goals in just 29 minutes in round 19. He performed well in one-on-one contests, recording the 10th lowest losing percentage of the 131 players to defend at least 10 contests for the year. Brown failed to record enough kicks for a kick rating last season, playing the most games of any non-ruckman to record less than 30 kicks. While Brown pursued a move to St Kilda in the trade period, the Eagles were desperate to keep him in a good sign he is seen as a replacement for Darren Glass.
Sam Butler - DEF
Butler’s proness to injury has held him back, playing 82 of a possible 192 games across his career and managing more than 14 in a single season only once. He had an impact in the games he played last year, rating above-average for his ball winning ability, recording the third-best kicking hit rate of any West Coast player and the sixth-best of any general defender in the AFL across the year. Butler ranked Number 1 at the club for average short kicks, third for rebound 50s, fourth for effective kicks, equal-sixth for marks and sixth for kicks.
Adam Carter - MID
Carter is a former junior cricket star who was a member of the Australian schoolboys’ cricket team at the age of 16. He turned his focus to football after experiencing stress ractures in his back around the same age, winning selection in the West Australian under-16 and under-18 sides in the NAB AFL Championships. He averaged 16 disposals per game at the 2012 NAB AFL under-18 Championships and stood out in the opening match, finishing with 15 disposals and 11 tackles against QLD. He played WAFL football with South Fremantle, playing 12 games at colts level and two in the seniors, averaging 20 disposals per games at colts level. At 16, Carter was quarantined in India after contracting swine flu while on tour with the Australia Schoolboy’s cricket team.
Brant Colledge – DEF/FWD
Colledge suffered a serious ankle injury last season and played just two games for WA at the 2012 NAB AFL under-18 Championships and eight games with Perth in the WAFL colts. A key position prospect, Colldge played as a defender at times throughout his junior career, but was mostly a forward last season, finishing with 10 goals in his eight WAFL colts games. He scored just one behind for Western Australia at the championships, but he set his team mates up well, finishing with five score assists in his two games. Collegde had a standout performance in the colts in his first match back after the national championships, finishing with 31 disposals, 14 marks, five inside 50’s and one goal playing at centre half forward.
Dean Cox – FWD/Ruck
Cox averaged his fewest disposals per game last season since 2004. But he won a career-high 18% of his disposals inside the forward 50 and booted the most goals of any permanent ruckman last season – one of only three to average at least one goal per game. He attended 48 ruck contests per game on average – seven fewer than in 2011 – and recorded the second-highest hitout winning percentage behind Aaron Sandilands for the second consecutive season. The side has more success when Nic Natanui is in attendance at the centre bounces, as cox recorded the fourth-worst clearance differential of the top 100 players for centre-bounce attendances last season, after recording the fourth-worst differential of any ruckman in 2011. Despite the drop in disposals he is still ranked elite for a ruckman in this area, as well as uncontested possessions and Champion Data ranking points. He finished second in the clubs B&F and earned his sixth selection in the All-Australian side.
Jamie Cripps – MID
Cripps has been used as an impact player in his AFL career so far, involved in substitutions in nine of his 16 games. He improved his ball use considerably last season, but his kick rating was still below average for a midfielder. He won 65% of his disposal in the defensive half, the highest percentage of any midfielder at the saints and was involved in only 13% of all scoring chains in the games he played – ranked 25th. Cripps rated above average for pressure acts based on competition standars, ranking second at St Kilda for pressure acts per 100minutes behind Lenny Hayes
Bradd Dalziell - MID
Despite being injury free, Dalziell has played three games in his past two seasons with West Coast. He continues to be an outside ball-winner as only four of his 25 possesions were won in contests last year. He was a consistent ball-winner in the WAFL, ranking number one for disposals per game of any player to play at least 10 matches and he never dropped below 24 disposals in any game. He burst onto the AFL scene in his debut season in 2008 with the Brisbane Lions, collecting more than 30 disposals in three of his seven matches that year. But he has played just 19 or a possible 94 matches since
Jack Darling – FWD
Darling shouldered much of the responsibility up forward in 2012 because of the long-term injuries to Josh Kennedy and Mark LeCras and he came through with flying colours. He was the first 19-year-old to kick at least 50 goals in a season since Lance Whitnall and was the second youngest forward to average at least 70 Champion Data ranking points per match. He averaged the fourth-fewest disposals per game of the top 40 goalkickers, but rated elite at applying pressure in the forward 50, averaging the fourth-most forward half pressure acts of any key forward. Darling was the eighth-most used target inside 50. He won 47% of his disposals inside the forward 50 – the second-highest percentage at the Eagles. And 49% of the chains he was involved in led to an Eagles score – The third-highest percentage at the club. Darling finished fourth in the Eagles B&F and was consistent in the second-half of the year, booting multiple goals in all but two games after the bye.
