KermitJagger
Professional Thread Derailer
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When you have a look at the strong clubs in the AFL, those that have strong midfield units, they often have one thing in common more than contested possession rates - they hunt the ground ball better. In fact, Ground Ball Gets are a better indication than CP because a contested possession is simply a possession that was gained under pressure, someone in the back line could have a huge contested possession rate purely based on the fact that they are under siege and under pressure from the opposition.
Ground Ball Gets, on the other hand, are frequently contested, but at the same time they are a better indication of someone going for the ball in a stoppage situation. These are not just contested possessions, but possessions in active dispute. When you look at the best midfield units in the competition, they have a glut of players getting and hunting this type of ball. It's pretty much a trademark of the best contested mids in the competition.
Worps, to his credit, is way up there with his efforts this year and is our best at this aspect of the game. But before we have our second player feature, other clubs have the following players.
Melbourne have Oliver, Brayshaw, Harmes, Petracca, Salem that are all elite. Leave aside their woes this year, their midfield unit has been great in that one aspect at least.
Geelong have Dangerfield, Kelly, Ablett, Constable, Parfitt.
Adelaide have the Crouches, Sloane, Lynch.
Dogs have Liberatore, Macrae, Bontempelli, Hunter.
However, when you look further down the list, we have a few players who (on a ratio of possession to ground ball gets) have almost half their touches come from this metric. Impey and Scrimshaw are both two of the best GBG-Possession players in the competition with an average of 14 touches, but of those touches 6.5 GBG.
On top of that, the ability to be clean at your feet, and big or explosive, are very important in the modern midfield. Scrimshaw at 193cm has a large frame and very clean skills, very much one touch with his possessions. Impey has pace, a strong core and can shake off a tackler which results in clearances and deep entries for us.
Understanding that these guys don't have the tank to be full time midfielders yet, or ever - but perhaps these guys need to form part of our midfield rotation this year as we try to survive without Tom Mitchell (historically one of the top 3 players in the comp at this aspect).
What are your thoughts? What do you think is the key for us?
Ground Ball Gets, on the other hand, are frequently contested, but at the same time they are a better indication of someone going for the ball in a stoppage situation. These are not just contested possessions, but possessions in active dispute. When you look at the best midfield units in the competition, they have a glut of players getting and hunting this type of ball. It's pretty much a trademark of the best contested mids in the competition.
Worps, to his credit, is way up there with his efforts this year and is our best at this aspect of the game. But before we have our second player feature, other clubs have the following players.
Melbourne have Oliver, Brayshaw, Harmes, Petracca, Salem that are all elite. Leave aside their woes this year, their midfield unit has been great in that one aspect at least.
Geelong have Dangerfield, Kelly, Ablett, Constable, Parfitt.
Adelaide have the Crouches, Sloane, Lynch.
Dogs have Liberatore, Macrae, Bontempelli, Hunter.
However, when you look further down the list, we have a few players who (on a ratio of possession to ground ball gets) have almost half their touches come from this metric. Impey and Scrimshaw are both two of the best GBG-Possession players in the competition with an average of 14 touches, but of those touches 6.5 GBG.
On top of that, the ability to be clean at your feet, and big or explosive, are very important in the modern midfield. Scrimshaw at 193cm has a large frame and very clean skills, very much one touch with his possessions. Impey has pace, a strong core and can shake off a tackler which results in clearances and deep entries for us.
Understanding that these guys don't have the tank to be full time midfielders yet, or ever - but perhaps these guys need to form part of our midfield rotation this year as we try to survive without Tom Mitchell (historically one of the top 3 players in the comp at this aspect).
What are your thoughts? What do you think is the key for us?
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