Brad Dick – FWD
Dick made his way back from a knee injury through the East Fremantle reserves and was promoted to the seniors in round 15. He booted 27.21 from 11 matches in the seniors – ranked 5th for goals in the competition during the final eight H&A rounds. He was lively up forward booting multiples in all but two matches, one of which was the grand final when he collected just six disposals. After making a successful return from his second knee reconstruction the eagles have shown faith by promoting him to the senior list.
Andrew Embley - MID
A dislocated shoulder in round 21 last season restricted Embley to a career-low match tally. He returned in round 20 as the starting substitute and topped the 20 disposal mark in four of his next five games, ranking number 1 at the club for kicks, second in marks, and fifth for disposals and inside 50’s. he also ranked second at the club for total disposal metres gained in this time, but his retention rate was the third-worst of the top 15. His kicking inside 50 let him down, recording the lowest scoring percentage of the top 10 Eagles. At his best Embley is an important ball-carrier, ranking third at the club for handball receives since 2009 behind Matt Rosa and Matt Priddis
Andrew Gaff - MID
After starting as a sub in five of his first six career games, Gaff has quickly become a regular and important cog in the Eagle's midfield, playing every game since round 17, 2011. His importance to the side was highlighted by the fact some teams tagged him, most notably Liam Shiels at Hawthorn. Gaff provides the outside run for West Coast, recording the lowest contested possession rate of any player to average at least 20 disposals per game, ranking 5th in the AFL for uncontested possessions per game and seventh in average metres gained. He did most of his work in the defensive half, winning 64% of his disposals in this zone - the highest percentage of the top 40 permanent midfielders ranked by disposals per game. But he was still involved in 22% of West Coast's scoring chains - ranked 5th at the club. Given his role, he was barely sighted defensively, averaging the fewest tackles of the 88 players in the competition to average at least 23 disposals per match last season
Darren Glass – DEF
Glass continued to play on the opposition’s secondry key forward, such as Chris Dawes and James Podsiadly, conceding 23 goals and more than two goals on just one occasion. He defended the equal fifth-most one-on-one contests, performing well by recording the second-highest winning percentage of the top 25 defenders for this stat. He was an exceptionally safe user of the ball, positing the highest percentage of backwards kicks of any key defender and committing the fewest turnovers of any player with at least 14 matches. Glass rated above-average for pressure applied in the defensive half and made the most of these acts, recording the second-best tackling efficiency at the club. Another outstanding season was rewarded with his fourth All-Australian selection.
Ashton Hams – Fwd
Hams was a regular in West Coasts’ forward-line during the H&A rounds, but he was drpped after round 21 and failed to feature again. He ranked fifth at the club for goals and the ninth for scoreboard impact, booting multiples in seven matches but no more than three in outing. He did most of his work close to goal, with 48% of the chains he was involved in leading to a score – the fourth highest percentage of any player at the club. Hams was a below-average ball-winner for a player of his position, averaging the equal fourth-fewest disposals any general forward in the AFL across the year who played more than 12 games.
Josh Hill - FWD
With LeCras and Nikoski sidelined early in the season, Hill's recruitment proved to be a masterstroke. He ranked second at the club for goals, with the eagles winning all six matches in which he booted at least three goals. He was rarely beaten in a one-on-one contest, recording the lowest losing percentage of the 15 general forwards in the AFL who were the target in at least 19 contests. Hill rated elite for forward-half pressure, recording the equal 13th-most forward-half pressure acts of any player.
Jacob Brennan - DEF
Brennan was sparingly used in his debut season, starting as the substitute on three occasions and recording the lowest game-time of any Eagles to play at least 10 matches. He didn’t find much of the ball for his position, averaging the fewest disposals of any general defender in the competition to play 10 games, and he didn’t have significant match-ups, spending more than 40 minutes on one opponent in just two matches. Brennan preferred to kick, posting the sixth-highest kick-to-hand ball ration of all general defenders, but had the second-worst kick rating of the top 16 players at the club for kicks out of the defensive 50 – an area that must improve if he is to continue in defence.
Mitchell Brown - DEF
Brown played eight games for the Eagles last season purely as a stopper. He ranked below-average for a key defender in spoils and intercept possesions, and averaged the fewest Champion Data rank points per game, metres gained and the second-fewest disposals of any key defender in the competition. He conceding goals in just two of his eight matches, allowing Matthew Pavlich to kick four goals in just 29 minutes in round 19. He performed well in one-on-one contests, recording the 10th lowest losing percentage of the 131 players to defend at least 10 contests for the year. Brown failed to record enough kicks for a kick rating last season, playing the most games of any non-ruckman to record less than 30 kicks. While Brown pursued a move to St Kilda in the trade period, the Eagles were desperate to keep him in a good sign he is seen as a replacement for Darren Glass.
Sam Butler - DEF
Butler’s proness to injury has held him back, playing 82 of a possible 192 games across his career and managing more than 14 in a single season only once. He had an impact in the games he played last year, rating above-average for his ball winning ability, recording the third-best kicking hit rate of any West Coast player and the sixth-best of any general defender in the AFL across the year. Butler ranked Number 1 at the club for average short kicks, third for rebound 50s, fourth for effective kicks, equal-sixth for marks and sixth for kicks.
Adam Carter - MID
Carter is a former junior cricket star who was a member of the Australian schoolboys’ cricket team at the age of 16. He turned his focus to football after experiencing stress ractures in his back around the same age, winning selection in the West Australian under-16 and under-18 sides in the NAB AFL Championships. He averaged 16 disposals per game at the 2012 NAB AFL under-18 Championships and stood out in the opening match, finishing with 15 disposals and 11 tackles against QLD. He played WAFL football with South Fremantle, playing 12 games at colts level and two in the seniors, averaging 20 disposals per games at colts level. At 16, Carter was quarantined in India after contracting swine flu while on tour with the Australia Schoolboy’s cricket team.
Brant Colledge – DEF/FWD
Colledge suffered a serious ankle injury last season and played just two games for WA at the 2012 NAB AFL under-18 Championships and eight games with Perth in the WAFL colts. A key position prospect, Colldge played as a defender at times throughout his junior career, but was mostly a forward last season, finishing with 10 goals in his eight WAFL colts games. He scored just one behind for Western Australia at the championships, but he set his team mates up well, finishing with five score assists in his two games. Collegde had a standout performance in the colts in his first match back after the national championships, finishing with 31 disposals, 14 marks, five inside 50’s and one goal playing at centre half forward.
Dean Cox – FWD/Ruck
Cox averaged his fewest disposals per game last season since 2004. But he won a career-high 18% of his disposals inside the forward 50 and booted the most goals of any permanent ruckman last season – one of only three to average at least one goal per game. He attended 48 ruck contests per game on average – seven fewer than in 2011 – and recorded the second-highest hitout winning percentage behind Aaron Sandilands for the second consecutive season. The side has more success when Nic Natanui is in attendance at the centre bounces, as cox recorded the fourth-worst clearance differential of the top 100 players for centre-bounce attendances last season, after recording the fourth-worst differential of any ruckman in 2011. Despite the drop in disposals he is still ranked elite for a ruckman in this area, as well as uncontested possessions and Champion Data ranking points. He finished second in the clubs B&F and earned his sixth selection in the All-Australian side.
Jamie Cripps – MID
Cripps has been used as an impact player in his AFL career so far, involved in substitutions in nine of his 16 games. He improved his ball use considerably last season, but his kick rating was still below average for a midfielder. He won 65% of his disposal in the defensive half, the highest percentage of any midfielder at the saints and was involved in only 13% of all scoring chains in the games he played – ranked 25th. Cripps rated above average for pressure acts based on competition standars, ranking second at St Kilda for pressure acts per 100minutes behind Lenny Hayes
Bradd Dalziell - MID
Despite being injury free, Dalziell has played three games in his past two seasons with West Coast. He continues to be an outside ball-winner as only four of his 25 possesions were won in contests last year. He was a consistent ball-winner in the WAFL, ranking number one for disposals per game of any player to play at least 10 matches and he never dropped below 24 disposals in any game. He burst onto the AFL scene in his debut season in 2008 with the Brisbane Lions, collecting more than 30 disposals in three of his seven matches that year. But he has played just 19 or a possible 94 matches since
Jack Darling – FWD
Darling shouldered much of the responsibility up forward in 2012 because of the long-term injuries to Josh Kennedy and Mark LeCras and he came through with flying colours. He was the first 19-year-old to kick at least 50 goals in a season since Lance Whitnall and was the second youngest forward to average at least 70 Champion Data ranking points per match. He averaged the fourth-fewest disposals per game of the top 40 goalkickers, but rated elite at applying pressure in the forward 50, averaging the fourth-most forward half pressure acts of any key forward. Darling was the eighth-most used target inside 50. He won 47% of his disposals inside the forward 50 – the second-highest percentage at the Eagles. And 49% of the chains he was involved in led to an Eagles score – The third-highest percentage at the club. Darling finished fourth in the Eagles B&F and was consistent in the second-half of the year, booting multiple goals in all but two games after the bye.
Brad Dick – FWD
Dick made his way back from a knee injury through the East Fremantle reserves and was promoted to the seniors in round 15. He booted 27.21 from 11 matches in the seniors – ranked 5th for goals in the competition during the final eight H&A rounds. He was lively up forward booting multiples in all but two matches, one of which was the grand final when he collected just six disposals. After making a successful return from his second knee reconstruction the eagles have shown faith by promoting him to the senior list.
Andrew Embley - MID
A dislocated shoulder in round 21 last season restricted Embley to a career-low match tally. He returned in round 20 as the starting substitute and topped the 20 disposal mark in four of his next five games, ranking number 1 at the club for kicks, second in marks, and fifth for disposals and inside 50’s. he also ranked second at the club for total disposal metres gained in this time, but his retention rate was the third-worst of the top 15. His kicking inside 50 let him down, recording the lowest scoring percentage of the top 10 Eagles. At his best Embley is an important ball-carrier, ranking third at the club for handball receives since 2009 behind Matt Rosa and Matt Priddis
Andrew Gaff - MID
After starting as a sub in five of his first six career games, Gaff has quickly become a regular and important cog in the Eagle's midfield, playing every game since round 17, 2011. His importance to the side was highlighted by the fact some teams tagged him, most notably Liam Shiels at Hawthorn. Gaff provides the outside run for West Coast, recording the lowest contested possession rate of any player to average at least 20 disposals per game, ranking 5th in the AFL for uncontested possessions per game and seventh in average metres gained. He did most of his work in the defensive half, winning 64% of his disposals in this zone - the highest percentage of the top 40 permanent midfielders ranked by disposals per game. But he was still involved in 22% of West Coast's scoring chains - ranked 5th at the club. Given his role, he was barely sighted defensively, averaging the fewest tackles of the 88 players in the competition to average at least 23 disposals per match last season
Darren Glass – DEF
Glass continued to play on the opposition’s secondry key forward, such as Chris Dawes and James Podsiadly, conceding 23 goals and more than two goals on just one occasion. He defended the equal fifth-most one-on-one contests, performing well by recording the second-highest winning percentage of the top 25 defenders for this stat. He was an exceptionally safe user of the ball, positing the highest percentage of backwards kicks of any key defender and committing the fewest turnovers of any player with at least 14 matches. Glass rated above-average for pressure applied in the defensive half and made the most of these acts, recording the second-best tackling efficiency at the club. Another outstanding season was rewarded with his fourth All-Australian selection.
Ashton Hams – Fwd
Hams was a regular in West Coasts’ forward-line during the H&A rounds, but he was drpped after round 21 and failed to feature again. He ranked fifth at the club for goals and the ninth for scoreboard impact, booting multiples in seven matches but no more than three in outing. He did most of his work close to goal, with 48% of the chains he was involved in leading to a score – the fourth highest percentage of any player at the club. Hams was a below-average ball-winner for a player of his position, averaging the equal fourth-fewest disposals any general forward in the AFL across the year who played more than 12 games.
Josh Hill - FWD
With LeCras and Nikoski sidelined early in the season, Hill's recruitment proved to be a masterstroke. He ranked second at the club for goals, with the eagles winning all six matches in which he booted at least three goals. He was rarely beaten in a one-on-one contest, recording the lowest losing percentage of the 15 general forwards in the AFL who were the target in at least 19 contests. Hill rated elite for forward-half pressure, recording the equal 13th-most forward-half pressure acts of any player.
